Innholdsfortegnelse for Issue #14.3 i Good Organic Gardening

If you’re lucky enough to live in a region where you can see the seasons change, you might have noticed how autumn and spring complement each other. The deep gold and russet tones of what Americans call the fall season find their echo when, after the drab bareness of winter, the colours come roaring back as spring unleashes the fresh blush of budburst and the world is reborn. That’s why our spring issue is celebrating colour, beginning with the limitless shades of red, gold, green, orange and even purple of our cover stars, heirloom tomatoes. As Chloe Thomson writes, there are around 500 varieties in Australia alone, so there’s no reason you couldn’t be harvesting some pink or burgundy toms this season. The same goes for sweet corn, whose kernels…

Perfect pint-sized pears for pots! Introducing the Summer Crunch Range, consisting of four new pear varieties, including Cool Crisp, SunGold and Sweet Reward that were all selected from an excellent Canadian breeding program due to their highly sought-after flavour profiles. The fourth variety in the range — Red Princess — was developed in the Goulburn Valley and it’s adored for its red colour and excellent flavour. Not only are these four pears the first new varieties available to Australian gardeners in decades, but they are all grafted onto dwarf rootstock, so the size of your backyard or garden space doesn’t matter! All these new varieties will grow in cold and warm temperate climates and are very cold-hardy. I grow all my fruit trees in pots — it’s easier to keep…

True peanuts develop underground but there’s a tree that has peanut-butter-scented fruit on its branches. Aptly named the peanut butter tree, in summer and autumn it produces red berries that are a delicious snack straight off the tree — but don’t expect a peanut butter taste. The fruit is sweet but the flavour has been likened to sweet potato and dried fig. Unlike a true peanut, which produces an annual crop, peanut butter trees can take two to three years or longer to mature and start to flower and fruit, especially in cold climates. Once it’s ready, it flowers profusely in spring with clusters of small, bright yellow flowers. The flowers are self-fertile and can crop heavily even with just one tree in the garden. The mature berries are around…

THERE ARE 70 GALVANISED-IRON BEDS ARRANGED IN ROWS AND RAISED SO COMMUNITY MEMBERS CAN REACH THE CROPS WITHOUT BENDING. At the southernmost tip of Western Australia lies the historic port city of Albany, established nearly 200 years ago. In the local Nyungar language the area is called Kinjarling — “place of plenty” or “place of rain” — which seems a good omen for the Living Water Anglican Church in suburban Collingwood Heights. Andrew Nicholson started the church’s Good Life Community Garden while Barry Savage is the co-ordinator. It’s a productive half-hectare block comprising vegetable gardens and sheds, a gazebo and a pizza oven. Inspired by his grandparents, who grew flowers and vegetables and kept ducks and chooks, Barry started growing his own vegies and fruit trees when he bought his…

SEPTEMBER 2023 Spring is most gardeners’ favourite season. It’s such a joy to watch the whole world coming to life with new growth and colourful profusions of flowers. OCTOBER 2023 It’s high spring and all the hard work is starting to pay 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…

My introduction to the bewitching properties of the blue butterfly pea flower came when I was offered a bright-blue tea in Thailand. As soon as I added some lime juice it changed colour to bright magenta. What’s the magic behind this colour-change phenomenon? Tea made from butterfly pea flowers, fresh or dried, is pH reactive: the addition of lime juice (or a similar acid, including tonic water) will cause the reaction. Originally from the Indonesian island of Ternate — hence its scientific name ternatea — the blue butterfly pea is also commonly known as Asian pigeonwings or Darwin pea. However, its generic name Clitoria has long raised eyebrows and does indeed come from the flower’s resemblance to the female anatomy. On discovering what this fabulous plant was called, I instantly…

Any new way to excite and encourage us to eat our vegies is always welcome and the latest comes from space research in the form of a delicious salad designed to feed astronauts on long space journeys. The plan is that astronauts can grow many of the ingredients on board while travelling into deep space then harvest them and create the salad. Trials have been underway for several years to grow both ornamental and edible plants in zero gravity. Astronauts have had success with French marigolds, lettuce, chilli and much more. Astronauts on the space station orbiting 400km above Earth even made tacos flavoured with a space-grown chilli. HOW IT’S DONE In space, plants are grown in specially designed grow units using hydroponics and artificial light with little added fertiliser.…

Ants are fascinating creatures. Closely related to bees and wasps, they function collectively in a similar way. They possess a hive mind, as it were, which operates like a biological computer algorithm enabling highly complex decision-making behaviour far beyond the intelligence of individuals. These ubiquitous little insects provide a range of ecologically beneficial functions in nature: • They eat many pest insects, limiting pest populations • They clean ecosystems by moving dead insects, plant and animal matter into their nests, fertilising the soil • They carry seeds to new areas, helping plants spread to where they may survive better • They move similar amounts of soil to earthworms, loosening the soil to improve air and water movement Sometimes ants become pests themselves by “farming” aphids and scale insects in order…

