Garden talk
Spring 2015
Switch to Let
Autumn! Spring Happen
INSIDE
Loving lavender • Container flair • Kick start your spring garden Indoor plantscaping • Our bold new Specimen Collection
Contacting us
Let Spring HaPpen
Contact us on 0861 G-A-R-D-E-N (427336) Queries:
To provide you with excellent service, we have a team of dedicated and passionate gardening experts and there are several ways of directing your gardening queries to us: Online: gardenshop.co.za
Call 0861 G-A-R-D-E-N (427336)
Email us on info@gardenshop.co.za Connect with GardenShop! Daily gardening posts, updates on new plants, trending gardening ideas and seasonal pictures from our garden centres.
Dear Gardener Let Spring Happen! It’s that time of the year when GardenShop really makes things happen with style, beauty and zest in your garden. Whether it’s planting exciting varieties from our new, big, bold and beautiful Specimen Collection range, superb structured plants, flavourful and nutritional kitchen garden varieties and spring Heirloom vegetables. We also have carefully selected ‘just for you’ indoor plants - to enhance your living space. Come see our fantastic imported range of containers, patio furniture, benches and terracotta pots. GardenShop will show the way. Of course, it’s little wonder many refer to spring as the ‘queen of seasons’ with all its glorious sights, sounds and pleasures that come to life in your garden. Our spring action plan and fresh ideas to trending products and luscious-looking, healthy lawns become the ‘royal’ order of the day. Make Spring Happen NOW at GardenShop!
GardenShopSA Editor: Deborah Hele
Happy gardening
e-mail: deborah@gardenshop.co.za
featured
Publisher & Ad Sales: First Wave Media cc e-mail: gardentalk@firstwavemedia.co.za
GardenShop Tel: 011 516 9700 Fax: 011 516 9701 PO Box 70966, Bryanston, 2021
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Let spring happen Your garden is about to wake up! It’s time to put on your gardening gloves and plant, prune, prepare beds, care for your lawn and much more!
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Specimen Collection Go big, bold and beautfiul with our superb garden centrepieces
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Exciting Econopacks Seasonal variety flowering and waterwise packs – great budget gardening plant varieties. Loving Lavender A timeless classic with its beautifully scented flowers and wonderful colour shades. Indoor plants As expressive as paintings and as appealing as antiques! Instantly change the atmosphere of your home décor to one of colour and beauty. Containers Transform your home with our latest array of internationally-sourced pots to suit your outdoor or indoor living spaces.
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GardenShop proudly supports BirdLife South Africa. birdlife.org.za Giving Conservation Wings.
Are you a member? Become a GardenRewards member and take advantage of BIG gardening benefits.
GardenShop is a proud partner of MySchool. myschool.co.za
fi rst wave media GardenTalk is published on behalf of GardenShop (Pty) Ltd by: First Wave Media cc Tel: 011 640 7354 Web: firstwavemedia.co.za Postal: PO Box 28845, Sandringham, Johannesburg, 2131
Garden Rewards
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• 5% Cash back GardenRewards on every Rand you spend Swipe and earn 5% in cash back in GardenRewards every time you spend. GardenRewards are earned on all items, excluding those already on special. • 15% Cash back GardenRewards on selected items GardenRewards members also earn 15% cash back GardenRewards on exclusive in-store monthly offers. • Discounted deliveries GardenRewards members enjoy discounted local deliveries from any GardenShop (conditions apply). It saves time and money.
To find out more visit http://www.gardenshop.co.za/gardenrewards/ GardenTalk
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Luscious Lawns with CULTERRA Lawndressing Enviromentally friendly Lawndressing from Culterra, a Johannesburg based company that has produced a range of quality organics for the gardening industry since 1965. Without exception Culterra Lawndressing is the top selling gardening item in spring and no wonder as it improves the lawn’s soil structure and soil water retention increases immediately. As the soil structure improves so will microbial and earthworm population be stimulated. Gardeners will continue to apply lawndressing throughout August and September. One bag of Culterra Lawndressing will cover 4m2. Get going this season with your own luscious lawn for spring and summer with Culterra Lawndressing.
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Spring Action Our must-action plan to kick start your spring garden.
