Innholdsfortegnelse for Summer 2022/2023 i Grow to Eat

There’s nothing quite like soaking up the summer sunshine, especially in sunny South Africa. My favourite time of year has arrived much quicker than expected – can you believe it’s December already? But I couldn’t be more excited for the months ahead, both in the garden and with the Grow To Eat team. You may be surprised to see Stephen’s signature missing from this issue. After several years as head of the team, delivering the latest in food gardening trends and sharing his wealth of gardening knowledge and excitement, Stephen is moving on to new adventures. We wish him all the best and can’t wait to hear about all the new developments in his garden. Although I have written many articles for the magazine in the past, I also got…

The inauguration of the 44th president of the United States was held on the 20 January 2009 and President Barack Obama started his 8-year term with his wife, Michelle, at his side and ready for action. In fact, only two months later, Michelle broke ground on the White House Kitchen Garden on the south lawn starting new traditions that continue to this day. Despite knowing very little about gardening, Michelle wanted the garden to be more than a plot of land with some vegetables growing on it, she wanted it to mean something and start a conversation about the issues around child obesity, the food we eat, the lives we lead and the effect on the children. She also wanted it to be a learning garden where children could plant…

There are many reasons to consider sowing seeds in your vegetable garden. The first and most obvious reason is budget. You get far more seeds for your money than you would buying trays of seedlings or worse, established plants. You can even save the seeds you don’t use to plant at a later date without spending a further cent. The second reason is variety. When you grow plants from seed, there is so much more to choose from, from unusual species to interesting varieties you can’t find anywhere else. Nurseries tend to produce the plants the general public are looking for, so if you want something more specialized, seeds are the way to go. You’re also likely to get stronger plants in the long run when growing from seed versus…

The term ‘variety is the spice of life’ couldn’t be truer in the garden and kitchen – not only for flavour and enjoyment of food, but also for our overall health. The wonderful range of colours of the fruits and vegetables in our garden are thanks to phytonutrients, chemical compounds that form an important part of a plant’s immune system. They are also responsible for flavour, scent and a number of characteristics that separate one plant from another. TEXT Anna When it comes to our own health, not just plant health, phytonutrients are also incredibly important. Research has shown they provide protection against chronic diseases, cancer, and heart disease, with diversity in the types of phytonutrients consumed a marker of a healthy diet. Including as many of these phytonutrients in…

These herbs that are typically used with grilled foods and stews under the generic (and so romantic) term herbes de Provence, became well-known dried herb mixes in the culinary world and include basil, tarragon, sage, marjoram, oregano and bay leaves, with thyme, rosemary and summer savory being the three dominant flavours. All of them are easy to grow in pots or in the herb garden and will give you hearty growth to use freshly picked throughout summer, plus enough to harvest for drying. Dried herbs can retain their strong flavour for six months to a year if stored in airtight glass jars. Thyme thoughts… It is said that thyme was spread by the Romans throughout Europe. The genus Thymus is part of the mint family Lamiaceae and is a close…

If you’re a fan of both sweet and sour flavours, you should be growing granadillas in your garden. Also known as passion fruit, this plant is an easy-to-grow climber that shoots up incredibly quickly to produce delicious, tangy fruits. And while you’re waiting for the fruit to arrive, you can also take a look at their fascinating alien-like flowers that provide ornamental interest too. Granadilla varieties The Passiflora genus to which granadilla belongs contains an impressive 550 species, each bearing the unique flowers the genus is known for. Only three of those fall under the granadilla fruit classification - Passiflora quadrangularis, Passiflora incarnata and the most common, Passiflora edulis. In South Africa, only one granadilla type is sold and cultivated. This is the purple granadilla known as ‘Ester’, a cross…

Sheet pan dinner with salmon and asparagus A piece of salmon – enough for 4 peopleA handful of green asparagus spears1 head of garlic, cut in half1 – 2 shallots or onions halved or quartered2 strings of cherry tomatoes on the vineA few slices lemonFresh parsleyA few sprigs of rosemarySalt and pepperGood olive oil Line a sheet pan with parchment paper and place the salmon skin side down on the paper. Add the asparagus, garlic, onion, cherry tomatoes and lemon slices in a single layer. Scatter the parsley and rosemary and season with salt and pepper. Sprinkle with a good amount of olive oil. Place under a hot grill for about 5 – 10 minutes to cook the salmon to your liking and serve. Asparagus and broccoli cheesecake A spin…

