Gardening Australia S36E12
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00:00Oh
00:30Hello, and welcome to Gardening Australia.
00:37It's a productive time out there in the garden, and we've got everything you need to keep
00:42your patch thriving.
00:44Here's what's in store.
00:47I'm going to show you how to turn these tentacle-like roots and little plants into a delicious feed
00:53of spring asparagus.
00:56A lawn doesn't have to be full of chemicals or a drain on the water supply.
01:01I've got some great tips for making the grass greener on your side of the fence.
01:05I'm meeting a group of volunteers whose weekly social catch-up is helping to rebuild ecosystems.
01:12And I'm going to show you how to create your own little piece of high country in your backyard.
01:26Most places have something special, especially for those who live there.
01:36But there are places that just have something extra.
01:41Immersed in nature, water, sun, spectacular bushland makes you want to dig in and sink
01:48some roots.
01:52This is Gymea Bay.
01:54It's a suburb south of Sydney, and it's nestled right into Port Hacking, debun to the Darrawal
02:01locals.
02:03And a few hundred metres up this gully live a gardening couple...
02:08Can't wait for that to flower.
02:10...who have put down some very serious roots, tropical-style.
02:15Wow.
02:16Look at the colour here.
02:29Steve and Edwina live on a classic Sydney quarter-acre, but thanks to the block's amazing
02:35established trees and the benign Gymea Bay climate, they've established a flourishing
02:41tropical garden full of the most extraordinary plants.
02:45Hi, Costa.
02:47Hello.
02:48Oh, wow.
02:49Costa, what are you doing here?
02:53Well, I was drawn here.
02:55It's pretty easy to tell which place is yours.
02:58Your obsession is slowly taking over all of the hard surfaces of the district.
03:04I couldn't drive in.
03:05No.
03:06What a collection.
03:07You haven't seen the back yet.
03:08Let's go.
03:09OK.
03:10Welcome to the jungle.
03:11I feel like you've put me in a Tardis, and I've arrived in a forest.
03:20It just goes further and further.
03:24Where did all this begin?
03:26We probably moved in here about 19 years ago.
03:30Where did all this begin?
03:34We probably moved in here about 19 years ago.
03:37Landscaping our first garden, it was the start,
03:40and this is the end result.
03:43We just kept going and buying interesting and exotic plants.
03:47And Steve's mum already had an interest in tropical plants,
03:50so I think that's where Steve's interest in tropicals began.
03:54It was passed down.
03:55And my first plant that she gave me was a bromeliad,
03:58which was her first plant as well.
04:00And what about you, Edwina?
04:02Did you come from a sort of plant background?
04:05Yes, I had my own garden before I met Steve.
04:09I had a couple of bromeliads,
04:10although I didn't know they were bromeliads at the time.
04:13But when I met Steve, I really liked what he was doing
04:19and I was hooked.
04:22How big is the place here?
04:23It's 1,000 square metres.
04:251,000 square metres.
04:26Wow.
04:27And it feels like there's about two square metres of pavement.
04:30Yeah.
04:32You've gone vertical.
04:34Yep.
04:35There's canopy.
04:36Mm-hm.
04:37There's shade houses and glass houses.
04:40Mm-hm, yep.
04:41Begonia.
04:42It's beautiful.
04:44Originally, the house we bought here was termite infested
04:49and we knew straight away it had to be knocked down.
04:52We even made sure the footprint of the house wasn't too big
04:56so we could maximise the garden space.
04:58And we had to get rid of the privet.
05:00There was a rust tree in here as well.
05:02Antana.
05:03Yeah, lots of weeds.
05:05There used to be lawn, which is all long gone now,
05:08and then we kept the things that were good,
05:10the big gum trees for the canopy.
05:16They certainly are some incredible existing trees.
05:20Yep, that's what we were looking for
05:22because we know for tropicals that they need, like, filtered light primarily.
05:26We wanted a canopy.
05:28So we've got four gum trees, two big macadamia trees and a brown pine.
05:34Plenty of habitat for the local wildlife and king parrots.
05:38They love it here.
05:40And also with these big trees, because that's from west,
05:43it cools our house down in summer,
05:46so we rarely ever use air conditioning in summer
05:49because we get the shade from the trees.
05:54For the tropical plant enthusiast,
05:56Gomia Bay does have some pretty exceptional characteristics.
06:01As far as the location goes,
06:03Edwina and Steve's site here has quite a bit going for it.
06:07First of all, it's facing north-east along a gully,
06:12which means it's protected from those notorious,
06:15desiccating westerly Sydney winds.
06:18A couple of hundred metres that way,
06:20you've got Gomia Bay and Port Hacking,
06:23which put plenty of moisture into the air,
06:25which we know tropical plants love.
06:28And then as the crow flies this way, barely 600 metres,
06:32you've got the Royal National Park,
06:35a beautiful area of nature that also helps to moderate the climate.
06:40And in the last 80 or so years,
06:43the temperature here has never gone below eight degrees.
06:48It's just one of the reasons Edwina and Steve
06:51can grow stunning tropical wonders like this.
06:56I've got some Heliconias to show you, Acosta.
06:59Oh, look at the size of this one. That's incredible.
07:03Yeah, that's Heliconia borgiana.
07:06Magnificent. It's a cool grower.
07:08It's not readily available, unfortunately.
07:10But it handles this cooler Sydney climate.
07:13Absolutely. Yep, yep.
07:14You can't grow it up in cans, believe it or not.
07:17Really? Really.
07:19And then the contrast, that's...
07:22That's Heliconia rostrata.
07:24So that one does need more heat,
07:26but we have got it in a warm spot in our garden
07:28so that we can get it to grow and flower.
07:35I love how you've got so much hanging vertically here
07:39and then, whoa, we come out and there's more light.
