Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue #10.3 - 2019 i Good Organic Gardening

Spring! The weather is warming up, the days are lengthening and everywhere nature emerges blinking and yawning after a long winter snooze. It’s the time of year when every gardener, every plant, every animal looks forward to the prospect of rebirth and renewal. None more than our feathered friends, of course, and this issue Megg Miller discusses the rewarding process of raising your own chicks. It’s an activity that involves a careful choice of which hens to breed from according to their qualities such as health, broodiness and longevity. And what could be cuter than spring chickens? Speaking of cuteness, last issue’s dose came courtesy of native gliders. This time Steve McGrane shines a light on elusive microbats, which at first glance (if you get to see one) might seem…

Gorse is an invasive weed that has spread its prickly green branches and yellow flowers in dense swathes across pasture, through bush and woodland and into mountain areas. Native to Europe, it is now found in all but the hottest and driest parts of southern Australia. Individual shrubs can grow 4m high and 3m wide, creating impenetrable thickets that provide safe havens for other pests such as rabbits. These growths are also fire hazards. Indeed, gorse is so damaging to the environment and to agriculture that in Australia it’s classified as a Weed of National Significance. OUTSIDE THE SQUARE Its sheer ability to succeed makes gorse a clever if dangerous plant. But, recently, inventive thinking outside the square has given this weed the clever potential to become a wild-harvested crop.…

Someone should write a book about the influence of Italians on gardening in Australia. Take Pier and Charlie, who grow vegetables at home in the Geelong suburb of Bell Post Hill as well as on a 1000m2 block they own in nearby Bell Park, now covered with vegie gardens and fruit trees. Charlie was 19 when he arrived from Messina Province in Sicily during the 1956 Melbourne Olympics. He stopped briefly in Geelong before going to join his brother cutting cane in Queensland. After three years he relocated to Geelong, where he spent most of his working life as a concreter laying the city’s footpaths. Since retiring he spends most of his time tending his gardens both at home and on the Bell Park block. Pier’s parents also came from…

Growing cucumbers at my place has had an unexpected side-effect: my daughter has refused to eat store-bought ones as they don’t taste any good. While it was flattering that she loved home-grown vegies, it was tricky to make salads after the frosts arrived! She was devastated when she discovered that I couldn’t grow more cucumbers until the warm weather returned. In most areas it’s easy to grow cucumbers from spring to autumn. However, since we moved from Sydney to northwest Tasmania with its very short growing season, I’ve realised cucumbers are hard to grow in cold climates where they are best regarded as a summer-to-early-autumn crop. Even then they need a warm, sheltered spot to thrive. I start cucumbers in the glasshouse in a large pot then, once the weather…

Crabapples are very rewarding trees to grow as they are both ornamental and productive. They sport beautiful blossoms in spring and small but attractive fruit that ripens in autumn and can persist on the tree for many months, often well into winter. The leaves turn yellow in autumn before they fall. While you can’t pluck a crabapple from the tree and munch away as you can with its close relative the apple, the fruit does make beautiful, tasty jelly and can be enjoyed as a paste known as “cheese”. Crabapples are rich in pectin. When boiled they produce pectin stock that can then be used to set other fruit jams such as strawberry jam. There is however another very important reason to grow crabapples: these flowering trees can assist in…

COOL & TEMPERATE VEGIES In warm parts of the temperate zones, gardeners will be planting second crops but in the cool areas, where frost is still a worry, it’s safer to wait to the end of the month before planting out cold-sensitive seedlings. Keep cucumber, tomato, zucchini and pumpkin seedlings under shelter. Tomatoes that are planted out and growing need to trained as they grow. Tie tomatoes to tall stakes or a screen, removing any low growth that’s touching the ground. Use soft ties to avoid damage to the soft stems. Also train climbing beans and cucumbers on a tepee or trellis to make them easier to maintain. Make the most of the good growing times ahead with succession planting. Every few weeks, sow more seeds or plant a few more…

