Yates Growing with You - Spring Edition 2018

SPR

ING

EDI

TIO

issue 3

s p r i n g p l anting

WHAT TO

GROW

NOW

INCREASE YOUR HOME'S

curb appeal

green

top 5 indoor plants

WITH ENVY

t r ic k s o f th e t r a d e

FLORAL CROWNS GROW STRAWBALE BERRIES

01 g r o w i n g w i t h y o u - YA T E S H OW TO B U Y PLANTS AT THE NU R SERY

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spring planting

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04

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SPRING PLANTING

SUMMER FLOWERS

FLORAL CROWNS

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PLANTSPIRATION

TOP 5 INDOOR PLANTS

POT PLANT CARE

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PLANTER BOX TO PLATE

SUPERFOODS

STRAWBALE BERRIES

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ADD VALUE TO YOUR HOME

SPRING INTO THE LAWN

NURSERY BUYING TRICKS

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TROPICAL PLANTS

SILVER LEAF FOLIAGE

GOOD BUGS & BAD BUGS

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WHAT'S EATING MY CITRUS?

HOW TO GROW: PASSION FRUIT

THE HAPPY GARDENER BLOG

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spring spring planting planting

grow W H AT TO

N OW

With the warmer weather upon us, now is a good time to be thinking of what to sow and grow!

There are so many fantastic vegies & herbs that can be sown and grown during spring.

Here are a few ideas to whet your gardening appetite.

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TO M ATO E S Whether you have room for a big patch of tomatoes or one pot on a sunny balcony, there's a tomato for you.

Yates Tomato 'Grosse Lisse' has large red and tasty fruit on a tall and vigorous plant that requires staking.

Yates Tomato 'Tiny Tim' produces masses of sweet, cherry sized tomatoes which are perfect for salads and popping in school lunch boxes. They're dwarf plants that are great for growing in pots.

H OW TO G R OW TO M ATO E S FROM SEED: »» Seed can be sown direct into a vegie patch that’s had the soil enriched with Yates Dynamic Lifter® Soil Improver & Plant Fertiliser or sown into seedling punnets filled with a good quality seed raising mix like Yates Seed Raising Mix.

SALAD GREENS Salad ingredients like loose leaf lettuce and silverbeet are quick and easy to grow at home, in both the vegie patch and in pots.

These are 'cut and come again' vegies and you can harvest individual leaves as you need them, leaving the rest of the plant to grow more leaves. Yates Lettuce 'Baby Combo' is an interesting blend of green and red sweet baby leaf lettuces. Yates Silverbeet 'Perpetual' has mild flavoured smooth leaves with slim green stalks. Both lettuce and perpetual silverbeet seeds can be sown direct where they are to grow (in the garden or a pot) and you can start harvesting in as little as 6 weeks. Keep the plants wellwatered and feed regularly with a complete plant food like Yates Thrive Vegie & Herb Liquid Plant Food.

»» Keep the soil or seed raising mix moist and seedlings will start to emerge within 2 weeks. »» For seedlings raised in punnets they can be transplanted into their final home, in either a garden bed or a container, when they’re 5-7 cm tall.

Only transplant out once the last chance of frost has passed! »» In a fortnight, start feeding each week with Yates Thrive® Tomato Liquid Plant Food, which will provide the tomatoes with a balanced diet of nutrients to promote lots of healthy growth and encourage lots of flowers which will turn into delicious fruit.

Herbs add vibrant colour and flavour to home cooking and having them readily available at your fingertips makes it so easy.

Yates Basil 'Gourmet Mix' is a culinary collection of attractive and fragrant basil varieties including Thai, lemon, cinnamon and purple basil and is perfect for salads, bruschetta and pasta.

Yates Dill is a versatile and aromatic herb that combines wonderfully with seafood.

Both basil and dill can be grown out in the garden or in pots and can be harvested for many weeks. Regular watering and feeding with Yates Thrive Vegie & Herb Liquid Plant Food will encourage an abundance of fragrant foliage.

Tip: Basil and dill can be attacked by

aphids, which are small sap sucking insects that deplete plants of important sugars and nutrients. Aphids are easy to control with regular sprays of Yates Nature's Way Vegie & Herb Spray, which is based on natural vegetable oils and is certified for use in organic gardens. g r o w i n g w i t h y o u - YA T E S

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summer summer flowers flowers

SIGHTS & SCENTS the

r e m m Su

of

Spring is when gardens can come to life, producing masses of new foliage and beautiful flowers. But don’t just leave it there! Continue the flower show well into summer by sowing seeds or planting bulbs of flowers that will bloom beautifully during the hottest months.

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summer flowering bulbs include hippeastrum, gladioli, spider lilies and liliums. Hippeastrums have large vibrant trumpet shaped flowers, gladioli make fabulous cut flowers up to 1.5 m long, spider lilies have unusually shaped white fragrant flowers and there are lots of different summer flowering liliums that have brightly coloured flowers, some of which are sweetly scented.

summer flowers

that can be grown from seed include California poppy, cosmos, zinna and nasturtium. California poppies are sun lovers that produce an abundance of vivid flowers in shades of red, orange, yellow and white. Yates Cosmos 'Sensation' has delicate ferny foliage and grows up to 90 cm tall and is covered in rose, crimson and white bee attracting flowers. Yates Zinnia 'Gold Medal' gives a dazzling spectacle of scarlet, yellow, orange and pink flowers on large 1.2 m tall plants, making it a perfect flower for growing at the back of a garden border. Yates Nasturtium 'Jewel Mixed' has trailing foliage with sweetly scented orange, yellow and salmon flowers and looks fantastic cascading out of a hanging basket or window box.

summer flowering shrubs,like big and beautiful hydrangeas, with their supersized flower heads, create a spectacular display during the warmer months. The flowers themselves are very tiny, it's the coloured 'bracts' that surround the flowers that are the show stoppers. Hydrangeas come in a wonderful range of colours, including blues, pinks, mauves, lime green and white, and many new varieties are delightfully multi coloured.

another summer flowering favourite is gardenias, which can be covered head to toe in intensely fragrant white flowers from late spring until autumn. They're hardy shrubs, but do best when grown in a moist, well drained location with morning sun. Planting gardenias near a bedroom window and allowing their beautiful heady scent to waft indoors at night is heavenly. Gardenias can also be grown in a pot, so are a perfect choice for a courtyard, balcony or patio.

