The Garden Diaries: Victoria In September

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What a great time to be in the garden. It’s spring. The sun’s about to come out, the soil is warming, there’s so much colour – it’s just beautiful.

Hero plant this month: Tomatoes Lycopersicon esculentum

This month it’s all about tomatoes. There’s a huge variety available in sizes and colours ranging from red to black, yellow and striped. When they’re home grown, they taste delicious. Tomatoes grow well in pots, hanging baskets or in the ground.

Plant seed in pre-moistened soil and in about a week the seedlings should emerge. Fertilise every few weeks when the plants are growing.

Growing from seed is a great project for kids. Get some seeds, plant in a seedling tray or small pot and pop it on the window sill, or somewhere warm, and light. Watch the seeds germinate and grow.

Tomatoes are also available as seedlings in punnets or single pots. Plant in a sunny well-drained position. It’s preferable to select a patch that hasn’t grown tomatoes the previous season. Mix in organic compost before planting. Remember to keep plants well-watered and feed regularly. Stake larger growing varieties.

Favourites include the larger fruiting Beefsteak; Roma with its high yield, is a wonderful cooking variety and the striped Tigerella with its sweet flavour is another to look out for.

What else to plant

Other flowering plants to put in now are bacopa, with its trailing habit and pretty flowers; hardy geraniums that thrive in the heat with their wonderful showy blooms; and petunias for a pop of colour throughout summer.

Get some summer vegies in too. Cucumber, celery, eggplant, parsley, rocket, peas and Asian greens. A smorgasbord of summer picking vegies.

Remember the Perfect Plant Promise. All our plants (except seedlings) are guaranteed for 12 months. If you're not 100% happy, return your plant (with receipt or tax invoice) and we'll refund it.

Maintenance

It’s spring, so the best time to get cracking on the jobs outside.

First up, apply some liquid fertiliser around the garden it will nourish plants as the soil warms and they start to grow.

Pull weeds, ideally while the soil is still moist and before they flower and set seed.

Monitor plants’ watering needs and give them a sprinkle where needed. Pots and plants under trees are prone to drying out. Add some water crystals if required. These will help soil retain and hold moisture.

Harvest

There’s plenty to harvest too. Pick evergreens such as lettuce, as well as carrots, parsley, and celery.

There’s no doubt that spring is an inspiring time to get out into the garden and enjoy the sunshine.

Our Perfect Plant Promise

Remember the Perfect Plant Promise. All our plants (except seedlings) are guaranteed for 12 months. If you're not 100 percent happy, return your plant (with the receipt or tax invoice) and we'll refund it.

Start planting today

Check out the wide range of plants online or visit your local Bunnings Warehouse to find out how you can bring your garden to life.

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Health & Safety

Please make sure you use all equipment appropriately and safely when following the advice in these D.I.Y. videos. You need to be familiar with how to use equipment safely and follow the instructions that came with the equipment. If you are unsure, you may feel it is safest to consult an expert, such as the manufacturer or an expert Bunnings Team Member.

Grave health hazards are linked to asbestos, which may be in homes built up to 1990. Health hazards may result from exposure to lead-based paints in older materials and copper chromium arsenic (CCA) treated timber. For information on the dangers of asbestos, lead-based paint and CCA treated timber and tips for dealing with these materials contact your local council's Environmental Health Officer or visit our Health & Safety page. You can also use a simple test kit from Bunnings to indicate the presence of lead-based paint.