In the garden with Nell Carr

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JUNE 2016 | Nell Carr

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THE DELICIOUSLY flavoured Manuka honey is commonly assumed to be a product exclusively from New Zealand, but in fact the plants which produce it, Leptospermum scoparium,(pictured below), can be found growing prolifically as a drought resistant understorey species in native forests in NSW, Victoria, and Tasmania, and are easily grown from seed.

There are several different forms, but specimens in Meander Valley forests have gracefully arching branches bearing small white flowers from September to March.

Recent cultivars have now been bred to carry flowers in varying shades of pink.

The honey is reputed to possess anti bacterial properties, and was reported to be fetching $100.00 a kilogram overseas, but a Southern Tasmanian product is available for round about $12.00 in Meander Valley shops, with little difference in price from other varieties of Tasmanian honey on sale.

In the vegie garden. There are very few vegetables thatcan be sown in June Exceptions are spring onions and winter lettuce, those that can be picked leaf by leaf, and seem to have replaced the big hearted varieties which require so much water to heart up.

Peas should be left until July, so that they are not flowering when there is a risk of frosts, but should be sown before mid-October.

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