Dear Gardeners,

Heronswood retail workshops 2008

Third Sunday of every month at 11:00am

Join us every month!
Join us at Heronswood for garden tours and workshops the third weekend of every month. Workshops start at 11am followed by garden tours at 2.30pm. (see left) Ph 03 5984 7321 for bookings

Bookings are essential.

July 20 Planning your spring vegie garden. Soil preparation and seed sowing

Whether you are starting a new vegie patch or just need a few handy tips, this is the workshop for you. Lou Larrieu, our trials and production manager, will show you how to get the most from your vegie patch

August 17 Fruit trees - Growing and nurturing

Tim Sansom, our plant manager, established our food forest and espaliered fruit trees at the garden of St Erth. He will talk about establishing your fruit trees, how to nurture them and how to maximise fruit production.

September 21 (NB This workshop starts at 2pm) Cooking with Skeet

Our café changes it's menu daily to take advantage of what is available in the garden. Join our resident chef Skeet to learn how you too can make the most of your harvest and pick up a few tricks of the trade.

October: There's a Camera in your Garden!

Your camera is the best record keeper of your garden, gardens you have visited, plants you have grown, or plants you are interested in.
But modern digital cameras have a reputation of being too complicated and hard to use. So come along to our camera session and blow away all those myths. Start making the most of your camera… for work or play.
Phil Seymour is an ex-ABC cameraman (he shot many "Sow What" programs with Kevin Heinze) with a passion for all things photographic and horticultural. After leaving the TV industry he spent ten years with a photographic retailer where he taught customers how to use their new cameras. And somehow, amongst all that, he owned a small gardening business.
In our session we cover the basics and simple care of your camera, and the things to consider when using your camera in a gardening environment. Of course, your holiday photos will benefit too!

Fruit Forest Update
First of all, many thanks to all those who have watered, weeded, replanted and cared for the trees through this last summer, its a mighty feat and congratulations all on your efforts. Now that the rains have come and the trees have all survived their first growing season we can begin to plan for next spring/growing season. A tree care team has been suggested and will really help the trees to kick off now they are becoming established, so please register your interest with Faye. A fruit forest working bee is planned, so keep your eyes peeled for dates and even if this is the only working bee you come to this year, come to this one! Many hands will make light work, and what a beautiful legacy this fruit forest is for the future.

Following is the tree care plan for your interest. If you can come to the working bee, print it off and bring it with you, if not and you're a free ranger it will help you keep up with whats going on and where you may fit when you can.

Simon Collings from the Fitzroy Nursery who is a member and has been our friendly tree supply man, has given us some timely advice on overall and individual tree care:

All trees need:
trunks cleared of mulch as can lead to collar rot.  feedathon, they all need fertilising, piggy poo or Dynamic Lifter will do. All tree labels off so they can grow unimpeded.

Bay Tree
Happy as a trout. Repot into a box or barrel as it will sucker and spread.

Avocado
looking shabby, probably due to sunburn. Mulch and fertilise. Reassess in spring as prone to root rot.

Figs
fertilise, but don't worry, they're tough!

Berm trees
these are all trees on the raised area, (deciduous, stone fruits, apples pears, quinces etc) will need a winter prune - Simon or Tim to do. 'Moorpark' Apricot to be swapped into sunnier position with a pear, use plant starter. Otherwise, all looking good.

Passionfruit clear the mulch for collar rot, feed with piggypoo and blood and bone (under paper) and undertake a monthly liquid fertilise.

Citrus these have struggled most as they are gross feeders, needing lots of water and nutrients and they had to be pulled out to bring in the portable, kept alive and then replanted in the long hot high summer. Also, a p/h test confirmed that they are in extremely alkaline soil which they really don't like as it binds up the nutrients in the lime. The yellow leaves on some indicate trace element deficiencies. Once they're established they'll be fine, but the next growth period is important to build health. To prepare for spring:
1. remove mulch from trunks to avoid collar rot.
2. weed, and possibly mulch (thick newspaper and mulch) a full ring round the whole citrus circle to keep down the weeds. (If using euki mulch sprinkle with Dynamic Lifter to keep nitrogen levels ok.)
3. top dress with pig poo to supply nitrogen.
4. monthly applications of liquid fertiliser/Seasol, helps root dvlpment, nitrogen and trace elements.
5. monthly foliar feed with a liquid fertiliser/white oil mix (gets around limey soil)
6. look into other methods if still have yellow leaves with new growth.


Preparing the trees well for this spring will set them up for a really good season. There's not a lot to do for each tree, but there are 35 trees to care for, and a group of 5-10 new trees to plant. So brave the cold, pull on your woolies and meet with some fellow wintry tree lovers. Await Fayes dates, and i'll see you all there!

Bring any of the following:
gloves, newspapers, shovel, crow bars, rakes

Yours in anticipation of spring growth,
Kirsty

Dear Gardeners,
I've had many people ask when the garden is open, so we've decided to start a weekly group.
Tuesday mornings from 9.30am till around 11am.  Bring your gloves, trowels, coffee or tea.
Children are most welcome.  Let your friends know open to anyone.
Take home some fresh produce.
Hope to see there.
Cheers
Faye