Innholdsfortegnelse for Spring 2021 i Grow to Eat

It’s the middle of winter when I write this: brown, dusty and cold. For the most part the veggie garden has hit pause, although the kale is looking good and the cauliflowers that haven’t been ravaged by caterpillars are almost ready to be turned into curry. And while some of us feel our moods pulled down by the chill, the dark and the never-ending sniffles of our children, mine has been buoyed by flipping through these pages. Winter is short in South Africa (as well as the days being warmer than some countries’ summers!) and spring will be here before we’re even ready for it. So, when you have this mag in your hands (and we thank you once again for being such faithful, enthusiastic readers), we hope that it…

We all know how important a diverse diet is for our health. However, scientists believe that our current diets are not diverse enough. According to the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), 75% of the global food supply comes from twelve plant and five animal species alone. This lack of variety is damaging to our diets, our plants and animals, as well as our planet. A recent report by the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and Knorr attempted to highlight the problems in our food system and our diets by presenting a list of 50 ‘foods of the future’. The 50 foods mentioned in the report were chosen with the aim of improving diversity in food choices and improving the global food system at the same time. Combined, they…

Okra (Abelmoschus esculentus) is a vegetable with historical roots firmly planted on the African continent. Historians believe it was first cultivated along the Nile in Abyssinia (now Ethiopia) in the 12th century BCE, later spreading to Egypt and the Middle East. Continuing the tumultuous journey, okra made its way to the United States through the Atlantic slave trade, where it now exists as a Southern staple. While popular across West Africa and the Caribbean, it is not widely used in South Africa. However, it certainly deserves a place in your garden and in your fridge. Most of the plant is edible and packed with nutrients like potassium and calcium. It’s also one of the Future 50 Foods (a collection of foods aimed at increasing nutritional diversity and combatting climate change)…

Vietnamese coriander has all the flavour of coriander and then some, with a refreshing lemony note followed by a hot, biting, peppery aftertaste. Another very important point in its favour is that it thrives in the heat. Unlike normal coriander that bolts in the heat, Vietnamese coriander will grow through summer producing lots of narrow, pointed green spicy leaves. Vietnamese coriander grows naturally in Southeast Asia, where it is known as rau răm. It was taken by Vietnamese emigrants to France in the 1950s and the United States in the 1970s. How to grow: True to its tropical nature, it grows best in rich, fertile soil that drains well. It needs consistently moist soil, tending to wilt if the soil dries out. Plant it in a position that receives morning…

Your mental image of horseradish (Armoracia rusticana) is probably that strange jar containing a mysterious white substance that lived at the back of your fridge as a child, or perhaps as the substitute for true wasabi that is masked by luminous green food colouring and comes with your sushi. But horseradish should be best known in the garden, as it is one of the easiest edible plants to grow. This refreshingly spicy vegetable (or herb – its definition is up for debate) will pack far more of a punch when it’s sliced fresh from your backyard. One plant, endless harvest A starter horseradish plant may be difficult to acquire, but once it’s established you’ll have a lifetime supply. These plants propagate by root division – the smallest section of a…

While growing fruit trees is a hobby even a novice gardener can succeed at, it’s important to know which trees you can plant individually that will fruit, and which require a mate for cross-pollination. Self-sterile versus self-fertile fruit trees There’s no ’one-size-fits-all’ scenario when it comes to fruit trees being either self-sterile or self-fertile: each type has varieties that can self-pollinate, and others requiring assistance to bear fruit. Pear trees Pear trees are a popular choice for the garden, both for their pretty blossoms and delicious fruit. They require little maintenance and thrive in regions with cold, wet winters and mild summers. Some varieties, such as the ‘Kieffer’, ‘Le Conte’ and ‘Packham’s Triumph’, can self-pollinate and will crop well in the lowveld. If you’re planting the ‘Early Bon Chretien’ pear…

They feed primarily on wood but have also been known to destroy paper, books, insulation, swimming pool lines and filtration systems. Termites can harm living trees and shrubs but are more infamous for infesting woody plants in decline, or woodwork in buildings. They eat through wood, but usually leave no outside indication that they are doing so until the wood gives way. The best way to identify their presence is by the mud tunnels they make to reach the wood. A termite colony consists of various hierarchies. At the top of the pecking order are the king and queen, whose role is to reproduce. Beneath them are the workers, the ants that do all the feeding, grooming, tunnel making and excavating. They form the largest number in the colony, and…

In the Autumn/Winter issue of Grow to Eat we introduced you to Mauritzfontein, an incredible stud farm outside Kimberley where they have somehow managed to establish a flourishing veggie farm despite the hot, arid climate. The vegetable garden has been operating since the end of 2016, and is blossoming despite the challenges presented by the climate. It is run on organic principles with the aim of supplying the farm with fresh produce as well as cut flowers, and has been laid out as a formal potager with a series of axes and quadrants. Here are some lessons learned by the gardeners at Mauritzfontein and shared with us, many of which are directly applicable to every region in the country: Advantages of a very hot climate First of all, we need…

A celebration of everything that is light and fresh about spring, this ‘Italian’ dish is not really Italian but comes from the restaurants of America and Canada. Fresh pasta is paired with Italy’s finest spring bounty – asparagus, peas and zucchini – to make a bowl of green and white delight. Here is how the Italians would make it: Pasta dough 200g flour, plus a little extra2 large eggsPinch saltTopping1 pack fresh asparagus½ cup peas3 zucchinis (courgettes)1 spring onion, chopped½ cup mascarpone or ricottaExtra-virgin olive oilParmesanSalt and pepperFresh parsley, chopped Make the pasta by mixing the flour, salt and egg together until you have a smooth dough. Let it rest for 30 minutes, then roll it out and cut into tagliatelle (or use a pasta machine to make the pasta).…

