Horticulturalist Duncan Cocking, who runs Kyneton-based Leaf, Root & Fruit, explains two important tasks to do in the next few weeks. November is a critical time for deciduous fruit trees such as apples, pears and stone fruit. Did you know that the trees are currently determining the outcomes of buds for next year? Right now, […]
Here comes the red and black army
Horticulturalist Duncan Cocking, who runs Kyneton-based Leaf, Root & Fruit, discusses the march of the harlequin bugs. The mild conditions of spring, high humidity and rampant flushes of plant growth create opportunities for pests to thrive. Each year is a little bit different, but in October and early November there’s always a pest species or […]
Spear we go
Horticulturalist Duncan Cocking, who runs Kyneton-based Leaf, Root & Fruit, discusses early asparagus and what that says about carrots. I harvested our first asparagus spears of the season at the end of August. It was only a small handful, but the kids especially enjoy a change from our brassica glut. I’ve picked a few more spears since […]
Snap it with your phone – Wattle
Professional photographer Tiffany Warner explains how to capture wattle’s golden glow. This time of year, the sun is starting to shine and spring is almost here. The wattle is blooming throughout the Ranges, signalling the end of winter and flooding the landscape with a gorgeous sea of yellow. To capture the beauty of these delicate […]
Curly leaf: To spray or not to spray
Horticulturalist Duncan Cocking, who runs Kyneton-based Leaf, Root & Fruit, discusses different approaches to curly leaf in peaches and nectarines. If you are concerned about curly leaf on your peach and nectarine trees, then now is the time to spray. Copper-based anti-fungal sprays need to be applied to the tree before it breaks dormancy. However, […]
Give peas a chance
Horticulturalist Duncan Cocking, who runs Kyneton-based Leaf, Root & Fruit, explains how to grow peas during the cooler months. Pea plants will grow all year here in the cool temperate climate of the Macedon Ranges. The plants will grow strong and healthy regardless of the season. But there’s a catch. If the plants are flowering […]