October in your Sub-Tropical garden

Removal of winter-flowering bedding plants provides space for summer colour to be planted. Work organic material into the top soil prior to planting out your new seedlings and mulch with Debco Mulch'n'Feed following planting. Dead-head regularly as needed and feed to maintain vigour. Phostrogen Plant Food is perfect.

Hanging baskets bring wonderful colour and life to balconies and patios. Because they are viewed from below it is best to use wire baskets and plant through the wire to cover the whole basket. Hanging baskets are very exposed to the wind so they dry out fast. Always add Debco SaturAid to ensure maximum water uptake into your potting mix. Regular short waterings are likely to be most useful here because of the relatively small volumes of potting mix involved. There's detailed advice on preparing hanging baskets in John Patrick's How To Do's.

Herbs offer consistent value in the spring and summer kitchen. Grown in containers on a window sill or patio, they are easy to garner. Some, like rosemary, thyme and mint, are perennial. Others, like basil, parsley and coriander, need to be planted fresh. Grow them in an open sunny position in a good mix like Debco Terracotta & Tub, and water them regularly, and you can't help but get great results.

Companion planting is a great way to minimise the damage brought about by pests and disease on your favourite plants. French marigolds, for example offer a useful way to reduce root nematodes as well as attracting hoverflies that feed on aphids.
Look out for other safe, organic solutions to some of your garden problems to minimise the use of chemical pest control methods.

Sweet corn is a delicious crop and if planted now will produce a good harvest in less than 90 days. Plant your seeds 7cm deep in soil that has been improved by addition of composted organic matter and general fertilisers. Plant seeds or plants 50-60cms apart in blocks say 150cm wide to achieve better fertilisation.

Water your sweet corn really well, providing a thorough deep soaking twice a week and soluble fertiliser, e.g. Phostrogen Plant Food, on a fortnightly basis. Among the best cultivars to choose are Honeysweet and Supersweet.