Gardening Tip Ideally, you should move your divided perennials straight to their new spot and plant them right away. If this isn’t possible, put them in the shade and keep them sprinkled with water until you’re ready to plant.
Gardening begins in earnest with the arrival of new plant varieties, bulbs, spring herbs and flowers which are all waiting to find a new home.
Flowers • Sow flower seeds like Ageratum, Alyssum, Aster, Candytuft, Canterbury Bells, Cleome, Cosmos, Dianthus, Impatiens, Lavatera, Lobelia, Marigold, Petunia, Salivia, Schizanthus, Sweet William, Verbena, Vinca and Viola. • Plant flowering seedlings like Alyssum, Begonia, Celosia, Cosmos, Chrysanthemum Palidosum, Dahlia (bedding), Dianthus, Lobelia, Marigold, Impatiens, Pansy, Petunia and Vinca.
and perennials such as Daylilies, Agapanthus, Anenomes, Chrysanthemums, Dahlias, and Red Hot Pokers. • Repot pot plants and other plants that have outgrown their containers. • Start feeding shrubs and trees in your garden with Wonder Superphosphate or an organic alternative like Wonder Organic VitaBoost or Bio Ganic All Purpose. • Protect young shoots from attack from slugs and snails.
• Continue watering and fertilising annuals and bulbs ideally with a liquid fertiliser like Hadeco Bulb Food, Multifeed Flowergro or Margaret Roberts Supercharger.
• Watch out for the lily borer on clivias and lily bulbs.
• Start feeding your roses, fruit trees and citrus with Ludwig’s Vigorosa or Wonder Vitaliser Rose & Flower.
Lawns
• Plant summer bulbs like Amaryllis, Arum, Begonia, Cannas, Crocosmia, Dahlia, Eucomis, Galtonia, Gladiolus, Spider Lily, Nerine, Tigridia and Zephyranthus.
General Tasks • Clear algae, blanket weeds and debris from ponds, and keep them topped up. • If you have not pruned your roses and fruit trees, prune as soon as possible. • Once you are sure of no late frosts, you can prune your fuchsias. Don’t cut back frost-damaged plants until the danger of frost has passed. • Continue watering plants in containers and hanging baskets to prevent drying out, especially in the Highveld where gusty, dry August winds prevail - but be waterwise. • Increase watering as the soil temperatures increase and if you have not upgraded your irrigation systems now is the time to do it. • Divide and replant any overcrowded ornamental grasses
• Clean gutters in anticipation of the summer rains.
• Weeds start appearing as if by magic – weed them out before they set seed. • If your lawn has a mat of dead undergrowth, rake it out this month so that the lawn can start afresh in spring. Aerate the lawn and then apply with Talborne’s Vita-Green 5:1:5 (16) or Bio Ganic for Lawns. • You can still lay down new lawn. • Increase your watering on lawns. • Mow lawns weekly.
Vegetables, Herbs and Fruit • Sow vegetable seeds like runner beans, bush beans, beetroot, broccoli, chillies, cabbage, carrot, celery, cucumber, eggfruit, green pepper, leeks, lettuce, melon, onion, parsley, peas, parsnip, pumpkin, rhubarb, spinach, radish, squash, sweetcorn, tomato, turnip and watermelon. • Plant vegetable seedlings like celery, lettuce, parsley and spinach. • Plant these popular herbs in your garden like basil, chives, thyme, and dill, and enjoy some fresh-from-the-earth taste. GardenTalk
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Growing
Specimen Style
Specim
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Nurture
for yead rs Carefull y c
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Our gardens and outdoor living spaces are becoming much smaller and more compact with less space to grow a variety of large trees and shrubs. This does not mean you need to compromise on quality or size. It does mean however that you have to take time to choose plants that will suit your garden style, adapt to your local climatic conditions and ultimately suit the space you have for them to mature.
Exclusi ve grownly Garden S Collechtop ion
Your indulgence in large and mature sized plants is met with GardenShop’s selection of Specimen Plants. Our Specimen Plants have taken years to nurture and have grown into magnificent, mature sized plants ready to take home. Mind you, they are of a considerable size and weight that a plant delivery by GardenShop is highly recommended.
