Innholdsfortegnelse for Spring/Summer 2025 - September i Grow to Eat

The world changed a lot after we went through lockdowns, not knowing how long it would last and what the future held for all of us. This has made things a bit weird, and we talk more often about becoming more self-sufficient. For gardeners, it’s easy. Gardeners love to grow stuff. But for first timers, it may seem like you won’t have enough time to grow your own food, or it will be too expensive. This is where we can help. It is a good idea to start small and build up over time. You don’t need acres of land to become self-sufficient; just one square meter of space can provide 100 portions of vegetables or 8 kg in a season. The value of the veggies you can grow in…

It’s September and spring is here. Dormant plants are waking up and unfurling new leaves. Fragrant blossoms decorate fruit trees and new life is breathed into our gardens. September can be surprisingly hot. Be prepared by watering deeply and mulching well. It’s a busy month in the vegetable garden, sowing and transplanting shortand long-season summer crops. Tomatoes, beans, eggplants, squash, chillies, cucumbers and many more can all go in now as well as seeds or seedlings of basil, dill, nasturtium, parsley, spring onions and chives. Prevent September problems: • Break twigs off lavender, African wormwood, tansy or rosemary. Strip off the bottom leaves and scatter these among seedlings or over newly seeded areas, hiding them from birds and deterring slugs and snails. • To protect seedlings from cutworms, push a…

Highveld and KwaZulu-Natal Midlands Bush and runner beans, beetroot, brinjals, cabbages, carrots, celery, cucumbers, lettuce, marrows, mealies, melons, parsnips, peas, peppers, pumpkins, radishes, rhubarb, spinach and Swiss chard, squashes, tomatoes, turnips Middleveld (Tshwane and other less frosty areas) Bush and runner beans, beetroot, brinjals, cabbages, carrots, celery, cucumbers, lettuce, mealies, melons, parsnips, peppers, pumpkins, radishes, rhubarb, spinach, Swiss chard, squashes, tomatoes, turnips Eastern Cape and Little Karoo Beetroot, brinjals, cabbages, carrots, celery, cucumbers, lettuce, marrows, mealies, melons, peppers, pumpkins, radishes, rhubarb, spinach, Swiss chard, squashes, tomatoes Western Cape (and Southern coast) Runner beans, beetroot, brinjals, carrots, celery, cucumbers, lettuce, mealies, melons, parsnips, peppers, pumpkins, radishes, rhubarb, squashes, Swiss chard, tomatoes, turnips Northern Cape and Great Karoo Bush and runner beans, beetroot, brinjals, carrots, celery, cucumbers, lettuce, mealies, melons, parsnips, peppers,…

Coriander, also known as cilantro or dhaniya, is an annual herb rich in flavour and botanically classified as Coriandrum sativum. As a herb, the leaves, flowers and roots are eaten fresh or dried, and as a spice, the dried seeds are used whole or ground in many types of cooking. These are the five things to remember for growing it at home: 1. Grow at the right time Coriander is sensitive to climate changes, so it’s essential to grow it at the optimal time of year for the best results. They prefer a warm climate but not hot weather. Between 10 and 25 °C is ideal. At other temperatures, grow it indoors or in a greenhouse. 2. Succession sowing Sowing more seeds every 2-3 weeks is the best way to…

Amongst the plethora of Irish potato recipes is Colcannon. This combines creamy potatoes and greens, such as kale or cabbage, in one dish to pack in some extra greens. ✔ 4 large potatoes, peeled and cut into cubes✔ 6 tablespoons butter✔ 3 cups chopped greens – kale, cabbage, spinach or Swiss chard✔ 3 spring onions, finely chopped✔ 1 cup cream (or milk)✔ Salt and pepper Place the potatoes in a saucepan and cover with cold water and 1 teaspoon salt. Bring to the boil and cook until they are fork-soft. Drain and mash the potatoes with the cream. Season with salt and pepper. Add the butter to a saucepan and wilt the greens for 3-4 minutes. Add to the mash and stir well. Serve.…

