Innholdsfortegnelse for 16.3 i Good Organic Gardening

TOTAL ECLIPSE OF THE PINK Dianthus ‘Pink Eclipse’ is a charming perennial hybrid (Dianthus × allwoodii ‘Pink Eclipse’) originally developed in the United Kingdom. The plant features fragrant flowers, grey-green buds and clean foliage, making it an attractive choice for both container and landscape gardening. Reaching a height of 25–30cm and spreading up to 30cm, ‘Pink Eclipse’ is a compact and tidy plant well suited for borders, perennial beds and pollinator-friendly gardens. It thrives in full sun to part-shade and is tolerant of dry and frosty conditions. It blooms over an extended period from summer through autumn. ‘Pink Eclipse’ prefers well-draining soil and moderate watering, becoming more drought tolerant once established. Minimal pruning is needed, but shaping after flowering can enhance its form. Regular fertilisation during peak growing seasons will…

Crabapples in full flower are one of the joys of spring gardens when they are laden with blossoms and buzzing with bees. While a crabapple is beautiful in flower, it’s also a productive tree forming apple-like fruit known as crabs that ripen in autumn. Unlike their close relatives, crabapples are not eaten straight from the tree but the fruit does make beautiful and tasty jelly — a clear red jam — and is also made into a paste known as “cheese”. Crabapples are rich in pectin and can be boiled to produce pectin stock to set other fruit preserves such as strawberry jam. But they have another talent that makes them an extra clever crop: they can assist with the pollination of apples. UNLIKE TRUE APPLES, WHICH REQUIRE A HIGH…

The pumpkin originated in Central America — specifically, the region that includes present-day Mexico — and fragments have been found dating back to between 7000 and 5500 BCE. Those early pumpkins were not the sweet, orange-fleshed varieties we know today; they were bitterer, a lot smaller and grown mainly for their edible seeds. Over the centuries, as pumpkins made their way to North and South America, Canada and eventually to Europe and further afield, selective breeding transformed these ancient cucurbits into the many tasty, sweet heirloom varieties we know today. With their rich history and diverse characteristics, heirloom pumpkins offer more than just a starchy kitchen staple. They’re prized for not only their unique flavours and textures but also their ornamental qualities — their varied colours and quirky looks. These…

Kelly shares her quarter-acre block in the southeast Queensland city of Ipswich with her feathered and furry family: two elderly indoor cats, a rescue dog and 12 chickens. She juggles a full-time job at a call centre with her deep passion for organic gardening — though there was a time when her passion outweighed her aptitude. “My first attempt at gardening was 20 years ago when I poured my heart into what I thought was a broccoli patch, only to find it was a patch of thistles!” Kelly laughs. THANKS TO THE BIODIVERSITY, PESTS ARE RARE; WHEN NEEDED, KELLY USES ONLY CERTIFIED ORGANIC TREATMENTS. “I had no idea what broccoli or thistles looked like back then. It was a real eyeopener for me and showed how disconnected we who grow…

Climate change is also changing our ideas of what to grow — and nowhere is this more obvious than in the orchard. There’s a complex relationship between temperature and the ability of deciduous plants to produce flowers and fruit. As climate warms and seasonal patterns alter, some fruit trees will struggle to flower and set fruit even in areas where growing conditions were previously ideal. Apples, pears, cherries and even currants are some fruit crops that need a cold winter climate to stimulate flowering and subsequent fruit production. During winter, deciduous fruit trees, shrubs and vines accumulate what are called chill hours or chill units and the count is specific to each variety. Fruiting plants that need chilling accumulate hours of chilling below 7°C while they are dormant. Chill hours…

Hazelnuts are an excellent crop for a cool-climate garden. Unlike many other nuts that are produced on large trees (walnuts, macadamias and even chestnuts, say), hazelnuts form on small trees that can be kept shrublike with pruning. They are also easy to harvest: simply shake the branches and ripe nuts tumble down. To make it easy to find the nuts, keep grass under the trees short and cover the ground with mats while harvesting. Harvest time is autumn (usually late March or April) but planting time is winter or spring. In winter, look for bare-rooted plants usually sold as “whips”, which are suckers from named varieties. In spring, look for potted trees. GROW YOUR OWN Hazelnut is one of the fastest nut trees to grow and plant. It begins producing…

