What’s In Season – October’s Garden Gems
As October brings the full energy of spring, our gardens come alive with vibrant colours and lush textures. This month, we’re highlighting four stunning plants that are in season and ready to turn your garden into a blooming paradise:
Petunia Supertunia
Care Tips:
- Light: Supertunias thrive in full sun but can tolerate light shade. Ensure they get at least 6 hours of direct sunlight for optimal flowering.
- Soil: They prefer well-draining, nutrient-rich soil. Amend heavy soils with compost to improve drainage and fertility.
- Water: Supertunias require regular watering, especially during hot weather. While established plants are somewhat drought-tolerant, consistent moisture is key to promoting abundant blooms. Potted Supertunias should be watered more frequently.
Uses in the Garden:
Supertunias are perfect for adding bold, vibrant colour to flower beds and borders, hanging baskets and pots and containers. Their vigorous growth and trailing habit make them ideal for cascading over the edges of pots and planters. These flower factories don’t need deadheading to provide colour all summer long, creating a stunning display with minimal maintenance.
IMAGES COURTESY OF PROVEN WINNERS
Alstroemeria Inticancha
Care Tips:
- Light: Alstroemeria Inticancha varieties thrive in full sun to partial shade. They perform best with at least 6 hours of sunlight but can tolerate some afternoon shade in hotter climates.
- Soil: They prefer well-draining, rich soil. Amend with organic matter if necessary to improve drainage and provide nutrients.
- Water: Water regularly, especially during dry spells. While established plants are moderately drought-tolerant, keeping the soil consistently moist promotes continuous blooming. Potted plants may require more frequent watering.
Uses in the Garden:
The popular Alstroemeria Inticancha series has a compact mounding habit and strong heat tolerance. With an abundant, extended flowering season from spring through autumn, these hardy perennials offer vibrant, colourful flowers which are popular as cut flowers for the vase. With a tidy, bushy growth habit, they make excellent choices for patio planters, small gardens, or mixed borders.
Pelargonium Tacari
Care Tips:
- Light: Pelargonium Tacari thrives in full sun to partial shade. For the best flowering display, ensure it gets at least 5-6 hours of direct sunlight each day.
- Soil: These plants dislike soggy roots and poorly draining soil. For containers, use a good quality potting mix, while in garden beds, enrich the soil with compost. To improve heavy clay soils, mix in some coarse river sand to enhance drainage and structure.
- Water: These plants have moderate to low water needs. Let the soil dry out completely between watering. During warmer weather, container plants will need more frequent watering compared to those planted in the garden.
Uses in the Garden:
With its compact, mounding growth, Pelargonium Tacari is perfect for adding bright, cheerful colour to garden beds, borders or pots and containers. Longblooming with large, show-stopping flowers that steal the spotlight. They also attract pollinators like butterflies, making them a great addition to pollinator-friendly gardens.
Lavender Stoechas
Care Tips:
- Light: Lavender stoechas likes to grow in full sun. Good air circulation is essential.
- Soil: They prefer well-drained soil that is poor, light, and sandy.
- Water: They require regular watering when first planted but once established, they are water-wise. Be aware of over watering. Potted plants should be watered when the topsoil feels dry.
- Pruning: To keep your Lavender bush tidy, prune back lightly – up to a third after flowering. Do not allow it to become overgrown and woody.
Uses in the Garden:
Lavender Stoechas are perfect for creating fragrant borders or low hedges. They are great in herb gardens or container displays. Their compact, bushy growth habit makes them ideal for small gardens or patio pots. Blooming from spring through summer, the vibrant, purple-topped flower spikes are excellent for attracting pollinators like bees and butterflies. Their aromatic foliage and long-lasting blooms also make them a popular choice for cutting and drying, adding beauty and fragrance to both the garden and home.
