
Summer Veggie Harvest
January 30, 2025 3:02 pmRead in Afrikaans Get to grips with your summer veggie harvest and learns ways to preserve and store for maximum…
Read in Afrikaans Get to grips with your summer veggie harvest and learns ways to preserve and store for maximum…
Herb syrups, spiced vinegars, flavoured oils and even flavoured vodka – summer’s the perfect time to experiment with botanical infusions…
A herb that has it all – easy to grow, several health benefits and with its daisy flowers, pretty in…
Spring brings a newness to the air and an abundance of produce that inspires us to create beautiful fresh dishes…
Full of flavour, easy to grow and good for you – let us sow some green, winter leafy veg! While…
This herb is not only a very healthy, all-purpose garnish, it is an excellent companion plant. Sowing parsley from seed…
There’s always been a connection between hot countries and spicy food. The common assumption is that foods that make us…
Why stormwater? Stormwater is any accumulation of water from precipitation, and may include groundwater and spring water. We often allow…
This really easy DIY will have you picking ripe fruit from the higher reaches of the trees in no time.…
Grow your own cucumbers up an A-frame trellis with this really easy DIY for the food garden. You will need:…
We’ve all heard the phrase ‘eat your veggies’ thousands of times, whether it was when we were refusing our Brussels…
Looking for an easy way to set up an instant raised bed garden and help your plants grow better at…
Love asparagus? Here are 3 easy ways to use this versatile vegetable to create a great meal! Sheet pan dinner…
Thai food uses a balance of flavours to create the perfect combination of sweet, sour, salty and hot to tease…
If you’re a fan of both sweet and sour flavours, you should be growing granadillas in your garden. Also known…
If you’re a fan of both sweet and sour flavours, you should love the flavour of granadillas. Also known as…
There are many reasons to consider sowing seeds in your vegetable garden. The first and most obvious reason is budget.…
Small food gardeners and those with only a balcony are always on the lookout for ways to maximise the number…
Wash away the dust of the day with these homemade herbal soaps Making herbal soaps to use yourself or to…
Honeybees add so much more to our lives than honey… We love bees. We love the sound they make in…
When it comes to indigenous edible plants, a few spring to mind, especially the fruit of the marula tree that…
The quince is something most of us South Africans have heard about but can’t really picture, let alone imagine the…
They may look sweet, but nasturtiums have a surprisingly peppery taste, similar to mustard or watercress. This makes them great…
The benefits of perennial vegetables are many, and there are very few drawbacks. Our local organic gardening guru, Dale Grobler,…
A strawberry seed is very small and there are around 200 on every fruit. So, if you were to grow…
The idea of window box farming sounds delightfully quixotic and impractical. Actually, it’s an invitation to those who look longingly…
Take a look at some useful goodies that can help you in your veggie garden this spring. Bright and Vibrant…
Sorghum has been eaten for millennia in Africa, but for many of us it’s unfamiliar on the table and in…
Closely related to ginger and turmeric, galangal is the up-and-coming spice you need to know about. If you’ve watched one…
Dale Grobler grows his own strawberries that taste out of this world. Here’s how he does it. Strawberries are one…
The traditional way of sprouting doesn’t work well for chia seeds. Here’s an easy alternative way to get them sprouting.…
This spicy, creamy coconut-based soup is a popular Thai dish packed with flavour and easy to make. The words translate…
Common name: Orange, sweet orange, bitter orange, Seville orange Botanical name: Citrus sinensis (sweet orange), Citrus aurantium (bitter orange or…
Although we treasure garden flowers as eye candy and not as food, there are many that are edible. They’re also…
Make your garden a colourful tribute to the season by planting red autumn vegetables. These veggies offer the best of…
The zestiest of grasses Lemongrass is widely used in Asian cuisine,and it offers more than just lemony flavour. Although, clump-forming…
We can thank the plant world for providing a cornucopia of herbs that deliver not only essential vitamins and minerals,…
The light lemon fragrance and flavour of lemon balm (Melissa officinalis) makes this an appealing summer herb. While its flavour…
Your mental image of horseradish (Armoracia rusticana) is probably that strange jar containing a mysterious white substance that lived at…
Vegetables need regular watering, because drought-stressed vegetables don’t produce good-quality fruit or tasty leaves. They are also more susceptible to…
Simply put, fertiliser is required for soils that are lacking in nutrients that a plant needs to perform at its…
