
Turning scraps into garden gold
November 16, 2020 12:21 pmThere are a few ways that you can turn garden and kitchen waste into a valuable gardening product. We allRead More...

Keep Seedlings Safe – DIY Shade Frame
November 10, 2020 8:45 pmKeep newly germinated seedlings sheltered from the sun and safe from pests with this simple DIY shade frame. For YourRead More...

5 Step Spring Veggie Plan
September 1, 2020 3:13 pm1. Time your sowing The soil temperature required by vegetables to germinate differs. Start with root and other cool seasonRead More...

Sweet Summer Rewards
August 31, 2020 11:12 amGrowing your own Organic Peaches, Apricots and Nectarines There’s no better reward for your effort than picking sweet, juicy, fresh,Read More...

Getting Started With Compost
March 20, 2020 2:31 pmCompost – making it, storing it and getting rid of kitchen waste in it – is always an issue. ARead More...

From Green Manures to Microgreens
December 2, 2019 12:42 pmEven if you are not a fan of winter veggies, don’t leave the beds bare during winter. Rather sow green-manureRead More...

Green Manure
November 7, 2019 10:42 amManure is usually something that we think of as smelly, albeit useful for our garden, but difficult to obtain fromRead More...

Cucamelons
September 10, 2019 1:34 pmThe little fruit of many names – mouse melon, Mexican mini watermelon, Mexican sour cucumber, Mexican sour gherkin, pepquino orRead More...

3 herbs for your next spicy dish
June 4, 2019 11:31 amOregano ‘Hot and spicy’ has chilli-flavoured leaves that add a fiery edge to a dish. Use it as a substituteRead More...

Rosemary
January 21, 2019 8:00 amRosemary imparts a delicious flavour and aroma to food. It is a healing herb for the body and soul, aRead More...

Summer Season Checklist
December 10, 2018 11:42 amCheck out these super tips for the food garden this season. 1. Super berries They say that the blueberry (VacciniumRead More...

Turmeric
December 10, 2018 8:00 amAlso known as Curcuma longa, Curcuma domestica is believed to have originated in India. The name ‘turmeric’ is thought toRead More...

7 herbs for this holiday season
November 21, 2018 3:35 pm
Oranges and Lemons
May 18, 2018 1:32 pmOranges & lemons ……. A must have in any organic garden Citrus must be the juiciest, fresh and health givingRead More...

Don't Slow Down Now!
April 10, 2018 2:51 pmDon’t Slow Down Now! TEXT Alice Spenser-Higgs Autumn is a good time to grow vegetables in containers. The milder daysRead More...
Earthworm Value
March 16, 2018 1:03 pmThe value of earthworms Charles Darwin, one of the world’s greatest naturalists, spent many years studying earthworms. He concluded thatRead More...

Watermelon
March 14, 2018 6:09 pmOne of the highlights of summer is homegrown watermelon Watermelons are easy to grow but require space; because each plantRead More...

Contained Flavour
February 16, 2018 10:12 amThere is no need to ever be without herbs. For a year-round supply, grow them in pots. Herbs grow so wellRead More...

Baby Cabbages
February 5, 2018 10:23 amLike all things miniature, baby cabbages have an appeal all of their own. They don’t take up as much growingRead More...

Cherry on Top
February 5, 2018 9:25 amCherry on Top Whence these delicious treats? PRUNUS avium, the main ancestor of the sweet cherries that are grown commerciallyRead More...

Ooh, Melons!
February 5, 2018 8:57 amOoh, Melons! Known as cantaloupe in much of the world, here the sweet melon is generally referred to as spanspekRead More...

Pomegranate
January 30, 2018 8:50 amPomegranate Cut a pomegranate fruit in half and the beauty that is revealed inspires artists to paint it, draw it,Read More...

Brussel Sprouts
January 30, 2018 8:22 amGet rid of those pouts, grow brussel sprouts! A sprout from Brussels…? BRASSICA oleracea variety gemmifera, the vegetable we knowRead More...

Perfect Peaches
January 29, 2018 2:22 pmPerfect Peaches Imagine the taste of a juicy peach, picked straight off the tree that you have nurtured through theRead More...

Noble Bay
January 29, 2018 11:53 amBay, the noblest of leaves It may come as a surprise, but sweet bay (Laurus nobilis) has a long associationRead More...

Dilly for Dill
January 29, 2018 10:35 amDilly for Dill With its feathery, blue-green leaves and clusters of yellow flowers in summer, dill (Anethum graveolens) is anRead More...

Watercress Wonders
January 26, 2018 9:31 amThe wonders of watercress. Watercress (Nasturtium officinale) is a creeping perennial that is one of the oldest leafy vegetables toRead More...

Pattypans
January 26, 2018 8:59 amPattypan squash (Cucurbita pepo) Pattypans look like little yellow, green or stripy spaceships and, like baby marrows, these bushy squashesRead More...

Garlic
January 25, 2018 1:59 pmGarlic Planting garlic • Garlic grows best if planted in full sun, in soil that drains well and has beenRead More...

