In the Garden with Nell Carr

Heliopsis – late summer bloomers

THIS METRE high perennial belongs to the numerous Asteraceae or Daisy family which comprises one tenth of the world’s flowering plants.

They inhabit every zone on the planet, from the Arctic zones to the tropics.

The herbaceous Heliopsis (pictured) grows to 1.5 metres and is both frost and drought tender, but as it disappears during the winter months, frost is rarely a problem, and this wet summer, irrigation has rarely been necessary.

Heliopsis are easily propagated by root division.

January rainfall of 66mm has been kind to gardeners and farmers alike. The hose has only been used once, early in December, to keep very drought tender Hydrangeas alive.

In the vegie garden

Broad beans, broccoli, leeks, lettuce (those harvested leaf by leaf) can be sown. It is a little late in the summer to sow the big hearted varieties like Iceberg, but the smaller varieties come in different colours and add interest to a late summer salad).

For best results, broad beans should be sown in the months of early Autumn.

Those sown in September do not do as well as those which are sown in March and April.

They should be ready for picking in October or November, at the time when there are very few fresh green vegetables about.

They also freeze well.