ABC Adelaide's Talkback Gardening

There's nothing more delightful than a fertile, green environment. It's cooling, visually spectacular, and good for the soul. Now you can access funding for a project in your neighbourhood to make things even greener.

With a long, dry summer and a heatwave kickstarting March, wildlife are heading to home gardens across South Australia in search of hydration and food sources. Zoologist, James Smith explains how you can handle it.

Perennial plants with tuberous roots, Dahlias are on the comeback trail in South Australia. Known only to the Aztecs until the Spanish conquest, they're now becoming very well known in Adelaide and throughout the regions.

On ABC Talkback Gardening, Sophie Thomson and Deb Tribe were joined by Chris Day, a Regenerative Farmer & Edible Landscaper who discussed summer fruit tree pruning in South Australia and took your calls.

Sharing fruit in South Australia is getting complicated and it may not be clear what your responsibilities are as a home gardener. On ABC Talkback Gardening, Fruit Share Adelaide and more share valuable advice.

Citrus expert, Ian Tolley has a lifetime of experience growing lemons, oranges, limes, and more. The seasoned green thumb who loved gardening as a child joined Deb Tribe & Sophie Thomson on ABC Talkback Gardening.

A low-level heatwave in South Australia is keeping the state's home gardens hot and dry for sustained periods. So, how do you protect your precious garden and keep plants healthy for the remainder of summer?

With a heatwave on the way in South Australia, Gardening Australia's Sophie Thomson shared her tips on how to beat the heat in your home garden.

Leigh Radford was joined by ABC Gardening Australia's Sophie Thomson on a Saturday, as he opened the lines to take your calls on ABC Talkback Gardening.

On ABC Talkback Gardening, Troy Sincock flung open the garden gates to your calls. Horticultural lecturer, Dan Austin provides his expert advice on everything from gall wasps to pears and asparagus.

Despite record low rainfalls recorded in South Australia throughout 2024, Independent Climatologist, Darren Ray says there is reason for farmers to feel more optimistic about the year ahead.

Sunburn is not just a human experience. Direct sunlight can affect your plants too. As summer starts to heat up, horticultural lecturer, Dan Austin talks about being sun-smart in the garden.

There's a lot of home entertaining throughout the festive period, so you want your home garden looking inviting for your guests. Horticulturist and Garden Centre Manager, Brett Draper shares his tips.

South Australian nurseries are bathed in a sea of red each Christmas as festive poinsettias line the shelves ready to take pride of place in homes across the state.

Independent Climatologist, Darren Ray is forecasting average December temperatures in SA with the occasional heat spike. As for Christmas, his prediction is that December 24 could see some rain.

Gardening expert, Jon Lamb has worked with the ABC for 57 years, 44 of those on Saturday mornings with ABC Radio Adelaide's Talkback Gardening. On November 29,  Lamb said his final farewell to ABC listeners at the Adelaide Botanic Gardens.

"The greatest biodiversity of any ecosystem on the Earth is the soil", said organic gardening authority, Tim Marshall. "For a long time, agronomy concentrated on the plants, and now we know the soil is important".

The Garden Clubs of South Australia staged a Festival of Flowers. From orchids to fuschias the state was in full bloom showcasing SA's show-stopping array of colour.

Most roses grown in Australia have been developed by International rose breeders. SA-based, Kim Syrus is responsible for introducing the best of these, & completed a review of rose breeding trends in the US & Europe.

Herbs are delicious, and add flavour to any meal. Growing them at home yourself can also save you money during the cost of living crisis. Penny Woodward explains how to go about it on ABC Talkback Gardening.

Stangate House at Aldgate in the Adelaide Hills is known for its spectacular collection of rhododendrons. They're relatively easy to grow and the President of the Rhododendron Society of SA, Rob Hatcher tells you how.

Former ABC Talkback Gardening host and native plant expert, Linda Neimann is making peace with nature in the Adelaide Hills at her home base in Mylor. "I really love the possums, the kangaroos, the echidnas..."

Garden Centre Manager and Royal Adelaide Show horticultural display coordinator, Brett Draper is passionate about cliveas. They're useful and almost indestructible, but what do you do when they don't flower?

Entomologist Greg Baker says citrus gall wasp are expected to emerge slightly earlier this year, consistent with 2023 behaviour.  "We predict their emergence will likely commence around about October the 19th".

Passionate citrus gardener and an internationally recognised authority on citrus, Ian Tolley joined Deb Tribe & Jon Lamb on ABC Talkback Gardening to share his expertise to ensure you grow fruit in abundance at home.

Aphids are the enemy of rose bushes and can spread viral diseases between plants in your garden. In warm and moist weather Aphid populations build rapidly, but don't go spraying insecticide.

Temperatures across Adelaide during August were 3° above average and during the first week of September, there was a mini burst of temperatures in the low 20s. Could tomatoes benefit from these warmer conditions?

Deb Tribe and Jon Lamb presented ABC Talkback Gardening live from the Jubilee Pavilion at the Royal Adelaide Show taking your calls on-site and on the phone.