PLANTING PREP • Before planting bulbs or sowing seeds, improve the soil in the garden bed by mixing in Yates Dynamic Lifter Soil Improver & Plant Fertiliser.

• It's a rich source of organic matter which helps improve soil nutrient and water holding capacity, attracts earthworms and beneficial microorganisms and also provides gentle slow release organic nutrients to the plants as they establish.

• When growing flowers in containers, use a quality potting mix like Yates Premium Potting Mix and a pot with good drainage holes.

• Once flower seedlings or bulbs are around 10 cm tall, start feeding weekly with a complete plant food like Yates Thrive Roses & Flowers Liquid Plant Food , which has been boosted with additional flower promoting potassium to encourage healthy plants and lots of gorgeous summer flowers.

• Spray sap-suckers like scale, aphids and mealy bugs with Yates Nature's Way Citrus & Ornamental Spray, which is based on natural pyrethrin and vegetable oil and is certified for use in organic gardening.

t r e p • Ex • tip

Remove spent flowers regularly (or cut fresh flowers for a vase) as this will help to keep the plants looking tidy and help encourage a longer flowering period.

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floral floral crown crown

bloomin’ beauty Want to feel like royalty, without breaking the bank?

Become your own boho-princess by making a flower crown.

These gorgeous head pieces are perfect for adding a little extra to your outfit or just to bright up a dull day. Plus, they hurt a lot less to wear than those tacky tiaras!

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what you’ll need:

FLORAL WIRE

FLORAL TAPE

SCISSORS OR FLORAL WIRE CUTTERS

MIX OF SMALL AND LARGE LEAVES DUSTY MILLER IVY SMALL CAMELLIA LEAVES

Step 1: Prepare the wire Form a circle with floral wire, using your head as a guide. Don’t worry too much about it being a perfect fit – there will be ribbon tied to the ends to help adjust the fit later. Trim excess wire and make one loop on each end by twisting the wire back on itself for 2cm. Wrap floral tape tightly around entire length the crown, leaving the loops exposed.

Step 2: Build the base Starting at one end, arrange a couple pieces of greenery, facing them toward the direction you started. Once you’re happy, wrap tape around the wire and stems, ensuring at least 2cm of the stems are taped, otherwise they will fall out. TIP: Floral tape is stretchy, so pull tight and use your finger tips to warm the tape to help it fit snugly along the wire.

Step 3: Add the flowers Lay a flower on top of the greenery, ensuring the stem is at least 6-7cm and face it toward the same direction you started. Wrap tape tightly around the stem, circling 4-5 times to secure.

Step 4: Build the crown

MIX OF FLOWERS (FRESH OR FAUX, WE DON’T JUDGE!)*

Continue to add greenery and flowers, spacing the flowers at least 2-3cm apart and facing them in the same direction. If you want a fuller head piece, add them close together (don't stack!), but be conscious of the weight they will add.

Step 6: Finishing touches Once you’ve attached all the flowers, thread ribbon through the loops on both ends of the wire, sit the crown in place and tie the ribbon ends together for a loose, but comfortable fit.

15CM RIBBON *To help your flower crown last as long as possible trim each flower stem to 6-7cm and place in a vase of chilled water for at least an hour.

If this a trend you've fallen in love with and want to learn more, then visit the Sydney Flower School. Based at the Sydney Flower Markets, they run various courses, covering DIY floral crowns to interior floral styling. Visit www.sydneyflowerschool.com.au 09 g r o w i n g w i t h y o u - YA T E S

plantspiration plantspiration

ohso chic Your indoor plant collection is growing, but instead of just leaving the pots randomly scattered all over your rooms (although, we totally love the jungle vibe!), get creative and show off

your indoor plant collection in style! Whether it’s grouping plants

together on a shelf (#plantshelfie) or stringing them up with macramĂŠ, there is no shortage of ideas for you to display your greenery.

lone wolf

Sometimes, all you need is just one plant. The lone wolf. It doesn't need a pack to make a statement, it is the statement. It creates enough impact simply by its size (the bigger the better!) and shape. Pair it with a modern planter, and boom *mic drop*, you're done.

Think fiddle leaf fig, monstera, golden cane palm or large leaf philodendrons.

#plantshelfie Wooden boxes or floating shelves are great for displaying plants particularly if they have hanging or trailing foliage, like this ivy. Secure shelves to wall studs, but if you need extra support, look for fasteners which expand and grab the wall as the screw is tightened.

three amigos There's a rule in garden design (or any design, for that matter) and that's to group things in odd numbers. It helps create a pleasing, but eye-catching display. And don't limit yourself to potted plants either - stem cuttings work just as well, too. Plus, it's a great way to propagate!

just hangin'

When you don't have any space left for plants (there's no such thing in our opinion), grow up! Think vertical and install hooks in your ceiling. Ensure they're secured properly before you hang any plants.

Also, consider if you can easily remove pots for watering - a pot can be quite heavy once you water it, so you'll need to see if the hook will be able to support it when wet, otherwise you'll need to take it down for watering and return once it dries out a little. For a chic way to display your hangers, go for macrame. Fashion one yourself or look online for designs.

looking sharp

Cacti & succulents make fabulous potted specimens, and boy, are they a talking point!

Their dramatic forms and textures (not all have spikes!) punctuate a space and suit various styles, from lofty New York apartments to pared back minimalistic or simply, urban jungles (we love this the most!). Look for San Pedro, opuntia or prickly euphorbias.

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top top 55 indoor indoor plants plants

n e e r g vy en WITH

Looking for inspiration on what to buy and grow indoors?