07:42And I've got to show you this, Acosta.
07:45You've got a bat plant... Yep.
07:47..right here. That's right.
07:49They're out of Sumatra, Indonesia, the deep tropics.
07:54Now they're growing down in Gamia. Yeah.
07:57What have you sort of done to find a perfect microclimate for them?
08:01It needs a lot of water
08:03and I think it helps that they've got the humidity from the pond here.
08:09Steve and Edwina's garden is home to some truly exceptional rarities
08:14and Steve's particular favourite.
08:17These are from South America.
08:20They're called Camadria tucarimi.
08:22They only grow to about a metre tall
08:25and the common name is potato chip palm
08:27and they've got that name because of the shape of the leaf.
08:30Quite rare and unusual.
08:32There's only a few collectors out there with them.
08:35And with these, you need a male and female to get seed
08:39and this one is a female on loan from a collector in Queensland.
08:43He knew we had plenty of males
08:45so we're trying to get as many male and females together
08:49and this one so far we've got one seed on
08:52and it's just starting to turn black, which means it'll be ripe.
08:56Wow.
08:57So that's going to dry and then you'll grow it on?
09:01Yeah.
09:04Their love for tropical plants is astounding
09:08and Edwina's found a passion for a particular beauty.
09:13Come this way, Costa.
09:15I've got some beautiful nepenthes to show you.
09:17Look how many there are in here.
09:19I know, there's lots, lots.
09:21What a collection.
09:22Yep.
09:23And this one, this is a really darker sort of purple.
09:26Yeah, and it's got really like big teeth.
09:31The lime green and red stripes on this one is incredibly striking.
09:36I know.
09:37Like if you're an insect, you're just heading straight in there.
09:40For sure, and I've seen even grasshoppers in there.
09:43Actually, I've noticed that some of my plants that used to get nibbled,
09:46they're not getting nibbled as much now
09:48because I think these guys are doing their job.
09:55Oh, that's a beautiful Heliconia.
09:57That's Heliconia sapulata.
10:00There's not a spot on Edwina and Steve's whole block, inside and out,
10:05that isn't all about gorgeous tropical plants.
10:09Their real problem is where to park more plants.
10:14Oh, you are kidding me.
10:16I have never seen a clothesline takeover like this.
10:21This is a first.
10:24Just started with one plant, just like, oh, I'm not sure where to put that.
10:28I'll just hang it up and...
10:29She added some, I added some, and it just...
10:33We thought they were growing really well on there.
10:36Would you say you're the perfect match in terms of your plant passion?
10:42Yeah, I think so, yeah.
10:44There's no-one to hold us back, though, that's the only thing.
10:47Where are the brakes? Are there any brakes on this plant vehicle?
10:51No.
10:52No, generally not.
10:54Maybe lack of space at some point, but I don't think we're there yet, are we?
10:58No, no, there's always room for one more.
11:05So how do you feel when you look at it now?
11:07Like, what's your take on it all?
11:09Yeah, we love it.
11:10We're excited about some of the things we've grown,
11:13some things that we weren't sure would grow here have done well.
11:16I would have liked to have started 10 years earlier.
11:20Some of these things take a long time to grow,
11:22and, yeah, it's good to see them at maturity.
11:25You can never start too soon.
11:27That's right.
11:28No, never too soon.
11:30There's no denying that plants bring out the passion in people.
11:35To me, it's like there's a direct nerve from the soil to the heart.
11:40And when you're a committed duo with a shared joy,
11:44the opportunities are endless.
11:55Why has my succulent changed colour?
11:58If it's happened suddenly and your plant's not looking healthy,
12:01it might be in response to too much or too little nutrition or water.
12:06Have any of those things changed lately?
12:09But on a brighter note,
12:11some succulents have beautiful tones of pink and orange
12:14that become more vibrant as the seasons change
12:17or if their access to light changes.
12:20As long as your succulents are healthy,
12:22have fun observing how their colours can change
12:25in different conditions.
12:27Should you plant out or repot a plant
12:30as soon as you've brought it home from the nursery?
12:33Yes, you should, because by the time the plant is sold,
12:37it's normally outgrown the capacity of its container,
12:41which means it can be hard to keep it hydrated,
12:44especially with mature plants like this.
12:47You'll also find that the nutrients in the media will soon run out
12:51and they can become root-bound.
12:53If you do need to hold them for a while,
12:55make sure you put them in a nice sheltered spot
12:58and if the weather is warm, put them into a dish of shallow water
13:02to keep them well hydrated.
13:06Can I grow edible plants indoors?
13:08Yes, but the biggest limitation to growing edible plants indoors
13:12is the amount of available sunlight.
13:14Herbs need at least four hours and veggies around six to eight hours.
13:19You could try using indoor grow lights, which will certainly help.
13:22Edible plants need an adequate balance of ventilation and humidity,
13:26otherwise they'll suffer from limited growth
13:29and be susceptible to pests.
13:31One remedy is to grow your plants near an open window
13:35that gets direct sunlight.
13:37If you want to give it a go, try with herbs or microgreens
13:40or quick-growing veggies.
13:42And when they get too big, plant them outside to keep them going longer.
13:50Next up, Millie's got a plant that's tasty, easy to cook
13:55and will keep your basket full for years to come.
13:58Say no more.
14:04Asparagus.
14:05It's one of the most generous plants you can grow
14:08and an incredibly unique flavour.
14:11They produce delicious shoots for just a few fleeting weeks in spring,
14:15but they actually live for decades.
14:20I've finally got a bed to dedicate to asparagus.
14:24I'm so excited.
14:26But as a long-lived crop, soil preparation is really, really key.
14:30So I've got to load this up with compost and aged cow manure.
14:40And just for good measure, I'm throwing in a good serve of organic fertiliser.
14:49This bed should be great for growing asparagus.
