TRAVEL is a wonderful privilege that certainly brings perspective to so many things.

With a fantastic Kelpie Muster just completed, we know from weekend conversations with visitors that our little town has broadened the lives of many.

Of course, the hot topics at the garden centre were around plants, gardening, our climate and Casterton’s beautiful natural surroundings.

A few visitors from further north seemed surprised at the diverse range of cold climate plants that can be successfully grown in our region.

On our own recent travels to Brisbane, we were interested to see that much of the outdoor landscape in the city contained, in abundance, many plants that we keep only as indoor specimens.

Sanseviera (or snake plants) growing with wild abandon in people’s front gardens and Zanzibar (ZZ plants) and philodendrons used as greenery in the Brisbane city streets.

We were also reminded of the difficulty people in the northern states encounter with the dreaded fruit fly, requiring fine netting of full orchards and veggie patches to yield useable fruit as well as preventing the spread of this dreaded pest.

While Adelaide has experienced fruit fly outbreaks in recent seasons, the South West remains largely untroubled, although we always need to remain vigilant.

The upshot is that your local conditions will determine what you can grow successfully, without needing to go to the extremes of effort.

Bare root season

THE best time to plant a new deciduous fruit tree or ornamental is now, when the plant is dormant.

When choosing the best tree always look for nicely spaced, outward growing branches.

Most good-quality plants from nurseries have planting and pruning instructions on the label.

Follow these notes carefully and you can be sure to have a vigorous and healthy tree.

If you have planted a deciduous tree in a spot that you’re not happy with, then you can do so now, taking care not to damage the root ball when digging it up.

Catching the eye

MAHONIA Japonica was the biggest seller over Kelpie weekend.

A native of Taiwan, this plant is beautifully perfumed when in flower with masses of pendulous yellow flowers.

The lush, evergreen dark foliage is spiky and similar to holly.

Bunches of deep blue- black berries are produced in spring, hanging like grapes.

A great hardy landscape plant for semi to deep shade.

Lettuce and the general price of veggies was also a hot topic.

What growers are saying

WHOLESALE nurseries have experienced unprecedented demand for stock during the Covid-19 pandemic and beyond.

Combine this with a cooler than expected growing season and suppliers are telling us that future stock supplies for the retail market are likely to be less in quantity and smaller in size in coming seasons.

Diversity is King

WHEN choosing fruit, don’t just plant what the neighbours are planting.

Consider different varieties that might help with the overall genetic and variety diversity of our shared food bowl.

Large-scale sellers of fruit have dictated what varieties we see on the shelves as they prefer fruit with longer cold storage and shelf life.

Unfortunately, as a result a lot of fruit varieties have become hard to source and the genetic diversity and superior taste of available plants has diminished over time.

While your neighbour is likely to share their crop, it might be worthwhile being able to offer something different in return such as a heritage variety. This way you’ll also be doing your bit for future plant and food diversity.