Jennifer Stackhouse

Winter is one of the best times of the year to grow vegetables as there are delicious crops to grow, bothersome pests and diseases are taking a winter break and mild temperatures mean there’s less stress on both plants and the gardener.

Cordylines are tough, leafy plants that bring a subtropical flavour to gardens even in cool climates.

With flowers from late summer to winter, sasanqua camellias make a long impact on the garden.

Vertical Gardens are a simple and effective way to introduce plants into a space where greenery otherwise couldn’t be grown. As they utilise vertical space they are a boon for small gardens everywhere from courtyards to balconies.

Vertical gardens can be used to grow ornamental or edible plants in a small space. They are ideal for attaching to the walls of balconies, courtyards or fences to provide growing spaces for a wide range of plants.

Remember passionfruit are subtropical plants so, although they’ll grow in most parts of Australia, in cooler areas they need a warm, sunny, sheltered spot with fertile soil and regular water to thrive.

Boldly coloured petunias can be used to add highlights to a green garden or enliven an outdoor entertaining area such as a barbecue area or around a swimming pool.

Fruit flies are a very real menace in the garden, attacking apricot, peach, nectarine, raspberry and mandarins, as well as our favourite salad vegetable, the tomato.

When there’s a problem in your garden you want a safe cure. Some people search for homemade remedies, but many of these are messy to make or apply and may often harm the very plant you are trying to protect.