Gardening and growing great plants.

Why are truss tomatoes so cheap at the moment ?

It wasn't so long ago that large truss tomatoes were $6.99 to $7.99 per kilo. The price hardly ever varied. I noticed that my local fruit shop is now at $5.99 and that an Aldi catalogue this week advertised truss tomatoes for $2.99 per kilo. I started to wonder why. That's when I did a bit of research  and found that there were 2 reasons for this. Reason 1 is that Aldi and Coles are bypassing the vegetable markets and the other middlemen and going direct to the growers. Reason 2 is one of supply and demand. It seems that three big companies have built huge greenhouses that are many hectares in size. They include Timbercorp, Costas and Moraitis. All three projects have all started to come on tap at around the same time.

Thats good news for consumers but beware, as over the last few weeks I have tasted some of the various truss tomatoes and would suggest that there is a difference in flavour. Some of this may be attributable to variety grown, but there are other factors at play. You see if a greenhouse is built in the wrong place, or the temperatures in it cannot be stopped from getting too high because the cooling system or shading are not adequate, then these tomatoes will use a lot of water and too much water will mean less flavour. Therefore quality will vary so keep an eye on who's tomatoes you are eating (your green grocer will know) and keep in mind that price can refelect quality. I have always thought Flavourite had a nice flavoured truss tomato but will be analysing all future purchases much more closely.

Phalaenopsis Orchids - creating humidity, and watering.

Information by Collectors Corner

Often called a butterfly or moth orchid these plants have long graceful stems and beautiful and long lasting flowers. They are native to the Philipines and tropical Asia although modern hybrids have now improved the plant from the original species. In Melbourne, phalaenopsis can be grown quite successfully as indoor plants, providing some consideration is given to their special requirements.

Temperature: Phalaenopsis are happiest in a humid atmosphere with plenty of fresh moving air,filtered or artificial light and a minimum temperature of 16C. In such conditions, the plant will flower for many months - white flowers last longer than pink (12-20 weeks vs 8-12 weeks). If minimum temp is 12C the plant will still flower regularly yet the leaves may not grow as large.

To create a humid atmosphere you can do either:

Macadamias - The Aussie Nut !

by Dennis Ting - Gardenworld Nursery

Yes that's right.  Macadamias are the true blue Aussie nut originating in the northern NSW to southern Queensland coastal areas.  Everyone is familiar with these expensive nuts now and knows they are delicious. 

Even better still for us down in Melbourne is that they will grow and crop successfully down here.  I have been growing the trees here for over 10 years now and they all produce wonderful crops of delicious nuts.  Well perhaps not as many nuts as up north but still a worthwhile quantity every year. 

These trees can grow huge in the warmer parts of Australia but I feel that three to four metres might be the limit down here for a grafted tree.  Really great for home gardens and the spare corner where it can be left alone to grow happily. 

What is the appeal you ask in growing these trees in the home garden? 

Goji Berry - The Super Fruit

By Dennis Ting - Gardenworld Nursery 

The Goji Berry (Lycium barbarium) plant is a recent addition to the range of plants we have in the garden centre.   

It is widely known as being a "Super Fruit" packed with vitamins, anti-oxidants, amino acids and polysaccarides.  You have to believe its properties given the price currently charged for Goji juice, dried berries and similar products!! 

We have had these plants in the nursery for just over a year now and there is still some amazement expressed by customers when they see the plants and wonder whether it is possible to grow these in Melbourne. 

I have been growing these plants here for several years now and harvest my fruit in December each year so let me tell you a bit about them. 

The plant itself looks fairly ordinary with thin canes and long dull green leaves.  It is actually a member of the Solanaceae family (tomatoes and chillies).  The plant has several growth flushes during the season and in between tends to rest with no active growth.

More than just good looks.

By James Wall

Am at Mount Coolum in SE Queensland and driving down the road towards my accommodation I see this good looking thing. It is tall with a shady appearance and has the most vivid orange flowers I have ever seen. It's like a lighthouse every time I drive past. After checking with a local I find it is in fact a tree called the African Tulip tree (Spathodea campanulata). Well, I was pretty impressed, until he told me it was a weed and that when the flowers fall on wet concrete, it is dangerously slippery - yes, this trees even got OH&S issues! A quick check with the QLD Dept of Primary Industries and yes, it is a Class 3 declared plant under Queensland legislation. "It infests gullies, vegetation around waterways and disturbed rainforest". It is an even bigger problem in Nth Qld and is also a problem in Hawaii. So much for good looks. 

Tamarillo - the tree tomato

Growing Tree Tomatoes - A Quick Fruiter!!! 

By Dennis Ting - Gardenworld Nursery 

Walking around the garden centre the other day I was thinking about a question I often get asked by many customers.  "If I plant an apple or peach tree how long is it going to take before I can see worthwhile crops of fruit?"  The answer to this obviously varies depending on how quickly the fruit tree becomes established and settles into regular bearing but usually this is some years.  

There are however a small range of fruit bearing plants which grow rapidly and can produce good crops from within one or two years of planting believe it or not!   

One such plant is the Tree Tomato (Cyphomandra betacea) sometimes known as Tamarillo especially by the Kiwis who have commercialised it!  And yes it is related (distantly) to the vegetable tomatoes that you are used to.  But don't be put off by this as the fruit are much much better!!