Innholdsfortegnelse for Spring 2022 i Grow to Eat

Everyone will have noticed how prices are on the march ever-upwards, fuel and food most noticeably. Luckily for us and you, we’ve all been growing our own veggies for months or years, haven’t we? Now the neighbours are starting to peer over the fence, hopeful expressions on their faces and a touch of lust in their eyes as they see the rows of Swiss chard and carrots ready to be used… At least the timing is good for them to become part of the Grow to Eat family: spring has sprung, the earth is warm and rain is beginning to fall over most of the country. Soon everything that hits the ground will grow and anyone with even pale-green fingers will have a glut of tomatoes to share. So when…

Strawberries are one of the easiest fruits to grow, making them great for beginners! When it comes to taste, homegrown strawberries are definitely much tastier than store-bought ones, which are usually picked before they’re really ready. Allowing strawberries to fully ripen before harvesting means MORE FLAVOUR! Pest control tips Keeping beds weed-free and using mulch can deter slugs and bugs. Spread sand over the strawberry bed to deter slugs. For bigger bugs, spray your plants with puréed garlic or neem oil. How to plant strawberries Spring is the best time to plant strawberries. Pots or bags of strawberries are usually available throughout the growing season from most nurseries. Space the plants about 50cm apart in each direction, and if you are planting rows, using a string line as a guide…

Chia sprouts are nutritional powerhouses: they are high in protein as well as high-quality fibre, rich in minerals and antioxidants and even contain high levels of omega oils. The body can also digest the unprocessed, raw seeds fairly easily. That said, sprouting them makes them even easier to digest and makes them tastier with a lovely tangy, nutty flavour. When chia seeds are soaked in water they create a gel that makes them hard to sprout in a traditional sprouting jar. To get around this, we used a terracotta saucer as an easy way to get them sprouted for your salads and wraps. Here’s how we did it: 1. Pour about 1cm of water into a larger dish that has a lid. Place the terracotta saucer in it. The terracotta…

My first packet of nasturtium (Tropaeolum majus) seed was ‘Little Gem’, and today that has been joined on the seed shelves by ‘Scarlet Jewel’ and ‘Golden Jewel’ varieties, amongst others. And when you see these plants flowering, it’s easy to see why the words ‘gem’ and ‘jewel’ feature so prominently in the variety names – this colourful annual adds pops of the most heavenly colours in the garden. How to grow nasturtiums This delightful plant, with different varieties from climbing to dwarf, bushy hybrids available, is very easy to grow. Sow the seed into trays, in a container filled with potting medium or directly into the ground in the warmer months. The climbing varieties should be spaced at least 25cm apart. Water them well until the seed germinates and the…

‘Quince’ is such a funny word, and it definitely doesn’t conjure up a fruit related to apples and pears, or one associated with love and fertility. Great news is that quince trees are now available locally, albeit in limited stocks, so hopefully we will all know more about this plant and its fruit in time to come. The quince (Cydonia oblonga) is an ancient fruit (as opposed to a modern hybrid) and it comes from parts of Asia and the Mediterranean region, where it was first cultivated by the ancient Greeks and Romans. Immensely popular in the past, the quince fell out of favour as time progressed. Now, however, there seems to be a revival of sorts in terms of popularity with new varieties being grown and making it onto…

Sow this month Asparagus, bush and runner beans, beetroot, brinjals, capsicums (chillies and sweet peppers), carrots, celery, cucumbers, melons and watermelons, parsnips, pumpkins, radishes, spinach and Swiss chard, sweetcorn/mealies, bush and trailing squashes, tomatoes Pinch out the growing tips of plants like tomatoes and brinjals so that they branch out and increase the yield. Thin out seed sown in situ, like carrots and beetroot, so that the roots have space to mature and grow. Take a soil test This will provide valuable information of what the soil is lacking so that you can add it to balance the soil pH and give the plant’s roots exactly what they need. Feed young vegetables with a kelp-based fertiliser or with a liquid manure. Easy Spring Tasks Make a tepee for runner beans,…

YOU NEED: 400mm x 50mm PVC pipe 50mm PVC end cap Superglue Tools: Drill and 6mm drill bit TO DO 1. Put some superglue around the inside of the end cap and slide it onto the pipe. 2. Drill 6mm holes around the pipe for 250mm from the bottom. (You can drill the holes for less that 250mm, depending on how deep you want to water.) 3. Bury the pipe in the middle of a pot or garden. 4. Fill it up with water and the water will slowly soak out into the soil to where the roots are.…

