An olive, to many, is no more than a humble lump at the bottom of a martini… Olives have oiled the wheels of civilization since Jericho built walls and ancient Greece was the morning news. From the first Egyptians, they (olives) have symbolised everything happy and holy in the Mediterranean. But it is simpler than […]
Fruit
Oranges and lemons
Oranges & lemons ……. A must have in any organic garden Citrus must be the juiciest, fresh and health giving fruit on the earth. The gardener can choose from a wide variety, or have a tree of each – Oranges, Grapefruits, Lemons and easy peelers like Naartjies, Minneola’s, Satsumas, Kumquats, Pomelo’s and the list just goes […]
Watermelon
One of the highlights of summer is homegrown watermelon Watermelons are easy to grow but require space; because each plant only produces two fruit, three or four plants are needed for a good supply. It’s not that watermelons are tardy producers, it’s just that each melon weighs 10-12 kg, so it takes a lot of […]
Cherry on Top
Cherry on Top Whence these delicious treats? PRUNUS avium, the main ancestor of the sweet cherries that are grown commercially worldwide, is native to parts of Europe, Turkey, Africa and Asia. PRUNUS cerasus is the ancestor of the sour cherries that are grown mainly for cooking, and it originated in Europe and southwest Asia. Cherries […]
Pomegranate
Pomegranate Cut a pomegranate fruit in half and the beauty that is revealed inspires artists to paint it, draw it, use the pattern on fabric and write about it. Common name: Pomegranate Botanical name: PUNICA granatum Origin: Southern Asia, Southeast Europe Propagation There are several ways to propagate pomegranates. They will grow easily from seed, […]
Perfect Peaches
Perfect Peaches Imagine the taste of a juicy peach, picked straight off the tree that you have nurtured through the seasons. One peach tree can produce more fruit than a family can eat so it is well worth the investment. Common name: Peach Botanical name: PRUNUS persica Origin: China Propagation Peach trees can be grown […]
Kiwi Fruit
Kiwi Fruit Common name: Kiwi fruit, also called Chinese gooseberry Botanical name: ACTINIDIA deliciosa Origin: China History At least 300 years ago the Chinese were already cultivating ACTINIDIA deliciosa on a very small scale, yet much of the crop consumed there still comes from wild vines scattered over the Zhejiang counties. It was when seeds […]
Tangerine Dreams
Tangerine Dreams Tangerines, manderins or naartjies. What you call them makes no real difference to the great value that these soft citrus fruits bring to the home garden. They’re attractive evergreen trees or large shrubs that are bathed in sweetly scented white blossoms in spring, which in turn produce delicious fruit that ripens from autumn […]
Go Goji
Go Goji Growing your own berries has become a trend over the last couple of years for many reasons: berries are expensive to buy from the shop, growing them is easy, and plants are becoming more readily available from nurseries. Goji berries (Lycium barbarum), a health-boosting superfood, fall into this category and can be grown […]
A+ Apples
A+ Apples There is archaeological evidence that apples (Malus domestica) have been eaten since as far back as 6500 BC, and they have also been associated in mythology with youthfulness and health through the ages. While an apple is credited with solving the problem of gravity in Isaac Newton’s mind, they also have incredible nutritional […]