Gardening Australia episode 6 2021

Gardening Australia episode 6 2021: Clarence Slockee meets a team combining bush care and music, Sophie Thomson makes native bee hotels, Costa Georgiadis explores a wildflower meadow, and Guest Presenter Luke Mitchell has a lesson on wooden tool restoration.

Gardening Australia has always provided practical, trustworthy and credible gardening advice to inspire and entertain. Inspiring, entertaining and full of practical advice, join Costa Georgiadis and the team as they unearth gardening ideas, meet avid gardeners and look at some of the most inspiring gardens from across the country.

Gardening Australia episode 6 2021

Sowing Seeds Direct

Josh reveals the benefits of sowing seeds directly into the vegie patch and how to harvest a successful crop. For some plants, it’s best to sow seed directly into your patch. Carrots – many root vegetables grow best when sown directly as the roots can be when planting out seedlings. Peas and beans – they have plenty of stored energy in them, so they germinate quickly, meaning they’re less likely to suffer from transplant shock – plus it’s a cheaper way of growing them.

FAQs – Harvesting quince | Watering | Pumpkins in small spaces

Tino explains how to tell when to harvest quine, Millie gives advice on knowing when to water and Sophie has advice on growing pumpkins in small spaces.

Field of Blooms

Costa explores the sensational blooms in the Royal Botanic Garden Sydney’s colourful wildflower meadow. Costa is visiting the Royal Botanical Gardens Sydney, to look at the stunning wildflower meadow in full bloom. Brad Doherty is a Horticulturist at the Gardens and he explains that the meadow started back in 2016 when an apprentice was keen to attract beneficial insects to the urban area. It began as a relatively small meadow, but has since grown and now, just over 2000 square metres are covered with flowers.

The flowers attract bees, butterflies and even parasitic wasps that have helped control aphids which are a problem in the area.

Modern Marvel – Gardening Australia episode 6 2021

Jane meets a mid-century modern enthusiast whose home and garden are a dedication to the retro era. In Melbourne’s bayside Beaumaris are a number of homes all built after World War II, many taking inspiration from the American desert resort Palm Springs. This style is now known as mid-century modern, and Jane is visiting a house where this style has survived – and been restored – in the home and the garden.

There is a fernery, succulent area and vegie patch, separated by hedged correas and westringias. There are many eclectic, quirky features, including plastic birds and colourful vintage Eskies planted out with succulents. The lettuce seed has been saved from Annie’s parents for more than 20 years.

Tackling Scale

Jerry has tips on tackling scale infestations. Many garden plants can be attacked by scale (Family Diaspididae), which are sap sucking insects that produce a sugary secretion that is farmed by ants. Ants will move the scale insects to different fruit and plants. Any uneaten sugar falls and can cause sooty mould to grow on plant leaves.

The solution lies in breaking the relationship between the ants and the scale. Jerry does this by putting sticky horticultural glue on a tree trunk to stop the ants reaching the scale. He applies the glue onto some masking tape wound around the trunk to avoid the glue coming into direct contact with the bark. The scale population should gradually decline, and you can speed this up by treating it with eco oil, but removing the ants will dramatically slow their spread.

Rock ‘n’ Reveg – Gardening Australia episode 6 2021

Clarence explores a significant bushland site in Wollongong being restored by community spirit and a little rock ‘n’ roll!

Bringing the Garden In

Millie shares her garden renovation progress with tips for getting more plants into any space. Millie has been renovating her house, but now wants to spend some time on her plants so she doesn’t miss another growing season. Large windows onto the garden are a big focus of the new build, and ‘bringing the garden indoors’ is a key aim.

Special plants have been preserved during the building, including pallets around a Persimmon tree (Diospyros kaki cv.) to protect its roots. Today that is removed, and some compost added to give it a boost. However, the roots will need ongoing protection from her chooks, so a few logs are applied on top to stop them scratching. Millie also stakes the tree as it’s a little top-heavy. It’s important to allow some movement to help it develop roots to support itself.

Protecting soil form compaction has been a huge challenge so to aerate the soil she goes over it with a garden fork.

Plant Profile: Chinese Lanterns – Gardening Australia episode 6 2021

Jane takes a close look at the Chinese lantern – a plant that is a favourite amongst the honeyeaters!