When Arthur and Noelene Menningke moved into their Parkview home, the courtyard outside their kitchen was in a rather sorry state, only really used to dry clothes and as the entrance to staff accommodation. “For a professional landscaper, I tend to neglect my own garden,” chuckles Arthur, “so it took me a while to get stuck into the courtyard.” As it already had a number of fruit trees and was right by the kitchen, Arthur, a passionate cook, decided that it would make the perfect potager. “As the new kitchen double doors were opening onto this space, I wanted the garden to be an area where we could practice soil-to-table principals as well as being an area for entertainment and quiet contemplation,” he explains. “I chose a formal design to…

Natural dyes have been used to colour garments for centuries; evidence of textile dye has been found dating back to the Neolithic period, which is some 12 000 years ago. This group of colourants can consist of plant material, minerals or invertebrates. Rubia tinctorum, a perennial plant known as madder, provided the colours ranging from dark reds to oranges, which was achieved by pulverising the roots and leaving them to dry, then adding the pigments to boiling vats with fabrics. Madder is still used to dye several textiles, like wool, cotton and silk, and the dyeing techniques have hardly changed since then. With the resurgence in the popularity of natural dyes, many natural dye experiments have been performed in our kitchens, little bowls of leftover veggies and berries dotting the…

Garlic (Allium sativum) is part of the lily family and a close relative of onions, leeks and shallots. It is also one of the oldest traditional medicinal and seasoning plants, and hails from central Asia and north-eastern Iran. Many ancient cultures believed in its fortifying powers as a performance enhancer, and on the mythical side it was believed to chase away vampires and to curb pests. The old folks used it to relieve piles and to prevent and treat heavy colds due to its strong antiviral characteristics. This belief is still in practice today, and there is also no doubt about the culinary worth of garlic, as you can add it to virtually any dish to create a flavourful feast on the taste buds. Growth thoughts To grow garlic you…

While some of us may be familiar with the word ‘sorghum’, we probably wouldn’t be able to pick the plant out from a line-up, we probably don’t know how to cook it and we probably don’t know how good it is for us. That’s appalling, considering that this ancient grain is indigenous and has been an important part of African and South African culture for thousands of years. (And don’t think I’m judging anyone – I was as clueless as everyone else before I started to do some research!) A grain that is produced on a cane-like grass, sorghum is a crop grown widely in Asia and Africa and is a staple in the diet of over 500 million people. In fact, it is now the fifth-most grown cereal crop…

Espalier-training trees is the practice of growing them in a controlled way, usually horizontally against a wall or frame, originally to save space and to increase fruit production, although they are created more for their ornamental value these days. The temperate regions where espalier first saw the light of day, such as northern France and Belgium, are marginal areas in terms of fruit production. Espaliered trees were developed when growers found that if branches were bent to grow horizontally, energy was redirected from vertical growth and into fruit-producing lateral branches. And when espaliered trees were grown against walls, they benefited from more light and warmth, again stimulating fruiting and allowing for a longer fruiting season. But most importantly, espaliered trees look very, very cool! Getting started Choosing the position is…

Of the few things that a plant needs to grow, light is at the very top of the list followed by water. And when trying to grow plants indoors, sometimes there’s just not enough light for plants to flourish. There are also some gardeners who love to get seeds sown early indoors when it’s too cold outside, and light and heat are both essential for germinating seed. The trick in both cases is to use supplementary lighting. Here are some tips for adding supplementary lights indoors: Standard light bulbs are not strong enough to get the job done: you need the lights that are as close to sunlight as manufacturers can make them. They will be labelled ‘full spectrum’ or ‘broad spectrum’. Opt for LED or fluorescent lights specifically sold…

Sow this month Asparagus, bush and runner beans, cabbage, celery, cucumbers, melons and watermelons, sweetcorn/mealies, pumpkins, radishes, spinach, bush and trailing squashes, tomatoes Plant patio herbs. Use good-quality potting soil and mix in a slow-release fertiliser. Water daily and harvest regularly. Plant a lemon tree in the garden or in a container. They are perfect for small gardens positioned in full sun. Remove side shoots from vine/indeterminate tomatoes. Remove weeds regularly and make sure to take out the roots. Easy Spring Tasks Plant globe artichokes for their foliage colour and for the kitchen. This evergreen, frost-tolerant perennial grows 1.8m high and 1.2m wide. It needs full sun and fertile soil. Remove the head before the bracts open. Tip: Store vegetables and fruits separately Grow cucumbers in hanging baskets or choose…

Kirchhoffs has introduced four new herbs to the summer range, which will keep experienced chefs happy and everyone else aspiring to reach their levels. Herbs form the basis of many French dishes, and the most common herb mixtures are bouquet garni and fines herbes. Summer savory is one of the easiest herbs to grow, but is not a cut-and-come-again plant. Sow seeds every few weeks to ensure a continuous supply throughout summer. This is a strongly flavoured herb with a similar profile to sage and thyme, and is used to flavour to stews, soups and bean dishes. Because of the strong flavour, it’s better to start with a little and adjust to taste. Like thyme, strip the leaves from the stem before using and pair with other strong herbs such…

