Spring pests - Flowers

Strawberries will crop throughout spring and summer with many varieties continuing through autumn.

Raspberries are generally available throughout garden retailers in cooler climates and ready to plant in winter and, depending on the variety, fl ower and fruit at different times from late spring to late autumn. Support shrub with a trellis.

Mulberries are hardy in most parts of Australia. They generally grow as tall as a tree, but you can prune them to remain in a shrub. Dwarf varieties suitable for pots and small gardens are available in garden centres. The red fruit develop to their distinctive purple colour quickly in early spring in tropical and subtropics regions and more gradually in cooler regions giving these regions an extended harvest period.

Blueberries love warm days and cool nights. Depending on where you live in Australia white belled shaped fl owers start appearing on the bush in spring. Then a month or two later the fl owers wither and the fruit appears. As a general rule, blueberry bushes fl ower earlier in Queensland and Northern NSW compared to their southern states.

Give berries a sunny position with good drainage and plenty of rich well composted soil.

Strawberries can be planted in hanging baskets so their fruit over hang, easy to pick. For berries in pots, plant in Fruit, Citrus & Rose Specialty Mix.

Blueberry cake recipe

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> Don’t let pests and diseases take hold. Control them early to ensure less spray will be used and the plant can continue to fl ourish.

> Sweet corn can be planted from late spring until early autumn throughout Australia and all year round in the tropics. Plant in blocks for better pollination. Dig the soil deep, at least 30cm, incorporating generous amounts of 5 IN 1 Organic Fertiliser to promote lush growth.

MEALYBUGS/SCALE

Sometimes mealybugs are quite obvious, small white blobs, usually on soft leaves and new, tender stems of plants. Other times, you may have to go digging for them, as they love to inhabit the “hard to reach” parts of plants, such as the crowded crown of a palm, the sheathing base of soft indoor plants, even the indents in the calyx end of navel oranges. Scales usually attach themselves to the underside (occasionally upper surfaces) of leaves and plant stems, and can be black, brown, red, through to white, and in massive numbers. You may see ants and sooty mould on infected plants, a certain indication of scale, mealybugs or both! And the ants defend them from predators! Best treated with Searles Pest Gun (repeat applications may be necessary). For residual control, use Searles Conguard, sprayed at dusk. An organic alternative would be Searles Ecofend range.

LEAF CURL

This fungal disease is dormant in winter and becomes active during spring and summer. If left untreated, will attack the fruit of stone fruit such as peaches and nectarines. Bulbous puckering and leaf distortion, often with a pinkish colour is a indicator of its presence. If severe, premature leaf and fruit can occur. Apply Copper Oxychloride early at bud swell.

APHIDS

Aphids commonly appear on fl ushes of new growth and quite often they will only remain on the plant for a short period of time. Generally, if there are predatory insects in the area such as ladybird larvae, the aphids will be kept under control. In severe cases, spray them with Searles Bug Beater, a natural pyrethrum spray or an organic spray Searles Ecofend Vegetable & Garden Insect & Mite spray.