A fondness for pre-made hash browns, fried until crispy and served with bacon, poached egg and lemony hollandaise sauce, prompted…
Don’t overlook groundcover herbs for plant health and fragrance. Do groundcover herbs have a role to play in the food…
Not only are they decorative, but if you are faster than the local wildlife then they will also provide an…
Hedges can be more than mere barriers. Creating edible hedges can also help to feed and heal you. Hedges are…
Keep your plants hydrated this summer with this 10-minute DIY! We saw this olla irrigation idea on Pinterest and loved…
An Irish myth about a stingy person called Jack who ended up as a wandering soul started the craze of…
Sugar-snap peas are the ultimate garden fast food. There are few things more delicious than sugar-snap peas fresh from the…
It may take time, but growing your own luxurious spears of asparagus is very doable. Roasted with olive oil, pan-fried…
Pasta primavera is a celebration of everything that is light and fresh about spring. Pasta primavera is an ‘Italian’ dish…
Jam-packed with flavour, a Mediterranean garden virtually looks after itself. Mediterranean flavours are ones we all love – tomatoes, herbs…
Follow our Spring Checklist and try these tips for your edible spring garden to make the most out of the…
A themed planting of pizza toppings is sure to be a winner with the whole family. And if you feel…
Shop-bought lettuce is available all year round, but for the home gardener growing lettuce in the winter is can be…
With the arrival of autumn, we start thinking about soups and stews. It is with a sense of anticipation, not…
Barley, a member of the prestigious ‘ancient grains’ club, is one of the healthiest crops around, along with other health-craze…
This strange flower will leave you speechless – because you’ve got no feeling in your tongue. The electric daisy is…
Both have their attractions, but which will work best for you, seeds or seedlings? So you’ve got your garden laid…
Lady Bonin, renowned tea expert, gives us some insight into her world Tea has been my obsessive passion for the…
Every time I eat a grapefruit I wonder why it is named after a grape of all things? First of…
Radishes are one of those fast-growing crops in the garden that can also be sown throughout the year, so with…
While the versatile chickpea is the main traditional ingredient of hummus recipes, we have taken liberties and expanded the thinking…
Chickpeas, also called garbanzo beans, are legumes that need 100 days to reach harvest, but what could be better than…
Sorrel may look like old lettuce, but it’s actually far from it, with a tangy lemon-zest flavour that will brighten…
Sweet and small, but big on flavour. Cherry tomatoes! The name says it all: they’re small and super-sweet, bite-sized like…
April and May are traditionally the months to harvest and preserve herbs. While many of the bushy perennial herbs will…
Soup is winter’s best treat, and whether you like your soup thick and chunky, consommé or as a tangy Asian…
Lavender’s strong fragrance has bewitched and beguiled folk for over 2500 years. According to lore and legend, even Cleopatra of…
Some plants grow well together and some don’t. In the vegetable garden you can get the best out of a…
We made a rustic lattice and hung cute herb buckets for herbs and veggies. What you need to make herb…
For many home cooks, the term ‘green beans’ doesn’t go beyond the steamed pods that accompany a roast for Sunday…
We’re always told to eat spinach, but what are the other leafy greens that can fill this role in our…
Most of us run out of time every morning while we try to get ready for the day. Something that…
Banana and chocolate is a tried and tested winning flavour combination. Healthy and ice-cream don’t always have to be antonyms.…
Any Jack Johnson fan will dream of making banana pancakes and singing along to his tune on a Sunday morning.…
Powdery mildew is easy to identify and is one of the oldest fungal diseases known to man. The infection will…
A creamy zucchini soup with very little cream and lots of flavour from herbs and spices will go down very…
This brown rice and mushroom recipe is delicious and can be eaten hot or at room temperature, and is ideal…
Seldom seen, white or snowy borage is a delicately beautiful addition to the herb or ornamental garden. I love having…
Do you want to grow your own? Look no further than the Kirchhoffs range of flower, vegetable and herb seeds…
By March baby marrows are usually at the end of their productive lives, with most leaves covered in powdery mildew.…
When we’re talking insect repellent herbs, lemony herbs are particularly useful in repelling mosquitoes, flies or garden pests like whiteflies…
Eating healthily to keep healthy and maintain a good level of immunity is as much of a strategy in this…
Have some fun in the garden creating this ‘climb a slinky’ and some beans or peas. This is actually too…