Flavourful Fennel
January 25, 2018 1:06 pmFlavourful Fennel Spicy and sweet, fennel is a cook’s dream and a delight for gardeners who love its striking foliageRead More...

Cool Cucumbers
January 25, 2018 12:40 pmWhat’s to like? ● Cucumbers are a quick crop. Sow now and pick your first cucumber by end of Jan●Read More...

Winter Food Garden Flowers
January 24, 2018 10:29 amWinter Flowers From the Food Garden If you are hooked on the pleasure of picking your own grown veggies andRead More...

Go Goji
January 24, 2018 9:30 amGrowing your own berries has become a trend over the last couple of years for many reasons: berries are expensiveRead More...

A+ Apples
January 24, 2018 8:31 amA+ Apples There is archaeological evidence that apples (Malus domestica) have been eaten since as far back as 6500 BC,Read More...

Hot Pot Herbs
January 23, 2018 2:55 pmHerbs for a hot pot Herbs grow so well in pots that there is almost no excuse for not growingRead More...

Pods of Peas
January 23, 2018 1:49 pmPods of Peas Frozen peas can never match the sweetness and tenderness of homegrown garden peas, especially when they’re eatenRead More...

Carrots
January 23, 2018 1:37 pmCarrots are delicious eaten raw or cooked, and studies suggest that eating one a day might beat taking vitamin supplements.Read More...

Cold Season Crop Tips
January 23, 2018 9:03 amCold Season Crop Tips 5 Tips for Growing Brussels Sprouts Plant in firm soil. This will keep the plant wellRead More...

Step-Up Veggies
January 22, 2018 4:08 pmStep-Up Veggies Growing vertically is a great way to make the most of limited space. This handy DIY ladder allowsRead More...
Earthworm Rescue
January 22, 2018 2:38 pmEarthworms to the Rescue! The best way to convert organic kitchen waste into a power tonic for your plants andRead More...

Ola Avocado!
January 22, 2018 9:23 amIt’s a big space investment, but if you live in a warmer part of the country try to squeeze anRead More...

Everyone Loves Butternut
January 19, 2018 11:13 amIt’s worth allocating some space and time to this melt-in-the-mouth veggie Although butternuts, like pumpkins, take up more space thanRead More...

Sweetest Sweetcorn
January 19, 2018 10:32 amThe sweetest sweetcorn ever It’s at its sweetest fresh off the cob before the sugars start converting, so it’s alwaysRead More...

Devilishly Wicked Chillies
January 19, 2018 10:01 amIf you’re addicted to chillies, here’s how to grow them successfully from seed – there’s a world of unusual varietiesRead More...

Hot Season Crop Tips
January 18, 2018 3:41 pmMore Brinjals. Increase the yield of your brinjals by pinching out the growing tip when five or six leaves haveRead More...

Make the Most of Winter
January 18, 2018 12:31 pmEach season we take a look at what’s happening in the Soil for Life garden. Soil for Life is anRead More...

Harvesting Winter Veggies
January 18, 2018 11:44 amTips for harvesting winter veggies • Harvest broccoli heads before the flower buds open and when they are still firmRead More...

Thyme for All Seasons
January 18, 2018 11:20 amThyme for All Seasons Although its growing season is in the warmer months, thyme is the perfect choice for theRead More...

Winter Rosemary
January 18, 2018 11:14 amWinter Ways with Rosemary Frost-hardy rosemary is a boon in winter: it makes the perfect protective, edible hedge, infuses aRead More...

How to Prune Plums
January 18, 2018 10:22 amHow to prune plums Pruning is the most important winter task for your plum trees. Here’s how to do itRead More...

Plant a Plum Tree
January 18, 2018 10:12 amPlant a Plum Tree this Winter Success with plums is as easy as following these steps There is no juicierRead More...

Hearty Kale
January 18, 2018 9:17 amA potent superfood that’s now touted by celebrity chefs, kale is one of the few veggies that regularly crop throughRead More...
Sweet Parsnips
January 18, 2018 9:01 amSweet Parsnips Parsnips aren’t a vegetable that springs to mind, being more common in the colder countries than in SouthRead More...

Radiant Radishes
January 18, 2018 8:49 amThe radish belongs to the Brassicaceae family. While we are all familiar with the red radish, other cultivars come inRead More...

Lusty Leeks
January 18, 2018 8:32 amLusty Leeks Essential flavourings for cold season soups and stews, garlic, leeks, chives and onions are the kitchen garden’s stormRead More...

Healthy Broad Beans
January 18, 2018 8:13 amHealthy Broad Beans Most seasoned veggie growers agree that broad beans are one of the easiest of the winter cropsRead More...

Cauliflower is King!
January 17, 2018 3:37 pmCauliflower is King! Cauliflower is regarded as the aristocrat of the vegetable world, and there certainly is something venerable aboutRead More...

Start a Food Garden
January 17, 2018 2:24 pmTop ten tips to start a food garden! The best time to start a food garden is when you areRead More...