Harvesting your own vegetables is satisfying at the best of times, but nothing beats harvesting your own crop of potatoes! There is a certain mystery involved in unearthing fresh, glorious tubers from the warm earth as you never quite know what lies beneath the soil. When can I plant potatoes? Potatoes need a warm, sunny position to thrive. In frost-free areas, they can be planted from August to early June. In areas where frost is prevalent, planting is best contained to the months of August to December into early January. In mist-belt areas, however, potatoes do best after the soft, misty rain has ended and when watering can be controlled, because potatoes do not enjoy having wet, soggy foliage. Seed potatoes Potatoes sold in nurseries and produce stores are certified…

It’s known as a vegetable, produces stalks that are considered a fruit, and it has been known for centuries as a medicinal herb – the interesting rhubarb has it all. That said, it’s not a very popular edible to grow in South Africa, and the leaves are poisonous to cats, dogs, horses and humans. So why do we grow it? Growing Choose a space for rhubarb, which will be permanent for as long as you want it there, and with lots of space around it to spread and grow – it has a growth height and spread of around 80 x 80cm. Find a sunny or partially shaded position. You can grow rhubarb from seed and there are online seeds available (look out for ‘Victoria’), but it is best to…

If you have a small garden, no garden, or a nice garden but tend to move a lot, you might have always avoided growing fruit. Well, if you think outside the box, you can grow fruit in one. Here are some of our favourites for growing in containers, and how to succeed at it! Cherry trees Beautiful blossoms and delicate fruit – the cherry tree makes a good argument for itself. It is also one of the fruit trees that can do exceptionally well in a container, provided that you deliver on certain criteria. Because the cherry is a tree, you will need a large container – get the biggest one you can afford in terms of both money and space, but make sure it is at least 60cm deep…

When you wander through the Strandveld you will notice that it is unique, different to any other ecosystem on the South African coastline. This landscape features large succulent species including restios, geophytes, broad-leaf trees and shrubs, including annuals. An abundance of marine and aquatic edibles surrounds this ecosystem, which the indigenous Khoi San, known as strandlopers, used as a source for the majority of their food supply. Back then, the relationship between man and nature was in sync, with a regenerative and sustainable approach to seasonal and sustainable harvesting of the edible food supply within this ecosystem. Man learned to work with the plants: to reap more, they became nomadic with the seasons, to ensure a sustainable return and recovery of these species. This biodiversity is under threat due to…

Sow this month Bush and runner beans, beetroot, brinjals, cabbage, capsicums (chillies and sweet peppers), carrots, celery, cucumbers, lettuce, marrows, mealies, melons, parsnips, peas, pumpkins, radishes, rhubarb, spinach and Swiss chard, squashes, tomatoes, turnips WHAT DID I SOW? Fertilise in spring when planting out your annuals. Fertilise perennials before spring growth appears and once frost is unlikely. Mulch around young seedlings to keep them warm while the temperatures are still rising. Plant seedlings of pansies and violas amongst your edibles for a splash of colour as well as edible flowers for your spring salads and platters. Increase watering as it becomes warmer. Easy Spring Tasks Sketch your plans for the food garden with a pencil on graph paper to get the best results before putting down any roots. This will…

Sugar-snap peas are the ultimate garden fast food – there are few things more delicious than a sugar-snap pea fresh from the plant, and there are few things more difficult than not eating them all before you get to the kitchen. (If a few do make it all the way inside, use them as quickly as possible so that they’re at their best.) Sugar-snap peas are actually a cross between regular garden peas and mangetout peas, grown when a farmer was trying to give mangetout peas thicker pods. Sugar-snap peas offer great texture as well as flavour, so are a popular treat for kids’ lunchboxes, and are also the first thing picked out of a green salad. They can be cooked too, in a number of ways, but in our…

Have you noticed how well tomatoes and basil grow together? Or how bees are constant visitors to the veggie garden when flowers are planted among the veggies? This buddy system is known as companion planting, an age-old practice that has recorded how certain vegetables, herbs and flowers thrive when grown together. It could be that they attract pollinators, repel insects, provide shade or release nutrients. Basil and tomatoes are the best of companions, and for good reason. The strongly fragrant basil leaves repel pests like whitefly, aphids, and tomato horn worm, which can decimate a tomato crop. Gardeners will tell you that basil planted close to tomatoes improves the flavour of the fruit, and that synergy even extends to the culinary realm. The clincher is that both tomatoes and basil…

Nikki Brighton is a writer, activist and forager well known in the KZN Midlands for her enthusiasm for lighter living. She loves nothing better than foraging for wild greens on walks along the river with her dog, and delighting friends with entirely local meals, using unusual ingredients. She hosts regular Edible Weed Experiences in Howick and beyond. Nikki uses every opportunity to raise awareness about the causes she cares about – local food, simple, creative living, animal rights, conservation, and community. She puts a lot of effort into Reko farmers markets, Midlands Barter Markets and is a committed Slow Food proponent. We asked her to share a bit of her incredible knowledge and help us to look at weeds differently. Here’s what she had to say: Local, Seasonal, Organic –…

Recycling poison containers My dearly departed Mother could never get rid of an empty herbicide bottle. They are just so well designed, with a sturdy trigger system to easily dispense the ready-mixed broad-spectrum herbicide onto unfortunate weeds in a gravel garden without fear of the poison drifting onto wanted plants in a bordering flower bed. According to her, she found these bottles handy for many other domestic uses too. Once, after washing one, she filled it with a household cleaning agent and placed it in her broom cupboard. A while later, weeds became a problem again, so she purchased a new bottle of ready-mix herbicide. As the devil would have it, the two identical bottles landed next to each other on the broom cupboard’s shelf. After deciding to clean her…