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Spring Basket

August 21, 2023 1:20 pm Published by

Take a look at some useful goodies that can help you in your veggie garden this spring. Bright and Vibrant…

DIY Tool Rack

February 28, 2023 9:31 pm Published by

Store your garden tools neatly and efficiently with this mighty simple tool rack. What you need  2 x 1050mm x…

The Luxury of Vanilla

The Luxury of Vanilla

January 26, 2023 10:55 am Published by

The most exotic of spices Life isn’t fair, is it? Vanilla adds such a luxurious flavour to baked goods, ice-cream,…

Slug Partol

Spring Checklist

October 28, 2022 11:08 am Published by

Follow our Spring Checklist and try these tips for your edible spring garden to make the most out of the…

5 Step Spring Veggie Plan

September 1, 2020 3:13 pm Published by

1. Time your sowing The soil temperature required by vegetables to germinate differs. Start with root and other cool season…

Sweet Summer Rewards

August 31, 2020 11:12 am Published by

Growing your own Organic Peaches, Apricots and Nectarines There’s no better reward for your effort than picking sweet, juicy, fresh,…

Green Manures

November 7, 2019 10:42 am Published by

Manure is usually something that we think of as smelly, albeit useful for our garden. However, it is sometimes difficult…

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Cucamelons

September 10, 2019 1:34 pm Published by

The little fruit of many names – mouse melon, Mexican mini watermelon, Mexican sour cucumber, Mexican sour gherkin, pepquino or…

Rosemary

January 21, 2019 8:00 am Published by

Rosemary imparts a delicious flavour and aroma to food. It is a healing herb for the body and soul, a…

Summer Season Checklist

December 10, 2018 11:42 am Published by

Check out these super tips for the food garden this season. 1. Super berries They say that the blueberry (Vaccinium…

Turmeric

December 10, 2018 8:00 am Published by

Also known as Curcuma longa, Curcuma domestica is believed to have originated in India. The name ‘turmeric’ is thought to…

Oranges and Lemons

May 18, 2018 1:32 pm Published by

Oranges & lemons – A must have in any organic garden Citrus must be the juiciest, fresh and health giving…

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Don't Slow Down Now!

April 10, 2018 2:51 pm Published by

Don’t Slow Down Now! TEXT Alice Spenser-Higgs Autumn is a good time to grow vegetables in containers. The milder days…

Earthworm Value

March 16, 2018 1:03 pm Published by

The value of earthworms Charles Darwin, one of the world’s greatest naturalists, spent many years studying earthworms. He concluded that…

Watermelon

March 14, 2018 6:09 pm Published by

One of the highlights of summer is homegrown watermelon Watermelons are easy to grow but require space; because each plant…

Growing Herbs In Pots

February 16, 2018 10:12 am Published by

There is no need to ever be without herbs. For a year-round supply, grow them in pots. Herbs grow so well…

Baby Cabbages

February 5, 2018 10:23 am Published by

Like all things miniature, baby cabbages have an appeal all of their own. They don’t take up as much growing…

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Cherry on Top

February 5, 2018 9:25 am Published by

Cherry on Top Whence these delicious treats? PRUNUS avium, the main ancestor of the sweet cherries that are grown commercially…

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Ooh, Melons!

February 5, 2018 8:57 am Published by

Ooh, Melons! Known as cantaloupe in much of the world, here the sweet melon is generally referred to as spanspek…

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Pomegranate

January 30, 2018 8:50 am Published by

Pomegranate Cut a pomegranate fruit in half and the beauty that is revealed inspires artists to paint it, draw it,…

Brussel Sprouts

January 30, 2018 8:22 am Published by

Get rid of those pouts, grow brussel sprouts! A sprout from Brussels…? BRASSICA oleracea variety gemmifera, the vegetable we know…

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Perfect Peaches

January 29, 2018 2:22 pm Published by

Perfect Peaches Imagine the taste of a juicy peach, picked straight off the tree that you have nurtured through the…

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Noble Bay

January 29, 2018 11:53 am Published by

Bay, the noblest of leaves It may come as a surprise, but sweet bay (Laurus nobilis) has a long association…

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Dilly for Dill

January 29, 2018 10:35 am Published by

Dilly for Dill With its feathery, blue-green leaves and clusters of yellow flowers in summer, dill (Anethum graveolens) is an…

Watercress Wonders

January 26, 2018 9:31 am Published by

The wonders of watercress. Watercress (Nasturtium officinale) is a creeping perennial that is one of the oldest leafy vegetables to…

Pattypans

January 26, 2018 8:59 am Published by

Pattypan squash (Cucurbita pepo) Pattypans look like little yellow, green or stripy spaceships and, like baby marrows, these bushy squashes…

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Growing Garlic

January 25, 2018 1:59 pm Published by

Planting garlic The bulbs should be planted in autumn (March or April) about 10cm deep, pointed end up, and covered…

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Flavourful Fennel

January 25, 2018 1:06 pm Published by

Flavourful Fennel Spicy and sweet, fennel is a cook’s dream and a delight for gardeners who love its striking foliage…

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Go Goji

January 24, 2018 9:30 am Published by

Growing your own berries has become a trend over the last couple of years for many reasons: berries are expensive…

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A+ Apples

January 24, 2018 8:31 am Published by

A+ Apples There is archaeological evidence that apples (Malus domestica) have been eaten since as far back as 6500 BC,…

