SERIES 37 | Episode 02
What’s a beneficial plant for the vegie patch?
TAMMY: Check out the Mexican marigold, Tagetes lemmonii, which flowers in the cooler months and into spring. This large, bushy shrub attracts lots of pollinators, and the roots of the plant can help repel soil nematodes. Also, the aromatic foliage can repel and confuse a lot of airborne pests, including carrot fly, white butterfly and pumpkin beetles, but to humans it smells delicious – like pineapples! Recent research has shown that marigolds can be particularly useful in repelling white fly from tomatoes. When you prune it, dig the prunings into the soil; it will keep the soil moist and, as it rots, it will help keep soil nematodes away.
What’s wrong with my eggplant leaves?
HANNAH: Mottled eggplant leaves can be a sign of spider mites or lace bugs. This one had webbing under the leaves, a tell-tale sign of mites. Mites love hot, dry weather, and may target plants that are already struggling with moisture stress. If only one or two leaves are affected, cut them off and bin them. If it’s more widespread, hose down the plant, making sure to wet both sides of the leaves, the stems and in between the fruit. A healthy, diverse garden without pesticides can also attract beneficial insects, which will also help with pest control.
When is the best time to prune a mango?
JERRY: As the tree is growing, the best place to prune it is once the main stem has got beyond a metre high – but cutting here you encourage more side branches, creating a vase shape for the mature tree. After that, you can remove dead wood and crossing branches at any time of the year. The next most important time to prune is after you’ve harvested your fruit. By reducing the stems by 30cm you can keep it to a safe picking height, and that pruning removes the most concentrated sources of disease.
Featured PlantTREE MARIGOLDTagetes lemmonii
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