A tasty warm salad for both the meat eater and the vegetarian. Use leftover meat, fish or chicken for this dish, or simply boil up a few eggs. INGREDIENTS For roast cauliflower • 1 cauliflower• ½–1 red onion• 1 tbsp olive oil• ¼ tsp ground turmeric• Salt & freshly ground black pepper• ½ cup cashews (or any nuts you have)• ½ tsp ground cumin• ½ tsp smoked paprika• Pinch chilli powder (optional) For tahini dressing • ¼ cup shaved or grated Parmesan• 1 clove garlic, finely chopped or grated• ¼ cup tahini• Juice 1 lemon• 2 tbsp water To serve • 1 bag picked kale (or baby spinach leaves)• 1 tbsp olive oil• 300–400g (about 1 cup)• Cooked chicken, meat or fish (optional)• 2 tbsp Parmesan shavings (optional)• Pinch paprika…

It’s been a while since I last did a Gardening Folk article on my own family and a lot has happened. Since the previous story some seven years ago, we’ve left our rental property of 16 years and moved into our very own place and are no longer held back by the constraints of tenancy in regard to long-term design ideas, hardscaping and permanent tree and shrub plantings. Our new place is in the western suburbs of subtropical Brisbane, a lovely northeast-facing slope just under two acres. Some bits are steeper than others and we have the most glorious view from the back verandah. We’re lucky to live a little further away from the hustle and bustle of Brisbane as well as to have that extra bit of room to…

SEPTEMBER 2019 Spring is the season everyone loves, gardeners and non-gardeners alike. It seems like the whole world is coming to life with new growth and profusions of flowers. OCTOBER 2019 It’s high spring and everything is growing its socks off. Regular feeding, consistent watering and staggered plantings are the keys to a good harvest. New moon First quarter Full moon Last quarter When the moon is waxing from new moon to full moon, it is increasing light and drawing sap flow upwards. During the waning from full moon back to new moon, light decreases and sap is drawn downwards. This movement of sap flow has an influence on how well new plants will grow. There are four phases, each lasting seven to eight days. Sowing, planting and taking cuttings…

The eggplant’s closest relatives are tomato, capsicum and potato. Despite differences in appearance between these popular vegies, all are part of the Solanaceae family. This family relationship lies in the flowers, which all share a similar shape even though flower colour varies from yellow for tomato to blue or white for potato. Eggplant produces clusters of violet-coloured flowers. Identifying the plant family a vegetable belongs to is important for managing crop rotation and also to recognise what they have in common, such as growing needs and pests and diseases. In the case of eggplants, it’s important not to plant them where other members of the Solanaceae have been grown recently. COMMON NAMES & VARIETIES So, if they are related to potatoes and tomatoes, why are these plants with their glossy…

Figs have a double harvest as they produce two crops a year. The main crop forms in summer and ripens in autumn. The second crop, known as the breba, grows in spring and ripens in summer. While two crops are a bonus, it is that delicious flavour that comes with biting into a ripe fig harvested fresh from the garden that reminds you why this is the ideal backyard fruit tree. The sweetest figs are the ones bursting out of their skins and you’ll never find those in the shops. Left to grow, the fig grows into a large and handsome shade tree reaching 6m tall and 4m wide. If this sounds bigger than expected (and it is very large if you intend to net the tree), control its size…

Sit outdoors with a cuppa and observe your chooks going about their daily activities. They’re great DIY workers. They all have individual quirks and personalities and most lay a distinctly coloured and shaped egg. With the breeding season imminent, how will you decide which eggs to set? You could set whatever is fresh and on hand or you could have a long hard look at the girls, acknowledging that some meet your requirements better than others. What characteristics do you rate highly? My list for important characteristics includes a quiet, curious temperament, good health, freedom from physical defects, persistency in laying, good egg shape and size and, lastly, longevity. I haven’t included broodiness — this trait is associated with numerous breeds so often it occurs naturally. A BIDDABLE TEMPERAMENT Placid,…

