Keeping the wasps at bay

How do I discourage paper wasps from making nests in my garage alcove again this summer?

How do I discourage paper wasps from making nests in my garage alcove again this summer?

(Neal Whittle, Sydney)

Paper wasps are beneficial insects in the garden because they prey on many pests such as caterpillars. To deter them from your alcove, use an insecticidal surface spray or try some natural remedies. Lavender oil, diluted 2.5ml in 500ml of water, is said to repel mosquitoes; lemon oil wiped across surfaces repels spiders.

My snow and sugar snap peas, planted in winter in rich, loamy soil, are 1m tall but show no signs of flowering. Am I being impatient?

(Colin Theakstone, Adelaide)

Peas take about 10-14 weeks from planting to harvest. Too much nitrogen will promote leaf growth at the expense of flowers; peas benefit from additional phosphorus and potassium. They need ample sun to flower well.

In three years my bamboo palms (Chamaedorea seifrizii) haven't grown much and look yellow. They're on the shaded side of a western fence. How can I improve them?

(Amanda Donovan, Bronte, NSW)

These tropical palms, commonly used as indoor plants, need a warm, sheltered spot to grow outdoors in Sydney and won't like the poor, sandy soil of Bronte. The leaves will yellow with too much exposure to sun or wind and with insufficient water and food. Improve the soil with loads of compost and manure, and keep them well watered and mulched with sugar cane mulch or lucerne.

If I have a record of killing African violets, is there any hope I can grow a healthy garden?

I really do try.

(Allison Rowlands, Sydney)

The trick with African violets is to have just the right position and not overwater them. I'd recommend joining a local garden club or a gardening course at your local nursery. Subscribing to a gardening magazine will help you build a library of knowledge. Yates Garden Guide is an excellent all-round book. And keep reading this column, of course.

Send your questions to:

Helen Young, PO Box 3098, Willoughby North, NSW 2068, or email [e-mail]. The best letter this month will win an ergonomic, efficient Easy Reach Weeder from Fiskars quality garden tools.

FLORA

IT'S peak vegetable planting time and everyone can try growing a few, even in small spaces or pots. Oasis Thumbs Up Pot Vegies is a range selected specifically for pots, with high yields, good flavour and compact size. It includes capsicum 'Sweet Red', cucumber 'Bush Bonanza' (pictured), silverbeet 'Tricolour', eggplant 'Mini Lebanese', pumpkin 'Baby', tomatoes 'Tumbling Red' and 'Window Box Roma'. There are four varieties of strawberries and the whole range is available in biodegradable pots made from cornstarch. Most seed companies have pot-suitable vegetable ranges too.