How to create a straw bale garden
November 22, 2023 1:01 pmLooking for an easy way to set up an instant raised bed garden and help your plants grow better at…
3 Ways With Asparagus
November 22, 2023 11:31 amLove asparagus? Here are 3 easy ways to use this versatile vegetable to create a great meal! Sheet pan dinner…
How To Grow Pattypans
October 25, 2023 12:32 pmWhen planning your vegetable garden, pattypans are probably not the first vegetable to come to mind. To be honest, they’re…
Water-Wise Plants For Your Kitchen Garden
October 25, 2023 9:15 amSummer is here, and while that usually means rain, it can also mean long periods of sun beating down on…
Vegetables for Hanging Baskets
October 10, 2023 8:27 amSmall food gardeners and those with only a balcony are always on the lookout for ways to maximise the number…
Perennial Veggies
September 19, 2023 3:50 pmThe benefits of perennial vegetables are many, and there are very few drawbacks. Our local organic gardening guru, Dale Grobler,…
Window Box Veggie Gardening
August 22, 2023 9:14 amThe idea of window box farming sounds delightfully quixotic and impractical. Actually, it’s an invitation to those who look longingly…
Horned Cucumbers
March 3, 2023 7:56 amThis fruit is a definite conversation starter, and it’s delicious too. Most of the vegetables that we grow come from…
Red Veg to Plant this Autumn
March 2, 2023 8:03 amMake your garden a colourful tribute to the season by planting red autumn vegetables. These veggies offer the best of…
5 Fast-Growing Food Plants
March 1, 2023 9:33 pmI wonder how many people have ever thought of how we would survive if the zombie apocalypse arrived and we…
Organic farming done right!
January 26, 2023 11:24 amA showcase organic farm is being established in KZN, and we can’t wait to see it grow from strength to…
Lemongrass
January 26, 2023 11:04 amThe zestiest of grasses Lemongrass is widely used in Asian cuisine,and it offers more than just lemony flavour. Although, clump-forming…
Summer Squashes
January 26, 2023 10:48 amSqueeze these squashes into your garden this summer. Squashes might not be the first thing you think about when you…
Jerusalem Artichokes
January 23, 2023 1:53 pmIf you love potatoes and artichokes, you simply have to give Jerusalem artichokes a try! You’d think that the name…
Sizzling horseradish
December 13, 2022 2:41 pmYour mental image of horseradish (Armoracia rusticana) is probably that strange jar containing a mysterious white substance that lived at…
A diverse diet is a healthy diet
December 13, 2022 11:10 amWe all know how important a diverse diet is for our health. However, scientists believe that our current diets are…
Pumpkin Bread
November 22, 2022 3:16 pmAn Irish myth about a stingy person called Jack who ended up as a wandering soul started the craze of…
Unfussy Okra
October 28, 2022 3:12 pmOkra (Abelmoschus esculentus) is a vegetable with historical roots firmly planted on the African continent. Historians believe it was first…
Sugar-Snap Peas
October 28, 2022 2:44 pmSugar-snap peas are the ultimate garden fast food. There are few things more delicious than sugar-snap peas fresh from the…
Growing Asparagus – Spears of Green
October 28, 2022 2:27 pmIt may take time, but growing your own luxurious spears of asparagus is very doable. Roasted with olive oil, pan-fried…
The Flavours of the Med
October 28, 2022 11:48 amJam-packed with flavour, a Mediterranean garden virtually looks after itself. Mediterranean flavours are ones we all love – tomatoes, herbs…
Growing Veggies in Buckets!