✔ Pinch off dead flowers. ✔ Water regularly. ✔ Feed every 4-6 weeks with a fertiliser for flowers. ✔ Plant in moist, well-draining, fertile soil. Dianthus ‘Pink Kisses’ ‘Pink Kisses’ is a very pretty perennial plant with wonderfully fragrant flowers. It is an excellent addition to a vegetable garden as it attracts plenty of pollinators and its beautiful flowers are also edible. Once established, it is tough and drought-tolerant and will flower non-stop with its double bright pink blooms. • Plant in full sun with at least 6 hours a day. They will be okay with some shade. • Plant with compost and slow-release fertiliser in well-draining soil. • Provide them with sufficient space for good air circulation. ‘Pink Kisses’ will grow 20 cm high x 20 cm wide. •…

Climate and soil requirements Eggplants thrive in warm climates and do not tolerate very low or excessively warm temperatures. They are part of the Solanaceae (potato) family and require a long growing season of about 70 to 85 days for the fruit to develop completely. The best time to plant eggplants is in spring, from September to November, when the soil temperature is consistently above 20°C. Planting and spacing Eggplants can be grown from seeds or seedlings. If you prefer growing from seed, sow them indoors in a warm position about two to three months before planting. Pre-enrich the medium and fertilise the seedlings ten days after germination, using a liquid fertiliser. Transplant the seedlings into well-drained, fertile soil that has been nourished with organic matter such as compost or…

Highveld and KwaZulu-Natal Midlands Asparagus, bush and runner beans, cabbage, celery, cucumber, melons and water melons, sweetcorn and mealies, pumpkins, radishes, spinach, squash, tomatoes Middleveld (Tshwane and other less frosty areas) Asparagus, bush and runner beans, beetroot, brinjals, cucumbers, sweetcorn and mealies, squash, sweet melons, pumpkins, spinach, tomatoes Eastern Cape and Little Karoo Asparagus, bush and runner beans, beetroot, cabbage, carrots, cucumber, sweetcorn and mealies, pumpkins, radishes, squash, Swiss chard Western Cape (and Southern coast) Asparagus, bush and runner beans, beetroot, cabbage, carrots, cucumbers, lettuce, sweet melons, sweetcorn and mealies, pumpkins, squash, tomatoes Northern Cape and Great Karoo Asparagus, bush and runner beans, cabbage, cauliflower, cucumber, sweetcorn and mealies, pumpkins, spinach, squash, tomatoes Lowveld and KwaZulu-Natal Coast Sweetcorn and mealies Drip irrigation “Drip irrigation is without a doubt the absolute…

Question: What is the best feed for a vegetable garden? Answer: The best feed for any garden is compost, preferably homemade compost, as it allows you to recycle the specific bacteria and fungi that naturally live in your particular soil. Suppose you prepare your beds well with it before sowing or planting young seedlings. In that case, you promote a symbiotic relationship between the roots of plants and beneficial bacteria and fungi as early as possible, giving them a better chance to access nutrients in the soil. If you add organic fertilisers you can have peace of mind too, as it encourages rather than does any damage to beneficial bacteria and fungi. Products to use are Talbourne Vita Fruit & Flower, Atlantic Bio Ganic All Purpose and Protek Nutri-Green Guano…

Question: Can sweet peppers be grown in pots? Answer: Sweet peppers can be grown in pots, but the biggest danger is water stress, as pots will dry out a lot faster than plants in the ground, and these delicious edibles can become quite neurotic sometimes… • Plant in a good-sized pot, the minimum being 20 litres in volume. • Use a good-quality potting soil and add vermiculite (25% of the mix), as this retains water while still allowing for good drainage. • Place pots in semi-shade. Morning sun and afternoon shade are safest. • Mulch the surface of the pot thinly to keep the soil cool and moist. • Water daily in summer, but, this being said, only when the soil feels dry. Wilting leaves can be a sign of…