14:52It faces north and gets plenty of summer sun.
14:58Asparagus are a really dynamic plant.
15:01They are a herbaceous perennial,
15:03which means in the warmer months, they rocket out of the ground
15:06and we eat those emerging leaf fronds as spears,
15:10which develop into that big leafy plant,
15:12and then in wintertime, they go completely dormant.
15:15And that's a traditional time to plant them.
15:17You can buy a dormant crown.
15:19This is the root system, and then the little shoots emerge from the top.
15:22And they're the first ones I'm going to get in the ground.
15:37You can see that I have dug a really nice, deep trench.
15:41But within that trench, I'm actually going to build a mound.
15:45I'm going to bring a little bit of soil back in
15:47with two narrow trenches down either side.
15:51And that gives me the ability to plant the roots of the asparagus really deep,
15:56but keep that crown of the plant, that growing point,
15:59nice and high in the bed.
16:01So you take the crown.
16:03You can see really clearly that is the growing point of the plant.
16:06I'm going to sit that over this edge, lift that up,
16:10so the roots go down, but the crown sits up nice and high.
16:15I'm going to give them about 30 or 40 centimetres between each plant.
16:20And then you just need to backfill.
16:26You want to make sure that the top of the plant is proud
16:29or just covered with soil, so they can emerge in spring.
16:40I'm going to plant those.
16:49Planting those dormant crowns is the most traditional method,
16:53but you can get plants of asparagus
16:55and put them in the ground really any time of the year.
16:58Now, these ones I've actually grown from seed myself.
17:01It was a variety that I hadn't seen available as dormant crowns,
17:05so I wanted to give it a go.
17:11I'm just applying a light sprinkle of rotted straw mulch,
17:15but I'll go much thicker once the warm weather hits.
17:22One of the benefits of having a crop that is so seasonal
17:26is it's dormant.
17:28You don't have to worry about it drying out.
17:30It's just going to stay dormant.
17:32So I'm going to give it a go.
17:34I'm going to plant those.
17:36One of the benefits of having a crop that is so seasonal
17:39is it's dormant through many months.
17:42So I'm going to sneak a little crop over the top.
17:44You could use lettuce or mustard,
17:46any of your favourite cool-season greens,
17:48sprinkle them on and enjoy all of those rewards.
17:58I can almost taste those spring spears,
18:02but with asparagus, there is a little bit of a hitch.
18:05You need to be patient.
18:07It's best not to harvest for the first couple of seasons
18:10and you let that plant actually build its strength.
18:13It's a little price to pay
18:15for what is a really fantastic feed for lots of years to come.
18:20I can't wait to serve them up.
18:31Weeds compete with plants in your garden for soil nutrients,
18:34and some can even out-compete the plants you actually want in your garden.
18:38There are several effective tools for weeding,
18:40and choosing the right one depends on your personal preference.
18:44You need to consider the type of weeds you're dealing with,
18:47where they're growing and which tool feels most comfortable.
18:50Here are four excellent options.
18:53This narrow transplanting trowel is versatile
18:56and perfect for transplanting seedlings,
18:58digging holes and removing weeds.
19:01Its narrow design and pointed end allows you to target weeds precisely.
19:08And this is a step up from your average gardening knife,
19:11the Japanese Horihori knife.
19:13It's larger in size and it's excellent for removing weeds completely,
19:17roots, stems and all.
19:19The blade often has measurements etched in
19:22to help gauge soil depth when you're planting bulbs,
19:25and it's made from rust-proof, scratch-resistant stainless steel.
19:30It's perfect for weeding without disturbing nearby plants.
19:36I also find this knife really handy to bandicoot around my ginger when harvesting.
19:40It's a timeless tool that can be passed down to the next generation.
19:44For those who prefer not to bend or kneel,
19:47this long-handled garden hoe is perfect for removing weeds with shallow roots.
19:52Its broad blade allows you to cover large areas quickly,
19:55pulling out weeds which can then be raked up for the compost.
20:00And for those difficult-to-reach garden areas,
20:02a three-pronged cultivator will do the trick.
20:07As you can see, having the right weeding tool
20:10will make a world of difference to a day in your garden.
20:19There are few greater pleasures in life than spending some time outside,
20:24enjoying the sunshine and relaxing on some beautiful green lawn.
20:30Well, Clarence is here to show you how to keep your turf in terrific shape.
20:41A lush green lawn isn't just a beautiful feature.
20:45It's the perfect spot to enjoy any kind of outdoor activity.
20:50I am a passionate native plant man,
20:52but I also love a bitter lawn.
20:56Despite multiple stormwater events, this baby is almost back to its best.
21:01Luckily for you, I'm happy to share a few secrets to rolling out the green carpet.
21:05I know what you're thinking.
21:07However, a lawn doesn't have to be full of chemicals or a drain on the water supply.
21:12The healthier your lawn, the less fertiliser and water you're going to need.
21:16And I'm going to start with a good aeration.
21:19A well-used lawn gets compacted underfoot.
21:22The fork loosens the soil, which gives the roots room to grow,
21:26and lets in much-needed oxygen.
21:29For a lawn like mine that's survived a big soaking,
21:32get in there as soon as it dries out so that you can help it drain.
21:35Every lawn needs an aeration annually,
21:38and if it sees a lot of use, more than once.
21:41Now, if you are giving your lawn an annual top dressing
21:44with a bit of added nutrient, then it does pay to aerate first
21:48so that that top dressing and the organics can get down in there
21:52so the roots can get a really good feed, perfect for that annual top dress.
21:57A lawn like mine, about 40 square metres, shouldn't take more than an hour.
22:07And there's always a chance of a worm if you're quick.
22:11Next, I'll level up some patches of the storm washed away.
22:15I'm just using sand, so it'll keep the level I want
22:19and the grass can still grow through.