Peanut Tips
January 17, 2018 11:35 amTips on Growing Peanuts ● Keep the peanuts in their shells until ready to plant, to keep them fresh andRead More...

Robust Rhubarb
January 17, 2018 11:08 amRobust Rhubarb Rhubarb is a strange plant; it’s grown in the vegetable garden, eaten as a fruit, and possesses medicinalRead More...

Radish With a Difference
January 15, 2018 2:44 pmRadish With a Difference Radishes are a quick and easy spring crop, and there is a new Asian variety thatRead More...

Superb Celery
January 15, 2018 2:27 pmBefore 2019 celery was an elusive vegetable that appeared in the occasional salad or disguised in a chef’s mirepoix. ButRead More...

Prized Pumpkins
January 15, 2018 2:13 pmPrized Pumpkins Pumpkins are the big daddy of vegetables, and they certainly like to ramble. Although not ideal for smallRead More...

Sweet Pineapples
January 15, 2018 1:18 pmSweet Pineapples Common name: Pineapple Botanical name: Ananas comosus Origin: Tropical Mesoamerica Suitable climates Pineapples are one of the mostRead More...

Sweet Peppers
January 15, 2018 12:04 pmCapsicum annuum is the best-known domesticated species of pepper in the world and contains a huge number of varieties includingRead More...

Spinach by Any Other Name
January 15, 2018 11:43 amSpinach by any other name Most of us use the terms ‘spinach’ and ‘Swiss chard’ interchangeably when referring to ourRead More...

Bright And Beautiful Beetroot
January 15, 2018 10:46 amBright And Beautiful Beetroot Beetroot is a stalwart of the garden; an efficient crop, grown year-round for its root andRead More...

Ocimum Basilicum
January 8, 2018 12:56 pmSweet Basil Ocimum basilicum Sweet basil has a unique taste that is closely related to its spicy sweet fragrance. OfRead More...

Summer Heat with Chillies
November 27, 2017 12:50 pmSummer heat with chillies: This summer up the heat in the garden and the kitchen with a selection of chilliesRead More...

Raise a Kitchen Garden
November 6, 2017 12:45 pmRaise a Kitchen Garden: The initial effort required to build a raised garden is handsomely rewarded once it is upRead More...

Companion Planting for Pest Control
November 3, 2017 11:57 amCompanion Planting for Pest Control: Companion planting has a long tradition in organic gardening practice. The principle behind companion plantingRead More...

Sowing Guide for December
November 2, 2017 7:05 amLeaf vegetables: spinach, rocket Root vegetables: beetroot (cooler areas) Legumes: bush and runner beans Brassicas: broccoli (first sowing for coolerRead More...

How to Grow Cucumbers
June 2, 2017 10:31 amIn the spirit of World Cucumber Day on June 14, Tanya shows you how to grow these versatile vegetables successfully.Read More...
March Vegetable Sowing Guide
March 1, 2017 10:15 amMarch Vegetable Sowing Guide Summer rainfall temperate: Broccoli, Broad beans, Cabbage, Chinese cabbage, Carrots, Cauliflower, Celery, Beetroot, Lettuce, Leeks, GardenRead More...

Sowing Vegetables
January 15, 2016 7:16 amAugust is the time to get out those seed packets and hone your sowing, spacing and thinning out skills. SinceRead More...

Punica Granatum
September 4, 2015 8:37 amPomegranate tree There was a time when pomegranate trees or shrubs were quite common in gardens. Then they became oldRead More...

Preparing for a Summer Herb Garden
September 4, 2015 6:45 amHerbs are an organic gardener’s best resource, especially when it comes to preparing the garden for summer. Quite a numberRead More...

Potted Tomatoes
September 4, 2015 6:40 amOne of the joys of growing tomatoes in pots is that they do so well, and if the pots canRead More...

Planning a winter food garden
September 2, 2015 9:22 amStart planning your winter food garden now, before summer becomes autumn, as dictated by the March solstice.

Olives – Olea Europaea
September 1, 2015 12:10 pmAn olive, to many, is no more than a humble lump at the bottom of a martini… Olives have oiledRead More...

Savour Your Roots
July 23, 2015 11:30 amAlthough it may not yet feel like it, autumn is on its way and root vegetables, including carrots, beetroot, onions,Read More...

Garden Gifts from the Vegetable Garden
July 14, 2015 8:42 amMany food gardeners have mixed feelings about the December holiday season. It is peak harvesting season for summer vegetables, weedsRead More...

Cuminum Cyminum
April 20, 2015 8:51 amCumin Cuminum cyminum by Margaret Roberts Cumin is a true exotic, a flavour-filled treasure! It has played a vital roleRead More...

A How To For Avocado Lovers
August 22, 2014 9:21 amLovers of avocado will find an investment in a tree or two well worth their while. Common name: Avocado BotanicalRead More...

Borago officinalis
August 21, 2014 9:41 amBorage This annual herb is equally at home in the herb, veggie or cottage-style garden. The plant forms a basalRead More...