In a sustainable home and garden, it’s important to be able to recycle garden and food waste to return the nutrients to the soil. Compost bins can handle most garden materials and worm farms can competently process most kitchen scraps. But what about the foods those systems can’t handle? What if you simply don’t have space for a compost bin or worm farm and need to process your food waste indoors? The solution is the bokashi composting system. WHAT IS BOKASHI? Bokashi composting is a fast, ecofriendly and convenient way to recycle kitchen scraps using controlled anaerobic fermentation, much like the processes used to produce yoghurt, sauerkraut or kombucha. In a sealed container, beneficial microbes break down food waste into two valuable products: a nutrient-rich “precompost” and a probiotic-laden leachate…

TROPICAL • Prepare for wet season: clear drains, tie back plants, support vines.• Fertilise with potassium to support fruiting and flowering trees.• Prune back annuals and tropical shrubs before rains.• Start seed collection from dry-season crops. SUBTROPICAL • Plant sweet potato slips, amaranth and other summer greens.• Net fruit trees against birds and possums.• Monitor for powdery mildew and control early.• Deep water and mulch to prepare for summer heat. TEMPERATE • Harvest garlic, broad beans and early peas.• Thin fruit on stone-fruit trees like apricot and nectarine.• Net trees to prevent bird damage.• Set irrigation timers and water deeply. COOL/MOUNTAIN • Sow heat-loving crops: pumpkin, corn, basil.• Protect crops from sudden hot spells with mulch or shade.• Begin harvesting spring-sown greens and herbs.• Net berry bushes and fruit trees…

As the chill of winter fades and the soil begins to warm, spring comes with a reassuring promise: renewal, growth and the first tastes of the warmer days to come. It generates feelings of quiet excitement in us all. In backyards everywhere, buds swell, seeds stir beneath the surface and we gardeners return to our plots with muddy knees and hopeful hearts. It’s a time of planning and planting, of tending to the soil and dreaming of the harvest to come. Whether you’re sowing beans along a sunny fenceline or checking your citrus for blossoms and unwelcome invaders, spring is the season of reconnection — with the land, our food and the cosmic rhythms that guide us. In this issue, we celebrate the regenerative season’s potential for abundance, beginning with…

As its common name suggests, New Zealand flax is native to Aotearoa where it’s long been a useful plant. Its genus name Phormium means basket and its long broad leaves can be woven into cords or striped and plaited to weave baskets as well as fishing nets and cloaks. While it has a long history of use by Maori, who call it harakeke, its value was quickly seen by the European settlers after their arrival in the 19th century. Although unrelated to “true” flax (Linum usitatissimum) used in linen production, New Zealand flax became a vital fibre crop in colonial times. A flax industry was developed in New Zealand based on the growing, harvesting and processing of the native flax plant and flax rope was exported to Australia and England…

Spring is the season of fresh beginnings in the garden, a time to build new beds, refresh pots with bursts of colour and care for emerging growth as plants awaken from their winter slumber. While many gardeners might turn to traditional spring favourites, lavender may not be the first plant to come to mind. But what if there were a range of lavender that didn’t just survive the season but thrived through it? That offered vibrant colour, months of blooms and minimal fuss? That’s exactly what LAVINNOVA® Lavenders deliver. These standout performers are redefining what gardeners can expect from these classic beauties. LAVINNOVA® Lavenders offer significant benefits, one of the largest being that they are Australian bred and trialled and grown all over the country. The trialling process is a…

In the rolling river flats of Boyanup — “place of quartz” in the Noongar language — Richard and Brenda Lee have carved out a life from the kind of wisdom that only comes from decades of living close to the land. Their five-acre property, just outside Bunbury, Western Australia, features one productive acre of vegetables and an orchard. The remainder is used for animals and grazing. The climate here swings from cold Mediterranean winters to hot, dry summers, with temperatures ranging from 2°C to 38°C. But the real warmth comes from the Lees themselves and the stories embedded in every corner of their land. “WE ’VE GOT RIVER LOAM HERE, THEN CLAY DEEPER DOWN AND, ABOUT 60 FEET UNDER, CLEAN, DRINKABLE GROUNDWATER. THAT’S GOLD.” “We’re packing the boat now,” Richard…

Most food gardeners aspire to growing tasty tomatoes. They’re the number-one summer crop, in our opinion — the holy grail to many — and one of the world’s most widely consumed vegetables (even if, botanically, they’re fruit). They’re not the easiest crop to grow but, when you get things right, they reward your efforts handsomely. If you want the easy path, stick with cherry or perhaps bush tomatoes — but if you like a bit of a challenge, opt for some fat vining heirlooms. Not only do they come in a variety of shapes and sizes, but their vibrant colour palette will liven up your salads. Here’s our compilation of the 10 basic must-dos for an abundant crop of juicy tomatoes to harvest throughout the warmer months. 1. PICK A…