22:22Then I'll top dress over it.
22:25To get your top dressing level, choose a garden rake.
22:28But here's a tip. Use the front and the back.
22:32That's the last bit. Get it really level.
22:36That's the last bit. Get it really level.
22:40Now, I've used quite a bit of sand here to top dress this section
22:43because I'm repairing this part of the lawn.
22:45I've got to bring those levels up, get it nice and neat and tidy, nice and level.
22:49The rest of the lawn is looking pretty good.
22:52So I'm going to top dress that with sand and some compost.
22:56Top dress it a little lighter, get a bit more nutrient back into the lawn.
23:01The whole lawn will get about 100 mil of the mix.
23:05Sounds like a lot, but you see how it almost disappears.
23:09And the grass roots will be encouraged to grow deep and strong.
23:13Just what you need for a hardy, low-water lawn.
23:16Now, as good as I am with the shovel, I'm still going to use the rake to level this out
23:20and get a nice, even spread across the lawn.
23:23And I'll water it in. Won't even know the difference.
23:26Of course, if you've got a bigger area, you're going to have to use some machinery.
23:28Or even bring in the big guns, bring in a tractor, big spreader, big aerator.
23:34Now you're talking.
23:37There's more grass cover than crops in Australia, so clearly people love it.
23:42And this kind of easy maintenance can make it more resource-friendly
23:45and cheaper to maintain for you.
23:49Last, put good water in with a diluted liquid fertiliser or seaweed solution.
23:54Liquid fertiliser is really easy to apply.
23:57You get a nice, even spread.
24:01That's how you get an even spread.
24:04Let's go with the flow.
24:07Swing low, sweet rosette.
24:14Swing low, sweet rosette.
24:25Whatever you use to fertilise, keep it in light doses.
24:30I painted myself into a corner.
24:32You don't want fertiliser leaching into waterways.
24:35Finally, hose your fertiliser into the soil.
24:38I feed my lawn three or four times a year.
24:41Lastly, leave your lawn a little bit longer.
24:44Don't shave it, whatever you do, especially in summer.
24:47Don't open up the roots.
24:49The sun damage, you're getting burnt.
24:51Keep it lush, keep the moisture in.
24:53Really look after it.
24:55A little bit goes a long way.
25:02Still to come on Gardening Australia.
25:05Gerry sounds the alarm on a common plant with a prickly disposition.
25:11Jane pots up some rare alpines.
25:15And we meet a market gardener digging into the need for seed.
25:26I love that local environment groups not only protect and care for native plants,
25:32but they also build communities for flora and fauna,
25:36and that includes humans as well.
25:39Hannah's visiting a group she knows well
25:42that shows how starting local can have a big impact.
25:49All around the country, volunteer groups meet regularly
25:53to plant trees and regenerate degraded land.
25:56And we meet a lot of them.
25:58Rebuilding ecosystems takes thousands of hands and tens of thousands of plants.
26:04So today, I'm meeting a group who are providing both.
26:09This is Nipaluna Nursery, a small volunteer-run enterprise in Hobart's north.
26:17Nell Smith convenes the whole group, and I happen to have known her for many years.
26:22She even came to my wedding.
26:24Now, how did this come to start?
26:27You're in a very compact footprint here.
26:29Well, it's quite a confined space.
26:32I mean, it's fabulous because it's urban and it's central for everybody
26:37because we get volunteers coming from everywhere.
26:39We have a kindy area, that we call it, where we just start getting plants germinated.
26:45And then this is where the more juvenile plants are.
26:49And then we've got another area where we've just installed
26:53a whole bunch of tables and irrigation system over there.
26:57So we've slowly built it up over the last three years.
27:02Twenty or thirty volunteers meet here once a week
27:05to maintain a year-round production of native seedlings.
27:09And in the three years since they began,
27:11they've supplied over 50,000 plants directly to conservation efforts.
27:16We're focused on the Midlands Biodiversity Hotspot,
27:20which is the driest part of Tasmania.
27:23The Midlands is a large area that stretches between Launceston and Hobart.
27:28Palawa people manage the region with fire.
27:31Maintaining mostly open woodland and native grassland.
27:35But since colonisation, the Midlands has been seriously degraded
27:39with many local plants and animals now threatened.
27:44Restoration ecologist Dr Tanya Bailey has worked in re-vegetation for decades
27:50and lends her botanical knowledge to the nursery.
27:55Tanya, can you tell me about some of the species you're growing
27:58and how they fit into the Midlands ecosystem?
28:01Sure. The main ecosystem in the Midlands is eucalypt woodland
28:06with a grassy understory and some shrubby layers.
28:09So here we have eucalyptus porcelora.
28:12It actually is one of the major species in the Midlands.
28:15It actually grows right up into mainland Australia as well
28:18in the higher regions too.
28:20So it's a really beautiful tree.
28:22In the Midlands it has quite a weeping form.
28:24So they're really, really beautiful.
28:26They're a really important habitat for birds and animals and insects in the Midlands.
28:29Another key species of eucalypt in the Midlands is eucalyptus tenuramus,
28:34the silver peppermint.
28:36It's a beautiful tree, very silvery, mainly only found in the southern Midlands
28:40and on the east coast.
28:42But it's actually an endemic to Tasmania so it only grows here
28:45where the porcelora sort of grows a much broader area.
28:54So Hannah, this is kangaroo grass or femida.
28:57It's a really important species in the Midlands of Tasmania
29:01in the ground cover layer.
29:03It's a really important habitat for little birds, insects and animals.
29:07It used to be very widespread but now there's a lot less of it.
29:11It's in sort of small patches.
29:13Some are in really good condition and others are really sort of struggling.
29:16What else have we got in front of us here, Tanya?
