A timeless focal point for a small garden that almost takes little or no room is a trompe l’oeil, says gardening columnist JACKIE WARBURTON.
A trompe l’oeil (a French term meaning “deceive the eye”) can be used on a plain wall, to brighten up a dark space, a partition or even incorporated into a water feature.
Traditionally, it is made with lattice panelling and can have mirrors added to create a 3D illusion of depth and the use of shadow and light to deceive the eye.
NOVEMBER is vegetable month and the message is to get it all in and growing fast!
All summer crops, such as pumpkins, zucchinis, tomatoes, can all go into the vegetable patch.
Pumpkins will need more space than you think and if the room is tight, growing the vine on a low fence can work.
When the vine is around four to five metres long, trim the end off to encourage side branching and, in turn, this will encourage female flowers.
Male flowers are produced first on the vine and, as it matures, the female flowers will come.
There are a few ways to tell the difference in the flowers – the males are smaller overall and the much larger female will have a bump at the base of the flower.
Flowers will open in the morning so ensure the vine has morning sun when the bees are out. Female flowers can be pollinated by brushing on pollen collected from the male flower with a soft paint brush. This will increase the chances of fruit forming and not dropping off.
Prevent any overhead watering to keep powdery mildew at bay.
Pumpkin flowers are edible and can be prepared in the kitchen the same way as zucchini flowers.
Parsnips take at least 120-180 days from seed to root and can be planted into the garden now as seed. They like a little more organic matter than carrots, but are slow to germinate and just won’t in cold soil. Most importantly, only grow from fresh seed.
All root vegetables should be direct sown to a depth of five millimetres and five to 10 centimetres apart in rows. Keep them moist (but not wet) and covered with light shade cloth until germination.
Parsnips can also be sown in early autumn while the soil is still warm for harvest in spring.
PELARGONIUMS grow well in our climate in full sun and in pots.
All pelargoniums need to be regularly watered to keep their flowering display for many months.
Grow pelargoniums close to the house to appreciate the fragrance from the flowers. Also, the plants themselves can repel insects such as mosquitoes and flies.
Some pelargoniums are edible, and petals can be used in desserts and to flavour teas.
There is a native geranium called pelargonium australe, which grows as a small, long-flowering ground cover to 50 centimetres high and has mauve, pink flowers held above the leaves.
Another long-flowering local pelargonium to look out for is P. rodneyanum, which has magenta flowers and is slightly smaller.
A mixed planting would make a fine display and, given the right climate, would gently self-seed.
Jottings
- Prune lilac lightly after flowering.
- Keep watering lawns through hot days.
- Prune all spring flowering shrubs now.
- Deadhead roses down to a set of five leaves.
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