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Shrubs/Trees Abutilon Acalphya Allamanda Ardisia Barleria Bougainvillea Brugmansia Brunsfelsia Buddleija Callicarpa (berries) Carphalea kirondron Cassia fistula Costus Crotons Crepe Myrtle Dahlia imperialis Dichorisandra thrysiflora Euphorbia millii Euphorbia ‘diamond frost’ Euryops Fiddlewood Tree Frangipani Galphimia glauca Gmelina hystrix Grevilleas Hedychium Heliconias Hibiscus Holmskioldia Ipomoea carnea Ixoras Justicia betonica Justicia carnea Leopard Tree Loropetalum Megaskapasma Odontonema Petrea Pseuderanthemum Quisqualis mussaendiflora Roses Ruellia macrantha Stachytarpheta Strobilanthes "pink bells" Thunbergia erecta Tibouchina Zingiber spectabile |
Perennials Angelonia Anthurium Artemisia Asters Celosia Centranthemum Chrysanthemum Cleome Coleus Coreopsis Cosmos Dahlias Gaura Gerberas Helichrysum Heliotrope Impatiens Indigofera Leonitis Mirabilis jalapa Oenothera Pachystachys Pelargonium Pennisetum Burgundy Pentas Plectranthus Rudbeckia Russellia Salvias Scutellaria Sedum Solidago (Golden Rod) Whitfieldia |
Orchids Cattleya Hard Cane Dendrobium Miltonia Phalaenopsis Stanhopea Vanda Bromelaids Achmea Billbergia pyramidalis Cryptanthus Guzmania Hohenbergia Neoregelia Quesnelia Tillandsia Vriesia Bulbs Anomatheca laxa Belamcanda Habranthus (rain lily) Hippeastrum reticulata Gladioli dalenii Lapeirousia grandiflora Lycoris (Spider Lily) Water Garden Alocasia esculenta Saggitariis japonica Thalia geniculata Water Lilies Succulents Aloes Jatropha podagrica Vines Aeschynanthus Clerodendron Combretum coccinea Dalechampia roezliana Hoya carnosa Ipomoea horsfalliae Mandevilla Maurandya Mansoa alliacea (garlic vine) Stephonotis |
HELICONIA ROSTRATA
CARPHALEA KIRONDRON
SALVIA MADRENSIS
WHAT IS FEATURING IN THE GARDEN IN MARCH:
March 2025
March will bring some cooler nights. The rain has eased a little so far this year but all the tanks are full and the ground is still moist.
MAINTENANCE is high due to so much growth but that is the price for the garden looking so great. The weeds are easy to pull out as most are creeping like the wandering Jew and Lantana montevidensis. You do need to get every little bit as they will take off again with a very small piece.
If you have a large area to rid of weeds, you can spread a sheet of plastic over the area of weeds and then peg that down with tent pegs. This will need to stay for at least a month and if much faster in full sun. Everything under the plastic will die, so make sure it is void of plants. Once all the weeds are gone, spread mulch to deter more weeds and plant so that every bit of the ground will be covered.
The summer Salvias can be cut back as can coleus which have started to seed. Shrubs and hedges will also need trimming to keep them tidy. We have found many large branches down due to the large amount of seeds and flowers generated from such a wet season.
ZINGIBER OFFICINALE
This is the common eating ginger which the roots are used as a spice in cooking. This plant is deciduous. After the foliage dies down in late Autumn the ginger rhizomes can be harvested and dried. It is best to let your ginger grow for at least one season before harvesting it.
Sow a portion of the rhizome in spring, either directly in the garden or in a pot. Grow in full sun. They will sprout when the soil warms up when night temperatures go above 10 degrees Celsius. Use sugar cane mulch to keep weeds at bay and keep moisture in. They like our wet summers and will put on enormous growth. It will form a clump as the rhizome grows.
In late autumn you will notice the foliage yellowing and once it has completely died down, the rhizomes can be harvested. Don’t forget to leave some for next year’s crop.
ALPINIA CAERULEA
This is our native ginger which hails from the Atherton Tableland. It is edible and is a good bush tucker plant. Alpinia Caerulea’s leaves are very attractive being green on one side and red on the reverse side. The fragrant white flowers are followed by blue berries. The new leaf shoots and berries have a mild ginger flavour and these can be used in cooking, or eaten fresh from the plant.
It also has a rhizome which is not used in cooking and this can be planted in shade where it will form a 2 metre tall clump. It likes water in dry spells and will not tolerate frost. This native ginger does prefer a more shaded position, but still good light. They tend not to die down and prefer the soil to be moist but not wet and well mulched.
