Vegetable patch planning for Spring/Summer

Q&A time again! Who will be this month’s lucky winner of the fabulous prize donated by The Plant Runner?What to line our planter boxes with? Any HDPE (High-density polyethylene) is safe for Pinapple guava lining planter boxes. The thicker the better!Where to find Lignite Humate? Keith can’t recommend Clyde's Compost and Clyde’s lignite highly enough, now available at selected Bunnings stores (in Vic). Failing that, Keith suggests BioChar (try Charman) - 2 litres per 2 sq.m and Neutrog Gogo JuiceLow hedging/edible hedge suggestions - when terracing, low levels can have higher hedges and gradually decrease size as you go up. From bottom up: Pineapple guava, Tasmanian Pepperberry, Goji Berry, Salt Bush, Chilean Guava, Tea Plant, Midyim BerryKeith shares some tips on Rondeletia leucophyliaAs with any herbicide, always follow the directions when using Slasher. Can you add compost over ground covers? Yes, lightly won’t be a problem! Also consider Charlie Carp Keith explains how to reduce high pH levels Keep sending in your questions via DM to Muddy Boots or where needed in between episodes, reach out to Keith @ke_landscape_consultantWhere you can find all things Muddy Boots!Website: https://www.muddyboots.net.au/Instagram: www.instagram.com/muddybootspodcast/ Facebook: Muddy Boots Podcast | Facebook

What are the challenges of gardening on a large, rural property? Today we meet Cass Hooke, garden consultant, to tell us more about her experience about building a new garden from scratch.From her family upbringing to her first paid job with gardener Robert Boyle, Cass has immersed herself with landscaping and gardening. With a passion for conservation and the protection of threatened species, we hear about Cass’s journey and the creation of her garden with all the challenges of low rainfall, bore water and a harsh climate.Cass share’s her journey of the creation of her rural Riverina NSW garden via her instagram @outbackgardens.Where you can find all things Muddy Boots!Website: https://www.muddyboots.net.au/Instagram: www.instagram.com/muddybootspodcast/ Facebook: Muddy Boots Podcast | Facebook

A garden without birds, bees and butterflies, just isn’t a garden’, says Elisabeth. Today we talk about the importance of attracting pollinators!Australia is home to over 1500 bees and pollinating insects.Here are some of the ‘bee magnet’ flowering plants.SalviasBuddleia (also a favourite with butterflies)Echium (check out the wildpretii variety)PoppiesCosmosAlyssumQueen Anne’s LaceCalendulaDaisiesPenstemonNatives such as wattles, bottle brushes, westringia, grevilleaHerbs such as - borage, rosemary, oregano, thyme, basil, yarrowWhere you can find all things Muddy Boots!Website: https://www.muddyboots.net.au/Instagram: www.instagram.com/muddybootspodcast/ Facebook: Muddy Boots Podcast | Facebook

Tomatoes - Australia’s most grown vegetable (or fruit, actually)! Today we learn Keith’s Top 10 tomatoes.Easy to grow as long as they are given plenty of feed and plenty of sun. Lots of top tips today to tomato growing before we hear about Keith’s recommended varietiesBlue BeautyJuane FlammeWapsipinicon PeachSan MarzanoSantoriniTasmanian ChocolateBlack RussianBlack TruffleMortgage LifterTommy ToeSpecial mention too to the Tigerella variety - Keith’s recommendation if you are looking for a prolific fruiter!Where you can find all things Muddy Boots!Website: https://www.muddyboots.net.au/Instagram: www.instagram.com/muddybootspodcast/ Facebook: Muddy Boots Podcast | Facebook

Q&A time again! Who will be this month’s lucky winner of the fabulous prize donated by The Plant Runner?Leggy seedlings? Likely your newly germinated seeds are looking for as much light as possibleKeith suggests mowing and hedge clipping by the Moon calendar  (ie during low sap flow period) to reduce growth rateTips for ‘Little Gem’ magnolia - often sparse up to 1.5m. Keith suggests underplanting with shade tolerant plants. Magnolias are heavy feeders so suggest products like Neutrog Gyganics and liquid fertiliser to kick start.Starting a garden from scratch? Keith recommends having a solid plan!Making your own Biochar? Keith suggests storing ‘uncharged’ and ‘charging’ before use.Long and deep watering is best for lawns and shrubs to encourage deep rooting. Vegetables, on the other hand, need more regular watering as their roots are shallowing. Keith works on 4mm per day.Can bee-keepers stop their bees stinging? Aggressive bees are symptomatic of a bigger problem with the hive that should be addressed by the bee-keeper and may require “requeening” the hiveCamelias not thriving - check soil pH (5.5-6).Pond plants - Keith lists some favourites including cycnogeton procerum, ludwigia palustris, mariophyllum, cyperus papyrus and Bog Plants include carex appressa. Keith recommends Kuranga Native Nursery in Mt. Evelyn, VictoriaKeep sending in your questions to Muddy Boots!Where you can find all things Muddy Boots!Website: https://www.muddyboots.net.au/Instagram: www.instagram.com/muddybootspodcast/ Facebook: Muddy Boots Podcast | Facebook