We’ve got you covered! Here’s the top 5 plants you need in your home right now. They’ll also purify the air and add a little somethin’ somethin’ to your space.

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1

pilea

One of the hottest plants of 2018, the Chinese money plant (Pilea peperomioides) is much loved for its flat round leaves and easy-tocare for nature. However, it’s not the only pilea out there! Check out the aluminium plant (Pilea cadierei) or silver sprinkles (Pilea glaucophylla) – they deserve a little love, too.

Growing tips: »»If artificial heating or air conditioning is used, mist the foliage daily to increase humidity levels around the plant. »»Water regularly during the warmer months allowing the potting mix to dry slightly between watering.

Water sparingly during winter.

4

peperomia

This family of plants make great little ornamental indoor decorations!

They’re easy to grow and available in various colours including dark green, red, purple, silver and variegated forms, too.

There’s one to suit everyone’s wish list. Don’t believe us? Check out watermelon peperomia (Peperomia argyreia), jade necklace (Peperomia prostrata) or Peperomia obtusifolia.

Growing tips: »»Position in a well-lit spot, out of direct sunlight. »»If the plant is unstable, use supports such as stone or stakes to hold it upright while the roots establish. »»They don’t mind being left in the same pot for while – you can generally leave them in the same pot for 2-3 years and just top up the soil in the meantime.

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devil’s ivy

Hands down, devil’s ivy (Epipremnum aureum) is the. best. indoor. plant. ever! Why? Well, this tough trailing plant will grow virtually anywhere - from hanging baskets to troughs or even cuttings placed in a glass vase. It can handle dimly lit rooms and will forgive you for the times you forget to water – seriously, what’s not to love?

Growing tips: »»Position in well-lit spot, out of direct sunlight. Although, they will tolerate dimly lit areas. »»Look for cultivars like Marble Queen or 'NJoy', which have different variegations to devil's ivy »»Prune and take cuttings in spring and summer – place them in glass jars filled with water to encourage rooting.

5

hoya

Once considered a plant only your nan would grow, hoyas are now cool to collect. Plus, they’re super undemanding, so will be kind to you even if you’re not to them. Look for the traditional hoya or wax plant (Hoya carnosa) or branch out and explore all the various forms and variegations, like Indian rope hoya, with its twisted pendant leaves (Hoya compacta) or Valentine hoya (Hoya kerrii), which has sweet heart shaped foliage.

Growing tips: »»Position in a brightly lit spot, out of direct sunlight.

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air plants

Think you have a black thumb? Well guess what, we’ve got the perfect plants for you! Air plants or Tillandsia spp. They literally live off the air and can be grown indoors, hanging from tree branches or balancing precariously on intriguing objects or garden ornaments. You can also keep them on your desk at work or on a dish on your coffee table – très chic!

Growing tips: »»Air plants generally prefer outdoor or breezy environments, but will grow well indoors provided they’re in a well-lit spot, out of direct sunlight. »»During hot and drier periods, give them a good soak in a bowl of water. Wet thoroughly and then remove.

WE'VE GOT YOU

sorted

QUALITY POTTING MIX Yates Premium Potting Mix

FERTILISER Yates Thrive Houseplant Liquid Plant Food (warmer months only)

PEST CONTROL Help control most sap sucking bugs on your plants with Yates Rose Gun Black Spot & Insect Pest Killer

»»Hoyas can be slow growing, so be patient! Just admire what they have to show. »»They like to grow in tight, compact pots, so leave them be for years and when repotting, just go one size up.

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pot pot plant plant care care

move over crazy cat people, the crazy plant craze is here!

going potty This trend is taking over offices, cafes, shopping centres and of course, all rooms of our homes. From herbs and edibles on balconies, to indoor beauties such as the string of pearls and magnificent monsteras to the dramatic fiddle leaf fig – there is bound to be a plant (or plants!) to suit your space.

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With the increase of potted plants in and around your living and working spaces, we thought it timely to give you a hand on how best to care and maintain your potted wonders.

let's talk dirt There are so many options available now, garden soil, potting mixes, premium potting mixes, indoor potting mixes, vegie mixes the list goes on. With so many choices, which one is best for your pots and plants?

Potting mixes are essentially well composted pine bark mixed with sand and fertilisers. Always look for a product that has black or red ‘ticks’ on the front as it indicates that the mix complies with Australian Standards. Black is standard, while red indicates a premium potting mix, which normally contains additional fertiliser and trace elements to give your plants a real boost when planted.

refresh & revitalise Just like you and me, potting mix ages. Unfortunately, it’s not like a fine wine which tends to get better with age. As potting mix ages, it shrinks and composts further, so needs to be replenished or replaced to ensure your plants continue to thrive.

It’s ideal to change or add new potting mix to your pots every 2 years. This will replenish the organic matter and provide a better mix to grow in. After re-potting, water in well with Yates Dynamic Lifter Liquid Concentrate which can assist with transplant shock as well as adding organic matter to the potting mix.

well rooted As plants grow, so do their roots, and if they’re not given the space, they can become tangled within each other, aka ‘pot bound’. Some plants don’t mind this (here’s looking at you, hoya), but for most plants, it’s best to re-pot into a larger home or trim back their roots.

Small trees like citrus and dwarf natives should be re-potted every few years, while other plants such as ficus trees or smaller shrubs can be re-potted in their old homes after a light root prune. To do this, remove the plant from the pot and gently tickle the rootball to loosen the potting mix. If it’s severely tangled, cut back the entire rootball by up to one-third. Otherwise, gently untangle the roots and lightly trim so it’ll comfortably fit back the pot. It’s also important to prune the plant back too, to assist with reducing shock and to match the size of the new root ball. If the plant is too big for its roots, it will tumble.

After transplanting always ensure that you feed well with Yates Dynamic Lifter Liquid Concentrate. This assists with reducing transplant shock and gives the potting mix a boost at the same time!

thirsty soils Ever given your plants a good drink when they looked unhappy one day, only to find them exactly in the same way the next day? Have you watered and watched the water sit on top, then quickly drain to to the base? If so, then your potting mix is actually repelling water, so the roots aren’t getting their much needed H2O! This is a common occurrence in potting mixes and pots of all kinds.

