Article Published in the KO-GO Khronicles, October 2007

Home Garden.

By Bob Bayes
http://www.qualitygardens.biz/
qualitygardens2004@yahoo.co.uk

A plant that has caught my eye just recently is the Bird of Paradise Plant (Strelitzia reginae, Paradisio Pouli).
A clump forming perennial from South Africa it certainly brings a touch of exotica to the Cretan garden. I have one growing as a large pot plant and, as I write this article, the first of its unique flowers is just going over (a replacement bud is now developing).
The Bird of Paradise grows to a height of about 1.2 metres with a spread of 1 metre and adds a degree of elegance to any garden with its 50cm long spear shaped leaves. Its flowers are, however, truly spectacular. The beak-like crests of orange and blue flowers are supported by boat shaped green bracts which are flushed with orange and purple. The flower heads are borne on long stems above the foliage and they flower in the spring, autumn and sometimes in the winter.
As well as a superb pot plant for the patio, the Bird of Paradise grows exceptionally well in the garden. They appreciate a rich earth with regular feeds during the growing season and summer watering. It can be grown as an unusual dividing hedge in the garden, is useful for planting in narrow beds and combines well with such plants as Canna and Banana (it is in fact a member of the banana family) to give a real ‘jungle feel’ to a garden.
Small, young plants will not produce flowers but the patient gardener will be amply rewarded.

The first of the autumn rains have already fallen in Gouves and that gives gardeners like myself itchy fingers (and dirty boots). Now is a busy time in the garden, any proposed permanent plants should be put in the ground as soon as possible. This enables them to get their root systems well established before next summer.
Vegetable gardeners too should be able to find young plants of such things as cabbage and cauliflower in the farm shops. It is also a good time to sow such things as beans, beets, lettuce, radish and spinach.
I am experimenting with pea seeds that I have obtained from the U.K and will try some more of the snowball turnip seeds that I also grew in the spring,
One word of warning, however, do not be tempted onto your cultivated land if the soil is too wet. Wet soil is easily over compacted and you will soon undo all your previous good works.

Do you have any gardening tips that you would like to share?
How about garden problems that you need a help with?
Why not visit one of the links at the top of the column? I will be happy to help as much as I can.
Alternatively, visit my blogsite www.quality-gardens-crete.blogspot.com. This and all my previous articles can be found there and you are welcome to post comments.
Tips, queries and comments can also be sent by mail to the KO-GO offices.