Pittwater Life April 2024 Issue

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Garden Life Garden Life Gorgeous grevilleas about to come into their own in Winter BURSTING WITH COLOUR: Myriad varieties of native grevilleas. Grevilleas – or commonly referred to as Spider Plants – are iconic in the Australian landscape, with more than 300 species nationwide and endless varieties available. They come in a range of sizes, from groundcovers to trees, and can have many different types of foliage; but they are best known for their flowering display. Mainly flowering in Winter, many species will flower throughout the year. The spectacular flowers can be seen with almost every colour and shade, except blue! The flowers can vary from the size of fingernails, to larger than your hand – and birds love them. They can tolerate a range of soil types and conditions but in the Sydney region they tend to prefer a well-drained sunny position, or part shade, making them perfect for almost any garden; coming into Autumn it is a great time to get planting. There are many local grevilleas on the Northern Beaches which can often be overlooked but there is one special species that is rarely seen: Grevillea caleyi. Critically endangered, it is a shrub 1-3 metres high with soft divided leaves; it has beautiful, deep pink flower which can be seen 70 APRIL 2024 The Local Voice Since 1991
Compiled by the team at Cicada Glen Nursery, Ingleside. around August to April. It can only be found in Terrey Hills and Belrose. Finger lime time Finger limes (below) are a native citrus that can produce an abundant crop of unique, finger-shaped fruit that has a deliciously tangy, caviar-like pulp. Finger limes naturally vary in shape, colour and size and there are now several commercially available varieties that have been developed, including pinks, reds, purple, pale green and yellow. In the garden, different varieties can grow into a dense, weeping shrub or small slender tree with an open canopy. Plants will benefit from regular watering and fertilising, much like other citrus species such as lemons or oranges. Finger limes are fruiting at this time of year, and you might be wondering what to do with all that delicious native fruit. A popular use is as a garnish on seafood, such as freshly shucked oysters. Mixed with some finely sliced ginger, they add a real zing and flavour explosion. Also, mix the pearls into a fresh salsa of tomato, cucumber and onion to use over grilled flathead tacos. Or add some tang to a cheesecake or tart by mixing in some finger lime and then sprinkle over the top as a garnish. You can substitute traditional lime with finger lime in cocktails such as Mojitos or Gin and Tonic. Regardless of what you use them for, a finger lime will make an interesting addition to your garden. Think Broad beans It’s time to clear out what’s left of the summer vegies and start preparing for winter crops. Broad beans make an easy-to-grow Winter crop that produces lots of beans and also fixes nitrogen in the soil – perfect for your next Summer planting of tomatoes or leafy greens. Broad beans prefer cooler conditions for a good crop, so planting in Sydney from April to June produces the best results. Prepare your soil a few weeks before planting by adding organic matter, compost and a generalpurpose fertiliser. Soak dried seeds overnight and plant 5cm deep and around 20cm apart in rows, then water in well with a seaweed solution. Once the seeds have germinated and have produced their first sets of leaves, give them a feed with a general-purpose liquid fertiliser. Broad beans will need some support once they start growing taller. A good way to do this is to put a stake at the end of each row and weave string between the plants, adding more as they grow. You will be able to start harvesting beautiful Broad beans in approximately 12-15 weeks (picture above). Broad beans are packed full of nutrients, vitamins, minerals and can help the body produce dopamine that improves our mood, concentration and motivation. Chewed orchids Have you noticed something is chewing the new growth on your native orchids? Dendrobium Beetle can be devastating on your orchids and can wipe out an entire season’s growth. These orange and black beetles chew new leaves, then lay eggs in the soft new stems. Once the eggs hatch grubs will continue to chew the stems Garden Life The Local Voice Since 1991 APRIL 2024 71
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The Local Voice Since 1991 APRIL 20
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Pittwater Life April 2024 Issue

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