Today is the first day of summer and this is the first planting guide of the season.
The following is a list of vegetables and herbs you can plant in December in Sydney, a temperate zone. Just click on the name for the growing guide for each vegetable or herb:Basil
Beans (dwarf and climbing)
Capsicum seedlings
Celery seedlings
Eggplant seedlings
Leeks seedlings
Luffa seedlings
Marrow
Okra seedlings
Rockmelon seedlings
Squash
Tomato seedlings
Watermelon seedlings
Zucchini seedlings
Plant of the Month – Dietes grandiflora – ( Large Wild Iris)
The pretty Dietes grandiflora, commonly known as the the wild iris or fortnight lily is a rhizomatous perennial plant of the Iris Family Iridaceae.
It grows naturally along the southern and eastern coastal areas of South Africa in full sun or partial shade at forest margins, or in the shelter of taller shrubs.
It is a popular and hardy plant in horticulture that is often used in public landscapes and for the home garden grown in clumps in borders or even in pots.
The attractive flowers can be up to 10 cm in diameter. They have 6 white outer tepals marked with yellow nectar guides and dark markings at the base. These outer tepals are not joined into a tube at their bases. Over the lower tepal are 3 violet central segments.
Dietes grandiflora grows from underground rhizomes, growing up to 60 centimetres in height and 30–60 centimetres in spread, it forms dense basal tufts in the shape of an extended fan.
The long, rigid, sword-shaped leaves, held in the fan shape, are dark green and may reach up to 1 m long and 15-20 mm wide.
The plant blooms prolifically throughout spring and summer, especially after rain. The delicate flowers last a few days and are followed by 5 cm long green capsules that contain very dark brown seeds, spread when the capsule splits open.
Dietes grandiflora bears many flowers during its peak season, attracting bees and other pollinators.
These tough plants grow well in any type of soil but do well in slightly acidic, well composted soil.
They flower most prolifically in sunny sites but also grow well and flower, though somewhat less, when grown in the shelter of evergreen trees.
The plant in the image below is flowering well in the shade of a large deciduous tree where it receives some afternoon sun.
Although Dietes grandiflora are drought hardy and can go for long periods without water they look their best when watered regularly during long hot summers.
Dietes grandiflora are easily divided during early spring by separating the fans and dividing the rhizomes below.
These hardy plants are perfect for any garden grown in clumps or individually among other perennials. in fact mine has survived many years in a large pot. They are fuss free and give so much beauty with their delicate flowers. Attracting both pollinators and also insect eating birds, they are a joy in any setting when blooming in profusion from spring to autumn.
The Grantham Gardener 