29:18This one's Berseria spinosa or prickly box,
29:21a very common plant in the Midlands and across a lot of mainland Australia as well.
29:25It's quite prickly so it provides really good habitat
29:28for small birds and bats and animals.
29:31It also has fantastic flowering, great nectar source
29:34for pollinators and insects and birds.
29:37And it's brilliant in the home garden as well.
29:40Is there anything in particular that you do to make these plants thrive
29:44so well in the nursery and beyond?
29:47One of the really important things to get them to grow here
29:50and out in the field is to think about where the seed comes from.
29:54So what we call the provenance of the plants.
29:57So we want to be able to collect seed and propagate from seed
30:01that comes from the environment that they're going into
30:04so that they're well adapted to that.
30:06At the nursery here we collect our own seed,
30:09then we germinate the seed and then we take it back to the Midlands
30:14and plant the seed.
30:16So we have weekends and we stay at the shearing quarters up there
30:20and help the farmers to actually plant those plants in the ground
30:24which is really satisfying.
30:26A lot of our volunteers get really excited
30:28about just putting our babies in the ground.
30:30Absolutely. You brought them to life.
30:32You're sending them off into the big world.
30:36I find for me personally it's really cool to put the plants in the ground
30:39and come back to them and see that it's made a difference.
30:42And even if it's really, really, really tiny, the difference you're making,
30:45but if 20 people do it, awesome.
30:48And the Midlands is so bare and stuff
30:50and it would be really cool to see all the trees and things like that
30:54and it's inspiring and it's actually lots of fun.
30:58And I love it that we're all volunteers as well.
31:01We're all making a contribution, making that choice to do that.
31:05You know, not being paid, but, and it's a great group.
31:08Really great group.
31:10I do enjoy with the company here.
31:12They are so kind, so friendly.
31:14So I don't feel to stay home.
31:16I just feel to come and enjoy with these people.
31:19Yeah, all the people here are lovely.
31:21Makes you feel like family.
31:22It's important to grow these trees for the birds and for the animals and for us.
31:29This work brings a lot of possibility for young people
31:33and the possibility that we can facilitate change in our world and take action.
31:39And each grows from a tiny little seed into, for a eucalypt, a tree that is huge.
31:46And that to me represents great possibility in a challenged world.
31:51Sometimes I think I should be an environmental activist
31:55and, you know, stand with the banners and go and talk to politicians.
31:58But I think it's important for me to use my skills around education
32:03and the social connections and social networks
32:07and to actually just make a difference in a practical way.
32:12And what does this whole project symbolise when you think about the future of Tasmania and beyond?
32:16What role does Nicolino Nursery play in creating that future?
32:21It's supporting biodiversity in a physical sense with the plants.
32:27But it's also nurturing a sense of community.
32:30A community with like-minded people who really want to take action
32:34and make a difference for the landscape in Tasmania.
32:39When it comes to conservation and healing country,
32:43we want big picture action on a huge scale.
32:46But even the small actions like volunteering in a nursery
32:51or planting a tree can still make a big impact.
32:55It might even grow into a beautiful forest.
33:05The Canary Island date palm, scientifically known as Phoenix canariensis,
33:11is a species of palm native to the Canary Islands and parts of North Africa.
33:16They have a classic palm look.
33:19A single patterned trunk with long arched deep green fronds.
33:23They thrive across Australia from Darwin to Hobart and beyond.
33:28They're heat and frost tolerant palms.
33:31Their ability to adapt to a wide range of soil types and climate zones,
33:36plus their grand looks,
33:39has made them a popular choice for private gardens and public landscapes.
33:43However, this plant poses significant risks.
33:47It produces masses of edible, date-flavoured seeds.
33:51The seeds are spread by rats and birds,
33:55introducing it into places where it just shouldn't be.
33:59It's an environmental weed in New South Wales and Victoria.
34:03And pretty much wherever it grows, it's becoming naturalised.
34:07The spikes at the base of the crown are a major problem.
34:11They are super sharp and can slice into anything effortlessly.
34:16Eventually, the dead palm fronds will drop.
34:20And when they fall, they leave these vicious, sturdy spines facing upwards.
34:25These spines often end up embedded in the flesh, lips or eyes
34:31of unsuspecting gardeners or any children
34:35who happen to be playing underneath these palms.
34:38Because so many animals call these palms home,
34:42the spines are frequently coated with a cocktail of bacteria and fungi,
34:47meaning that infections are common.
34:50It's inadvisable to try to remove the spine tip yourself.
34:55And once embedded, these spines can snap and fracture,
35:00requiring delicate surgery to remove all the parts.
35:04If you have one of these palms, consider removing it
35:08to avoid this perpetual hazard.
35:11If removal isn't an option, then use expert arborists
35:15to carry out routine maintenance.
35:18Ensure fronds are removed before they can fall to the ground
35:22and come into contact with children or animals.
35:25Now, if you insist on doing the maintenance yourself,
35:29at least make sure you have some personal protective equipment,
35:33like goggles and sturdy leather gauntlet gloves.
35:38However, even these gloves are no match
35:42for the spines of a Canary Island date palm.
35:52Our gardens are so many things.
35:55A place to relax, to learn, to experiment
35:59and, of course, to express ourselves.
36:02But they can also be a refuge for rare and threatened species.
36:06Jane's showing us how to put together
36:10a collection of alpine treasures so they'll thrive in your garden.
36:20Australia's alpine regions in the southeast and Tasmania
36:24are home to unique plant communities
36:27that are amongst the most beautiful in the country
36:30and they're also some of the most threatened.
36:33Plants like the snow gum and alpine wattle
36:36live only in the highest and coldest parts of the mountains.
36:40With average temperatures rising
36:43and intense bushfires becoming more frequent,
36:46these unique plants are now under pressure in the wild.
