Garden Show, Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show

Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show – Cancelled

sarahjwrites

If the world was running as usual, I would have attended the 202 Melbourne International Flower and Garden show by now. But because the necessary health restrictions this year’s show was cancelled.

I usually pick up a spring bulbs sample bag from the Garden Express stand at the show. I was please to note that a lot of the business that were planning exhibits (and planning on selling items at special prices) have set up on line options for their wares. I was able to order my bulb sample bag and it arrived in under a week. If you are looking for garden supplies, tools, plants, and other accessories go to the MIFGS site and look at what’s available.

For more information go to the website – This lists the various exhibitors and the items they have for sale (internet order): Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show

Book, Gardening Book, Gardening for Beginners: Hints and tips for Melbourne Australia

“Gardening for Beginners” now available in paperback

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It’s finally happened. Due to popular demand “Gardening for Beginners: Hints and Tips for Melbourne, Australia” by Sarah Jackson is now available in paperback format.

You can order your paperback copy through Amazon here 

Or get your kindle e-book copy here

So you want to start a garden? No idea where to start? Then this may be the guide for you. “Gardening for Beginners” is a handy reference book with basic hints and tips for the new gardener. It contains no fancy terms, no superior expertise, just honest advice from someone just like you. There are sections on what tools to buy, growing vegetables, fruit, herbs and flowers, dealing with pests, and working out which fertilisers are best for you.

It is written for a cool climate, but the advice is useful anywhere. The book is based on the quirky and informative blog Sarah’s Melbourne Kitchen Garden.

Bird Bath, Garden Work

Social Distancing and Garden Opportunities

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Why not put in a bird bath?

This time of enforced social distancing/isolation presents us all with the time and opportunity to do a little work around the garden. My garden looks like Triffids have taken over, so I will be doing a little bit each day to get things under control.

Having said that, my first thought is to avoid any actual hard work. If you want a quick and easy garden project, which provides on-going rewards for you and the environment consider putting in a bird bath.

Choose a wide and deep container
Choose a spot off the ground and in shade
Clean and refill every day
  1. Select a receptacle. It doesn’t have to be fancy. I use an old ceramic salad bowl, but you can use practically anything that holds water. Try and pick something that’s at least 15cm in diametre (doesn’t have to be round) and at least 8cm deep.
  2. Find a place to put it. Choose something that’s off the ground and preferably in a shady (or partly shaded) area.
  3. Fill the dish. I clean mine out and refill it once a day. You may need to do this more often in Summer – less often when it’s raining.
  4. Wait for the birds.

Don’t worry about attracting birds, they will find it, and faster than you think. You may attract a wide variety of birds, or you may get a few faithful local visitors. Yes, the cat/dog will drink the water too, and yes the birds will use this to drink and bathe in. They can be very grubby indeed.

This is something the whole family can participate in.

Garden Show, Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show

Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show – Cancelled

sarahjwrites

IMPORTANT INFORMATION REGARDING THE MELBOURNE INTERNATIONAL FLOWER & GARDEN SHOW

Due to recent guidance from the Australian Health Protection Principal Committee (AHPPC) in light of the evolving COVID-19 (coronavirus) situation which advises against non-essential, organised public gatherings of more than 500 people, we regret to share the 2020 Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show presented by Lawn Solutions Australia has been cancelled.

This decision was made after careful consideration, with the health and safety of everyone involved remaining our top priority.

For more information go to the website: Melbourne International Flower & Garden Show 

Seasonal guide

Things to do in Autumn

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Yes I know, It’s hard to believe it, but Autumn is here already. We have at least another good month of Summer weather before we need to start on out Autumn gardening, but if you need some advice on what needs to be done check out the lists below:
What to plant in Autumn:
Salad Vegetables: Asian Greens, Lettuce, Endive, Salad Greens, Silver Beet, Spinach
Legumes: Beans, Peas
Root Vegetables: Beetroot, Carrots, Parsnips, Potatoes, Radish, Globe artichokes
Onions: Onions, Leeks, Garlic, Spring Onions, Fennel 
Brassicas: Broccoli, Broccolini, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Mustard, Chinese Cabbage
Fruit: Strawberries
 
What to Harvest:
  • Pumpkins, Squash, Corn, Potatoes
  • Capsicum, Chillies (early season)
  • Lettuce, Salad Greens, Herbs
  • Berries (early season)
  • Apples
Jobs to do:
  • Weeding
  • Remove dead annuals, trim hedges and vines
  • Dead head flowers
  • Cut away dead berry canes, prune fruit trees 
  • Clean BBQ (for Winter storage)
  • Clear Summer crops and till/fork through soil
  • Add manure, compost and fertilisers and dig through
  • Test soil and add necessary additives (dolomite for example)
  • Plant bulbs and sweat peas (April)
  • Lay down a layer of sugarcane mulch (or mulch of choice)
Potential Problems:
Sometimes cold snaps make it difficult to get seeds to germinate and seedlings to harden off (survive the cold).  You may want to consider using a frame over the beds to keep the seedlings warm.