Growing mangoes (Mangifera indica) from seed is possible, but it is unlikely that it would bear fruit; it’s best to…
Herbs benefit our pets almost as much as they do us. Here is our list of the many benefits of…
If you’re lucky enough to have enough space to grow spanspek or cantaloupe, or sweet melons, you are bound to…
Getting to grips with the many faces of the mushroom family. As passionate gardeners, we are occasionally startled and surprised…
These peanut butter-based DIY dog treats are easy to make and a good source of protein and healthy fats for…
Growing in popularity, the madumbe is a healthy alternative to the potato, traditional or sweet. Depending on who you ask…
Summer isn’t complete without ice cream. This dessert is synonymous with the season, refreshment and the outdoors. Making it is…
Don’t we all love to snack? It’s not always because we are hungry, say the behaviourists who have studied the…
Whether your holiday season entertaining is going to be gourmet or casual, here are seven quite ordinary herbs for the…
Herbs are the food gardener’s best partner in the quest to grow veggies organically. The partnership goes far beyond planting…
Looking for an (almost) healthy party snack? Impress your guests with your gardening guru skills by highlighting your freshly grown…
Glazed, roasted or pickled are just some of the ways you can enjoy versatile carrots. You can use puréed carrots…
Manure is usually something that we think of as smelly, albeit useful for our garden. However, it is sometimes difficult…
Potatoes are an easy crop that can be grown all year round. The first crop is planted in August or…
French Tarragon French tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus) is a frost-hardy perennial with narrow green leaves that have an anise flavour. It…
You don’t need acres of garden to grow fresh salads and veggies. All you need is a balcony, patio or…
Lush, Leafy Swiss Chard Swiss chard is nature’s gift to food gardeners because it is such an easy, rewarding vegetable…
Step-Up Veggies Growing vertically is a great way to make the most of limited space. This handy DIY ladder allows…
How to get kids to eat veggies It’s great to grow your own veggies and enjoy the taste of fresh…
Put the taste of summer into a bottle Brinjals and chillies can be preserved in delicious relishes that will remind…
Earthworms to the Rescue! The best way to convert organic kitchen waste into a power tonic for your plants and…
This herb can take the heat There’s no place for mild herbs in Mexico’s hot and spicy food. Herbs have…
Roses in the food garden We grow roses for their beauty in the garden and for picking. So what are…
Bees help pollinate many fruits and ‘fruiting’ veggies – they’re natural allies! Plant some of these bee-friendly choices in your…
Cape Gooseberry Trifle Enough for a crowd, this dessert will have them coming back for more. 400g fresh Cape gooseberries…
Cape Gooseberries The Cape gooseberry (Physalis edulis) is a quick-growing annual or perennial fruit plant that originates in South America.…
Grow a Mojito No herb garden should be without mint to add flavour to food and minty freshness to punches…
Eat your Microgreens Packed with flavour and nutrition, these gourmet greens are the perfect solution for urban gardeners. But even…
It’s a big space investment, but if you live in a warmer part of the country try to squeeze an…
Upside-Down Tomato Planter Home-grown tomatoes always taste better, and to make the most of available space they can even be…
Take all the ingredients of a taco dinner and turn it into a party salad for a crowd. Let your…
More Brinjals. Increase the yield of your brinjals by pinching out the growing tip when five or six leaves have…
Have a ball with Kokedama The space-saving trend of kokedama, the Japanese art of growing plants in moss balls, is…
Do flowers belong in a food garden? They certainly do, and not only those with edible petals! Many flowers double…
How to dry herbs The most natural process of preserving herbs is to dry them in a cool, airy room,…
Thyme for All Seasons Although its growing season is in the warmer months, thyme is the perfect choice for the…
Frost-hardy rosemary is a boon in winter: it makes the perfect protective, edible hedge, infuses a steamy bath with its…
A great project for winter is to grow your own microgreens and baby salad leaves. This can be done in…
Strawberries do very well in containers and are perfect for hanging baskets Grow the very best home-planted strawberries using a…
Strawberry Fields To enjoy sweet strawberries in spring and early summer you should be preparing and planting now The best…
How to prune plums Pruning is the most important winter task for your plum trees. Here’s how to do it…
Plant a Plum Tree this Winter Success with plums is as easy as following these steps There is no juicier…
Oranges come into harvest in winter, just in time to help us ward off nasty colds and flu with their…