Aquacraft has partnered with the Siyakhana Growth and Development Project. The initiative is called ‘Garden for Growth’ and its purpose is to help communities transform plots of land into productive vegetable growing gardens, stimulating entrepreneurial skills and boosting local economies. South Africa is amid a food insecurity crisis and founder of Siyakhana, Prof Michael Rudolph recognised an agent that uproots old ideas and changes how we think, learn and practice urban farming was needed. Siyakhana started in 2005 and unequivocally achieved all of this. It offers a complete multi-disciplinary approach incorporating training, technology, hands on planting, waste management in both food and environment amongst other disciplines. Eventually, the project has become the platform on which other initiatives have been launched. The food garden The Siyakhana food garden is regarded as…

Making soaps to use yourself or to gift to a friend is a wonderful home project. But, keep in mind that the flowers and plants you use during this creative process must be edible. Our skin is an important organ that we should nourish and care for. Quick Tip If fresh herbs from the garden are used, place the leaves between two paper towels and microwave at 30 second intervals, until excess moisture is removed. Herbs dried this way retain their colour better than air dried herbs. Not drying your herbs before use will cause soaps to turn mouldy. Goats milk base bar 500g Makes 8 individual soaps 80 x 55 x 20mm each in size We added to the recipe: Dried lavender flowers Essential lavender oil Oats Goats milk…

I love bees. I love the sound they make in a gum tree on a hot summer’s day. I love their furry little bodies that get full of pollen, the way they will die for their hive, the way they communicate via dance and the endless statistics that make these insects so incredible and fascinating. When most of us think of bees, we think ‘black and yellow’. We think of honey, of Maya the bee and Winnie the Pooh. But did you know that there are thousands upon thousands of species of bees in the world, and about 1400 bee species in South Africa alone? Let’s delve into the fascinating world of bees… Fun Facts Over 20,000 different species of bee are spread around the world, found on every continent…

Although raised beds have always been a vegetable garden staple, there’s no denying their popularity and the attention on them has risen over the past few years. Everyone seems to be planting in raised beds, whether they be made out of wood or brick. But what if there was an easier way to set up an instant raised bed garden and help your plants grow better at the same time? Well, with a few bales of straw and some free time, it really is that easy. Straw-bale gardens are exactly what they sound like – raised-bed gardens that use straw as the primary growing medium. Topped with potting soil, compost and fertiliser for nutrients, they provide a sturdy and inexpensive foundation for growing vegetables and other plants. They are ideal…

We’d say this is quite an important and topical point. Have you enjoyed eating food or do you just eat because you have to? Food in its simplest form, is really, really enjoyable. In fact, we are so accustomed to inferior food that we sometimes just think we enjoy it. What about a little challenge? It is summer, so you can skip the stodgy heavy warming foods. Give your body a treat and feed it clean, unadulterated, fresh food without additives, loads of sugar/sweeteners, sauces and the like. We’re advocating mostly fresh vegetables of course. Raw too, please if you can, and to tick all the boxes. They should be organically grown and include the super foods that most of us aren’t even aware of like moringa and hibiscus and…

Sow this month Artichokes (globe), bush beans, runner beans, beetroot, brinjals, cabbage (Asian greens), capsicums (sweet peppers and chillies), carrots, cauliflower, celery, cucumber, kale, onions, radishes, pumpkins and Hubbard squashes, spinach and Swiss chard, bush and trailing squashes, tomatoes, turnips What did I sow? Leave tomatoes to ripen on the bush or pick them as they are turning red, then ripen them indoors. Grow lovage (Levisticum officinale) for use in soups, stews, salads and savoury dishes. This hardy, herbaceous perennial grows in full sun or partial shade, needs moist, fertile soil and develops into a spreading shrub. The leaves have a celery flavour, the seeds are used as a spice and the roots are eaten as a vegetable or grated into salad. Pull out or cut off at ground level,…