As potting mixes age, they dry out and shrink and eventually, don’t absorb water well anymore. But, there’s an easy fix! Regularly apply a soil wetter such as Yates Waterwise Soil Wetter - this helps break down the barrier and allow water to better penetrate the soil. g r o w i n g w i t h y o u - YA T E S

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grow grow your your own own

PLANTER BOX

plate o t

There’s nothing quite like eating produce you’ve grown yourself.

It always tastes better and there’s a certain satisfaction that comes from nurturing a seedling to a full-grown plant. Plus, by taking your food from planter box to plate, you’re also doing your bit for the environment with zero food miles and packaging. You don’t need a lot of room either – just a simple planter in your backyard, courtyard or even on your windowsill will do the trick.

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1

2

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P I C K YO U R P L A N T S W I S E LY

L O C AT I O N COUNTS

K E E P YO U R P L A N T E R B O X W E L L - WAT E R E D

If your planter box is in a sunny spot choose fruits, vegies and herbs that perform best with full sun. These include rosemary, thyme, sage and fruiting vegies such as tomatoes, capsicum and chillies.

Potted plants dry out much faster than plants growing out in the garden, so it’s important to keep an eye on your soil moisture (it’s easy to test moisture levels with your finger.)

Choose fruits, vegies and herbs that are compact or dwarf varieties. The naturally smaller plants are better suited to growing in a container. Go for basil, parsley and strawberries as well as leafy greens like lettuce, silverbeet and spinach.

If you have a partly shaded spot, leafy vegies and herbs like silverbeet, coriander, rocket, parsley, basil and lettuce will thrive.

In the cooler months you can also plant Asian greens, spinach and kale to make quick, delicious and healthy salads.

A self-watering planter box or trough is an easy solution if you can’t water every day. They have a water reservoir at the base that can help keep the box watered over several days.

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5

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F E E D YO U R PLANTS

S TAY O N T O P OF IT

WAT C H O U T F O R C R E E P Y C R AW L I E S

Take full advantage of your handiwork and remember to pick your fruits, vegies and herbs regularly. This has multiple benefits – it helps keep the plants compact and tidy and promotes more fresh and tender new growth or more fruit.

Keep an eye out for insect pests like aphids and caterpillars. A few can be picked off (or squashed!), but a larger infestation can be controlled with Yates Nature’s Way Citrus & Ornamental Spray, which is approved for use in organic gardens.

It’s important to fill your planter box with a quality potting mix, like Yates Premium Potting Mix to give your plants the best start in life. Once the plants have settled in remember to feed them weekly with a suitable liquid fertiliser, like Yates Thrive Vegie & Herb or Yates Thrive Citrus Liquid Plant Food.

t c e f r e p r Fo produce...

Need more tips?

CHAT TO US on Live chat Our horticulturists provide advice tailored to your garden needs!

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super super foods foods

top 5 superfoods to grow now

feelin' super It’s no secret that superfoods are a major buzzword on the wellness scene right now, but the cost of buying produce isn’t always easy to stomach. Don’t worry, we’ve got you sorted. Here are our top 5 picks. Healthy, delicious and affordable?

Yep, #wegotthis. It’s time to get your green on.

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turmeric Turmeric has received a fair amount of publicity over recent times for its anti-inflammatory properties, cardiovascular health benefits and cancer-fighting abilities. It may also help improve blood sugar levels and assist in reducing the effects of Alzheimer's disease.

how to grow it:

how to eat it:

Turmeric prefers a warm and partly shaded location with soil that’s been enriched with organic matter, like Yates Dynamic Lifter Soil Improver & Plant Fertiliser. Plant turmeric rhizomes (underground stems) around 40 centimetres apart, water well and keep moist.

Add turmeric to scrambled eggs and frittatas, toss it with roasted vegetables, add it to rice dishes, use it in soups, blend it into your next veggie smoothie or make your own turmeric latte.

blueberries

green beans

Blueberries are high in vitamins, fibre and antioxidants (plus, they are delicious!)

how to grow it:

Aside from being a great source of protein, complex carbs, and fibre, beans contain a powerhouse of nutrients including antioxidants, and vitamins and minerals (such as copper, folate, iron, magnesium, manganese, phosphorous, potassium, and zinc).

how to grow it:

Blueberries need a sunny spot with well-drained, slightly acidic soil.

They also do really well in pots. Just make sure to keep the soil moist and regularly feed with Yates Thrive Natural Citrus & Fruit Organic Based Pelletised Food.

The good news is beans are some of the easiest vegies to grow. Choose a spot with lots of sun and great drainage, improve the soil with Yates Dynamic Lifter and simply sow the seeds into moist soil. Bonus: there’s a range of beans to choose from depending on your taste and available growing space.

how to eat it:

how to eat it:

Enjoy blueberries raw by the handful or bake them into cakes, muffins, pancakes and cheesecake.

Green beans make the perfect side dish or pair with garlic and oil, pesto or a soft-boiled egg.

spinach

microgreens

Not only is spinach low in fat and cholesterol, it’s also high in zinc, protein, fibre, vitamins A, C, E and K, thiamin, vitamin B6, folate, calcium, iron and magnesium.

These tiny plants have a higher concentration of vitamins and minerals. In fact, they can contain as much as six times the nutrients as the full-grown variety.

how to grow it:

how to grow it:

Spinach seeds are a good size so are relatively easy to handle and sow directly into the vegie patch or a pot.

If kept moist, seedlings will pop up within 3 weeks. Feed your spinach every one to two weeks with Yates Thrive Vegie & Herb Liquid Plant Food to help promote lots of lush green leaves.

