BLOEM - July 25

RED HOTAdding warmth to Winter ... peppery radishes, fierycoloured flowers and red heart shaped leavesIf you are looking for a little culinary heat, grow radishes in a deep window boxon a sunny windowsill or any sheltered, sunny place. Radishes need warm soilfor germination so positioning is important. A good option is a Gusta Gardenplanter with cultivation hood so that growth can be started in a sunny roomindoors. The hood provides a warm, moist microclimate and when temperaturesrise the planter can be taken outdoors.Radishes grow so fast that it’s a great way to get kids excited about gardeningand growing their own food. Seeds germinate in three to eight days and areready for picking from three weeks. The nicest radishes are pulled before they arefully grown. Regular watering will produce crisp, tasty radishes but water in themorning so that the leaves are dry by the evening.Try these:• Radish Cherry Belle is the perfect quick nibble or salad ingredient. This cherryred radish has snow white flesh.• Radish Sparkler is round in shape with a deep red colour and a distinct white tipcovering the lower part of the root. It is crisp, juicy and solid.• Radish Watermelon has crunchy white flesh with bright pink to magenta centre.When cut the radishes look like tiny watermelons. The flesh has a mild slightlysweet flavour. Slice thinly to display their vibrant colour.Details: www.kirchhoffs.co.za and www.rawliving.co.zaText: ALICE COETZEE26 Get It Bloemfontein July 2025 getitmagazine.co.za/bloemfontein

We’re planting …calibrachoa Bakari for its fiery, flamecoloured flowers that spill over hanging baskets andcontainers. It’s warm on the eye, just what’s neededto brighten the patio. This vigorous calibrachoa growsinto a mounded and trailing plant, 25 to 40cm highand wide. Make sure it gets plenty of sun to bring outits full colours and keep it sheltered from draughts.Keep the soil lightly moist and feed monthly with aliquid fertiliser for flowers.Details: ballstraathof.co.zaGarden tasks for July• Prune bush roses from middle July.• To prevent frost damage or disease, water plants in themorning so that the leaves are dry by evening.• Water spring flowering bulbs once a week for at least40 minutes.• Cover tender shrubs, flowers and veggies when frostis predicted,• Strengthen veggies to withstand the cold by feedingwith a liquid kelp fertiliser.getitmagazine.co.za/bloemfonteinIndoor plantof the monthAlocasia Red Secret isone of the more unusualmembers of the ‘elephantear’ family. The largeheart-shaped leaves havea metallic bronze glow, butits secret is the burgundyred under leaf. It is easier to grow thanit looks and its strong point is that itadapts to different light conditions,growing faster with bright light andslower with low light. Water whenthe soil feels partially dry. This unusualAlocasia originates from Asia andEastern Australia and is found beneaththe forest canopy.Details: lvgplant.co.zaJuly 2025 Get It Bloemfontein 27