Sweet corn, or more exactly maize, is one of the world’s top three staple crops and believed to have been cultivated for at least 7000 years in Central America. While we are most familiar with yellow varieties of corn, there are many ancient heirloom varieties and wonderful and weird colours, ranging from white and yellow to red, blue and even black. A multicoloured variety known as ‘Glass Gem’, with its translucent rainbow-coloured kernels, has to be seen to be believed. This fast-growing plant is technically a grass and is pollinated by the wind, so block planting is the key to success. Both male and female flowers grow on the same plant. Male flowers will show at the top of the plant with a tassel-like flower that looks a little like…

One innovative way to incorporate greenery into urban environments is through verge gardens, planted on the strips of land between the street and the footpath. Verge gardens can foster a stronger, kinder neighbourhood through connection and community. They can transform unused public spaces into vibrant green oases that are productive, colourful and provide much-needed habitat. They offer growing space for those who lack room on their own property and come with numerous environmental benefits. For instance, they can act like rain gardens, slowing down stormwater and improving infiltration into the soil, reducing runoff and erosion. BENEFITS OF VERGE GARDENS • Enhancing aesthetic appeal: Verge gardens improve the look and feel of a street, turning dull or barren areas into lush and colourful spaces. They help beautify suburbs and cities, making…

TROPICAL • Begin sowing heat-lovers: okra, eggplant, snake beans, rosella.• Harvest remaining dry-season crops (sweet potato, turmeric).• Mulch early to prepare for hot buildup months.• Trim tropical shrubs before the wet season flush. SUBTROPICAL • Sow early summer crops: capsicum, cucumber, sweetcorn.• Prune citrus and subtropical fruit trees such as mango and lychee.• Plant heat-tolerant herbs: basil, lemongrass, coriander.• Begin disease monitoring (leaf spots, rusts on young foliage). TEMPERATE • Sow lettuce, beans, zucchini, beetroot once soil warms.• Plant strawberries and mulch around fruiting plants.• Deadhead spring bulbs but leave foliage to feed next year’s blooms.• Prune camellias and deciduous shrubs post-flowering. COOL/MOUNTAIN • Sow cold-hardy vegetables: spinach, snow peas, brassicas.• Divide clumping perennials like agapanthus and daylilies.• Prepare beds for October planting; apply compost.• Finish pruning deciduous fruit trees…

IN SEASON SEPTEMBER FRUITS Apple (Lady Williams), blueberries, custard apple, grapefruit, lemon, lime, mandarin (Imperial), rockmelon, orange (blood, navel), pawpaw, 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), pawpaw, 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 IN SEASON NOVEMBER FRUITS Apples (Lady Williams), avocados, bananas, blueberries, cherries, grapefruit, loquats, lychees, mangoes, melons, mulberries, nectarines, oranges (Valencia), papaya, passionfruit, pawpaw, peaches, pineapples, starfruit (carambola), strawberries, youngberries VEGIES Artichoke…

NATIVE PLANTS CAN HELP COMMERCIAL CROP YIELDS For too long it’s been common agricultural practice to clear native vegetation so as to expand intensive cropping areas — but new research shows this comes at the cost of crop productivity and healthy yields. The research, conducted by the University of South Australia in the state’s Yorke Peninsula, evaluated the impact of native roadside vegetation and small patches of fragmented remnant vegetation on the pollination rates and crop yields for canola and faba beans. The study found canola and faba bean pods within 200m of native vegetation, which is home to pollinating insects, produced more seeds and subsequently higher yields than those unpollinated by insects and animals. Compared to the centre of fields further away from native vegetation, yields close to native…

From tidy borders to bold raised planters, steel has become a go-to for landscape designers who want clean lines, strong structure and serious design flexibility. Whether you’re sprucing up a courtyard or creating layers in a sprawling backyard, steel edging gives you the freedom to define spaces, play with height and bring form to your outdoor fantasy. Steel edging doesn’t just look great; it’s strong, long-lasting and low-maintenance. To top it off, ShapeScaper products are made in Australia using premium BlueScope steel. The range includes several gauges to suit different applications, with the 2.0mm gauge being ideal for most landscaping needs and significantly thicker than many imported products. Compared to timber, which deteriorates, or plastic, which becomes brittle, modular steel edging provides long-term durability and is significantly quicker to install…