Microgreens are perfect to grow in pots that sit on your window sill. Sprinkle seeds over a pot and cover with a thin layer of Yates Seed Raising Mix. Keep the soil moist using a mist spray and position on a warm, well-lit spot indoors.

how to eat it: Stir-fry spinach with garlic, use it in pasta dishes, soups, salads and smoothies. Instead of using herbs in pesto, try using spinach instead.

how to eat it: Microgreens are the perfect addition to fish or salmon burgers, egg white omelettes, fajitas and even make the perfect topping on a strawberry chocolate tart!

no no dig dig garden garden

Strawbale BERRIES Do you like the idea of not having to back-breakingly dig a garden? So do we!

You can still get your hands dirty, but with a no-dig garden, you take out most of the hard work.

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There are various ways you can ‘build’ a no dig garden, but we’re going to show you how to grow from a straw bale and plant it up with strawberries.

It’s portable (great for renters) and it’s self-mulching, too. Here’s how: step one: prepare the growing area If growing on the lawn, lay cardboard or newspaper over the area and wet well - this will help stop the weeds from coming through.

step two: choose the bales Look for lucerne or pea straw bales from your local agricultural supply store – you may even find them at your local pet store. Support the bales with edging, like wire or rope to hold them steady. A single bale will do for a strawberry planter, but if you want a strawbale 'garden', arrange them in rows in or a format that allows easy access.

step three: water is the key Water the bales until they’re thoroughly soaked. As the bales are tightly packed, the centre of the bales will start to warm up and break down – this will form your new soil!

step four: feed, feed, feed Feed once daily with a high nitrogen fertiliser, like Yates Thrive Natural Citrus & Fruit Liquid Plant Food this will help the straw to compost further and form a good base for your plants.

step five: stop – waiting time Stop feeding after 6 days, but continue to water to help keep the bale moist. By now, the bale should be nice and warm.

step six: feel it baby After 2 weeks, take a look at the composted matter you have created. If the mix is still quite hot, then it is not quite ready yet. If the bale has cooled and is now just warm, then it's ready to go!

step seven: ready for planting!

Once your bale is ready, plant plant plant! Plant strawberries at 15cm spacings and water in well with Yates Strawberry & Berry Fruit Liquid Plant Food.

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add add value value to to your your home home

Curb Appeal Thinking of selling your home?

First impressions count, so it’s important that you put that extra effort into improving your curb appeal. The best thing is that you don’t need to break the bank or completely renovate to make the most of your space – just a few small jobs and the addition of a couple of plants will really lift the area and make your home look and feel just that little bit more inviting.

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SCRUB + SHINE The walls and windows of your home are one of the first things prospective buyers will see, so take the time to give them a good clean before open day. Dilute Selleys Original Sugar Soap with water, apply to surfaces and scrub with a clean brush or broom. Rinse thoroughly with water, ensuring to remove it well from any glass or steel surface.

LAWN + ORDER Mow your front lawns (including the nature strip), but keep the mower on a high setting to avoid scalping the lawn – you don’t want bare patches on sale day! Don’t forget to control weeds and also feed the lawn (hello lush green lawn!), which you can do in one go with Yates Weed ‘n’ Feed (or Yates BuffaloPRO Weed ‘n’ Feed for buffalo lawns). Lastly, trim the edges along garden beds, paths and driveways to give your lawn and garden a clean, polished finish.

IT’S A COVER UP Mulch is magic stuff. Applying a layer of mulch, such as eucalyptus mulch, around garden beds not only helps to reduce moisture loss from the soil, it also acts as a final unifying touch and brings the look of the garden together.

WEED ‘EM + REAP Weeds are unsightly and can give the impression that your home isn’t well maintained. For a quick fix, spray weeds in garden beds, pathways and driveways with Yates Zero Rapid 1-hr Action Weedkiller. Once they have died down, remove them and either cover up with mulch or plant with potted colour to fill the space.

TRIM + TIDY Sweep fallen leaves, cut back overgrown trees or shrubs and remove any dead plants – sounds like a no-brainer, right? We know, but it’s often surprising how many people forget this point. And while you’re at it, don’t forget to feed any flowering plants to ensure they put on a show come sale day! Use Yates Thrive Roses & Flowers Liquid Plant Food weekly to encourage big beautiful blooms.

LIGHTING It’s good to note that a great deal of viewings take place in the afternoons and evenings, therefore it’s worth investing in garden lighting so potential buyers can get a good impression. Think solar lights along a pathway or a spotlight to help highlight feature trees or focal points.

MAKE A STATEMENT Before buyers step into your home, give them one last WOW factor by including a statement pot plant near the main entrance. Try two pots with clipped topiary on either side of the door or a single pot with filled with a striking foliage plant, like yucca or dracaena.

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spring spring lawn lawn care care

g n i r Sp into the

LAWN

Does your lawn look like it’s in need of a little pick-me-up?

It may not be from a lack of feeding and watering, but rather, a combination of lawn thatch build-up and compaction. This can stop water, fertiliser and even air from reaching your lawn roots, so no matter how much you feed and water it, the lawn continues to suffer in silence. Don’t fret! There are ways to fix this and get your lawn looking lush again.

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remove the thatch What is it, you ask? Thatch is the build-up of living and dead runners on top of the soil. Throughout the life of your lawn, new runners grow and the old runners die off underneath this new growth. After a while, this can build up to form a thick layer. While a small amount can be beneficial to the lawn (it helps with general wear and tear), when it becomes a thick spongy layer, it needs to be removed.

You can use a rake, but in the case where it’s too thick, you will need to scarify or verti-mow the lawn.

To do this, mow the lawn and lower the mower on each subsequent cut across the entire area, until you have removed all signs of green growth and the entire area is brown. You may need to lower the mower and cut your lawn 3-5 times in one session – don’t be tempted to lower your lawn too much on the first cut as this will clog the mower and be difficult to cut. Once finished, feed well with Yates Dynamic Lifter Organic Lawn Food.

aerate the soil Heavy traffic areas – like where your kids frequently play or the track from the laundry to the line – frequently become compacted, which prevents water and nutrient uptake.