June 24, 2022 12:31 pmThis article was inspired by a friend whose internet search for advice on growing veggies hooked him onto the idea…
Growing Lettuce in the Winter
June 8, 2022 3:17 pmShop-bought lettuce is available all year round, but for the home gardener growing lettuce in the winter is can be…
Radish Ideas
May 12, 2022 10:55 amRadishes are one of those fast-growing crops in the garden that can also be sown throughout the year, so with…
Cherry Tomatoes
April 11, 2022 2:50 pmSweet and small, but big on flavour. Cherry tomatoes! The name says it all: they’re small and super-sweet, bite-sized like…
Plant a Soup Garden
April 7, 2022 4:41 pmSoup is winter’s best treat, and whether you like your soup thick and chunky, consommé or as a tangy Asian…
Top 10 Plant Friends
March 29, 2022 1:49 pmSome plants grow well together and some don’t. In the vegetable garden you can get the best out of a…
Runner Beans
March 24, 2022 4:03 pmText Madison Moulton For many home cooks, the term ‘green beans’ doesn’t go beyond the steamed pods that accompany a…
Spinach Alternatives
March 24, 2022 3:47 pmWe’re always told to eat spinach, but what are the other leafy greens that can fill this role in our…
Creamy Zucchini Soup with Oregano and Chilli
March 18, 2022 3:24 pmA creamy zucchini soup with very little cream and lots of flavour from herbs and spices will go down very…
How to extend the harvest of baby marrows
March 4, 2022 12:54 pmBy March baby marrows are usually at the end of their productive lives, with most leaves covered in powdery mildew.…
Preserving Cauliflower
March 4, 2022 9:10 amIf cauliflower was a stock to trade, some would have made millions in the last few years as the humble…
Veggies are at the frontline of health
February 24, 2022 5:04 pmEating healthily to keep healthy and maintain a good level of immunity is as much of a strategy in this…
Climb A Slinky
February 18, 2022 3:43 pmHave some fun in the garden creating this ‘climb a slinky’ and some beans or peas. This is actually too…
Pickling cucumbers
January 18, 2022 4:16 pmPickling cucumbers is a quick and easy way to store mini cucumbers, or cukes, for a longer time than the…
The Madumbe: the potato of the tropics
January 18, 2022 4:04 pmGrowing in popularity, the madumbe is a healthy alternative to the potato, traditional or sweet. Depending on who you ask…
Feed The Plants That Feed You
November 30, 2021 8:38 pmThe buzz of bees – that’s one thing that we associate with spring and the edible garden. But bees need…
5 Delicious Snack Veggies
November 24, 2021 3:54 pmDon’t we all love to snack? It’s not always because we are hungry, say the behaviourists who have studied the…
Root-to-stem veggies
November 9, 2021 10:07 pmThrifty gardeners like to use every part of the vegetable. Why throw away luscious beetroot tops, colourful Swiss chard stems…
Best Summer Vegetables for Roasting
November 8, 2021 9:56 pmLike comedians, vegetables can do with a good roasting. It makes them sweeter and more nutritious, and it’s a quick…
Growing Baby Veggies
October 13, 2021 10:50 amBaby vegetables are not just trendy from a gourmet point of view. For gardeners in a hurry or who have…
Grow Summer Salad Ingredients
October 12, 2021 10:53 amCool, crispy and crunchy! That’s the food that most appeals as we move towards the hottest days of summer. How…
Watering Vegetables Wisely
October 12, 2021 9:09 amEverything is growing fast and temperatures are rising. Most veggies are thirsty, needing regular watering to produce juicy, tasty leaves…
Tips and tricks for summer veggies
September 27, 2021 12:46 pmWhether you’re a beginner or a seasoned veggie grower, you’ll find that garden beans, cucumber and baby marrows offer quick…
Tomato Update
September 14, 2021 11:33 amRemember when ‘Heinz 1370’, ‘Floradade’ and ‘Rodade’ were about the only tomatoes you could grow from seed? When heirloom tomatoes…
Vertical Vegetable Gardening
July 7, 2021 11:12 amSaving space is not the only reason for vertical vegetable gardening. Veggies twining up obelisks, tumbling over archways, vining up…
Sweet and Short: Plant Peas for Spring
July 7, 2021 9:55 amGarden peas are such a delicious vegetable: crunchy, sweet and nutritious. They are also a very short crop, but what…
Growing Broad Beans
June 14, 2021 9:22 pmAt the beginning of 2019 there was wide agreement amongst trend-spotters that 2019 was the Year of the Vegan. This…
How To Blanch Leeks – A Step-By-Step Action Guide
May 18, 2021 12:45 pmBlanch leeks that were sown in February as now is the time that they are ready. Blanching is the term…
How to grow chinese cabbage
May 13, 2021 8:49 pmOne of the benefits of growing your own veggies is the variety of plants from all over the world you…
Swinging Salads – Floating Veggie Garden
April 20, 2021 1:49 pmIn the 21st century, fewer and fewer people have enough space to plant a substantial vegetable garden, but that shouldn’t…
Cruciferous Craze – Vegetables for Health
April 19, 2021 7:59 pmFirst it was broccoli, then kale, and now it is cauliflower that has assumed super-star status for its culinary qualities…
How To Grow Winter Vegetables Successfully
April 14, 2021 9:05 amGet ready for winter! Like September, March is a prime sowing month, only this time it is for autumn and…
Growing mushrooms – The pearls of the fungi world
April 8, 2021 12:10 pmThere are few things more delectable than a fresh oyster mushroom sauteed in butter with a little garlic. Even I,…
Don’t miss out on winter veggies – grow them in pots.
