western-queensland-gardening-guide.pdf - South West NRM

Chapter 3. Observations, opinions and hints on western
gardening by Men Lyman, 4QL ABC's gardening man
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There are lots of varieties of grass available for lawns, usually it boils down to
couch, kikuyu and buffalo. Good hints for planting lawn seed are to prepare the area
well, have water available. Tip a packet of seed into half a bucket of sand, add half a
cup of household kerosene and mix by hand. The kerosene will deter ants and birds,
and will not harm the seed. The planted area should be kept moist by light
sprinkling until the grass is growing strongly. As a general rule, seed should not be
planted deeper than twice its size. No fertiliser should be added until after you have
mowed your lawn and then, sparingly.
Vegetable gardening
This makes good sense. Apart from the cost savings your vegetables will be fresh.
Due to weather conditions in western Queensland, the time between March and
September is the best growing period. It is a good idea to prepare your garden a
couple of months before planting and incorporate sand, compost and fertilisers.
Don't use fertilisers too high in nitrogen, as this will make your plants stalky.
A lot of western people grow vegetables in the warmer weather with the use of
shade cloth over the roof and a roll up side on the hot wind side. The ideal gauge of
shade cloth for vegetables is 50%. All plants need sun but not too much sun.
There is a good range of vegetables that do well in the west: tomatoes (good idea to
plant them in a different area every year), cabbages, lettuce, broccoli and silverbeet.
These plants do better with flooding type water as over head sprays can "sweatff the
plants. Pumpkins and cabbage like a frost to set them. If frost is a problem, cover the
plants if a frost is coming. If you can hose the plants and wash the ice off before
sunrise you can often save them.
Plant cuttings
Most plants will strike cuttings under the right conditions. Some are harder to strike
than others, so try the easy ones first. If you can take your cutting when the sap is
flowing up, or the plant is growing, you will have a better chance.
The principle of cuttings is to try to have four nodes, with two in. the growing
medium and two out. Cut below the first node and above the fourth. The bottom cut
should be made straight and the top on a 45' angle. The next secret is plant these
cuttings in small pots so that the root system can develop more easily and quickly.
They must be kept moist but not wet, out of the wind and in part shade. Sometimes
humidity must be kept up; for example, with mist sprays or by enclosing the plant in
a plastic tent. Ho one cutting powder can be useful.