Brush Cherry
Delicious Monster
The ball-shaped Brush Cherry’s (Syzigium paniculata) that stands a good two meters tall with a overall width of one meter are large and should be positioned and grown either as entrance show stoppers or in a courtyard and patio as the anchor plant. They command attention and to maintain their magnificent topiary shape and size you will need to fertilise and trim regularly throughout their growing season.
Delicious Monsters, (Philodendron selloum) will be an excellent choice for a standing ovation in a tropical lush garden setting. We strongly recommend a regular organic seaweed based liquid fertiliser such as Nitrosol or Seagro that will keep the wide, large, dark green, lobed leaves foliage green and healthy.
Ponytail Palm (excluding red pot)
The ponytail or elephant’s foot palm (Beaucarnea recurvata) actually a semi-succulent more closely related to the Yucca. In nature, it’s a full-size tree that can tower over homes. Given time and the right conditions, however, these plants will grow into respectable specimen plants, up to 1.8 metres. This is exactly what is available at GardenShop, a magnificent tall pony tail palm that will command respect.
Look out for these and other Speciman Plants available at all six Gauteng based stores.
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LED crochet lampshades
Glass windchimes
Mosquito outdoor citronella coils
Succulents planted in cookie jar
Trending! Spring flair and style
Sanseveria plants growing in glass vases
Balcony bird feeding place with roof Balcony bird bath in green and grey
Selection of umbrellas
Gardener’s hand cream in a jar will keep your hands soft and smooth after gardening
Wrought iron birds in gift box
Fun-to-use plastic kiddies watering cans GardenTalk
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‘Sutherlandia’ Sutherlandia frutescens
An indigenous, evergreen shrub known as the Cancer Bush, Balloon Pea, Blaasbossie or Hoenderbelletjie and occurs naturally throughout the dry parts of South Africa. Greyish-green leaflets which give the bush a silvery appearance. Leaves have a bitter taste. Fast growing, enjoys the full sun and tolerates all soil types. Needs average water and is tough, hardy and quite drought tolerant. Orange-red pea-like flowers appear on the tips of the branches from spring to midsummer. Sunbirds pollinate these bright flowers. Easily reseeds itself in a garden. A multi-purpose medicinal plant but if not used as such, is an atrractive shrub for any garden!
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Value for money
Econo Gardening Packs Garden on a budget with GardenShop’s Econo Gardening Packs. R99.95 for six quality plants. Seasonal variety Econo Gardening Packs moving into their consecutive year of budget gardening are successful plants for Flowering (from Daisies, Diascia, Bacopa and Osteospernums) and Waterwise gardens (from Gazanias, Succulents, Tulbaghia, Ornamental Grasses and Statice). New to the range of GardenShop Econo Gardening packs are small potted hardy herbs that will do well in containers, and need less frost protection than tender plants. Try variegated thymes, sages or lemon balm in mixed schemes. For garden beds, use parsley to bulk out your regular planting. Chili and basil make colourful and edible patio plants (both are tender but do well from seed on protected patios and sunny windowsills). And you can eat them, of course, so you’ll save money on groceries too. Evergreen plants like Abelia, Freylina, Westringeas and Cupheas will make the choice for structured pruned plants easier. For indigenous and waterwise medium sized hedges try planting Freylina or Westringea. Ideally they should be planted half a metre from each other for ease of foliage knitting together to create an almost instant hedge.
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Acers for every spade Acer palmatum – Selected Hybrids
Capture the pure gentle calming essence from Japanese maples. From their amazing bronze, gold and orange foliage colours through the winter cycle will transform these deciduous beauties into trees bursting with new leaf growth. Acer trees compliment many different Oriental, English Cottage and Woodland styled gardens. Choose from many varities, available at GardenShop.
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Good enough to RELAX Time to get outdoors, time for more gardening and more significantly, more relaxing outdoors. There is no better place than taking time out to relax in your garden. Browse our garden centers for patio and garden furniture, wooden benches and bistro sets.
