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Anyone who doubted that we have a subtropical climate here in Northern Rodney will have had that notion well and truly dispelled this summer; it seemed like the hot sticky days went on forever and even someone like me, who loves the tropical island, feel was starting to wish for a few cooler nights. Unfortunately, that is now starting to happen and soon we’ll be grumbling about the cold and the rain!
Subtropical plant species such as gingers, heliconia, cannas and bananas love these conditions and the growth rates and flowering this year is phenomenal. These are my main focus in the ornamental garden at this time of year. The plants are kept tidy and flowering profusely by cutting out any stems that have already flowered and using these as mulch underneath or under the fruit trees. Cannas in particular look fantastic if this is done regularly, rather than leaving them as an untidy mess of old stems.
The look of bromeliad clumps also benefits from this treatment; old flowered rosettes I remove by grabbing them at the base of the plant (wearing long gloves is advisable – otherwise be prepared for funny looks at the number of scratches on your hands and arms next time you’re in town!) then literally unscrew them from the clump! The rest of the clump will be left behind, now with more room to expand and look their best. If you’re wanting more plants for other areas of the property, this is the time to remove bromeliad pups, again this is fairly simple; grasp the very base of a pup that is at least one third of the size of the parent and firmly pull sideways and down at the same time. The pup should come away intact with the “heel” at the base. Then plunge this into the soil just to the base of the leaves; you may need to support it with some stones or stakes until the roots grow.
Late summer to early autumn is also the time to be fertilising subtropical plants and fruit trees such as citrus, avocado and passionfruit. What fertiliser you use will depend on the soil type in your area and how well you’ve fertilised in the past. I use mostly sheep pellets as they have a good ratio of nutrients, are easy to apply and soft on the soil. Citrus fertiliser is also good for most of these plants, as are similar fertiliser blends. As a general guide, the instructions on the back of the bag are usually pretty safe.
The end of summer in my garden also means that the autumn clean-up has started. Any old, diseased plants in the veggie or ornamental gardens that are past their best are being pulled out, mulched up under the mower, used as mulch under the fruit trees or composted. Clearing out old plants helps reduce the amount of pests wintering over in the garden, reduces shade and improves airflow through the garden, all important points for keeping pests and winter diseases to a minimum.
In the veggie garden, I’ll be planting leeks, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, spinach, carrots, celery, lettuce and a late crop of spuds; the spuds can run through into the first frosts of winter. This is also the time to be preparing your beds for garlic, onions and strawberries; all heavy feeders that appreciate the beds being fertilised with liberal compost, animal manure, sulphate of potash and blood and bone. These fertilisers all take time to release their goodness into the soil, so preparing the beds a month or so before planting (April to June depending on the climate and the crop type) is worthwhile. Autumn – a busy time for keen gardeners!