March 1, 2021 8:22 amWinter veggies need sun, and lots of it, as well as shelter from the elements. But if your garden is…
Grow Your Own Smoothies
February 24, 2021 10:32 amCheck out the sowing guide for February and you’ll notice that it is mainly greens. There is a saying that…
10 Cut and Come Again Veggies
February 4, 2021 2:48 pmThese are some of our favourite greens that keep on giving. Cut and come again veggies are so satisfying, and…
Get Pumped About Pumpkins
February 1, 2021 10:29 pmPumpkins must place on the list of South Africa’s favourite holiday vegetables, whether mashed, in pampoenkoekies or in a classic…
Double Agent Veggies
January 29, 2021 9:21 amAppearances can be deceptive, even in the veggie garden. Did you know there are double agent veggies? They can go…
Cool Cucumber
November 9, 2020 10:11 pmCucumbers (Cucumis sativus) are one of the few vegetables that can still be sown in December in most areas –…
Rewarding Zucchini
November 9, 2020 9:21 pmThe zucchini, also known as baby marrow or courgette, is the most rewarding plant for the home veggie gardener to…
It’s All About Alliums
November 9, 2020 1:39 pmWhen you come across pungent, sinus clearing vegetables, they’re probably Alliums and hail from the Allium genus. That description doesn’t…
Spice Up Your Popcorn!
November 5, 2020 9:25 pmHow to grow your own chemical-free popcorn crop. While gently shovelling mounds of popcorn into your mouth during a thrilling…
Tomatoes Grow On Trees?
November 5, 2020 8:36 pmThe trusty tomato is a household staple and doesn’t necessarily scream ‘exotic’. However, there is one tomato that stands out…
Foods That Boost the Immune System
September 30, 2020 12:30 pmFinding dinner ideas that are not only delicious but meet the nutritional needs of your family can be a tall…
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 season…
Growing Microgreens
December 3, 2019 12:47 pmThe juicy, tender shoots of vegetable and herb mini seedlings are all the rage. They taste great and are perfect…
Alternative onion growing
December 2, 2019 12:49 pmHere’s a way to have at least one homegrown salad ingredient available all year round.Simply place an onion in the…
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-manure…
Growing Tomatoes
November 13, 2019 7:07 pmCan you imagine life without tomatoes? It’s hard – they’re such a basic ingredient of so many of our favourite…
Growing Baby Marrows
November 7, 2019 11:14 amBaby marrows, also known as courgettes or zucchinis, are the most rewarding plants for the home vegetable gardener to grow.…
Growing Onions
November 7, 2019 10:58 amOnions need full sun and will grow in most types of soil. Seed can be sown in trays or in-situ,…
Growing Peas
November 7, 2019 10:54 amPeas are essentially a cool-season vegetable and one of the first that can be planted in spring. The soil in…
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 from…
Growing Potatoes
November 7, 2019 10:38 amPotatoes are an easy crop that can be grown all year round. The first crop is planted in August or…
Growing organic vegetables
November 7, 2019 9:30 amWhy grow Organic? Like generations before us, we are again discovering the joys and benefits of growing healthy, homegrown vegetables.…
Bad Veggie Neighbours
September 22, 2019 11:03 amWhile some plants thrive next to each other (beans and tomatoes, for example), other plant combinations lead to nothing but…
5 favourites to grow in Winter
March 11, 2019 8:00 am1. Lemon Grass This clump-forming perennial with strongly lemon-scented leaves is the perfect addition to any South East Asian dishes.…
Late Summer Planting
February 7, 2019 1:42 pmUrban Gardening, Late Summer Planting The end of a summer is a bitter sweet time. But as the temperature starts…
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, a…
Heirloom Tomatoes
December 12, 2018 12:03 amHeirloom tomatoes offer colour, flavour and endless variety, and more and more wonderful varieties are becoming available locally. Heirloom fruits…
Sweet Potatoes
October 25, 2018 11:01 amSweet potatoes are not a run-of-the- mill veggie where you just buy a packet of seeds, sow them and watch…
Windowsill Farming
October 1, 2018 11:59 amHave the freshest leaves at your fingertips by growing them on your kitchen windowsills. If you think you need a…
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 days…
Growing vegetables
March 16, 2018 1:41 pmBy Alice Spenser-Higgs Get ready for winter Like September, March is a main sowing month, only this time it is…
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 growing…
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 know…
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 to…
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 squashes…
Kohlrabi
January 25, 2018 1:40 pmBulletproof! That’s how gardeners who grow kohlrabi (Brassica oleracea var. coulorapa) describe this versatile, under-rated vegetable. Along with radishes, it…
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●…
Lush Swiss Chard
January 24, 2018 1:36 pmLush, Leafy Swiss Chard Swiss chard is nature’s gift to food gardeners because it is such an easy, rewarding vegetable…
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 and…
Problems with my Brassicas
January 23, 2018 2:35 pmWhat’s wrong with my Brassicas? As families go, the brassicas are demanding and temperamental, especially if they’re expected to perform…
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 eaten…
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.…
Cabbage Patch
January 23, 2018 12:35 pmCabbage is one of our best winter crops, because it likes growing in cool, moist conditions. It is less troubled…
Fresh Asian Flavour
January 23, 2018 10:22 amHeading into winter, the fresh flavour of Oriental vegetables balances the richness of winter food, and they are also good…
