The Bugle’s gardening column, featuring local expert John Gabriele, will help you get the best out of your patch all year round.

Sprinter annuals

Here we are in sprinter - that transition period between winter and spring. What a gorgeous time of year to start planting annuals and bring a splash of colour to your garden.

Think alyssums, bellis, matthiola (stock), primulas, violas, and this little beauty: nasturtium - a wonderful companion plant for your vegetable garden.

Tagetes (marigolds) are also a great addition, ideal for attracting pollinators and providing habitat for beneficial insects that help control pests and diseases.

Nasturtiums aren't just companion plants - they're edible too! Add their flowers or leaves to your weekend salads for a burst of colour and a lovely peppery flavour.

Rainbow chard

Looking for value for money in your veggie garden? You can’t go wrong with rainbow chard.

These striking plants have brightly coloured petioles - reds, yellows, whites, and pinks - that make them perfect for getting kids interested in gardening. And yes, they’re entirely edible.

As a “pick and come again” crop, rainbow chard is great to plant now. Come spring and summer, you’ll be harvesting plenty of fresh greens from your patch.

Sprinter pests

Sprinter is also the time when pests begin to stir. I found some aphids on my broad beans this week - they’ve really started to settle in.

I’ve been checking regularly with my hand lens and spotted a small population. Nothing too concerning yet; I’ve pruned off the affected parts and disposed of them thoughtfully. But from now on, I’ll be out there every day keeping an eye on things in case their numbers explode.

Prevention can be as simple as a spray of soapy water, or, if needed, a contact insecticide. But I prefer to monitor first - beneficial insects often arrive to help out, and they can do a great job keeping pest populations in check.

The key to good gardening, as any seasoned grower will tell you: get yourself a hand lens and scout your patch regularly.

For all of your gardening needs - head to Burnetts on Barney, Kiama's local garden centre. And for more John Gabrielle content, head to The Bugle's YouTube channel.