I have a confession to make… I’m a bit of a ‘prepper’. I haven’t quite got to the point of stockpiling canned beans and tuna, but as a South African I believe that a certain degree of ‘state-proofing’ is necessary in the form of off-grid water (borehole and rainwater), a backup-battery system and, more recently, a food-garden tunnel on the side of my house. The problem is, I’m great at implementing and building these off-grid concepts, but I’m absolutely lousy at maintaining them. I was reminded of this fact when I wandered around the Neighbourhood Farm’s Fish Hoek location in Cape Town. The 1 300m2 community farm was glistening with dew that morning across rows and rows of healthy vegetables, whereas back home my own garden tunnel looked more like…

Whether you call them spanspek, cantaloupe or simply sweet melons, it’s hard to deny the magic of these delicious fruits. A foundation of summer fruit salads, they are a perfect complement to other fruits but taste just as good scooped out and enjoyed on their own. Luckily for gardeners, these fruits are as easy to grow as they are to eat, spreading quickly and ready to harvest after just three months. Where did spanspek get its name? Those interested in etymology may be wondering where on earth the name spanspek came from, and how it became so widely used across South Africa for speakers of all languages. This fascinating story begins in the Cape Province with governor Sir Harry Smith and his wife, Juana María de los Dolores de León…

Spring brings a newness to the air and an abundance of produce that inspires us to create beautiful fresh dishes in the kitchen. Here are some of the ways five spring-harvested veggies can be preserved and some fun spring recipes to try: Onions Growing onions is a long process: after the seed is sown it will take between 150 and 240 days for the onions to be ready to harvest – that’s a whopping 8 months! On the plus side, they need very little interference other than the occasional feeding and regular watering along with the rest of the veggies. A packet of seed could produce enough onions to last at least 6 months, as long as they’re packed in a cool, dry spot with good air flow. A good…

If you’ve watched one of the cooking shows on TV, you’ve probably heard the word ‘galangal’ cropping up every now and again. A staple in Southeast Asian cuisine, it is becoming more and more popular globally and is also available locally. Because it is used so extensively in that region, it is sometimes called Thai ginger or Siamese ginger. So, what is it? Galangal is a tuberous member of the Zingiberaceae family, which includes ginger and cardamom, and it is the root that is used for cooking. While a galangal tuber looks so similar to that of ginger that it’s hard to tell the difference, there are a few differences: the skin of galangal is smoother and lighter but the flesh is tougher. They also have a very different flavour…

Our local organic gardening guru, Dale Grobler, popped in for a chat recently. While he was here we got talking about how useful perennials are in the herb and veggie garden. Here are his educated thoughts on the matter: They are low maintenance Perennials thrive and produce abundant and nutritious crops throughout the season. They are easy to cultivate as well as being high-yield crops. Once established in the proper site and climate, perennial vegetables can be nearly indestructible. Established perennials are more likely to be more resistant to pests, diseases, drought and weeds than annuals. Some perennials even require more frequent harvesting to prevent them from becoming weeds! They extend the harvest Perennial vegetables often have different seasons of availability to annuals, which provides more food throughout the year.…

Sow this month Bush and runner beans, beetroot, brinjals, cabbage, capsicums, carrots, celery, cucumbers, lettuce, marrows, mealies, melons, parsnips, peas, pumpkins, radishes, rhubarb, spinach and Swiss chard, squashes, tomatoes, turnips Start a food diary The best way to improve and get success when growing next year’s crops is to take notes and pictures now. Use a notebook or go hi-tech with one of the apps that are available to record your progress. Feed seedlings with a liquid feed at half strength. Repeat every two weeks. Plant blueberries in a sunny spot with space to grow 1 – 2m wide. Mulch with pine bark to give them an added acidic boost that they enjoy and keep them well-watered and fed every month. Water more frequently as the temperature increases. Easy Spring…

When you read the back of a seed packet you’ll see that they give you a suggested spacing between seeds. This planting spacer helps you to keep to a pattern when sowing. YOU NEED: 2 x 440mm x 30mm x 30mm pine (sides) 2 x 500mm x 30mm x 30mm pine (ends) 1 x 500mm x 500mm piece of 25mm chicken wire 63mm x 4mm wood screws 4 x flat 90° brackets 25mm screws Wood glue Fencing staples Wood sealer TO DO 1. Lay the four pieces of wood out to make a 500mm x 500mm square. Screw a bracket at each corner. 2. Drill 3mm pilot holes and then glue and screw one end to the two sides. Turn around and repeat with the other end. 3. Spread the…