Know Your Onions
January 23, 2018 9:54 amKnow your onions It’s probably impossible to count the number of savoury recipes that contain onions. Onions (Allium cepa) is…
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 well…
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 allows…
Eat your Veggies
January 22, 2018 3:25 pmHow to get kids to eat veggies It’s great to grow your own veggies and enjoy the taste of fresh…
A Bee-Friendly Veggie Garden
January 22, 2018 12:00 pmBees help pollinate many fruits and ‘fruiting’ veggies – they’re natural allies! Plant some of these bee-friendly choices in your…
Eating Microgreens
January 22, 2018 10:50 amEat your Microgreens Packed with flavour and nutrition, these gourmet greens are the perfect solution for urban gardeners. But even…
All About Avocados
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 an…
Tomato Planter
January 22, 2018 8:31 amUpside-Down Tomato Planter Home-grown tomatoes always taste better, and to make the most of available space they can even be…
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 than…
Generous Green Beans
January 19, 2018 10:45 amFresh green beans are so versatile and delicious when properly prepared – a must have summer crop. Get cracking and…
Sweetest Sweetcorn
January 19, 2018 10:32 amIt’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 amIf you’re addicted to chillies, here’s how to grow them successfully from seed – there’s a world of unusual varieties…
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 have…
Kokedama Balls
January 18, 2018 2:16 pmHave a ball with Kokedama The space-saving trend of kokedama, the Japanese art of growing plants in moss balls, is…
Food Garden Flowers
January 18, 2018 1:46 pmDo flowers belong in a food garden? They certainly do, and not only those with edible petals! Many flowers double…
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 an…
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 firm…
Grow Microgreens
January 18, 2018 10:56 amA great project for winter is to grow your own microgreens and baby salad leaves. This can be done in…
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 through…
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 South…
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 in…
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 storm…
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 crops…
Cauliflower-based pizza
January 17, 2018 3:43 pmCauliflower-based pizza A surprisingly tasty pizza base made from cauliflower is a perfect alternative to flour based pizza, especially if…
A Perfect Match
January 17, 2018 8:31 amRoses and vegetables are an obvious pairing for so many reasons. Roses and vegetables have a history of being grown…
Grey Water
January 17, 2018 8:20 amGrey Water Growing veggies with grey water Grey water is waste water collected from the shower, bath, hand basin and…
Artichoke
January 15, 2018 2:52 pmThe Gourmet Herb Artichoke As a vegetable, globe artichokes (Cynara scolymus) are considered a gourmet delicacy. As a garden plant,…
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 that…
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. But…
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 small…
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 including…
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 our…
Bravo For Brinjals
January 15, 2018 11:22 amBravo For Brinjals The eggplant, aubergine, or brinjal is something of an acquired taste. If you like that slight bitterness,…
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 and…
Potato Tower
January 15, 2018 10:18 amPotato Tower A simple way to grow potatoes in limited space. What you will need: 25mm x 25mm fencing wire…
Raised Veggie Bed and Cover
November 28, 2017 9:43 amRaised Veggie Bed and Cover: This clever project keeps your veggies safe from pests and raises them for easy planting…
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 chillies…
Veggie Planter
November 27, 2017 10:56 amA Nifty Veggie Planter Having your herbs or veggies at raised level makes it a pleasure to cultivate them –…
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 up…
Companion Planting for Pest Control
November 3, 2017 11:57 amCompanion planting has a long tradition in organic gardening practice. The principle behind companion planting is that certain plants either…
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 cooler…
How to Grow Cucumbers
June 2, 2017 10:31 amIn the spirit of World Cucumber Day on June 14, Tanya shows us how to grow these versatile vegetables successfully.…
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, Garden…
Eat your begonia flowers!
November 2, 2016 6:04 pmWhile people have been eating flowers forever, they have never been trendier than they are right now. Some are used…
The Flavours of an Indian Summer
September 29, 2016 5:02 pmSpicy, steamy, exotic, mysterious… there are so many more words that can be used to describe the subcontinent of India,…
Veggies and Herbs for light shade
January 18, 2016 8:00 amIf your eagerness to grow your own herbs and vegetables is being stymied by the lack of an area that…
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. Since…
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 can…
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.
Peppers
September 2, 2015 8:29 amEarly December presents the last chance in the season to plant both the hot and the sweet capsicums, so whether…
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,…
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, weeds…
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 Botanical…
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