Adelaide weather during June and July was relatively unremarkable. In August rainfall was down almost 1/3 but, temperatures were well above average. Independent Climatologist, Darren Ray forecasts spring 2024.

Why pay top price for your weekly punnet of supermarket strawberries when you can harvest a regular supply of super sweet strawberries fresh from your own garden? And, with the Royal Show on the way, what can keen gardeners expect?

Right now, garden soils are far too cold to germinate vegetable seeds but heating aids help to create ideal conditions for vegetable seeds to germinate.

It’s mating season!  Don’t be surprised if you observe a significant increase in bird activity. Some of these birds are our friends and play a valuable role in pollinating plants, but which are the bullies we need to look out for?

No matter your age, there's always something more to learn about gardening and how to make your SA home garden flourish. Horticultural Educator at Urrbrae TAFE SA, Simone Wurkus shares her knowledge & expertise on ABC Talkback Gardening.

In the Adelaide city & suburbs gardens are becoming smaller and space for gardening is at a premium. How do you find a tree that is the right fit for your property? Arborist Michael Palamountain explains on ABC Talkback Gardening.

In most South Australian gardens roses are still covered in leaves. On ABC Talkback Gardening, Rosarian, Merv Trimper joined Spence Denny and Jon Lamb to explain why you need to start pruning, and just how easy it is.

Trevor Garrard from the Orchid Club of SA reveals the secret to buying  and growing spectacular flowering orchids on ABC Talkback Gardening.

Wintery weather enables weeds to thrive and can pose some challenges for flowers, with frost and the like. ABC Talkback Gardening's Jon Lamb brings in the experts to rid your garden of soursobs & have your camellias flourish.

Adelaide has finally recorded average monthly rainfall. With the consistent cold weather comes damaging frost too, particularly in the Adelaide Hills. Adelaide Botanic Gardens' Mark Osborn gives his tips.

Karen Sutherland is best described as a garden educator with a particular love for encouraging gardeners to grow edible ornamentals. A regular contributor to ABC Organic Gardening, Sutherland shares her expertise.

After one of the driest autumns on record, the rain has arrived. This is great news for home gardeners, but it also opens the floodgates for garden slugs and snails.

If you missed planting a deciduous ornamental in your home garden in summer, never fear, you have another chance to take action, in winter.

"A higher quality secateur, is going to have a higher quality steel", said Sam Dalton, Arborgreen’s Market Development & Quality Control  Adviser.

Sam Luke from Balhannah Fruit Tree Nurseries has just completed the herculean task of digging thousands of deciduous fruit trees to be sold to home gardeners just like you.

Is it possible to grow and harvest fruit fresh from your own garden all year round in the 'fruit salad state', South Australia? Mid North cereal farmer, Andy Barr shares his expert advice.

The moth orchid is "possibly, the biggest selling potplant in the world", says orchid grower & breeder, Trevor Garrad.

"We're seeing local variations of the ocean temperatures as the El Niño event that we saw over summer breaks down", said Independent Climatologist, Darren Ray.

"Many people buy potting mix...put their plants in, and then nothing happens", says citrus expert, Ian Tolley.

It's easy to have the best of intentions for your home garden, but if you get distracted by all the pretty flowers, you may be overlooking what works best on your property.

Horticultural Supervisor at Mt Lofty Botanic Gardens, Mark Oborn says, "One of my favourites is the Pin Oak".

If independent climatologist, Darren Ray is correct South Australian home gardeners can expect ideal vegetable growing conditions to continue throughout autumn.

McLaren Flat fruit & nut specialist, Chris Perry said, "The moist, cool conditions, didn't really aid fruit set".

With the recent Adelaide heatwave, home lawns are still struggling to deal with the stress. is it possible to return your lawn to a vibrant green again?

Mark Henley from the SA Rare Fruits Society says, "Finger limes will grow in fairly diverse parts of South Australia".

If your home garden is on the shady side, and you're looking to bringing it to life, President of the Begonia Society, Val Hendy has got just the solution.

Independent Climatologist, Darren Ray is predicting a dry March & April and "as we go through Winter, it might start off a touch on the dry side".

"The only thing you need to be a little bit careful of", said author & herb expert, Penny Woodward. "Is if you're planting them out in exposed positions and we get a couple of really hot days".

"The 28 to 32 degrees, with a little bit of rain early on, it's just been fantastic, plants are booming!", said Adelaide Botanic Gardens' Head propagator, Matt Coulter.

"We're connected with our neighbours through gates", said Joe Kielnerowski from Joe's Connected Garden. "There's about 20 gardens connected in three locations".

What are the best 'heat beaters' for home gardens in SA? "The majority of them would occur in less than 12 inches of natural rainfall", said Eremphilas authority, Ken Warnes.

"Turning your back on your fruit trees at the end of harvest is probably not a good thing to do", says ABC Talkback Gardening expert, Jon Lamb.

Garden centre manager, Brett Draper and Merylyn Kuchel from SA Mediterranean Garden Society offer their tips on heat tolerant plants.

There is nothing like a sudden spike in warm weather to focus home gardeners on the importance of watering.

Horticulturist and Garden Centre Manager, Brett Draper discusses products that can make a difference to your garden and the surrounding environment.