Presented by the Centre for Organic Research & Education (C.O.R.E.) The International Compost Awareness Week (ICAW) is a special time each year to celebrate and encourage the use of compost among local communities to improve or maintain high-quality soil, grow healthy plants and protect our natural environment. This year we put out a call for photos of your compost at home or work or even at an event you attended. The response was overwhelming. It’s inspiring to see what home gardeners, schools and professionals alike are achieving in their environments. Congratulations to all! Here’s a small selection, including the top three. To see the others, visit compostweek.com.au/competition/photo-gallery/ Congratulations to Bonbeach Primary School (Vic), Kelly Lloyd and Rachelle Prentice, winners of the entrants’ draw. Each of you will receive one Composta…

Peer under a street light at dusk on a balmy night in Australia and chances are you will observe some energetic nocturnal critters flying about in figure-eight patterns. Most likely they will be microbats catching a quick meal of moths, mosquitoes or other night-flying insects. These beautiful (not to everyone, admittedly) native creatures are incredibly stealthy. Some species of microbats are rarely seen in open spaces but prefer the cover of dense scrub, flying back and forth along corridors. Despite their often excellent vision and very effective use of ultrasonic echolocation to detect obstructions and prey, they may still bump into you during an evening walk through bushland. Some microbat species are extremely common in urban settings, finding daytime nesting opportunities under the bark of trees, in caves or protected…

If you’re a fan of lemon, the tangy taste and the texture of these little treats will make them almost addictive. Once again, you might need a bit of restraint to keep from going beyond one serving. Serves 12 Prep time 15 mins Cook time 5 mins INGREDIENTS For lemon & coconut balls • 1 cup almond meal• ½ cup shredded coconut• ½ cup melted coconut oil• 2 tbsp honey (or use Natvia or equivalent sweetener)• Zest 1 lemon• Juice 3 lemons• 1 tsp vanilla extract• Pinch salt To coat • Desiccated coconut or• Chopped pistachios METHOD 1. Place all ingredients for balls in a food processor and pulse until mix comes together.2. Scoop tablespoon amounts out and roll into balls. Roll the balls in coconut or pistachios to coat…

New Zealand flax (Phormium tenax) is a popular lowmaintenance garden plant grown for its long and often colourful leaves, which range from bright green to dark burgundy red. The strap-like leaves can reach 2m in length and they have many clever applications. They can be used to make cloth, woven into baskets or used in interesting ways in floral decorations, whether folded or pleated. Maori have long used phormium leaves to make textiles for clothing — including elaborate cloaks decorated with feathers — and fibre for basket weaving. It is also used decoratively and structurally in tukutuku, the panelling in Maori meeting houses. As the common name suggests, this plant is native to New Zealand and quite different from the European plant also known as flax (see below). European settlers…

At the time of writing we were seeing an alarmingly early start to flu season with a number of deaths and many hospitalisations. So it was interesting to receive a press release with the heading “Eating elderberries can help minimise influenza symptoms — University of Sydney research”. The university study showed that “compounds from elderberries can directly inhibit the virus’s entry and replication in human cells, and can help strengthen a person’s immune response to the virus”. In a way this was not surprising as elderberry’s flu-fighting properties have long been known, but the research group studied exactly how the phytochemicals in elderberries work on viral infections. “[Elderberry] inhibits the early stages of an infection by blocking key viral proteins responsible for both the viral attachment and entry into the…

There are hundreds of plants on our property, edible and ornamental. Here’s a sample: Fruit trees: Custard apple, blood orange, lemon, lime, kaffir lime, Panama berry, blueberries, raspberries, bananas, low chill peach, plum and nectarine, peachcot, sea grape, wax jambu, jaboticaba, soursop, grapefruit, mandarin, wampi, lychee, pomegranate, grumichama, macadamia nut, finger limes, tropical pear, mango, avocado, guavas, moringa, grapes, passionfruit, sugarcane, dragon fruit, elderberry, pigeon peas, Ceylon hill gooseberry, cape gooseberry, achacha. Seasonal vegetables: A huge array of leafy greens including subtropical species such as Surinam spinach, Ceylon spinach, Brazilian spinach, kang kong and Okinawa spinach. These do really well during summer when nothing else thrives. Scented plants and herbs: Rosemary, lavender, scented geraniums, pineapple sage, lemongrass, lemon balm, lemon myrtle, various mints, parsley, coriander, basil, chillies, false cardamom, galangal,…