PLANT A POLLINATOR Onion flowers Despite the allium family’s reputation as a repellent plant, its flowers still need to be pollinated, and many pollinators are attracted to them, including bees and other insects. Get the best of both worlds and use the flowers as pollinators while the bulbs underground are growing plump and juicy. PEST PATROL Aphids These damaging sucking insects can eventually destroy a crop and they need to be controlled early. Watch for ants that love to ‘farm’ and encourage aphids to gain from the honeydew they leave behind. The quick way to remove them is with a strong blast of water. For more aggressive infestations, use neem oil or an organic pesticide specifically registered for aphid control. Ensure that any product you use is suitable for use…

Highveld and KwaZulu-Natal Midlands Artichokes (globe), bush beans, beetroot, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, kohlrabi, leeks, lettuce, parsnips, spinach and Swiss chard, tomatoes, turnips Middleveld (Tshwane and other less frosty areas) Artichokes (globe), bush and runner beans, beetroot, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, carrots, cucumbers, lettuce, spinach and Swiss chard, squashes (bush and trailing), tomatoes, turnips Eastern Cape and Little Karoo Artichokes (globe), bush beans, beetroot, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, cucumbers, kohlrabi, lettuce, radishes, Swiss chard, tomatoes Western Cape (and Southern coast) Artichokes (globe), bush and runner beans, beetroot, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, carrots, cabbage, cauliflower, kohlrabi, lettuce, bush and trailing squashes, Swiss chard, tomatoes Northern Cape and Great Karoo Artichoke (globe), bush beans, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, kohlrabi, leeks, lettuce, parsnips, spinach and Swiss chard, tomatoes, turnips…

Kitchen herbs You just bought a packet of fresh herbs, and already they are a slimy mess in the fridge – surely there’s a better option. That would be growing herbs in your kitchen, so you can pick and harvest just what you need, and the rest keeps growing. These are some tips to grow herbs in your kitchen: • Herbs need at least 6 hours of sunlight a day. That means a bright, north-facing window. Alternatively, use a grow system that uses grow lights. • Homes can be too dry for herbs, so make sure you give them plenty of water, checking them daily. • Seed sowing indoors needs plenty of space, so the best way to start is with seedlings or potted herbs from a nursery. • Prioritise…

February is a busy month with everything ripening quickly in the late summer sun. Look out for crops that have been bearing for a while, showing signs of stress and succumbing to pests or diseases. Even if they are still producing, be ruthless and remove them. As beds are emptied of summer crops, ready them for hungry winter seedlings by enriching with thick layers of compost and well-rotted manure. Plus, you can grow green manures. Green manure These are fast-growing cover crops that are chopped down and incorporated into the top layer of soil. All the nutrients the crop has accumulated are broken down and added back to the soil. It’s a valuable method of using plants to create our own fertilisers efficiently and cost-effectively. Plants from the legume family…

Highveld and KwaZulu-Natal Midlands Beetroots, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, Chinese cabbage, kohlrabi, leeks, lettuce, onions, parsnips, radishes, spinach, Swiss chard, turnips Middleveld (Tshwane and other less frosty areas) Beetroots, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, bush beans, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery, Chinese cabbage, kohlrabi, leeks, lettuce, onions, parsnips, radishes, spinach, Swiss chard, turnips Eastern Cape and Little Karoo Beetroots, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery, Chinese cabbage, cucumber, kohlrabi, leeks, lettuce, parsnips, radishes, Swiss chard, turnips Western Cape (and Southern coast) Bush beans, beetroots, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, celery, Chinese cabbage, kohlrabi, lettuce Northern Cape and Great Karoo Beetroots, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, Chinese cabbage, kohlrabi, leeks, lettuce, parsnips, radishes, spinach, Swiss chard, turnips Lowveld and KwaZulu-Natal Coast Artichokes (globe), beetroots, bush and runner beans, brinjals, cabbage, capsicums…