This episode, Elisabeth and Keith provide invaluable insights into all things lavender. From understanding the importance of well-drained soil and ample sunlight to identifying the best locations for successful cultivation, we'll unveil the secrets to nurturing thriving lavender plants.Where you can find all things Muddy Boots!Website: https://www.muddyboots.net.au/Instagram: www.instagram.com/muddybootspodcast/ Facebook: Muddy Boots Podcast | Facebook

The benefits of a plant based diet are well known. Today we meet Samantha Gowing from Food, Health, Wealth, renowned chef and nutritionist who is passionate about the health benefits of plants.A fascinating discussion covering the importance of seasonal produce, the myths of ‘super foods’, the medicinal benefits of many plants and striving for the umami flavour for a satisfying plant based diet.Sam talks about the benefits of some of our basic herbs including parsley, watercress, turmeric, ginger, how to store them for longevity and tips on using the whole plant to reduce waste.Check out the following to learn more about Samantha Gowing’s work:Food Health WealthGwinganna Lifestyle RetreatSavour The TweedHappy gardening!Where you can find all things Muddy Boots!Website: https://www.muddyboots.net.au/Instagram: www.instagram.com/muddybootspodcast/ Facebook: Muddy Boots Podcast | Facebook

Needing privacy from neighbours, a wind break or visual separation to divide your garden into rooms or hide a shed? Hear Keith’s Top 10 screening plants for the suburban garden.Laurus Nobilis ‘Baby Bay’ - 1.2 wide x 2m tallOlive - Mediterranean Midget - 1.5m - 2.5m tallSyzygium Australe Straight and Narrow - 1.2m wide x 6m tallThuja occidentalis ‘Smaragd’ - 1.2m wide x 2m tallChoisya Ternata (Mexican Orange Blossom) - 1.5m wide x 1.8m tallSyzygium Australe Pinnacle - 1.5m wide x 6m tallCallistemon viminalis ‘Slim’ - 1.5m wide x 3m tallWestringia Naringa - 1.5m wide x 2.2m tallMurraya paniculata ‘Sweet Privacy’ - 1.5m wide x 2m tallCestrum nocturnum - 1.5m wide x 3m tallHappy gardening!Where you can find all things Muddy Boots!Website: https://www.muddyboots.net.au/Instagram: www.instagram.com/muddybootspodcast/ Facebook: Muddy Boots Podcast | Facebook

Start of Spring is a great time to get going with planning for your Spring/Summer Veggie garden.Check what climate zone you are in. Keith recommends The Seed Collection’s MapCool Climate Area (most of Vic) - Beans (including Lazy House Wife, Scarlet Runner), Keith will be trialling new dwarf varieties of tomatoes - stay tuned for Keith’s observationsConsider climbing frames for vegetables like cucumbers and pumpkins allowing more space underneath for other plantingRemove finished Winter vegetables and add compost (Clyde's Compost and Clyde’s lignite), MycoGold and Munash Rock Dust and cover with quality mulch like Who Flung Dung. Rest for approx 3 weeks before planting. Water new seedlings in with SeasolTomatoes seedlings can’t be planted until about the end of OctoberSome recommendations for planting now - Carrots, Radishes (try French Breakfast Radish), Sow seeds into paper pots now and keep warm in hothouse or indoors including - eggplant, pumpkin, tomatoes, spring onions, chillis Follow the directions on the packet for seed/seedling spacingMarigold, basil, Spring onions, garlic will all help to deter pestsPea Straw and lucerne are excellent mulches adding nutrients to the soil but will attract birds so best used in beds that will be nettedVegetables need 4mm of water every day. Keith recommends Dan’s Modular SprinklerspH level should be neutral at 7.0Happy veggie gardening!Where you can find all things Muddy Boots!Website: https://www.muddyboots.net.au/Instagram: www.instagram.com/muddybootspodcast/ Facebook: Muddy Boots Podcast | Facebook

Q&A time again! Who will be this month’s lucky winner of the fabulous prize donated by The Plant Runner?Organic Weed Killers - follow the directions precisely! Keith recommends Slasher, Bioweed or SlayerBanksia’s not flowering? Banksia’s prefer a sandy soil and may take several years to flowerPrune lavender after they’ve finished flowering. Lightly trim back to 4-6 leaves of new growthLawn vs gravel between garden beds - Keith explains why he has opted for grass.Raised beds - timber or colorbond? Keith recommends ModBOX beds (timber). Corrugated iron or colorbond can be good in cooler months but attracts to much heat in summer and can burn roots. Henley's Rustics have wonderful corrugated iron wicking beds for those who prefer metal lookUsing charcoal from your fire? Breakdown with Gogo Juice to create an activated biochar.Potting mix - does it have a shelf life? Store unopened in cool place and it should last approximately 12 monthsManure best left out on the ground for a month or so before use Hydrangeas - only cut back to the nearest node. If cut back to far, you can risk either killing the plant or no flowers the following summerWhere you can find all things Muddy Boots!Website: https://www.muddyboots.net.au/Instagram: www.instagram.com/muddybootspodcast/ Facebook: Muddy Boots Podcast | Facebook