Next on: Tonight 7.30pm, Rpt Sunday 1.30pm on ABC + iview

Coming up

Costa joins a school’s celebration of a 30-year commitment to the local landscape, Millie builds a blooming letterbox, Josh meets a teenage bee keeper and we visit a tulip farm bursting with blooms

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Video Preview

Tonight 7.30pm on ABC + iview

Josh meets a 16-year-old bee keeper who is so passionate about keeping honey bees, he’s teaching other young people

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Factsheet Highlight

Fact Sheet

Millie makes a modern letterbox with room for plants, excess produce and the daily post

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Gardening Australia Weekly Quiz

Which fruit tree does not like a hard prune?

A) Nectarine
B) Mandarin
C) Lemon

Answer to last week's question:
Q. Alliums (garlics, onions, leeks etc.) prefer growing in which soil type?
A. B - Alkaline

What to plant this weekend

Tropical Climate Zone

Asparagus
Beetroot
Celery
Pumpkin

Subtropical Climate Zone

Basil
Coriander
Lettuce
Tomatoes

Arid Climate Zone

Carrots
Kale / Collards
Oregano
Sweet Corn

Temperate Climate Zone

Broccoli
Celery
Eggplant
Leeks

Cool Climate Zone

Broccoli
Celery
Onion
Parsley

Jobs for the weekend

Cool

Now that the weather has started to warm, keep an eye out for aphids, especially on the underside of brassica leaves. Squash them if you see them to deter their mates.
It’s a ripper time to give your citrus trees a feed as they start to come into a real growing period. Aged composts, manures or blended organic fertilisers are best to promote strong, healthy growth.
Spring salads and sangas are not the same without lettuce, and this weekend is the perfect time to direct sow some lettuce seeds. Try some heirloom varieties for a twist on these lovely leaves.

Warm Temperate

The smell of sweet peas are in the air. Cut some sweet pea flowers for a vase inside – you’ll encourage further flowers, and get to enjoy the intoxicating scent.
The grass is growing, so it’s the perfect time to dethatch your lawn. Using a thatching rake, remove any dead stems and other debris that’s collected between the grass and the soil
Low maintenance, good-looking and hardy – Statice (Limonium perezii) sounds almost too good to be true! This purple flowering perennial is easy to grow from seed – try some at your place.

Subtropical

In the subtropics, broad beans are starting to flower but, be patient. They won’t set fruit until the weather warms up a little more, so keep the water up to them, give them a feed….and wait.
Whether you prefer sweets or savouries, cordial or cocktails, you cannot go past a home-grown lime or two. Plant a Tahitian lime for tart, juicy fruits, and a Makrut for its foliage and zest!
Cyclamens are coming to the close of their fab floral show, so it’s time to give them a rest. Allow the tubers to dry out and place them under the shade of a tree or shrub until next year.

Tropics

Take your tastebuds on a trip and plant a Burdekin Plum (Pleiogynium timoriense). A hardy native rainforest tree, the fruits are great in jams, cakes and jellies.
The sun has a real bite to it at this time of year, and if you’re feeling it, so is your garden. Knock together some shade cloth covers and tepees to protect vulnerable and sensitive plants.
Pumpkins are easy to grow and generous once they fruit, sow some seeds this weekend. Make sure they have enough room to roam, and don’t be afraid to experiment with different varieties.

Arid Zones

Gardeners in arid zones, it’s the perfect time to sow annual herbs, and if you’re looking for a basil that won’t get busted by grasshoppers, try a Thai basil with its aromatic, anise flavour.
If you’re making a start on summer vegies, it’s a great idea to start them off in pots and punnets, so they can be protected from any late frosts.
Caterpillars are starting to get busy in the garden and many can make short work of young plants. Remove them by hand, but remember, not all caterpillars are garden pests.

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