36:50You don't see them in gardens very often,
36:53but that's surprising because alpine plants are very easy to grow
36:57and they don't need much space.
36:59To create an alpine plant container,
37:02you need to select a nice pot.
37:04That looks great in that.
37:06And this one, being shallow and quite wide, is ideal.
37:10The big thing is that you have a drainage hole down the bottom
37:14because that's what they definitely need.
37:17The mountains in southeast Australia
37:20are amongst the wettest parts of the country,
37:23but water runs off the thin mountainous soil very quickly,
37:26so the plants require regular watering
37:29and free draining soil.
37:32And now the fun begins.
37:34You can choose whatever plants you want
37:36and I would go for four or five plants in the one pot
37:40and go for something a little bit different.
37:42Different textures are always good.
37:44This has got a very small leaf compared to the larger leaves.
37:47What about a ground cover just to flow over the pot?
37:50Maybe a splash of colour.
37:52I think that's always good.
37:54And something with a bit of height.
37:56This is a snow gum.
37:57It's good to start with the biggest one for the back of the pot
38:01and I've got a choice here
38:03and I don't like choices because it's hard.
38:05This is a North of Fagus Cunninghamii.
38:08It's a beautiful tree in the southern alpine regions.
38:12Evergreen, very tall tree.
38:14Or shall I pick this snow gum?
38:16I quite like snow gums.
38:18They do remind me of skiing and bushwalking up in the Alps,
38:21but such a tough plant and they're really good.
38:24I think I'll go, yes, I'll have to go for the snow gum.
38:27Don't worry about that North of Fagus.
38:29Take it out of its tube stock
38:31and just tickle the roots ever so slightly
38:36and that looks really healthy.
38:38I'm going to put that at the back of the pot
38:40so I'll swivel this around later on,
38:42but just plant it as you would normally do.
38:44Now you might think that this is going to get a little bit big
38:47and certainly they will get big,
38:49but you can easily prune just a little snip
38:54just to get some of the growth off the top
38:55and that's all you need to do once or twice a year.
38:58You can see over here, this is the snow gum
39:00and look how it's developed.
39:02You can actually see the trunk
39:04has got a distinctive look about it,
39:06sort of like a bonsai.
39:08It's got that nice little characteristic.
39:10Then comes the ground cover.
39:12Now you might know this.
39:14This is a lovely plant called scleranthus.
39:16It's like a moss, but it isn't.
39:20And it's a lovely little ground cover
39:22that gets quite a mound to it,
39:23like a little cushion.
39:25When you see it up in the Alps, it is very pretty.
39:27It needs moisture.
39:29And again, just tickle the roots out
39:31or tease them out
39:33and you'll find that that will fill up quite well.
39:35You can easily cut it back
39:37if it gets a little bit too big for the spot
39:39that you've got it in
39:41and that will just grow nicely over like that
39:43and form a cushion just here.
39:45This little fairy's mound, the scleranthus,
39:47doesn't have very obvious flowers.
39:49It's just known for its beautiful lime green foliage
39:52so I've chosen one that is a wow factor
39:54and this is the little snow daisy, chelmysia.
39:57And it's a beautiful little alpine plant
39:59in Australia and New Zealand.
40:01It's got these fabulous,
40:03those green and lovely white undersides
40:06with that sort of felty look to the leaves
40:08and these white starry flowers like a daisy.
40:11Beautiful little plant
40:13and it should do very well in this pot.
40:16Flowers in summer
40:18and in the winter,
40:19flowers in summer
40:21and it'll be a long flowering thing.
40:23It'll spread out nicely into that sort of spot there.
40:26And then this little one is unusual.
40:29This is a little one called spiridium
40:31and have a look,
40:33it's just really quite delicate
40:35but those grey leaves are rather nice.
40:38It'll spread out into a little pocket like this,
40:40just here.
40:43It'll just fill that nicely.
40:45You wouldn't call it a ground cover,
40:47more of a very low shrub.
40:50And it's a beauty.
40:52Here we go.
40:57Ha!
40:59Now these little plants are beauties.
41:01When you see them in flower,
41:03you'll be absolutely intrigued.
41:05They're called stylidiums or trigger plants.
41:07They form a clump,
41:09which will be nice in this pot here
41:11and then they send up pink flowers
41:13on a stalk about so high
41:15and those flowers are extraordinary.
41:17When a bee or a pollinator comes along
41:19and nestles in there trying to look
41:21for the nectar or the pollen,
41:23the trigger goes like that
41:25and pats him on the back
41:27and then that bee carries the pollen
41:29that's on his back to another flower
41:31and hence the pollinator.
41:33Fascinating little plants.
41:35You'll see them around quite a lot
41:37in many various vegetation habitats
41:39around the place
41:41but certainly alpine plants,
41:43they look really good.
41:45So look at that,
41:47that's needing to come out of the pot.
41:49There you go.
41:51That's going to fill in
41:53a nice little gap just there
41:55and this one over here.
41:57These stylidiums are going to be terrific.
41:59There we go.
42:01As you would always do,
42:03make sure the plants are settled
42:05into that potting mix really well.
42:07Now the final finishing touch
42:09is just to put a bit of gravel
42:11over the top.
42:13I think this is a good way
42:15to show them off.
42:17Well I think that looks pretty good.
42:19It'll take a little while
42:21to settle in and then grow
42:23but I'm sure you're going to be happy
42:25with your own little bit
42:27of high country in your garden.
43:13MUSIC
43:32When you start to grow your own food
43:35you begin to realise
43:37just how much relies
43:39on these precious parcels of promise.
43:42Seeds.
43:44Sophie's visiting a market gardener
43:46who's not only living the dream
43:48but digging in
43:50to the beautiful,
43:52diverse world of seeds.
