In the garden with Nell Carr

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April 2016 | Nell Carr

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THE DAISY-FLOWERED Aster novi-angliae. and the Sedum autumn joy (pictured), have flourished in the hot dry summer, and are blooming prolifically.

The small flowered metre high daisies of the Aster are known by the general rubric of Michaelmas Daisies, but as St Michael’s Mass falls in September, a more appropriate name in the Southern hemisphere is Easter Daisies.

The small mauve flowered variety of these is inclined to be invasive, but that pictured is easily propagated by root division after flowering.

The Sedums are very easily propagated by inserting a piece of stem into the soil.

Tomatoes. This very unusual summer - hot and dry, followed by torrential rain in late January, has resulted in a ruinous case of blossom end rot in Roma tomatoes.

These solid fleshy tomatoes are so useful for making pickles and chutneys.

Other varieties of tomato grown were not affected.

Later developing Romas escaped, although some were found to have shrivelled at the stalk end.

Zucchinis. These have a habit of hiding under the foliage until they grow huge and pulpy and inedible. Split lengthwise, they can be fed to the fowls.

[udesign_icon_font name="fa fa-camera" color="#000000"]Mike Moores