In the Garden Jobs for the yard in May That’s a lot of pumpkin pie, Ashton!
• If your spring flowering seedlings haven’t survived the recent rains it’s not too late to plant Iceland poppies, pansies or snapdragons to fill the gaps. • Grass growth will start to slow down now but weeds still grow. Keep on top of weeds, especially bindi, clover and tropical chickweed. • Bare rooted roses will be in stores now but don’t rush in and buy as the optimum time for planting is the end of next month. • Gingers and heliconias that have finished flowering, such as parrots beak heliconia, can be cut back now leaving the new growth for next season’s flowering display. • Apply a light dusting of lime to bare vege beds. Don’t apply fertliser at the same time as the lime reacts with the nitrogen creating ammonia gas. • Plant leafy coriander plants now. The cooler temperatures will stop them bolting to seed. • Your strawberry plants should be coming on well now. Apply a little pelletised manure and use fish and seaweed solutions regularly over the plants to keep them in good health. It’s not too late to put some in if you haven’t done so already. Vegetables Plant beetroot, silverbeet, broad beans, onions, spring onions, peas, carrot, kohlrabi, lettuce, radish, turnip, capsicum, celery, beans, garlic, leeks, parsnip, peas, potatoes, sweet potato, tomato, broccoli, parsley, cabbage, cauliflower and coriander. Flowers Plant alyssum, marigold, petunia, calendula, cineraria, cornflower, dianthus, hollyhock, kale, lobelia, pansy, phlox, Iceland poppy, primula, snapdragon, statice, stock, sweet pea (seedling), viola, carnation, cyclamen, foxglove, gaillardia, salvia, sunflower and verbena.
Little Ashton Ruddle has big plans for his giant pumpkin. In a new competition category, giant pumpkins will make their debut in the produce section of the Maleny Show, to be held on May 31 and June 1. Ashton hopes his pumpkin will be big enough to win him a prize. With giant pumpkin growing becoming a popular pastime, show organisers are calling on anyone who has one of these massive marrows to be like Ashton and enter it in the show. Any type of fruit and vegetable produce listed in the show’s competition sections can be entered. Entries will be accepted at the Maleny Showgrounds on Wednesday, May 29 (3-5pm) or Thursday, May 30 (7.30-10am). To see the categories available, just go to the show website – www. malenyshowsociety.org.au/ produce.pdf – to see which section takes your fancy. There are specific sections for kids, so why not get them involved in the local show. For more information call the show office on 5494 2008.
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Gardening diary dates – May Elimbah-Caboolture Herb Club What: Monthly meeting Friday Where: Caboolture PCYC in Toovey Street, Caboolture Time: 10am More info: Ruth on 5496 7649
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FaunaWatch What: Walk, survey wildlife and learn Wednesday about FaunaWatch Where: Maroochy Bushland Botanic Gardens, Tanawha Time: 8am More info: Paul on 0422 429 594
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Glasshouse Country Orchid Society What: Monthly meeting. Thursday New members always welcome. Come early if you have plants to show Where: RSL Hall in Glass House Mountains Time: 7.30pm More info: Robyn on 0427 138 168
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Native Plants Sunshine Coast What: Guided walk by Sunday Kenneth McClymont from Sunshine Coast Council Where: Ewen Maddock Dam More info: lpw3@bigpond.com or 5429 6845
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Peachester Garden Club What: Monthly meeting. New members always welcome Where: Peachester Hall Time: 9.30am More info: 5496 9169
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Thursday
Friday-Saturday
Maleny Show Where: Maleny Showgrounds, Stanley River Road, Maleny What: Wonderful range of fruit and veges as well as cut flowers entered by local gardeners More info: on how to enter www.malenyshowsociety.org.au
Botanic Garden Day
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Where: Maroochy Bushland Botanic Gardens, Tanawha Sunday What: The theme is Natives naturally Small is beautiful. A program of activities filled with garden ideas. Plants for sale on site. Gardening Australia’s Jerry Coleby-Williams lecture on the 21st century cottage garden 9–10am and 11am– 12noon. Cost $10 per person plus registration fee and includes free plant. More info: Register at the Eventbrite website, search Natives naturally – Small is beautiful.
Eco-Nursery Native Plants l Fruit Trees Habitat l Education
20 Coral St, Maleny Call 07 5435 2193
Soils - Mulches - Gravels Sands - Potting mix 20 Tytherleigh Ave, Landsborough Ph: 5494 1153 Delivery all areas ~ Courtesy trailer available
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OPEN Tuesday to Saturday (visit our website for opening hours)
www.forestheart.com.au
Ask Brownie Send your gardening related questions through to brownie@gcnews.com.au Glasshouse Country & Maleny News