COOL & TEMPERATE VEGIES • Now that spring is fully sprung and frosts are in the rear-vision mirror, time to put in those tomatoes you’ve been waiting to plant — and don’t forget their pals basil and marigold. Tie the tomato stems to stakes or trellises and trim excess branching. • Other vegies to plant include beans, beetroot, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, capsicum, celery, chillies, eggplant, leeks, lettuce, silverbeet, spring onions and sweet corn. Plus, space allowing, how about globe artichoke? • October’s also a good time to plant out winter’s potted plants and use the pots to start seeds or seedlings for summer crops — cucumber, pumpkin, zucchini and other cucurbits — to plant out next month. • In the herb garden, try calendula, chamomile, oregano, parsley, rosemary, sage and…

As the weather warms and flowers bloom in early spring, many of us will struggle with the itching, watery, sneezing messiness of hay fever. In the search for relief, it’s best to understand the body’s allergic responses and how to remedy them naturally rather than become dependent on pharmaceuticals. Be armed and get ready to naturally combat the unpleasantness of hay fever when it comes knocking this spring. HAY FEVER 101 Otherwise known as allergic rhinitis, hay fever is a response to airborne allergens most prevalent in springtime and said to affect around 18 per cent of people in Australia and New Zealand. While susceptibility is often acquired in early childhood, hay fever is experienced by both adults and children alike. It’s worth noting that, despite its name, hay fever…

Swift Grow is a fertiliser that’s purified and sold in concentrated liquid and dried forms. As outlined in recent issues of Good Organic Gardening, Swift Grow’s benefits include its ability to: • Restore dead soil • Increase crop yield by 30 per cent • Restore colour, scent and flavour to food • Increase farm productivity and bee immunity • Provide a solution to climate change Last issue, we looked at Swift Grow’s capacity to increase crop yield. Here, founding microbiologist Joseph Ayoub explains its propensity for restoring the colour, flavour and aroma of foods. WHERE DID THE TASTE GO? At your local store you see all the different types of fruits and vegetables: fresh, big, colourful, neatly packaged and looking appetising. However, your perception changes immediately when you get them home…

ADDRESSING AUSTRALIA’S FOOD CRISIS It’s an idea whose time has come. In response to the ongoing climate emergency as well as production and supply shortfalls highlighted by the global pandemic, a group of thinkers have trained their sights on revolutionising Australia’s food industry. An initiative called Sustainable Table aims to bring together food producers, land stewards, advocates, funders and change makers to find new approaches to regenerative food production. No one is more aware of the pressing need to transform the country’s food system for a more self-sustaining future than Sustainable Table CEO Jade Miles. “Last year alone with floods, fires and continuing drought we saw the extent to which our national food supply can be impacted by the climate crisis,” she said. Closely connected to the natural environment since…

A herbaceous perennial that originates from Europe, comfrey is also something of a wonder plant with many uses in the garden and beyond. With green hairy leaves in a rosette form, it can grow up to 1m tall in all climates including the tropics and subtropics, right down to the cooler regions of Tasmania, but is unlikely to flower in warmer zones. If your winters are cold, comfrey will go completely dormant and die right back, ready to re-emerge in spring. If you need to stabilise soil, comfrey’s deep tap root and thick, fibrous roots make it a wonderful addition to gardens. There’s research to show the roots draw up nutrients from deep in the soil, allowing neighbouring plants to access them as well. It’s also claimed that comfrey can…

Hedges are an asset to any garden, providing a green, leafy screen for privacy and shelter and adding biodiversity by providing habitat and refuge for all sorts of animals, birds and insects. The value of hedges can be increased by planting an edible one that has all of the advantages of a hedge with the bonus of a harvest. Lots of edible shrubs and small trees lend themselves to hedging including coffee, all types of citrus, tea (a type of camellia), lilly pilly, bay tree and myrtus (also known as Tazziberry). All of them form tall evergreen hedges. For a tall deciduous hedge there are even more options such as pomegranate, hazelnut, blueberry, sloe (a type of prunus, pictured above) and lemon verbena. Elderberry is also an option though its…

OLIVE WATER WORKOUT Olive water is a by-product of the production of olive oil. Olives are a good source of antioxidant polyphenols and this olive water contains a number of phenolic compounds, notably hydroxytyrosol. In a new study, researchers gave olive water to people who were recreational exercisers and measured their performance as a result. The results showed that oxygen consumption during low-intensity exercise improved significantly. Additionally, there were improvements in post-exercise recovery and people who were given olive water also felt that they were working less hard even when their actual exertion was the same. These tests were preliminary and more testing is being planned to probe the anti-inflammatory effects of olive water and whether it might help elite athletes such as marathon runners. The good thing is that…