There’s nothing tastier and easier to prepare than a stringless bean — and they’re even better fresh from the garden. If the beans are large they may need to be cut in half or thirds, but small tender beans simply need to be washed and tossed in the steamer for a few minutes and they’re ready to serve. Packed with nutrients, beans improve soil health, support biodiversity and are easy to grow. This hard-working veg ticks lots of boxes for a homegrown crop. Spring is the time to get a crop planted for harvesting right through summer. Beans can be grown as climbers that are trained up a tripod or against a trellis, or as smaller bush beans. Both are quick to grow from direct-planted seeds. One of the earliest…

Jilliby, on the New South Wales Central Coast, feels so green, serene and rural you’d never guess how close it was to the busy motorway between Newcastle and Sydney. Among the farms and horse properties in the verdant valley is a food forest, market garden and farm gate branded ALAN Foods — as in All Local, All Natural — and run by Alison and Michael as well as a volunteer and a part-time worker, all under the supervision of Bonnie, aged two-and-a-half. The 2.5-acre block sits on a west-facing slope striped north to south with 16 closely planted vegie beds, each 35m long, plus two poly tunnels housing a total of eight 22m beds. In addition, they’ve just started using what they call Block C and Block D, which together…

SEPTEMBER 2025 OCTOBER 2025 NOVEMBER 2025 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 should not be done in the 12 hours before and after each phase. If you want to work in the garden at that time, carry out general tasks and improve your soil for planting. FRUITING ANNUALS Sow or plant annuals grown for their fruits or seeds. This is best…

The award-winning Wobble-Tee Sprinkler covers large areas up to a 15m diameter with low to medium pressure requirements and will water your lawn as efficiently as slow, soaking rain. The consistent large droplets minimise wind drift and evaporation loss. The removable filter allows use with river and dam water. The Wobble-Tee can also operate more than one sprinkler from the same tap, so you can water even larger areas. On the other hand, if you have a small courtyard, the Clever Drop Sprinkler is for you, watering up to 8m in diameter. This sprinkler has many clever features. A low angle of trajectory reduces wind drift and confines it to a small area. The purpose-built base can be adjusted for uneven surfaces or used on your corrugated iron roof for…

The zucchini, or courgette, part of the cucurbit family that includes melons, cucumbers and pumpkins, is a mainstay of the summer garden and relatively easy to grow in warm, sunny conditions. It is typically a long, cylindrical fruit and the most commonly recognised are the dark-green varieties, though there are also striped, pale green and even yellow fruiting varieties. Usually considered a vegetable and used in savoury dishes, the zucchini is technically a fruit and, honestly, chocolate zucchini cake is a delicious way of using up a glut. PLANTING AND CARE While zucchinis are easy to grow, following some basic guidelines will help ensure success. Avoid sowing seed or planting out seedlings into the garden until after the last frost, as zucchinis require a warm, sunny position with ideally six…

Spring is an exciting time to be gardening, with plants growing vigorously as the weather gets warmer. Many of us look forward to planting warm-season crops nice and early to gain the longest possible growing season for an even more abundant harvest. But the single biggest obstacle to early-spring planting is the threat of late frosts. A sudden overnight cold snap can severely damage tender seedlings, setting gardeners back by precious weeks, losing them valuable growing time during the most productive season of the year. Few things are more frustrating than inclement weather that halts outdoor planting and forces the gardener to wait for conditions to improve. From a permaculture (ecological gardening) perspective, however, we can boost productivity by reducing slack time — the period when no plants are growing…

TROPICAL • Plant banana, pawpaw and other tropical fruit trees.• Monitor for pest buildup (fruit fly, spider mites).• Increase mulch thickness for root zone protection.• Water in early morning to prevent fungal spread. SUBTROPICAL • Fertilise fruiting trees and vines with potassium-rich feed.• Thin fruit on early citrus and stone fruit.• Train beans, pumpkins and cucumbers on trellises.• Refresh mulch and remove early weeds. TEMPERATE • Sow and plant out heat-lovers: tomatoes, corn, eggplant, chillies.• Fertilise roses, citrus and spring annuals.• Tie up fast-growing climbers and install tomato cages.• Top up mulch to retain moisture before heat builds. COOL/MOUNTAIN • Begin transplanting seedlings like zucchini and tomato after frost risk.• Sow fast-growing crops: radish, rocket, spring onions.• Feed lawns and begin regular mowing.• Protect young seedlings from cool snaps with…