For small areas, use a garden fork to help aerate the soil. Simply dig the fork in to at least 10cm and move it back and forth to create large holes. Do this every 10-15cm. For heavily compacted soils, coring needs to be undertaken. This can be done by a hiring a coring machine, which removes plugs of soil from the ground. While it can look a little unsightly, after a couple of mows, your lawn will thank you for it!

The best time to do this is from October – December on warm season grasses (couch, buffalo, kikuyu) and September – October on cool season grasses (tall fescue, perennial rye).

ONCE YOUR LAWN IS LOOKING FRESH, NOW IT’S TIME TO TAKE CARE OF IT mow high not low Mowing will keep your lawn healthy and thick. As a guide, it should be mowed once a week during summer and roughly every 3-4 weeks in the cooler months. Look for a mulching mower, like the Victa Super Mulcher 18” Mulch or Catch Lawn Mower, because it helps recycle grass clippings back into the lawn, providing valuable nutrients for sustained growth. And if you find that you have enough mulch, catch it and add it to your compost heap.

Take care not to mow it too low – you don’t want to scalp it! It’s best to mow high and mow often to help maintain a thick, green lawn.

the need for feed A good feed will work wonders for your lawn. Apply Yates Dynamic Lifter Organic Lawn Food (as per directions) and water in well. Keep on top of broadleaf weeds like clover, thistles and dandelions by applying Yates Double Action Weed'n'Feed (or Yates BuffaloPRO Weed'n'Feed if you have a buffalo lawn). You'll have the best lawn in the street.

Your neighbours will be green with envy!

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plant plant shopping shopping tips tips

TRICKS of the TRADE HOW TO BUY PLANTS AT THE NURSERY The days are longer, the air is warm and the time is ripe for gardening!

Whether you’re starting completely from scratch or looking to fill bare patches in your beds, before you make a bee-line for the garden centre, make sure you read our tips on what to look for when buying plants at the nursery. It will hopefully save you a head or heartache in the long run.

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THE IRRESISTIBLE CLEARANCE RACK While the prices can be incredibly tempting, think twice before purchasing plants on clearance. If it’s only a slight rip in the leaf or the pot is missing a label, it’s likely to be okay. However, these plants are usually there for a reason, they’re typically past their ‘plant by’ date – their leaves are broken, completely wilted or worse, dead.

Avoid at all costs!

ROOT AROUND When plants have been in their pot for a little too long, especially if they’re mature shrubs or trees, they can become pot bound. Their roots are completely entangled and spiralled within the pot and these plants won’t thrive or last long. Ask the nursery hand to help you remove it from the pot for you to assess. Also, make sure the roots are light brown to white – it’s a sign of healthy root system.

HIDDEN NASTIES Check leaves, stems and potting mix thoroughly for any signs of pests or diseases. Otherwise, you may be unwillingly inviting unwanted guests into your backyard!

LEAN & GREEN Choose multi-stemmed, bushy plants over tall, stretched, spindly looking plants. The latter ‘leggy’ plants did not receive enough sunlight and generally won’t recover well from this.

Besides, a fuller plant is so much more attractive, especially when you’re looking at planting out a hedge.

DIVIDE & CONQUER If there are any plants that you can see with multiple plants or clumps, add it to the basket quick smart! They can be divided into multiple plants and spread across the garden or smaller pots. Two or more plants for the price of one, how’s that for value!

Once you bring your plants home, plant them up as soon as possible. If you can’t, water them well and place them in a well-lit spot, with protection from the hot afternoon sun.

Prior to planting, ensure you improve the soil well with Yates Dynamic Lifter Soil Improver & Plant Fertiliser. As the plant grows, feed with a specialised Yates Thrive product to enhance growth. g r o w i n g w i t h y o u - YA T E S

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tropical tropical plants plants

tropic s ' t i e lik hot Love the idea of a year-round tropical getaway?

Uh, yes please! But you don’t need to hop on a plane (good news if you hate flying!), just step into your backyard and plant one. By choosing the right plants, working with layers and playing with colour and contrast, it’s easy to bring a taste of the tropics into your yard. And you don’t even need to live in a tropical climate either to get this look. Plan and plant now and soon you’ll be floating away in your outdoor oasis.

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Tall story

Design To achieve the dense, lush look of tropical gardens, the trick is to plant in layers. Taller plants towards the back, medium sized plants in the centre and low-growing ground covers on the floor. Having this in mind will help you choose the right plants at the nursery. While this is key, you will also need to consider colour, form and the placement of plants to have the right impact.

Centre stage

It’s hard to pass up cordylines or cannas for mid-storey accent foliage. These upright growers come in an extended range of varieties, so there’s sure to be one to suit every garden. Look for the trendy red-pink cordyline and team it against the fiery hues of cannas or even hibiscus flowers. Throw in elephant’s ears or ornamental gingers for interesting shapes and textures.

Palms, bamboo and tree ferns are ideal candidates for height and to help frame your garden. Although palms grow most abundantly in the tropics, there are a few that will cope with cooler conditions. Look for the native Australian cabbage palm, golden cane palm or the New Zealand nikau palm.

More options: »» Slender weavers bamboo »» Giant bird of paradise »» Frangipani »» Kentia palm

More options: »» Lady palm »» Strelitzia »» Yucca »» Ixora ‘Prince of Orange’

Get down low Clumping, strappy-leaved foliage plants like calathea, lomandra, dianella, lirope and libertia are wellbehaved ground covers that suit all areas. Contrast them with the flamboyant blooms of petunias, calibrachoas and impatiens for a vivid display. Bromeliads can feature too, and they don’t even have to be planted – attach them to tree trunks or use them as a focal point in pots.

Tip! Group plants in odd numbers for a cohesive and complete look.

More options: »» Clivia »» Coleus »» Scaevola »» Mini mondo grass

ultimate care plan »» Regularly feed with Yates Dynamic Lifter Soil Improver & Plant Fertiliser. »» Mulch with organic mulch like sugar cane or pine bark around the plants to help conserve moisture. »» Control common pests such as mealy bug and scale with Yates Nature’s Way Citrus & Ornamental Spray

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silver silver leaf leaf foliage foliage

SHADES of GREY Silver is not always second best, especially in the garden.