Jojoba might look and feel like an oil but it’s actually a golden, nutrient-rich organic wax extracted from seeds and has a diverse range of beauty uses. With the global shift away from potentially harmful cosmetic additives like parabens, phthalates and propylene glycol, jojoba and other organic products are becoming more and more popular. For centuries, Native Americans used jojoba (ho-ho-ba) — also known as coffeeberry, pig nut and deer nut — in medicines and skin treatments. They’d also boil the leaves to brew tea. It was claimed to have magical properties: it could soothe cuts and help heal wounds as well as beautify and soften skin. It has many uses in moisturisers, haircare products, shaving balms, lipsticks, cuticle creams and the like. Jojoba also has anti-inflammatory and antibacterial properties,…

Images and text from Gluten-Free Baking Made Simple by Cherie Lyden, photography by Ben Dearnley. Murdoch Books RRP $49.99. CORN, GREEN CHILLI & CORIANDER BUTTERMILK PANCAKES MAKES APPROXIMATELY 12 PANCAKES INGREDIENTS • 1 cup (165 g) gluten-free self-raising flour• ³⁄₄ teaspoon bicarbonate of soda (baking soda)• ¹⁄₂ teaspoon salt• ¹⁄₄ teaspoon cracked black pepper• 2 eggs• 350mL buttermilk (or 250mL non-dairy milk mixed with 1 tablespoon lemon juice)• 25g unsalted butter (or non-dairy alternative), melted, plus extra for cooking• 1¹⁄₂ cups (300g) corn kernels, fresh or frozen & thawed• 1 large spring onion, thinly sliced• 1 large green chilli, finely chopped• ¹⁄₄ bunch fresh coriander, leaves picked & chopped METHOD 1. Sift all the dry ingredients together in a large bowl and whisk to combine. 2. Whisk the eggs and…

ONE FOR ALL, AND ALL FOR ONE! Flower Blend is used by professional growers, commercial nurseries and award-winning gardeners. The secret to gardening success is as simple as throwing a handful or two around any plants in pots or in the ground. Formulated with minerals, microbes and just a pinch of fertiliser, Flower Blend is the best all-round plant food and conditioner while also being vegan friendly and safe for both pets and children. It not only boosts flowering but also keeps soil and potting mix conditioned, enhances root growth, helps plants defend themselves against insect and fungal attack and at the same time helps reduce the need to water. Ideal for roses, orchids, natives, azaleas, herbs and vegetables — in fact, all plants. earthlife.com.au MEET THE NEW, TOUGH ROLARAIN…

THE FUNGI THAT ATE PLASTIC Australian scientists have isolated common fungi species from plants and soil that can be harnessed to break down polypropylene, a plastic widely used in many everyday items such as takeaway containers and cling film. Like most plastics, polypropylene doesn’t readily degrade and only about 1 per cent is currently recycled so it represents a massive environmental pollution and resource challenge. Professor Abbas, who leads the team of researchers at the University of Sydney, is the first to acknowledge their findings are no magic bullet and points out plastic production needs to be drastically reduced to address the plastic challenge. The two fungi investigated — Aspergillus terreus and Engyodontium album — took 90 days to degrade 27 per cent of the plastic tested and around 140…

Native to New Zealand, the kawakawa — part of the pepper family and closely related to kava (Piper methysticum) and betel leaf (P. betle) — is a pretty and very useful tree long harvested by Māori for its health benefits. Another subspecies (P. excelsum subsp. psittacorum) is native to some near Pacific Islands including Norfolk, Lord Howe and the Kermadec Islands. Recent studies by the University of Auckland have found that this New Zealand native does indeed have medicinal value and more than 60 biologically active compounds have been identified in its leaves. With a slightly basil-like flavour, the leaves are often foraged in the wild in New Zealand for wellbeing purposes. An infusion of leaves is used as a traditional Māori medicine to alleviate pain from toothache as well…

If you’re going to plant tomatoes in your garden this season, choose heirlooms for fabulous flavour and fun form. In the eyes of many home gardeners, heirlooms are the crème de la crème of tomatoes, adored for their tasty flesh and often fun colours or quirky shapes and sizes. These tomatoes are best when their distance from garden to plate can be measured in mere metres as they’d never survive commercial transport — the key reason you don’t find them on supermarket shelves. What makes an heirloom tomato? Some argue that heirlooms should be more than 50 years old while others suggest it’s a term used for any open-pollinated non-hybrid tomato. Open-pollinated tomatoes are self-pollinating. Often with the help of the wind or insects, they’ll produce viable seed that can…