43:54MUSIC
43:58I'm in the gorgeous
44:00McLaren Vale region
44:02about an hour south of Adelaide.
44:04Here, at the base of the Fleurieu range
44:06lies a beautiful half acre farm
44:08filled to the brim with goodness.
44:11I've realised
44:13I'm just a plant person.
44:15I just love and revere plants
44:17so much.
44:19So much joy from coming,
44:21from being with plants,
44:23viewing their forms
44:25and all their shapes and forms
44:27from their bloom to their dry
44:29at their seed stage.
44:31I love plants so much
44:33and the only thing that gives me more joy
44:35is sharing that love of plants
44:37with other people.
44:38Sophie Young
44:40is passionate about creating
44:42healthy food systems.
44:44We're here by a land share agreement.
44:46The property owners are our friends
44:48and really good people
44:50and so we've gratefully been tending here
44:52for now nearly five years.
44:54It started out as a market garden.
44:56My partner was cultivating veggies
44:58and selling to a local restaurant.
45:00Pandemic came along, restaurants closed
45:02and so then I got to really indulge
45:04in growing all my seeds
45:06and interesting things.
45:08And medicinal herbs as well.
45:10So you're tending
45:12a half an acre of this beautiful patch.
45:15How do you manage it?
45:17So many different species of flowers
45:19and herbs and vegetables.
45:21Because they're all intercropped
45:23we've never had any catastrophic losses
45:25due to pests or diseases.
45:27People always ask us,
45:29what do you do for these managements?
45:31And I have to say it's barely anything
45:33because we've got the good beneficial bugs.
45:35And you've got healthy soil,
45:36and that's what we're really focused on.
45:42So one of the things
45:44that many veggie gardeners
45:46have come to learn
45:48is it's not just about having veggies
45:50in the veggie patch.
45:52You need to have flowers too.
45:54And some market gardens
45:56are now devoting a third of their space
45:58for flowers.
46:00How do you find having flowers in this space?
46:02It's quickly become all about the flowers really.
46:04I love the veggies for growing food
46:06but the flowers are what bring me joy.
46:08And they're there to bring pollinators.
46:10I've got a lot of bug attracting plants
46:12that bring beneficial bugs
46:14such as lacewings and ladybirds.
46:16And then they just bring
46:18so much joy to the soul.
46:21A big part of Keitha's love of growing
46:24is about ensuring the longevity of plants
46:26through seed production.
46:29So seed saving is a bit of a forgotten
46:32knowledge isn't it?
46:34Seed saving should be
46:36like brushing your teeth.
46:38It used to be.
46:40But it's definitely a lost art.
46:42I think through a lot of economic pressures
46:44farmers aren't able to partake
46:46in it all the time.
46:48But it is such a missing piece
46:50of agriculture I feel like
46:52in the modern times.
46:54When you're growing seeds with stories
46:56and with history and cultural significance
46:58it's bringing the culture
47:00back into agriculture.
47:02And that's a big part of the work
47:04that I'm trying to do.
47:06I'm a Vietnamese.
47:08So for my Vietnamese side
47:10I've got a bitter melon,
47:12snake beans as long as my arm,
47:14perilla which is teatol
47:16and sweet anise herb
47:18as well as amaranth
47:20which is called Chinese spinach
47:22or Asian spinach sometimes.
47:24From the Scottish side
47:26potatoes which I've absolutely
47:28fallen in love with,
47:30the humble potato is such a treat to grow.
47:32And then Celtic herbs like yarrow
47:34and poppies and tansy as well.
47:36And to feed from her own
47:38cultural backgrounds
47:40Keitha is also saving
47:42other interesting varieties.
47:44Now corn's a really
47:46significant vegetable
47:48in that years ago
47:50there was so much more diversity.
47:52It wasn't just about yellow corn.
47:54There were all different colours.
47:56How did this particular one come about?
47:58You're right.
48:00Most people only know the yellow supermarket corn,
48:02the sweet corn.
48:04They don't realise that there's a history
48:06across the Americas.
48:08This one is one of the examples.
48:10It's called Sunfire corn.
48:12I got the seed originally from Oregon
48:14and it's a breeding project
48:16attempting to stabilise
48:18the trait of this beautiful
48:20sunburst pattern here.
48:22Isn't that gorgeous?
48:24It's like a little sunrise.
48:26You can see the grandparents
48:28and the ancestry of the
48:30immense genetic diversity
48:32that's in the gene pool of corn.
48:34So tell me about these ones.
48:36This is a really thirsty plant in the garden.
48:38The Hopi nation bred this plant
48:40to be drought tolerant.
48:42You see it growing in desert conditions
48:44with no irrigation, cracked earth.
48:46When I grew it here
48:48it was at least twice the height of me.
48:50It was such a vital, such a strong plant.
48:52We were laughing at just how tall it was.
48:54Then we have this corn
48:56which doesn't need water.
48:58How amazing.
49:00It still tastes good.
49:02It's not a sweet corn.
49:04It's a flowering corn.
49:06It's a healthy food crop.
49:08Beans are another interesting vegetable
49:11because there was so much diversity
49:13that's been lost.
49:15Absolutely.
49:17I'm a huge advocate for biodiversity
49:19and I love to grow beans.
49:21Here's my little treasure chest
49:23with precious jewels.
49:25Aren't they pretty?
49:27Treasures in their own right.
49:29Here we've got some rare lavender beans
49:31I got from Tasmania,
49:33Fort Portal jades,
49:34and this is a lavender bean.
49:36This was found in a clay pot
49:38sealed with pitch in a cave in New Mexico.
49:40When they carbon dated it
49:42they found it to be 1500 years old.
49:44They sowed it and it germinated.
49:46It was in the most perfect humidity
49:48and temperature and storage conditions
49:50and it survived all those years.
49:52From New Mexico to McLaren Vale,
49:54it was thriving.
