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Tropical
Toptip:Havesomefunrecyclingitems,suchasold
boots,teapotsandwheelbarrows,togrowdecorative
plants.Drilldrainageholesinbasesasneeded,add
pottingmixandplantsmallfloweringspecimenssuch
asherbsandsucculents.Waterwelltosettlethemin.Pestalert:Reducetheriskoffungaldiseasesin
thecucurbitfamilybyensuringthereis ampleairflow
throughandaroundplants.Besttowaterinthe
morninganddon’twateroverheadoronleaves.As
a preventive,spraymilkremedy(1partorganicfull
creammilkto9 partswaterinspraybottle– spray
bothsidesofleaves).Thiscanalsobeusedtohelpcurb
anoutbreak.Ladybirdswithyellowmarkingsare
beneficialinsectsthateatthepowderymildew,so
don’tkillthem.Must do: Plant ‘picking greens’ along pathways
for quick and easy access to the food you harvest
every day. Plant basil, garlic chives, Timor lettuce,
nasturtiums (all parts edible), Lagos spinach and
sweet potato for its leaves.
Leonie ShanahanTop: Grow plants, such as nasturtiums, over
sides of raised beds to reduce reflective heat.
Left: Tomatoes with lower leaves removed to
reduce the risk of fungal diseases.PHOTOS: TOP: LEONIE SHANAHAN/LEFT: PENNY WOODWARD.