Some thoughts on Spring Fair
Plants
The best types of plants to grow are those
that are:
 More saleable – ie the consumer
really wants them and can’t get
them anywhere else
 Not weed varieties
 Look attractive by November
 Smaller to medium growing – it is
harder to find a place for large
plants in the garden
 Annuals which are always replaced
in spring
 Smaller natives just because it is
ecologically sound !
Potting Tips
Use proper potting mix not “soil”.
Larger pots may take up to 20% compost if
it is friable and airy (not gooy)
Potting mix needs to retain a certain
amount of water and let a certain amount
go (drain).
Proper potting mix is engineered to strike
just the right balance between moisture
and drainage. This is what the “Australian
standard” label means.
Soil can “smother” root growth.
Fertilizer
Always mix soluable fertilizers (Thrive,
Aquasol) according to directions. ¼ to ½
strength for seedlings. Overfertilizing will
kill young plants but a little starvation
wont. Feed plants according to growth
rate, ie don’t pot up in July August then
give them a good feed to make them grow!
Only the warmer weather will make them
grow.
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A liquid feed in the last month before sale
is a good idea, actually it’s essential for
flowers.
Give seedlings a weekly, weak! liquid
feed.
If we get bulk commercial potting mix it
will need a slow release fertilizer such as
Osmocote added (and a sprinkle of lime
for Lavender, Cistus, green veges). This
will give a general background level of
fertility. The rate is debatable? 1-2
teaspoons per 140mm pot, or one spoonful
now (mixed in) and another in October
(top dressing) depending on the plant. A
small amount of non-native Osmocote is
OK for natives.
Seasol isn’t a fertilizer but it will boost all
plants as the weather warms. (It makes the
roots happy so they feed better.)
Size!
Always pot up one size at a time. Don’t
put little plants in whoppoing big pots. All
pots must have drainage holes. (Obvious!
some didn’t at last years sale). Don’t put
pebbles or broken pottery in the bottom for
drainage. A few bits of bark or fly screen
can be used if too much mix falls out the
holes. There are plenty of pots of various
sizes near the shade house for the taking.
There are more near the shed (grounds
compound). Wash them before potting!
Be creative and pot up old boots or kettles
etc., just put in drainage.
Some herbs n vege to grow – ok in frost
Parsley
Oregano
Tarragon
Thyme
Common Mint
Peppermint
English spinach
Silver beet
French eschallots,
red onion, garlic
Coriander
Celeriac
Rocket
Mizuna
Endive
Marshmallow
Lettuce, all different
varieties
Peas
Other unusual onion
varieties
Flowers ok in light frost, or in trays outdoors but under protection, find a sun trap near a
wall and cover when -3° or more predicted.
Lobelia
Dianthus
Cornflower
Snapdragon
Alyssum
Later when warmer and out of frost - buy seedlings and pot up in small pots
Marigolds – French Tagetes – we have enough pot marigold at Orana to sink a ship
Vinca (annual)
Nasturtium
Petunia
Begonia
With frost protection and by November !
Tomatoes and Chillies–try exotic varieties not available at usual nursery outlets
Basil
Beans
Zukini and other exotic cucurbits
Okra (loves the heat)
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Perennials worth dividing or potting up as pups and self-seedlings
African Daisy (Arctotis) or purple daisy
flower, or Dimorphetica
Gazania - pink/burghandy forms only
Dieties (grassy look) take divisions
Mondo Grass
Penstemon
Potato Vine- often sets seed look for little
seedlings around base
Coreopsis and Rudbeckia species- tall tough
yellow daisy flowers
Gaillardia
Portulaca – or pigface many colours, roots at
nodes, dig up stems with roots late winter and
pot up
Scabiosa – a real beauty if anyone can part
with divisions
Campanula species
Succulants with special character and foliage
colour, use attractive stones for mulch around
base. AloeVera
Lycnis coronaria
Cheiranthus (Wallflower)
Erysimum, closely related to above
Nepeta (Catmints)
Echinacea
Nautica
Monardia didyma (pineapple sage)
Scented Geraniums
Chrysanthemum varieties
Lunaria (Honesty)
Convolvulus maurtanicus
Some grey foliage plants such as:
Cerastium tomentosum – often called ‘snow in summer’ low border plant
Helichrysum argyrophyllum – similar to above, good in pots
Tanacetum sp and Artemesia sometimes roots by layering so rooted sections can be snapped
off , trimmed and potted up
Ferns for variety – can be divided.
Doodia aspera
Blechnum penna-marina
Also don’t forget Indoor Plants – many can be divided
sunny sill.
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easily and kept on a
If purchasing smaller plants from Bunnings or Magnet Mart to pot up – consider small
native shrubs and groundcovers. Everyone can find a place for these in their gardens.
Examples below:
Correas – any and all
Hibbertia
Brachycombe –white one is special
Rhodanthe anthemoides (white paper daisy)
Grevillea Mt Tamboritha
Hardenbergia
Myoporum parvifolium
Lomandra
Kangaroo Paw
Banksia, Callistemon, Grevillea for a larger
choice
Melaleuca fulgens
Philotheca or Eriostemon
Gastrolobium or Brachysema
Croweas
There are many useful landscape plants that can be bought from mass market sellers in
small tubes or perennial punnets (available spring) and potted on, eg:
Lavender
Fushia
Teucrium fruticans
English box
Escallonia
Osmanthus
Raphiolepis
Cistus
Salvias
Photinia
Arenaria montana
Veronica ‘Oxford Blue’
Verbenas – bright colours
Convolvulus cneorum
Conifers! (Smargd)
Think about growing what you would
like to buy yourself.
It goes with out saying ‘if it is easy to
propagate, everyone probably already
has it in their garden or doesn’t want it’.
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