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Lovely Lavenders Series: ‘Lace’ and ‘Ruffles’ Lavender ‘Lace’ and ‘Ruffles’ are at home in just about any garden landscape. Their garden style versatility varies from a relaxed cottage country garden to their adaptability of needing less water in waterwise gardens. Producing abundant flowers in early spring with such fragrance as to attract a host of butterflies and a perfect companion plant to roses, herbs and vegetables to help deter aphid infestation. Consider planting as a free flowing hedge around your vegetable, rose, rock or herb garden. Planting in full sun is necessary to assist with continuous flowering and to maintain their compact growth habit. Keep watering to a miminum to compliment and sustain their Mediterranean way, even in containers they require less water.
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Lavender Spring 2015 Collection
Lavender is still popular in the home today, if only as a fragrance. But for many years it was grown for its many practical, fragrance and health qualities. Dried and stored in muslin bags and placed in clothes and linen cupboards were a sure way to deter moths and other insects. It was also used in many homes to keep flies away. Another great benefit from Lavender is to plant it amongst rose bushes to help deter aphids and other harmful insects. Bees love Lavender!.
How to care for your Lavender
Lavender is also effective at reducing irritability and anxiety, promoting relaxation and a sense of calm. A few drops of Lavender oil on your pillow or in the bathwater at night will help promote sleep. And last of all, it can also be used in cooking, Lavender Syrup, Lavender Shortbread and also chopped up fresh or dried. Combined with lemon juice and olive oil it may be used as a rub for pork or lamb. All of that from one little powerful herb! Varieties of Lavender to look out for:
Positioning: Plant Lavender in full sun with a minimum of 4 hours of sunlight a day. Watering: •
Once planted in the ground, water your Lavender for the first couple of weeks until it is established. Thereafter no need to water as Lavenders are waterwise.
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If planted in a container, water frequently during hot weather. In winter wait until the soil has dried out before watering.
• Lavender ‘Dentata’ – French Lavender • Lavender ‘Stoechas’ • Lavender x intermedia ‘Margaret Roberts’ • Lavender pendiculata ‘With Love’
Maintenance: Prune after two years of growth. Remove one third of the Lavender plant.
EXCLUSIVE Lavender Collection plants available at GardenShop from R150.
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Spathyphyllum
Green Indoor Living spaces Foliage and flowering indoor pot plants, air plants and succulents grown for their foliage and flowering qualities will green up your home. The practical uses are vast and varied, bringing a touch of nature into indoor living home and work spaces. Moreover, they are a practical and affordable way of transforming your living area into a rich living oasis where tension and boredom are dispelled. Plants improve the quality of air we breathe and this is proved by many studies. In the late ’80s, NASA and the Associated Landscape Contractors of America studied indoor plants as a way to purify the air in space facilities. Indoor foliage plants like Ferns, Aglonemas flowering Chrysanthemums, Bamboo Palms, Dracaenas and Ficus varieties are available throughout the year and with the correct positioning in your home or office, not only provides interest but most importantly cleans the air we breathe in.
Aglonema
GardenShop indoor plants to improve air quality: • Spathyphyllum • Aglonema • Anthirium • Ficus lyrata Coming in very favourably as green indoor plants are air plants. In a home setting, give an air plant bright, but filtered sunlight, like that found near an east-, south- or west-facing window. Many gardeners place an air plant in a bathroom to take advantage of shower-generated humidity, but having adequate sunlight is more important. Outdoors, a protected porch, patio enclosure usually gives air plants the filtered sunlight they crave.
Anthirium
Zebra Bromeliad
Above: Airplant growing in a glass ball. Top right: Ficus lyrata. Right: Aloe growing in peach pips and bark chips. Below: Spathyphyllum in glass vases.
Watering is probably the trickiest part of growing these unusual plants. In an interior room, air plants often die from under watering because their owners mistakenly assume the plants absorb moisture from the air. In their natural enviroment that scenario works. In the dry air of a heated or airconditioned room, air plants need water. Use rain water or bottled water. Are you seeing green yet? Growing succulents and aloes in glass is also a very effective way of introducing plant life into the home. Not only for decorative purposes, Aloes and Sanserveria thrive indoors, grown in glass vases with only stones (without any soil!) they make for unusual and interesting living decor pieces. Visit GardenShop for more ideas on how plants can be used to green up your living and work space.