Here, silver plants are true stars! They provide gorgeous contrast to dark or overly green areas of the garden and are great alternatives to flowering plants. There are so many plants to choose from, too. Herbs like curry leaf plant or wormwood, intriguingly shaped cineraria or furry lamb’s ears - all of them shine so bright, you may need shades!

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DWARF COTTON LAVENDER

CINERARIA SILVER DUST

With its perfect little leaves and compact coral-like growth, the dwarf cotton lavender (Santolina chamaecyparissus nana) makes the perfect border plant. Not only does it have a silver sheen, but small button-like yellow flowers dance above the foliage in summer. For best results, plant in full sun with well-drained soil.

If you like larger foliage, but in compact form, then you can’t go past Cineraria Silver Dust (Senecio maratima). This soft, low growing perennial is hard wearing, great for coastal regions and loves full sun.

WORMWOOD After more than just foliage?

Want a plant that has your back in the garden? Look for wormwood (Artemisia spp.). Its ‘superpowers’ include assisting with the control of ants, lice and mozzies. It loves full sun and is hardy as old boots, handling frosts and heat well. It doesn’t play well with others though, so plant it away from other plants.

For a small and neat shrub, go for Artemisia ‘Canescens’ or Artemesia ‘Powis Castle’, but if you want height, plant the wormwood tree (Artemisia pontica).

SILVER DOLLAR TREE Enjoyed by koalas and a firm favourite of florists, the silver dollar tree (Eucalytus cinerea) is the perfect large sized silver stunner for your backyard. Make sure you prune it though (or have the room for it to grow) if left unpruned it can grow to a massive 18 metres in height!

To keep it at eye level, regularly prune in spring and summer.

curry leaf plant (Helichrysum italicum)

cushion bush (Leucophyta brownii)

himalayan butterfly bush (Buddelja crispa)

LAMB’S EARS Another soft and fluffy garden favourite - there is something calming about running your fingers along the foliage of lamb’s ears (Stachys byzantina).

Perfect for kids and big kids alike. They perform at their best in full sun and well drained soils.

FLANNEL FLOWER The native flannel flower (Actinotus helianthi ‘Starbright’) is a show stopper, especially when in flower in spring and summer. Plus, their flowers are a haven for butterflies! Perfect for full sun to shady areas and sandy soils.

silver shield (Plectranthus argentatus)

dichondra ‘Silver Falls’ (Dichondra argenta)

silver bush

(Convolvulus cneorum)

good good bugs bugs bad bad bugs bugs

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Often work in groups to devour plants Can be found on leaves, stems and flowers Visible holes, marks on leaves or droppings (excretions)

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common common citrus citrus pests pests

what's eating MY CITRUS?

Seeing things on your citrus that shouldn’t be there?

Distorted leaves, some bumpy ‘hard things’ along the branches or enlarged growths? They’re definitely not normal, but certainly part and parcel of owning a citrus tree.

We've got tips to help you identify them and treat them, to help keep your citrus healthy and productive

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black powder on stems & leaves

curled leaves with silvery lines

Are your citrus leaves growing all weirdly, looking a little shrivelled and curled up? The culprit may be the citrus leafminer (Phyllocnistis citrella) . A tell-tale sign is the silvery, squiggly lines all over the leaves. The tiny moth (5mm!) lays eggs on the leaves and when they hatch, the larvae tunnel their way through the leaves, leaving silvery tracks.

Prevent new eggs from being laid by spraying leaves with Yates Nature’s Way Citrus & Ornamental Spray.

If you see a sticky black powdery mess all over your leaves and stems, you have sooty mould. This is a fungal problem, which covers plant leaves and stems. In almost all cases, the sooty mould is secondary to an infestation of insects that secrete honeydew. These insects include aphids, scale, mealybugs and white flies. Treating the insects will remove the source of the honeydew and dry up the sooty mould, which will eventually fall or wash off the foliage. You can control both with Yates Nature’s Way Citrus & Ornamental Spray.

bronze orange bugs aka the devil

lumps & bumps on stems

One of the most hated (and even feared!) pests on citrus – bronze orange bugs aka stink bugs (Musgraveia sulciventris). These bug(gers) suck the sap from the tree, which can cause stems to die and flowers and fruit to prematurely drop. You’ll find them in full force during warmer months, although, they’re actually active from late winter. Towards the end of winter they hatch they and start out at a light green nymph. As they grow, they change shape and colour, from orange to well recognised bronze.

If your tree is lacking in vigour, despite being well fed and cared for, take a closer look at the branches. Are there any enlarged growths along the stems? If so, you have citrus gall wasp (Bruchophagus fellis).

There is no chemical control for them, but you can help by regularly checking your trees and pruning (and binning) any affected branches. After pruning, always remember to give your citrus a good feed with a complete fertiliser like Yates Thrive Natural Citrus & Fruit Organic Based Pelletised Plant Food.

Yates Nature’s Way Citrus & Ornamental Spray, is the only spray registered for home garden control of bronze orange bug on edible citrus.

still unsure?

Neither of these critters fit the bill? Take a photo of the problem and click here to talk to a Yates Horticulturist, who can help diagnose the problem and provide a solution.

Otherwise, visit www.yates.com.au and click on the box in the bottom right hand corner to start a chat. g r o w i n g w i t h y o u - YA T E S

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how how to to grow: grow: passionfruit passionfruit

GOOD

things

COME IN small packages They may be small, but boy, does passionfruit pack a punch!

Sweet, but with just the right amount of tang, passionfruit (Passiflora edulis) is perfect eaten fresh, drizzled over pavlova or added to fruit salads. Passionfruit grows on vigorous vines, so if you’re looking to grow one, make sure you have enough room – at least 2.5m – so they’re ideal for growing up and across a pergola (good for shade in summer) or along a sunny fence.