Celery is synonymous with diets and healthy eating, though it’s said to be a negative-calorie food because it takes more energy to chew and digest than it contains. Growing celery in your own garden will require time (it’s a relatively slowgrowing plant) and energy (think lots of fertiliser and water) yet I still think it’s a worthwhile vegetable to grow. Celery is a base ingredient in many soups, stocks and stews and, eaten raw, it makes a handy snack as well. And when it’s growing happily in your own garden you can just remove as much as your dish requires — so no more limp stalks wasted at the bottom of the crisper drawer. GROWING AND CARE Celery can be a fussy crop. It does take time and a lot…

The zucchini is a very productive — some might say overly prolific — summer veg. Just one or two plants are enough to have you searching your cookbooks for inspiration under Z or Googling zucchini recipes. But that’s exactly why I love them! Fried, baked or boiled, stuffed with meat and rice, stewed in a ratatouille, made into soup or spiralised as glutenfree “noodles”, the delicate flavour of zucchini is central to many cuisines. The flowers are also eaten in some countries, most notably in Italy where they’re stuffed, battered and gently fried as zucchini flowers. Because they are so productive and easy to grow, zucchinis are a great crop for beginner gardeners. Being related to pumpkin, watermelon, squash and cucumber, the zucchini — like all cucurbits — is susceptible…

COOL & TEMPERATE VEGIES One of the most delicious crops to harvest in early spring is asparagus. Look for fresh spears daily and harvest them quickly as the spears soon mature into woody and inedible stems. If you haven’t any asparagus growing, don’t despair. Look for pots for sale to plant now. Asparagus is a long-term crop that takes a few years to reach productive size, so be patient. A lot faster with their rewards are peas, broad beans, English spinach, rocket and broccoli. Harvest winter planting and put in more. Also get a head start on summer crops. Direct-sow seeds or plant seedlings of chilli, capsicum, tomato, eggplant, cucumber, pumpkin, squash, zucchini and beans. In frosty areas, wait until the soil warms. Potatoes and root vegies can be planted now…

When the Department of Environment estimates Australians send about 60 percent organic material to the tip — that’s 40 percent food scraps and 20 percent garden waste — it’s hard not to lament the waste of resources, not least the cost of getting it there. It needn’t all be wasted. Landfill gas (methane converted to carbon dioxide) is a handy by-product that could generate clean electricity but, sadly, is largely squandered. Every Australian produces a 600kg bin of domestic waste each year and of that we recycle, on average, around 30 percent, so imagine if we used our leftover organic material to grow food. Some of us already do, of course. Composting is easy, cheap and environmentally responsible, reducing greenhouse gases and providing soil-enriching additives for your garden. The only…

IN SEASON SEPTEMBER FRUITS Apple (Lady Williams), blueberries, custard apple, grapefruit, lemon, lime, mandarin (Imperial), rockmelon, orange (blood, Navel), papaw, papaya, pineapple, pomelo, strawberries, tamarillo, tangelo VEGIES Artichoke (globe), Asian greens, asparagus, beans, beetroot, broad beans, broccoli, cabbage, carrot, cauliflower, chilli, fennel, garlic, kale, leek, lettuce, mushrooms, peas, potatoes, silverbeet, spinach, spring onions IN SEASON OCTOBER FRUITS Avocado, banana, blueberries, dragonfruit, gooseberries, grapefruit, guava, kiwifruit, mango, melons, orange (Valencia), papaw, papaya, passionfruit, pineapple, pomelo, strawberries, tangelo VEGIES Artichoke (globe), Asian greens, asparagus, beans, beetroot, broad beans, cabbage, cucumber, chilli, fennel, garlic, kale, lettuce, mushrooms, peas, potatoes, silverbeet, spinach, spring onion, watercress, zucchini SEASONAL TIP: HASSELBACK HEAVEN Those Swedes sure know how to cook potatoes! Our favourite way to do them is to first par-boil or microwave (about 3 mins) whole…