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Exclusive containers at GardenShop
Time to replant, rejuvenate and planting of new containers for springtime magic. Do it with spring flair and choose from GardenShop’s selection of quality pots and containers imported from all corners of the earth. Our modern, classical and traditional containers are sourced from countries including China, Germany, Thailand and Malaysia. Our pots offer you versatility in creating new indoor and outdoor plantscapes. And of course they provide bold focal points to add to the design and architecture of your home. Whether your prefer terracotta or a glazed finish, square-shaped, round, rectangular or something truly special, our wide, unique selection affords you indoor and outdoor gardening creativity from simple to elaborate. The possibilities are limitless. Tips for successful container gardening: •
Take time when choosing your container
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Plan before you plant
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Choose Culterra potting soil
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Fertilise regularly
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Water regularly
Conta
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Dianthus Dwarf Carnation
Series: Scent from Heaven New compact Dianthus in South Africa. Plant Dianthus varieties – ‘Angel of Desire’, Angel of Forgiveness’ and ‘Angel of Peace’ – in borders, garden beds, cottage gardens, perennial borders or in large containers. They grow well in dry, cold and humid conditions. Compact with a neat and tidy growth habit. Free-flowering, which will attract a host of butterflies.
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Image: GLC Design Studio/Four Seasons Gardens
Feed ‘em right for peak performance!
When Spring is at its most beautiful, our homes are abuzz with friends and family as we entertain in typical SA style with ‘braai & beer’. The Springbok 2015 Rugby World Cup rugby squad has been announced, so before the whistle blows, get your garden and entertainment area into tip top shape! For peak performance, the Bokke will be fed at optimal levels to ensure that they fulfill our nation’s dreams and win the World Cup! Now we use the same formula for a winning spring garden with staying power throughout the year – feed it right for peak performance!
Best fertilisers to use for success VITA GROW 2:3:2(16) – Yellow pack • Use on all new plantings of lawns, shrubs, roses, trees and root vegetables. • Feed when pruning roses, fruit trees and shrubs. • Apply as a general fertiliser throughout the garden late winter. VITA FRUIT & FLOWER 3:1:5(18) – Red pack • Early spring feed for flowering plants, shrubs and trees (spring flowers). • Feed fruit trees, shrubs and vines. • Feed flowering pot and container plants. VITA GREEN 5:1:5(16) – Green pack • Early spring feed for greening lawns. • Feed tropical gardens, palms and ferns. • Feed leafy indoor and outdoor container plants. VITA VEG 6:3:4(16) – Orange pack • When planting seeds or seedlings of vegetables, herbs or berries. • Feed vegetables, herbs and berries. TALBORNE SEEDLING FOOD – Pink pack • Planting spring flower seedlings and herbs, for hanging baskets and containers. • Add to germination medium for seedling propagation.
EASY ORGANIC FERTILISER TIPS: Apply VITA Organic fertilizer at 100 to 150g per m2 (1 - 2 handfuls) and Fertilis Earthworm Castings 250ml (1 cup) by sprinkling over surface then water as usual. Fertilise with Vita every 4 months thereafter. For new plantings, of garden beds, seeds, shrubs, roses, lawns & trees: After soil preparation, sprinkle Vita Organic fertilizer 100 to 150g per m2 (1-2 handfuls) and Fertilis Earthworm Castings 250ml (1 cup) and till into topsoil before planting, or add to planting hole of shrubs, roses, trees or berries. Water well and 3x per week to establish. Fertilise with Vita every 4 months thereafter.
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Plants need these foods to flourish: 1. NITROGEN (N) for bright green leaves. 2. PHOSPHATE (P) for strong roots, stems and vigour. 3. POTASSIUM (K) for flowering, fruit and stress resistance. 4. MINOR & MICRO NUTRIENTS for healthy growth, strength and vitality.
Did you know?
