Success with Growing Tomatoes

A few simple guidelines for easy tomato growing:

• Select a sunny site for your tomato.
• If you are planting in a garden, ensure your soil is well drained and friable. If planting into a pot, use a premium potting mix.
• Add organic fertilizer to the soil and cultivate it through.
• Unless growing a dwarf variety, tomatoes will require a strong stake, approximately 2 metres in length, for support. Position the stake when you plant in the tomato.
• Water well after planting, and then keep the soil moist, but not soaking. Water your tomato plant at the base, to avoid fungal problems.
• A further application of fertilizer can be applied during the growing season.
• Harvest tomatoes regularly to encourage the plant to produce more fruit.

Success with growing Chillies and Capsicums

• Select a sunny position to grow your chilli or capsicum.
• If you are planting in a garden, ensure your soil is well drained and friable. If planting into a pot, use a premium potting mix.
• Add organic fertilizer to the soil and cultivate it through.
• Water well after planting, and then keep the soil moist, but not soaking. Water your tomato plant at the base, to avoid fungal problems.
• A further application of fertilizer can be applied during the growing season.

CAUTION! When preparing chillies do not touch your face or eyes and wash hands after preparation.

To dry chilles simply thread together and hang in a sunny position. To use dried chillies soak in water before using.

Pests and Diseases

Capsicum and chillies can be attacked by aphids, caterpillars and thrips. A pyrethrum spray should keep these pests at bay. In humid conditions fungal diseases may be a problem.

Success with Strawberries

• Select a sunny position.
• If you are planting in a garden, ensure your soil is well drained and friable. If planting into a pot, use a premium potting mix.
• Add organic fertilizer to the soil and cultivate it through.
• If planting in a garden bed, strawberries can be planted through black plastic, weed mat or sugar cane mulch. This reduces weeding and watering while keeping the fruit clean.
• Plant strawberries 30cm apart.
• Water well until established.
• Fortnightly application of liquid fertilizer is beneficial.
• Harvest regularly, every 3-4 days, as this enables the new fruit to develop to full maturity.

Low water users for colour in the garden

Water smart gardens do not have to be deprived of colour and blooms.

• Prepare the soil prior to planting, with organic matter, such as compost and manures.
• The use of water storing products will also be an added bonus in retaining moisture during the dry months.
• Plants need to be watered until they have established a strong and healthy root system. (six months for perennials, and six weeks for annuals).
• Mulch to conserve water evaporation and suppress weed growth.

The following perennials are dry tolerant once they are established and will flower freely for months.

United Nurseries also offer a range of seedlings that are low water users. Once these plants are established they also require little water. These include:

Success with Growing Annuals

• Choose garden site requirements to suit annual
• Soil preparation with compost
• Plant seedlings required distance apart, as on label.
• Soak soil, do not allow to dry out
• Fortnightly application of liquid fertilizer, to promote flowering.
• Pinch out buds to encourage bushy growth.
• If planting in containers, use premium potting mix for best results.

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