Who said you can’t have your veggies and eat cake too? These beetroot brownies pack a punch of sweet and…
Chilli Kale Stir Fry Make kale the hero of your veggie side dishes with this easy and healthy stir-fry. 1…
A potent superfood that’s now touted by celebrity chefs, kale is one of the few veggies that regularly crop through…
Parsnips can be cooked like carrots, and may cook faster because of their higher sugar content. Scrub and scrape or…
Parsnips (Pastinaca sativa) aren’t a vegetable that springs to mind, being more common in the colder countries than in South…
Radish Tzatziki 1 medium-sized bunch of radishes 1-2 cloves of garlic Lemon juice 250ml Greek yoghurt (full or low fat)…
The radish belongs to the Brassicaceae family. While we are all familiar with the red radish, other cultivars come in…
Leeks are a quintessential winter vegetable that is an ideal nutrient-packed addition to soups or stews to keep you warm…
Essential flavourings for cold season soups and stews, garlic, leeks, chives and onions are the kitchen garden’s storm troopers against…
The craze of ricing cauliflower as a substitute for flour for those that are on gluten-free diets has meant that…
With plant-based diets now a popular choice for many people, the humble cauliflower has become an exciting addition to mealtimes.…
Top ten tips to start a food garden! The best time to start a food garden is when you are…
Tips on Growing Peanuts ● Keep the peanuts in their shells until ready to plant, to keep them fresh and…
Rhubarb Fool This easy recipe makes a refreshing dessert. Ingredients: 600g rhubarb 170g brown sugar ¼ teaspoon ground cloves Juice…
It’s known as a vegetable, produces stalks that are considered a fruit, and it has been known for centuries as…
Fish Pie With tarragon going so well with fish, potatoes and creamy filling, it should be standard in a simple…
Although herbs are mostly grown for practical reasons such as for culinary, medicinal and cosmetic uses, there are herbal plants…
Homemade Pink Lemonade Cordial Recipe by Erica Brown of Sōlfood. 1 litre freshly squeezed lemon juice 850g sugar 2-3 thinly…
Roses and vegetables are an obvious pairing for so many reasons. Roses and vegetables have a history of being grown…
Grey Water Growing veggies with grey water Grey water is waste water collected from the shower, bath, hand basin and…
The Gourmet Herb Artichoke As a vegetable, globe artichokes (Cynara scolymus) are considered a gourmet delicacy. As a garden plant,…
Radish With a Difference Radishes are a quick and easy spring crop, and there is a new Asian variety that…
Before 2019 celery was an elusive vegetable that appeared in the occasional salad or disguised in a chef’s mirepoix. But…
Rice and veggie stuffed pumpkin flowers 10 freshly picked pumpkin flowers (Use the male flowers with the long stems, and…
Prized Pumpkins Pumpkins are the big daddy of vegetables, and they certainly like to ramble. Although not ideal for small…
Super Smoothies Smoothies are a great way to use your home-grown fruit and veggies, and to get your daily requirement…
This pie has the summery tastes of a piña colada and should be enjoyed with your eyes closed, imagining a…
Sweet Pineapples Common name: Pineapple Botanical name: Ananas comosus Origin: Tropical Mesoamerica Suitable climates Pineapples are one of the most…
Caprese Salad with Herby Basil Pesto Basil Pesto: 2 cups of fresh basil or mixed fresh herbs (basil, rocket, mint,…
Sweet basil is the basil that everyone knows, with large, soft green leaves and sprays of white flowers. It grows…
Capsicum annuum is the best-known domesticated species of pepper in the world and contains a huge number of varieties including…
Make your own baby spinach chilli bites and add a glorious melted mozzarella centre. This decadent treat is a perfect…
Spinach by any other name Most of us use the terms ‘spinach’ and ‘Swiss chard’ interchangeably when referring to our…
Papoutsakia – ‘little brinjal shoes’ This traditional Greek recipe uses brinjals or eggplants as the stars of the show. Papoutsakia…
Bravo For Brinjals The eggplant, aubergine, or brinjal is something of an acquired taste. If you like that slight bitterness,…
Beetroot is a stalwart of the garden. It is an efficient crop, grown year-round for its root and foliage, that…
Mashed Potato Puffs 3 large potatoes (540g), mashed with skin (2 cups) 3 large eggs, beaten 180g reduced-fat feta cheese,…
Honey and chilli potato koeksusters Syrup 1 tablespoon oil 2 spring onions (chopped) 1 tablespoon garlic paste 1 red pepper…
Potato Tower A simple way to grow potatoes in limited space. What you will need: 25mm x 25mm fencing wire…
Korean Kimchi Kimchi, South Korea’s national dish, was developed in the days before refrigeration, to best make use of seasonal…
This summer up the heat in the garden and the kitchen with a selection of chillies and peppers. Christopher Columbus…