49:56Amazing.
50:02Observation really is one of the keys
50:04to seed saving isn't it?
50:06It is.
50:08Observation is the key to gardening
50:10and to farming.
50:12It's the number one thing
50:14that I was taught and that I've practiced.
50:16You're observing them,
50:18you're watching them,
50:20you're listening to them.
50:22So what are you looking for
50:24when it comes to seed saving?
50:26You're observing which ones
50:28are growing the strongest,
50:30which ones are growing the healthiest,
50:32which ones don't have disease,
50:34which ones are always chosen
50:36for flavour, for colour, for beauty,
50:38for harvesting time
50:40is a very important one as well.
50:42So any plant that looks strong
50:44that you'd like to save seed from,
50:46tie a ribbon that lets everyone else know
50:48hey please don't pick the vegetables
50:50or the fruit from this for now.
50:52Pick from the other plants
50:54and then once they've dried out
50:56you know that's the one that you go to
50:58for collecting seed from.
51:00Where did this passion for seeds
51:02and food security come from?
51:04I haven't always been a gardener.
51:06Both of my grandmothers were gardeners
51:08and I realise now that
51:10that's actually deep in my childhood
51:12and deep in my DNA.
51:14Growing up in a garden
51:16where I could pick guavas
51:18and pick passion fruits
51:20and cherry tomatoes
51:22and run amongst rose bushes
51:24it definitely imprinted
51:26and affected me as a child
51:28and I did my thing as a teenager
51:30in my 20s and I've circled around back to it.
51:32I was volunteering on a friend's farm
51:34and I became obsessed as you do
51:36when you get into gardening.
51:38So what do you do
51:40with all these herbs that you grow?
51:42Presently I've got a community supported
51:44agriculture model
51:46and I've got a seed club as well
51:48so I share the seeds
51:50and share the herbs
51:52as seasonal medicinal parcels
51:54and I feel so grateful
51:56that it's my job now
51:58but it's through my own health journey
52:00that I've arrived here.
52:02In 2017
52:04she was subsequently diagnosed
52:06with the autoimmune condition
52:08Crohn's disease
52:10whilst 13 weeks pregnant.
52:12I became very unwell overnight
52:14and within a week and a half
52:16I ended up losing my whole large intestine
52:18and having an ileostomy bag installed
52:20so now I operate without a major organ.
52:23I was in the hospital
52:25in a very sterile environment
52:27white walls, blue curtains
52:29for 50 days
52:31as well as the recovery afterwards
52:32but being in that hospital environment
52:34I used to just dream about gardens
52:36and think about flowers
52:38and I kept saying to myself
52:41if I make it through this
52:43I'm going to raise my child amongst flowers
52:45and amongst the garden
52:47that's all I want to do.
52:49It's pretty phenomenal
52:51to think about how dire those times were
52:53and then see where we've arrived
52:55having survived
52:57and that's all come true
52:59I've been able to keep that
53:00keep that promise to myself.
53:22They say there's no time like the present
53:25it's your jobs for the weekend
53:27ready and raring to go.
53:29In cold climates
53:31it's time to think about
53:33frost protection
53:35for your more tender plants
53:37wrap hessian around a frame of stakes
53:39to keep the chill at bay.
53:41Beautiful and bird attracting
53:43native corriers are flowering now
53:45making it a perfect time
53:47to pop into a nursery
53:49and pick out a favourite.
53:51Plant out some cauliflower seedlings
53:53in a sunny spot
53:55in the shade
53:56keeping cauliflower seedlings
53:58in a sunny position
54:00protected from winds
54:02and about 40cm apart.
54:04In warm temperate areas
54:06autumn flowering shrubs
54:08such as crow ears
54:10are finishing their flowering period
54:12and will benefit from a light pruning
54:14all over the plant.
54:16Underrated and overachieving
54:18plant out some spring onion
54:20in your patch
54:22harvest the leaves
54:24rather than the whole bulb
54:26over the next years.
54:28Lemongrass rhizomes
54:30can be sprouted in a warm spot indoors.
54:32By the time they're ready to plant out
54:34it'll be spring again.
54:36In the subtropics
54:38you may have spied
54:40a sensational seasonal show
54:42from the purple beautyberry.
54:44It's a large shrub
54:46currently covered in clusters
54:48of bright purple berries
54:50that aren't edible
54:52but are showstoppers.
54:54Continue to harvest shoot tips
54:56it will encourage more shoots
54:58and delay flowering.
55:00Ease off on the water
55:02for ornamental gingers
55:04and caladiums
55:06as the foliage dies off.
55:08In the tropics
55:10jackfruit continue to ripen.
55:12Protect them from pesky possums
55:14with individual mesh bags.
55:16In West Arnhem Land
55:18it's bungering.
55:20It's the late wet season
55:22time to harvest goose eggs
55:24and water peanuts.
55:26Cut down the tall speargrass.
55:28Snake gourds will grow
55:30right through the year
55:32without any fuss
55:34so plant some seed out now.
55:36In arid areas
55:38beetroot can be sown now.
55:40Seeds contain a few plants
55:42so remember to thin out
55:44once they've germinated.
55:46As silverbeet continues
55:48to provide harvests
55:50remember to get the leaves
55:52before they become big and leathery.
55:54Plant out a desert cassia
55:56to about two metres in height
55:58and suitable for a screen.
56:00It's covered in yellow flowers
56:02through late winter.
56:04Have a ripper weekend in the garden
56:06and don't forget
56:08you can always head to our YouTube channel
56:10for all sorts of gardening goodness
56:12any time.
56:19Well that's about all we could fit
56:21on the plate for this week
56:23but we're already lining up for seconds.
56:25Here's what's in store for next time.
56:29I'm visiting a gardener
56:31who's transformed her footpath.