Fruit normally forms 12-18 months after planting, so you don’t have to wait too long!

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spring planting

H OW TO G R OW I N A G A R D E N

Step 1:

Step 4:

Choose a sunny spot with well-drained soil and a strong support structure, such as a pergola, sturdy fence or trellis. Enrich the soil with Yates Dynamic Lifter Soil Improver & Plant Fertiliser. If the soil is clay based, add gypsum and fork in well.

Mulch around the base with organic mulch like bark chips, sugarcane or pea straw, keeping it away from the trunk.

Step 5: Water deeply, 2-3 times a week, depending on the weather.

Step 2: Dig the planting hole twice as wide and to the same depth as the root-ball. Remove the shrub from the container, gently tease the roots and cut away any circled or tangled roots.

Step 3: Position in hole and backfill with soil, gently firming down. Form a raised or doughnut shaped ring of soil around the outer edge of the plant's root zone. This helps keep water where it's needed. Always water in well after planting to settle the soil around the roots and keep the soil moist for several weeks while the new plant establishes.

Step 6: Ensure the vine is well watered during spring and summer and feed twice a year in spring and autumn with Yates Thrive Natural Citrus & Fruit Organic Based Pelletised Plant Food to encourage healthy growth.

H OW TO G R OW I N A P OT Passionfruit can be grown in large pots as long as there is a strong support structure, such as a fence or trellis that they can grow over.

Step 1:

Step 4:

Choose a pot at least 500mm wide. Position in full sun and partially fill with quality potting mix, such as Yates Premium Potting Mix.

Mulch around the base with organic mulch like bark chips, sugarcane or pea straw, keeping it away from the trunk.

Step 2: Remove the shrub from container, gently tease roots and cut away any or tangled roots.

the the circled

Water deeply, once or twice a week, depending on weather conditions.

Step 6:

Step 3: Position in pot and with potting mix, gently down. Water in well.

Step 5:

backfill firming

Ensure the vine is well watered during spring and summer and feed twice a year in spring and autumn with Yates Thrive Natural Citrus & Fruit Organic Based Pelletised Plant Food to encourage healthy growth.

Common Problems

Growing Tips:

P RO B L EM

SYMPTOMS

SOLU T ION

PASSIONFRUIT WOODINESS VIRUS

Yellowing and crinkling of the leaves. Fruit are wrinkled and undeveloped.

This virus can be transmitted by aphids. To control aphids, spray with Yates Nature’s Way Citrus & Ornamental Spray

SCALE

White patches on stems or pink or brown raised dome like structures on leaves and stalks about 3-5mm across.

Yates Nature’s way Citrus & Ornamental Spray

PASSIONVINE HOPPER

White ‘fluffy bum’ insects that feed on the sap and secrete a honey dew substance, which can attract ants

No chemical solution. Physically remove as needed.

»»If you’re having pollination issues, you can hand pollinate by taking the pollen (fluffy yellow powder) from one flower and dusting it onto the stigma (the centre of the flower). This is best done in mid-morning, when the flowers are fully open. »»Prune in early spring, removing up to one-third of last year’s growth, but leaving the major runners on your support system.

»»Varieties includes Panama Gold, Panama Red, Nellie Kelly, Banana, Hawaiian, Norfolk Island & Yellow Giant.

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spring planting

Spring holds so much fantastic potential! The change of seasons brings with it a whole new range of delicious vegies and herbs to plant as well as being able to sit back and marvel at the frenzy of spring flowers and fresh new growth.

In our vegie patch, as soon as the last chance of frost has passed tomato seedlings will go in, which have been lovingly started off on warm windowsills. Last year we grew lots of tomatoes, but no where near enough to make all the pasta sauce that we need, so there will be a concerted effort to create a magnificent tomato glut! I've also really enjoyed using our home grown semidried tomatoes (which I store in the freezer), so there will be lots of sun drying going on as well.

Before the tomato seedlings are planted (into a bed that didn't have tomatoes or capsicum last season), the raised beds will get a thorough refresh with Dynamic Lifter. I'm also very fortunate that my father-in-law brings me garbage bins full of cow manure, so each bed will get a lovely dose of that, too. Some girls like getting jewellery, but I'll swap jewellery for bins of manure any day!

We go through lots of Lebanese cucumbers and zucchinis at our place too, so they'll both be included once the weather warms up. I train the cucumber plants up a 45 degree angled wire mesh trellis and then grow a fast maturing crop, like loose leaf lettuce underneath. It makes the most of the space and also the cucumber plants g r o w i n g w i t h y o u - YA T E S

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can help shelter the lettuce from the hottest afternoon sun. One of the delights from last year's zucchini patch was watching how much the bees enjoyed the flowers. Little do they know they're helping me make zucchini slice, hehe.

If you haven't tried raw sweet corn, straight from the garden, you're missing out on something amazing. It's so sweet, tender and juicy. We grew sweet corn last year, but the super dry weather made it very challenging to give them enough water. I'm converting 2 old cast iron bath tubs into wicking beds that will become our mini sweet corn patch. I'm hoping it will make it easier to keep the corn well hydrated over summer and it's always fun to repurpose something old and give it new life.

The garlic bed is coming along well, as are the broad beans. They're longer term crops, but well worth the wait come harvest time. I'm keen to try DIY garlic powder as well as roasted broad beans for low-carb snacks. There are so many interesting ways to use home grown produce – it really adds to the joy of gardening!

I hope you all enjoy the delights of spring!

Happy gardening, Angie

the happy gardener THEHAPPYGARDENER.COM.AU

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spring planting

Ever been stuck with a gardening question that you can’t answer?

We know it can be difficult to know everything about gardening – the right diagnosis, where to plant, what to grow, how to save and protect your plants….

NOW you have the answer in the palm of your hand. Download the Yates My Garden App or visit www.yates.com.au and talk to one of our Yates Live Chat service is available 7 days a week 8am – 9pm weekdays and 10amg r–o w6pm i n g w i tweekends h y o u - YA T E S

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