Cherry tomatoes are easy to grow and are rarely plagued by the pests and diseases that can affect some varieties. They are the perfect tomato for beginners. • Start by preparing the soil. It must be well-draining and have a slightly acidic pH of 6.2–6.8. Add plenty of compost and a few handfuls of slow-release fertiliser to enrich the soil. • Sow seed straight into the soil or in trays and transplant when they are around 5-10 cm tall. Add stakes at planting to avoid damaging the roots later. • Water the seeds daily until they germinate, and then water them every other day. Water at the soil level to avoid the leaves getting wet and inviting mildews. • Feed every two weeks with a liquid fertiliser. • Tie to…

Starting the season or a new venture is always a bit overwhelming because there’s so much choice, so what is step one? Preparation is the key to a successful, sustainable organic vegetable garden. Keep your focus on the result that you want. Step 1: Preparation • Make a list of what you like to eat. There’s no point in growing what you won’t eat. What will you grow from seed, and what from seedlings? • Make a drawing of where you’re going to grow your vegetables – it doesn’t have to be to scale. It can even be a layout on your balcony with pots. • What is the provision for watering? You need to water sufficiently every day. • Decide what trellising, cages, tripods, arches, etc, you are going…

A glut of tomatoes is always a good thing to have in the kitchen, as it allows for making sauces, canning, and creating sundried tomatoes. In this recipe, we will use the actual sun to dry and preserve tomatoes. • Make your own drying trays by tacking bird netting to a wooden frame. Use small offcuts of wood to lift the frames off the ground. Make sure to keep some netting for laying over the top of the frames to keep the birds away from drying tomatoes. • Tomatoes – cut in half and lay on prepared trays with the cut side up. Use any tomatoes from cherry to Roma – the bigger the tomato, the longer it will take in the sun to dry. Turn once fairly dry on…

Top tips for growing strawberries in pots Strawberries thrive in well-draining soil, making containers an ideal choice for growing. They have a shallow root system, which means you can use shallower pots to grow. Hydrate the seedlings well before planting. Add potting mix to the container halfway up and mix in a handful of bonemeal. Plant the strawberry seedlings in the pot, ensuring the crown of each plant is at soil level. Set closer to the rim so that the fruit trails over the edge. Add a layer of straw or hay as a mulch and water well. Give the pots at least 6 hours of full sun a day and water regularly.…

Highveld and KwaZulu-Natal Midlands Asparagus, bush and runner beans, beetroot, brinjals, chillies and sweet peppers, carrots, celery, cucumbers, melons and watermelons, parsnips, pumpkins, radishes, spinach, Swiss chard, sweetcorn and mealies, bush and trailing squashes, tomatoes Middleveld (Tshwane and other less frosty areas) Asparagus, bush and runner beans, beetroot, brinjals, carrots, chillies and sweet peppers, cucumbers, melons and watermelons, parsnips, pumpkins, radishes, bush and trailing squashes, sweetcorn and mealies, spinach, Swiss chard, tomatoes Eastern Cape and Little Karoo Asparagus, bush and runner beans, beetroot, brinjals, cabbages, carrots, chillies and sweet peppers, cucumbers, lettuce, melons and watermelons, pumpkins, radishes, spinach, sweetcorn and mealies, bush and trailing squashes, Swiss chard, tomatoes Western Cape (and Southern coast) Asparagus, bush and runner beans, beetroot, brinjals, carrots, chillies and sweet peppers, cucumbers, lettuce, melons and watermelons,…

Question: Why does my lime tree, which has blossomed so handsomely earlier, bear no fruit? Answer: Limes make a show of fragrant blossoms in spring, but even the healthiest plant cannot support as many fruit as there are flowers. Initial bud drop is a natural process, and if all is well, some fruit will form, taking time to mature during the winter months. Factors that can interfere with this happy expectation include severe attacks by scale insects, a lack of nutrients, sudden and very low temperatures, and continuous heavy rain, which can cause drainage woes, especially if the tree has been planted in a container.…

