New releases of these ever-popular flowering plants (which have indigenous forefathers) appear every year, and the good news is that they have more compact but multi-branching growth habits, more abundant flowers and better disease-resistance – we thank the untiring and dedicated breeders for this. Due to their efforts and the growing skills of our local trade, we can fill our pots, barrels, window boxes and beds with the latest zonal pelargoniums, and plant up hanging baskets, window boxes and retaining walls with tough and trailing ivy-leaved pelargoniums.
Flowering time
Most of the modern varieties flower repeatedly throughout the year, but the natural flowering peaks are in spring and again in autumn when the temperatures are more moderate.
The best climate
In very cold regions, these plants should either be treated as annual summer colour or planted in very sheltered areas. In temperate, warm to dry regions your pelargoniums will be biannual or perennial, flowering and growing well for quite a few seasons before you’ll need to replace them with fresh plants. They will also flourish in humid, subtropical regions, but you should then be aware of the possibility of fungal diseases and treat the growing medium preventatively for it.
How to grow them
Although pelargoniums are easy to grow and quite tough, they have a few specific requirements to keep them in flower:
Position: Full sun is perfect, but a good few hours of morning sun and afternoon shade will also work.
この記事は The Gardener の August 2020 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です ? サインイン
この記事は The Gardener の August 2020 版に掲載されています。
7 日間の Magzter GOLD 無料トライアルを開始して、何千もの厳選されたプレミアム ストーリー、9,000 以上の雑誌や新聞にアクセスしてください。
すでに購読者です? サインイン
FIRE AND Feathers!
On a dreary winter's day, a screen of fiery and feathery leaves puts up a fight against dullness!
GET THE ladies in!
At this time of year, early-flowering shrubs vie with each other to get the most attention. We say: Trust those with female names for frills and butterflies. They go the extra mile to flower their hearts out.
Vegetable Soups and dumplings
Vegetables make the most delicious soups and classic combinations are always a winner.
Yummy sweet potatoes for your good health
Boiled, baked or braaied, sweet potatoes (Ipomoea batatas) are a delicious and healthy winter comfort food. Just a dollop of butter, a little seasoning and you are good to go.
Pretty and functional
If cooking is your main thing, you would probably be more interested in the culinary value of the three herbs and some of their varieties we are describing.
Dried Seedheads & Pods
Autumn and winter are the best times to see what flowers produce the best seedheads that can be left on the plants to feed the birds and bugs and for harvesting for dried arrangements.
SO MANY FACES and so many choices...
Whoever associated a Cotyledon orbiculata (pig's ear) with the ear of a pig obviously did not know about all the varieties and cultivars this species in the genus Cotyledon has.
COLOURFUL Cold Weather WINNERS!
If it comes to a vote, these dependable shrubs will be the top candidates for prime performance in winter and in other seasons...
What makes a garden sustainable?
It is interesting to note that the United Nations defines sustainable development as: “development that meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs”.
Nurturing NATURE-The Story of Kraal Garden's Transformation
Nestled within Prince Albert's rustic embrace lies a gem that is a testament to the transformative power of human vision and nature's bounty.