On ABC Talkback Gardening, Independent climatologist, Darren Ray revealed we can expect more of the same for the remainder of summer in South Australia.

The Covid-19 pandemic created space for many South Australians to develop a green thumb. Now post-pandemic peak, and normality returning there is a shift.

During SA's summer storms, many locations received 60 to 70mm of rain. While the rain was welcome, the weather played havoc with some home gardens.

Avocados are easy to grow in South Australia, but producing a large crop of fruit in your home garden, that's a different story.

Independent Climatologist, Darren Ray said there's, "a possible weak change just ahead of Christmas" and revealed his estimated temperature for December 25.

Tomato, cucumber and zucchini plants are looking great in SA, but many are not setting fruit. Vegetable agronomist, Dominic Cavallaro has the answer.

"For every species of bee there are fifty species of wasps, so that's tremendous diversity", said Elisabeth Williamson, Entomologist & Micro-biologist, and PhD student.

Independent Climatologist, Darren Ray said, "We could see a little bit of heat, maybe around the 20th or so, building up as we lead up to Christmas".

Spring temperatures have been cooler than expected in South Australia. Tomatoes prefer temperatures in the upper 20s, so what can you put in place?

Inspired by the Bromeliad Society's Spring Show, South Australian gardeners are taking to bromeliads, as an opportunity to add colour to a Spring garden with shade.

When you think of ferns, you often picture thriving rainforests. So, can they survive in SA's hot, dry climate? They can, says Wayne Richards from the SA Fern Society.

In September Adelaide experienced temperatures 3 .7° C above average. How did it get so hot so quickly? Independent Climatologist, Darren Ray explains.

"It'll be more of a case of adapting", said turf consultant, Stefan Palm who provides tips to prepare your lawn for the hot weather ahead.

"With two weeks of day temperatures into the 20s you can plant with a fair amount of confidence", said ABC Talkback Gardening expert, Jon Lamb.

Experienced gardeners are already taking action to protect their plants and gardens from the impending summer heat. One of the most effective ways of adding a layer of protection is mulch.

Before signing off at the Royal Adelaide Show, outgoing Director of the Department of Environment, John Schultz said, "We need more Jon Lamb's to put out more Good Gardening newsletters".

ABC Talkback Gardening broadcast live from the Royal Adelaide Show on the first day of spring,  2023. Guests joining Deb Tribe & Jon Lamb included ABC Gardening Australia presenter and Talkback Gardening expert, Sophie Thomson.

There is nothing like blue skies and sunshine at the end of winter to encourage Adelaide gardeners to start planting and get growing. But, Adelaide Botanic Gardens Head Propagator, Matt Coulter said, "It does need a little bit of help to keep it growing".

Rubus berries, raspberries, blackberries and dewberries can make for a delicious addition to your home garden.

There are some important management issues facing home gardeners this season including bud burst and leaf curl. Paul James shares his expertise with ABC Talkback Gardening.

There has been sustained extreme weather over the past two months in the northern hemisphere in countries like Greece and Canada. That could be normal for SA by 2050. Darren:         The weather just experienced in the United States and Europe will be our normal weather by  2050 – that is assuming we can contain global warming to 1.5° C?

Camellia authority, Camellia judge and Patron of the Adelaide Hills Camellia Society, Jon Hall said, "Camelias thrive in this type of weather".

White garden snails are on the increase in South Australia, introduced to home gardens via pea straw mulch.

Native plants are low maintenance, they attract wildlife, and provide a pop of colour during the cold winter months.

Soursobs are a thorn in the side of gardeners throughout SA. Weed Agromonist, Chris Butler says, "Soursobs dominate the landscape because of the numbers".

It was a wet June in Adelaide, with 125mm of rain recorded compared to an average 71.6mm. Independent Climatologist, Darren Ray says, "Ocean temperatures globally are off the charts".

A combination of wet winter weather and increased mulching has provided the perfect habitat for slugs and snails, says 'snug' expert, Michael Nash.

Covid-19 kickstarted a renewed interest in home gardening and the opportunity for everyone to grow their own produce.

Winter has arrived and weather conditions are likely to be considerably warmer and drier than normal according to the Bureau of Meteorology.

For some gardeners, dahlias are a thing of the past. But, Neville Jescke from the South Australian Dahlia Society says they're making a comeback.

Riverland citrus authority, Ian Tolley shares his expertise on ABC Talkback Gardening, to enable you to confidently manage your citrus trees throughout Adelaide's cold winter months.

For some, fallen autumn leaves can mean a mess. But for those who know, fallen leaves are part of a circular cycle with enormous organic value to trees.

The average rainfall in Adelaide is 44mm in April. So why was last month so wet? ABC Talkback Gardening expert Jon Lamb asks Independent Climatologist, Darren Ray to explain.

You can add spectacular colour to your garden by choosing the best deciduous trees. Amy Woolard from Adelaide Tree Farm shares her expertise.

The recent tomato season was better than anticipated, but it wasn't without it's problems, with many gardeners impacted by slow growing and ripening fruit.

If you want your garden to come alive with colour this spring, it's time to plant your bulbs right now.