For established gardens, seedlings, shrubs, roses, lawns & trees:
See www.talborne.co.za for Edu-info on organic food for plants
The best herbs for delicious, healthy, herbal teas
There is nothing as comforting as a cup of tea, and that applies equally to herbal teas. What’s nice about herbal teas is that you can drink them in the morning to cleanse the system, at midday for an energy boost and in the evening as a digestive after a heavy meal or as a soothing tea to help you sleep. The secret lies in choosing the right herbs, making the tea correctly and adding honey, lemon juice or fruit juice if it improves the flavour. Herbs for cleansing, refreshing teas: • Parsley (Petroselinum crispum) is a very effective cleansing herb because it detoxes the kidneys, contains vitamins A and C and also boosts the immune system. It has a clean, earthy taste and is best combined with honey, apple or even carrot juice. Parsley grows in sun or semi shade and needs rich, moist well drained soil. • Lemon verbena (Aloysia triphylla) has the strongest lemon taste and fragrance of all the lemony herbs. Instead of starting the day with hot water and lemon, try lemon verbena tea. Verbena grows best in full sun, likes a light soil that drains well and should be watered regularly. The best energy boosters … are rosemary (Rosmarinus officinalis) and ginger (Zingiber officinale). Both alleviate digestive problems and stimulate the circulation while rosemary also acts as an antidepressant. Add honey for taste. Adventurous types can add a bit of chilli! Try a pineapple cooler … for those hot days by making an iced tea using delicious and refreshing pineapple sage (Salvia elegans). Add mint julep for an extra punch! Pineapple sage is a bushy perennial that grows 1,5m high and wide, with spikes of red flowers and lime green leaves. Grow it in full sun, in moist but well drained soil. Fine dining digestives … Mint teas are wonderfully refreshing after a heavy meal. Those that make the best teas are darden mint, spearmint, ginger mint (with variegated gold and green ginger scented leaves), pineapple mint (green and cream variegated leaves) and mint julep that has a striking fresh flavour. All mints require the same kind of growing conditions; moist, rich soil in a partially shaded spot. For Sweet dreams make soothing teas from chamomile, lavender, lemon balm or rose geranium. Sip the tea just before you go to bed.
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Organic Heirloom Vegetable and Herb Seeds to delight! For the past 229 years, Franchi Sementi has offered their traditional Italian varieties of vegetables to discerning gardening and cooking enthusiasts in Europe, America and Australia. Now, South Africans too can experience the uniqueness and quality of these seeds and seedlings through their South African distributor Sought after Seedlings. And the great news is they’re available at GardenShop!
Most Franchi Sementi seeds are open pollinating heritage/heirloom varieties that are grown to maintain the longevity of vegetables which have been around for hundreds of years, ensuring quality and exceptional taste. Nature takes care of their propagation which means that they are not genetically engineered nor tampered with in any way. Besides from the unique look, difference in taste and the obvious nutritional benefit of Franchi Sementi vegetables, South Africans will also benefit from their high germination rate and long shelf life. From beans, beets, butternut, carrots, cabbages, cauliflower, squash to cucumber, zucchini, tomato, basil, coriander and endless more! As they say, variety is the spice of life – buon appetito! Visit www.soughtafterseedlings.co.za to discover the appetising world of Franchi Sementi seeds!
Sought After Seedlings: Saxon Garden
Franchi Sementi are a story of tradition, pride, experience, quality, passion and excellence handed down over seven generations.
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Pincushions Leucospermum
A Feast of Colour! Better than a bunch of flowers! Extremely rewarding and satisfying to grow. Generously produce flowers during the spring months. Colours vary from bright sunny yellows, warm fiery reds and playful oranges. Indigenous, Water wise, Low maintenance garden or container plants. Protect against frost.
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East Rand Orchid Society Spring Show Date:
September 2 – 4, 2015
Time:
8am to 5pm
Venue: GardenShop FloraFarm Cnr North Rand and Trichardts Roads, Boksburg •
Huge Orchid Displays
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Ikebana Display
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Orchid Vendors – orchids and accessories
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Lifestyle Groups
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Potting Demonstrations
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Much more
A South African Heritage Garden
Protea Pincushion - visual courtesy Arnelia Farms
Entrance is Free.
Indigen
ous
A South African Heritage garden welcomes waterwise gardening practices including and planting indigenous plants, drought resistant plants, ornamental grasses and succulents. These plants are perfect solutions for gardens that are making the transition into low maintenance waterwise gardening. GardenShop encourages gardeners to support our indigenous plant range. Plants are easily identifiable with a South African flag label. September marks the annual Heritage Month in South Africa.
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