How to spot a geranium
Pelargoniums vs geraniums: can you tell the difference?
It’s true they’re in the same plant family but – as in most families – while they have similarities, they differ in many ways. Geranium flowers have five similar petals; pelargonium blooms have two upper petals which are different from the three lower petals.
True geraniums, often called cranesbill geranium or hardy geranium, are mostly found growing naturally in the east Mediterranean and other temperate regions including New Zealand. There are around 422 species in the Geranium genus, many of them flowering annual, biennial and perennial plants.
Within the Pelargonium genus are perennials, sub-shrubs, shrubs and succulents. All up, there are around 280 species. They’re mainly found growing naturally in a range of habitats from mountains to deserts in the southern regions of Africa, particularly South Africa and Namibia. Pelargoniums are further grouped as zonal, fancyleaved, ivy-leaved, regal or scentedleaved varieties.
Even though the two were separated into two genera some 250 years ago by French botanist Charles L’Heritier, many gardeners continue to call pelargoniums geraniums.
Prune fruit trees
Winter is the time to prune your fruit trees if you want to control their shape (whereas you prune in summer if you want to reduce their vigour). You can minimise diseases by spraying pip- and stonefruit with a broad spectrum copper spray, such as Yates Copper Oxychloride, which helps eradicate overwintering bacterial and fungal infections; and a horticultural oil, like Yates Conqueror Spraying Oil, which provides a physical barrier against scale, mites and mealy bug. Spray again with copper in spring, especially stonefruit which are prone to fungal problems and when symptoms appear, it’s too late to treat.
If you need to prune citrus, do it now. In warmer weather, female lemon tree borer (Oemona hirta) will sniff out the sap of any recently cut citrus from miles away as she looks for somewhere to lay her eggs. The larvae then tunnel into the branches and cause untold damage – a bad infestation can destroy a whole tree. Citrus shouldn’t need a lot of pruning, but if you want to cut branches for shape, or to make harvest easier, only ever do so in winter.
Sow broad beans and peas for spring
These tough legumes germinate in cold soil so you can sow direct, but if it’s so cold and wet and you’d prefer to work inside, sow in trays and plant them out when established instead.
Be aware that the growth will be slow for weeks, but they will take off like the clappers as soon as it warms up. Sow broad beans in a block rather than in rows – support these tall plants by tying a long piece of twine around a block of them so they hold each other up. And give climbing peas something to climb, like a trellis or fence. Otherwise they pop up while you are not looking and grow into an impenetrable knot!
– compiled by Barbara Smith