ZINGIBER SPECTABILE
This one is not edible but is a charming addition to the garden. The inflorescences are about knee high and look like bee hives. The foliage is tall, about 2 meters high, but to see the beehives you need to place them at the front of the garden to see them. They come in various colours; yellow, red, pink and last a long time. They are tropical, although they do not die completely back.
GO TROPICAL
Calatheas and Marantas are wonderful tropical plants grown for their beautiful leaves and our summer humid weather is just what they love. These plants are often called peacock, snake or zebra plants as their leaves have wonderful markings mimicking these creatures. Summer rain will encourage them to send up new shoots. Cut back any stems that flowered last year and mulch so that the lovely new leaves can be seen. They do like shade and are happy as under-story plants.
Get the vegetable beds ready for the autumn crops by adding well rotted compost and mulch. Tomatoes, chard, Pak Choi, snow peas, beans, lettuce, beetroot, onions and kale can be planted now. It is a good idea to stagger plantings so that you can continuously crop. Vegetables do need a constant supply of water and should never dry out so keep the vegetable beds well mulched.
Good Gardening
Jan
March will bring some cooler nights. The rain has eased a little so far this year but all the tanks are full and the ground is still moist.
MAINTENANCE is high due to so much growth but that is the price for the garden looking so great. The weeds are easy to pull out as most are creeping like the wandering Jew and Lantana montevidensis. You do need to get every little bit as they will take off again with a very small piece.
If you have a large area to rid of weeds, you can spread a sheet of plastic over the area of weeds and then peg that down with tent pegs. This will need to stay for at least a month and if much faster in full sun. Everything under the plastic will die, so make sure it is void of plants. Once all the weeds are gone, spread mulch to deter more weeds and plant so that every bit of the ground will be covered.
The summer Salvias can be cut back as can coleus which have started to seed. Shrubs and hedges will also need trimming to keep them tidy. We have found many large branches down due to the large amount of seeds and flowers generated from such a wet season.
ZINGIBER OFFICINALE
This is the common eating ginger which the roots are used as a spice in cooking. This plant is deciduous. After the foliage dies down in late Autumn the ginger rhizomes can be harvested and dried. It is best to let your ginger grow for at least one season before harvesting it.
Sow a portion of the rhizome in spring, either directly in the garden or in a pot. Grow in full sun. They will sprout when the soil warms up when night temperatures go above 10 degrees Celsius. Use sugar cane mulch to keep weeds at bay and keep moisture in. They like our wet summers and will put on enormous growth. It will form a clump as the rhizome grows.
In late autumn you will notice the foliage yellowing and once it has completely died down, the rhizomes can be harvested. Don’t forget to leave some for next year’s crop.
ALPINIA CAERULEA
This is our native ginger which hails from the Atherton Tableland. It is edible and is a good bush tucker plant. Alpinia Caerulea’s leaves are very attractive being green on one side and red on the reverse side. The fragrant white flowers are followed by blue berries. The new leaf shoots and berries have a mild ginger flavour and these can be used in cooking, or eaten fresh from the plant.
It also has a rhizome which is not used in cooking and this can be planted in shade where it will form a 2 metre tall clump. It likes water in dry spells and will not tolerate frost. This native ginger does prefer a more shaded position, but still good light. They tend not to die down and prefer the soil to be moist but not wet and well mulched.
ZINGIBER SPECTABILE
This one is not edible but is a charming addition to the garden. The inflorescences are about knee high and look like bee hives. The foliage is tall, about 2 meters high, but to see the beehives you need to place them at the front of the garden to see them. They come in various colours; yellow, red, pink and last a long time. They are tropical, although they do not die completely back.
GO TROPICAL
Calatheas and Marantas are wonderful tropical plants grown for their beautiful leaves and our summer humid weather is just what they love. These plants are often called peacock, snake or zebra plants as their leaves have wonderful markings mimicking these creatures. Summer rain will encourage them to send up new shoots. Cut back any stems that flowered last year and mulch so that the lovely new leaves can be seen. They do like shade and are happy as under-story plants.
Get the vegetable beds ready for the autumn crops by adding well rotted compost and mulch. Tomatoes, chard, Pak Choi, snow peas, beans, lettuce, beetroot, onions and kale can be planted now. It is a good idea to stagger plantings so that you can continuously crop. Vegetables do need a constant supply of water and should never dry out so keep the vegetable beds well mulched.
Good Gardening
Jan
THIS MONTH
IN THE GARDEN
with Jan
MARCH
IN THE GARDEN
with Jan
MARCH
VRIESIA CREATION
MANSOA ALLIACEA
GARLIC VINE
GARLIC VINE
SOLIDAGO
GOLDEN ROD
GOLDEN ROD
Let nature be your guide
ALLAMANDA
