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(Restio tetraphylus)
Introduction
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 Restio is a South African plant that looks a little like a cross between a grass and a reed. It produces long 1m tall very thin bright green reeds with wispy ends. The seeds produced on these heads are brown in colour. Although many plant books suggest that this is a plant suitable for growth in a boggy situation it will grow on raised beds quite successfully in the southern regions of New Zealand.
Like many of the foliage plants, a market does exist but the end users (florists) are not prepared to pay enough for it to justify the costs of growing, picking, packing and shipping it outside of New Zealand. This means local market sales are about the only option. |
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Growing Restio
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Propagation:
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Plants can be grown from seed or root divisions.
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Plant Spacing:
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Plants spaced 50cm x 50cm
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Soil type:
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Friable, free draining soils preferred although some books
suggest it is a bog plant.
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Fertilisers:
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Fertilisers: NPK fertiliser applied once a year
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Pest/Diseases:
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Nothing obvious
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Harvesting:
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As it is a foliage crop it can be harvested from spring right though autumn. It looks best around Christmas time when the seed heads are present on the ends of the reeds. Harvest by cutting stems to 80–100cm lengths
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Marketing:
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Local markets only options. Export markets too expensive to reach.
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Further Info:
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Related Topics
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