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Hot Pot Herbs

January 23, 2018 2:55 pm Published by

Herbs for a hot pot Herbs grow so well in pots that there is almost no excuse for not growing…

Step-Up Veggies

January 22, 2018 4:08 pm Published by

Step-Up Veggies Growing vertically is a great way to make the most of limited space. This handy DIY ladder allows…

Earthworm Rescue

January 22, 2018 2:38 pm Published by

Earthworms to the Rescue! The best way to convert organic kitchen waste into a power tonic for your plants and…

Everyone Loves Butternut

January 19, 2018 11:13 am Published by

It’s worth allocating some space and time to this melt-in-the-mouth veggie. Although butternuts, like pumpkins, take up more space than…

Sweetest Sweetcorn

January 19, 2018 10:32 am Published by

It’s at its sweetest fresh off the cob before the sugars start converting, so it’s always best to grow your…

Devilishly Wicked Chillies

January 19, 2018 10:01 am Published by

If you’re addicted to chillies, here’s how to grow them successfully from seed – there’s a world of unusual varieties…

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Hot Season Crop Tips

January 18, 2018 3:41 pm Published by

More Brinjals. Increase the yield of your brinjals by pinching out the growing tip when five or six leaves have…

Thyme for All Seasons

January 18, 2018 11:20 am Published by

Thyme for All Seasons Although its growing season is in the warmer months, thyme is the perfect choice for the…

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Winter Ways with Rosemary

January 18, 2018 11:14 am Published by

Frost-hardy rosemary is a boon in winter: it makes the perfect protective, edible hedge, infuses a steamy bath with its…

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How to Prune Plums

January 18, 2018 10:22 am Published by

How to prune plums Pruning is the most important winter task for your plum trees. Here’s how to do it…

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Plant a Plum Tree

January 18, 2018 10:12 am Published by

Plant a Plum Tree this Winter Success with plums is as easy as following these steps There is no juicier…

Growing Parsnips

January 18, 2018 9:01 am Published by

Parsnips (Pastinaca sativa) aren’t a vegetable that springs to mind, being more common in the colder countries than in South…

Radiant Radishes

January 18, 2018 8:49 am Published by

The radish belongs to the Brassicaceae family. While we are all familiar with the red radish, other cultivars come in…

Growing Leeks

January 18, 2018 8:32 am Published by

Essential flavourings for cold season soups and stews, garlic, leeks, chives and onions are the kitchen garden’s storm troopers against…

Growing Cauliflower

Cauliflower is King!

January 17, 2018 3:37 pm Published by

With plant-based diets now a popular choice for many people, the humble cauliflower has become an exciting addition to mealtimes.…

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Peanut Tips

January 17, 2018 11:35 am Published by

Tips on Growing Peanuts ● Keep the peanuts in their shells until ready to plant, to keep them fresh and…

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Superb Celery

January 15, 2018 2:27 pm Published by

Before 2019 celery was an elusive vegetable that appeared in the occasional salad or disguised in a chef’s mirepoix. But…

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Prized Pumpkins

January 15, 2018 2:13 pm Published by

Prized Pumpkins Pumpkins are the big daddy of vegetables, and they certainly like to ramble. Although not ideal for small…

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Sweet Pineapples

January 15, 2018 1:18 pm Published by

Sweet Pineapples Common name: Pineapple Botanical name: Ananas comosus Origin: Tropical Mesoamerica Suitable climates Pineapples are one of the most…

Sweet Peppers

January 15, 2018 12:04 pm Published by

Capsicum annuum is the best-known domesticated species of pepper in the world and contains a huge number of varieties including…

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Spinach by Any Other Name

January 15, 2018 11:43 am Published by

Spinach by any other name Most of us use the terms ‘spinach’ and ‘Swiss chard’ interchangeably when referring to our…

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Ocimum Basilicum

January 8, 2018 12:56 pm Published by

Sweet Basil Ocimum basilicum Sweet basil has a unique taste that is closely related to its spicy sweet fragrance. Of…

Summer Heat with Chillies

November 27, 2017 12:50 pm Published by

This summer up the heat in the garden and the kitchen with a selection of chillies and peppers. Christopher Columbus…

Raise a Kitchen Garden

November 6, 2017 12:45 pm Published by

Raise a Kitchen Garden: The initial effort required to build a raised garden is handsomely rewarded once it is up…

Sowing Guide for December

November 2, 2017 7:05 am Published by

Leaf vegetables: spinach, rocket Root vegetables: beetroot (cooler areas) Legumes: bush and runner beans Brassicas: broccoli (first sowing for cooler…

Punica Granatum

September 4, 2015 8:37 am Published by

Pomegranate tree There was a time when pomegranate trees or shrubs were quite common in gardens. Then they became old…

tomatoes

Potted Tomatoes

September 4, 2015 6:40 am Published by

One of the joys of growing tomatoes in pots is that they do so well, and if the pots can…

Savour Your Roots

July 23, 2015 11:30 am Published by

Although it may not yet feel like it, autumn is on its way and root vegetables, including carrots, beetroot, onions,…

Cuminum Cyminum

April 20, 2015 8:51 am Published by

Cumin Cuminum cyminum by Margaret Roberts Cumin is a true exotic, a flavour-filled treasure! It has played a vital role…

Borago officinalis

August 21, 2014 9:41 am Published by

Borage This annual herb is equally at home in the herb, veggie or cottage-style garden. The plant forms a basal…

The Gardener