When landscape designer Shirley Wallington first viewed this property, she knew that she had a challenge on her hands. The original building had been completely demolished and in its place stood a beautifully designed, modern, triple story house, with a blank canvas for a garden. With the help of Lizette Nieman of Strylitzia Landscaping who did the installation, they carved out a truly beautiful rose and perennial garden on the banks of the Braamfontein Spruit. But that is a story for another day. OUT OF THE ORDINARY “There are two things that I bring into all my garden designs - veggies and roses. Because the design of the rooftop area included an outdoor kitchen and living area, it made sense to build the vegetable garden into this space,” explains Shirley.…

holt.co.za Making composting easy Composting is an essential gardening task if you want to save money and use up all the gardening clippings and prunings you get from good garden maintenance. To make it super easy, invest in a ready to use composter that you simply put somewhere and start filling. By using a combination of green materials and brown materials like dried leaves and branches with some kitchen scraps, you can make your own compost in as little as 6 weeks. Holt has ready-made composters to suit any family. The 220-Litre Compost Converter is made from recycled materials and is tough and durable. It has a waterproof lid and a wide side hatch for quick access to compost. The green colour blends perfectly into any garden environment. See the…

When planning your vegetable garden, pattypans are probably not the first vegetable to come to mind. To be honest, they’re probably near the bottom of my list and a vegetable I normally avoid in the grocery aisle. But in the garden, they can be incredibly rewarding plants that deliver impressive harvests with very little effort. This summer, consider adding pattypans to your squash patch for some added variety without the extra maintenance. Planting Late spring or early summer is the perfect time for pattypan planting. Seeds can be sown directly into the ground or into small pots for later transplanting. Amend soil with compost before planting but avoid adding too much nitrogen if you’re looking for a full harvest. Don’t plant in compacted soils that don’t drain well as this…

Oenothera biennis or evening primrose as it is commonly known, is a pretty perennial that has been around for centuries. Native to North America, it found its way to Europe in the 1600s and has naturally been taken to many other countries. It is called ‘evening’ primrose because the flowers open in the early evening and might last until noon the next day before fading. It can be classed as an annual, biennial or perennial, depending on the variety. Some have an upright growth while others are low-growing and more suitable as a groundcover. In South Africa we mostly grow the yellow Oenothera that has an upright growth. While not bushy, its branching habit does require some space, so allow for at least 400 – 500mm per plant as it…

A homage to one of South Africa’s indigenous forgotten crops which hold great agricultural value growing in urban spaces and coastal areas. Asparagus is an ancient crop with records dating back to 200 BC. This particular species Asparagus aethiopicus is one of the best tasting asparagus you can find. It is endemic to the Cape Province of South Africa. Every year I am blessed with an abundance of green crisp spears peeking through the coastal canopy thickets like the “Water People” the Ammaqua, known presently as the Khoe Strandlopers, with their spears peeking through the bushes while watching the passing Cape Dutch Settler’s ships. Haakdoring or “Hook Thorn” describes the identifiable reverse hooks. These hook thorns help the plant to stabilise itself on branches of the intertwining shrublands as new…

Sow this month Asparagus, bush and runner beans, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, celery, cucumber, pumpkins, spinach, sweetcorn/mealies, sweet melons What did I sow? Group plants according to their water needs. For instance, plant veggies with deep roots (tomatoes, peppers) together because they like deep water less often than shallow-rooted plants (salad and leafy greens), which need less water more often. Check for pests and do selective spraying rather than general spraying. Use organics as much as you can on edible gardens. Make sure you have the following herbs in the garden in case you get sunburn. Make a soothing infusion of German chamomile or English lavender petals for bathwater. Plant summer savory (Satureja hortensis) as a salt replacement. This low-growing, bushy annual herb has spicy, aromatic leaves that are oblong, pointed…

Sow this month Artichokes (globe), bush beans, beetroot, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbages, carrots, cauliflower, kohlrabi, leeks, lettuce, parsnips, spinach and Swiss chard, turnips What did I sow? Grow French tarragon (Artemisia dracunculus) as a frost-hardy perennial, 40cm high and wide. The liquorice flavour of the leaves complements potatoes, rice, tomatoes, chicken, fish and red meat as well as creamy sauces and dressings. Keep succession planting of beans, beetroot, carrots, lettuce and Swiss chard. Chillies grow equally well in pots, which makes them good decorative patio plants. Bushy, compact varieties are best. Water and sterilise seed trays to get ready for the main sowing of winter veggies next month. Easy Summer Tasks Get the veggie garden back on track after the holiday season by setting a morning aside to pull out…