1 PREPARE THE SOIL Before you even shop for plants, prepare the soil by loosening it up and adding organic matter such as compost or manure. This will help to improve soil fertility, drainage and aeration so roots can penetrate soil and receive nutrients, oxygen and moisture. Don’t be tempted to plant until you’re reasonably sure the soil is ready. 2 CHOOSE THE RIGHT PLANTS Select plants that are well suited to your climate and growing conditions. Consider factors such as soil type, sun exposure and water requirements before making your selection. Check whether they are annuals or perennials and consider the size they will reach when mature. 3 PLANT AT THE RIGHT TIME Planting at the right time can help your plants establish easily and grow more vigorously. Check…

Allow plenty of room for a crop of sweet corn. It’s a tall plant that needs to be grown in blocks at least a metre square so it can form plump cobs. Blocks are the recommended planting pattern as sweet corn is wind pollinated and growing it in a block maximises the spread of pollen and increases pollination. Well-pollinated flowers produce well-filled cobs but corn grown in pots or in a row won’t develop good cobs. Though corn takes up lots of room, it doesn’t use the real estate straightaway so the space around young plants can be used to grow other plants such as quick crop of lettuce planted between the rows or around the block of corn. Cornstalks can also be used to support climbing beans while sprawling…

A plant family with crisp, tangy fruits, a spicy fragrance, flowers that attract bees and birds and trees that create habitat — what more could you ask? Often called lilly pilly here, Syzygium is a genus of around 1200 species, some of which grow solely on our continent, others across Africa and Southeast Asia; still others occur both here and further afield. All species have something to offer the home gardener, no matter the style of the garden or individual preference. Generally, most fall into the category of rainforest shrub or tree but they vary greatly in habit, size and fruit type. There are also several similarities between the species: cultural requirements, those tell-tale myrtaceous stamen-type blossoms and edible fruits. LILLY PILLY PROFILE Australia alone has more than 50 varieties…

In smaller food gardens, space restrictions can mean ornamentals often get edged out. However, you can have flowers and beauty in the edible garden by foodscaping with attractive food plants. Foodscaping is the art of cultivating a beautiful garden that you can eat as well as admire. A key strategy involves prioritising space for food plants that produce attractive blooms, fruits or foliage. We tend to compartmentalise edibles and ornamentals as one or the other — yet some of the most glorious flowers on earth arise from edible plants. Ever seen sage in full bloom? Or a plum tree? How exquisite is a passionflower? COLOUR YOUR WORLD For more colour, charm, aroma and interest in the food patch, you can’t beat the blossoms of chives, leeks and other alliums, sunflowers…

COOL & TEMPERATE VEGIES • Spring! The days are getting warmer but the ground may still be cool and there’s still a chance of frost. Don’t start mulching yet — let new plantings get the most from the early-spring sun. • Speaking of new plantings, crops to consider include artichokes (globe and Jerusalem), cabbage, capsicum, chilli, cucumber, garlic, kale, kohlrabi, leeks, lettuce, onions, parsnips, peas, silverbeet, swedes, turnips and herbs. • Beetroot, carrots and seed potatoes can be planted in all areas. • Where frost is still likely, it’s way too early to start warm-season crops like tomato. Instead sow broad beans, broccoli, spinach, swedes and rocket. • As new shoots sprout, weed seedlings also awake from hibernation. Time to start hoeing the vegie beds but, as mentioned, hold off…

Also known as queen of the meadow, meadowsweet (Filipendula ulmaria) is a perennial herb in the rose family. A native of Europe and the Middle East, it has delicate, lacy creamy-white flowers with a strong, sweet smell and commonly grows in damp areas and wet woods. As the whole plant is aromatic, it was used in ancient times as a strewing herb (before the advent of air fresheners) to give rooms a pleasant fragrance. It has also been frequently used to flavour many ferments such as wines, beers, meads and vinegars, as well as being added to stewed fruit and jams, giving a subtle almond flavour and aroma. The flowers are often used in potpourri. Meadowsweet has been found in Bronze Age graves with people and animals, and in Welsh…

RRP: $19.95 EACH CALL 1300 303 414 OR VISIT UNIVERSALSHOP.COM.AU TO TAKE UP THIS EXCLUSIVE OFFER TODAY. QUOTE THE CODE: GG14.3 HURRY! OFFER ENDS 5TH OCTOBER, 2023, WHILE STOCKS LAST. 12 ISSUES OF Good Organic Gardening magazine RRP $119.40 PLUS TWO BONUS Gardening Books RRP $39.90 TOTAL VALUE $159.30 ONLY $99 (Save $60.30) From garden to table, Good Organic Gardening will inspire you to be in charge of your own fresh food. If you love growing your own produce, doing things in harmony with nature, and finding new ways of putting fresh food on the table, Good Organic Gardening magazine is for you.…