This is a classic Italian dish that is also a good vegetarian option for those who want Meatless Mondays. Serves 6. 2 large eggplants (700 g)1½ cups chopped canned tomatoes1 onion, chopped2 cloves garlic, choppedA handful basil leaves250 g mozzarella, cut into cubes½ cup Parmigiano, freshly grated1 tablespoon olive oil, plus extra for shallow frying (or use vegetable oil)Flour for dustingSalt and pepper Make the sauce by adding the chopped onion to a pan and frying gently until soft. Add the garlic and the tomatoes and season with salt and pepper. Simmer until the sauce has thickened and the excess water has evaporated. Slice the eggplant into 1 cm-thick slices and place in a bowl. Add the olive oil and toss around until well coated. Dust each with flour, shaking…

Swiss chard, with its white stems and crinkly green leaves, is often lumped together with spinach. But there is a range of true spinach types available that deserve a mention on their own. In this article, we will discuss the specific types you will find in seed form: ‘Monstrous Viroflay’ Dating back to 1866, this heirloom spinach is the most commonly grown in South Africa. It produces smooth green leaves and does best in spring and autumn. A very good producer with low levels of oxalic acid. It is named after a city in France. New Zealand spinach This is a fast-growing perennial with succulent leaves. Botanically, it’s Tetragonia tetragonioides that grows as a sprawling groundcover, reaching around 20 cm in height and 2 m in width. It is cooked…

Summer fruit platter To make the most of summer fruits, a mixed platter has the ‘wow’ factor for guests and is super healthy. Although prep is a doddle, take it a step further and cut kiwis in half in a zig-zag pattern, cube half mangoes in their skins and pop them out, core and slice pears to serve. Leave some whole or sliced like berries and grapes. Harvesting from the garden this month will include stone fruits such as peaches, plums, apricots, and nectarines; melons and all the berries, grapes, earlyseason apples and pears; and figs.…

December is a time of abundance, with many crops bearing. Keep an eye on beds becoming overcrowded as this reduces airflow, increasing disease risk (particularly fungal ones). One of the hardest things for a gardener to do is pull out a healthy plant. But sometimes sacrifices must be made for the benefit of neighbouring plants. Water wise If plants are looking wilted in the middle of the day, don’t worry. During hot, dry weather, plants close their stomata to minimise moisture loss. However, if they’re still wilted in the morning, it’s time to water. Water early in the morning to help plants through the heat of the day. Encourage strong roots by watering deeply less often, rather than shallow, frequent watering (drip irrigation is the best). Mulching with hay or…

Wicking pot works by holding a reservoir of water at the ready for when the plants are thirsty. This is ideal for holiday watering and saving time in the garden. It’s so easy to make your own. 1. Take a plastic container and seal the drainage hole at the bottom. You then need a new drainage hole on the side, so drill a hole 10 cm up from the base on the side of the pot large enough for water to drain. The hole needs to be big enough to take the conduit elbow. This ensures the water in the reservoir doesn’t exceed the 10 cm mark to prevent flooding of plants. 2. Add an elbow piece of conduit to the outside of the pot to make an outlet. 3.…

The perfect salad The best fresh salads have a formula that makes them good. You can pair two ingredients and dress them well, such as lettuce and orange segments, for example, and you have a good salad. But add radish, nuts, seeds, green beans, or croutons for crunch, and you take it to the next level. The perfect salad has a range of flavours, a variety of textures (including creaminess and crunch), and a good presentation. A good dressing will also be essential. Try this homemade ranch dressing for something creamy and delicious: Ranch dressing 6 tablespoons buttermilk4 tablespoons sour cream4 tablespoons mayonnaise2 teaspoons dried parsley2 teaspoons dried dill1 teaspoon onion powder½ teaspoon garlic, crushed (go easy on the garlic)Salt and pepper Add all the ingredients to a jar and…

Tarragon is a herb with a specific flavour that is not commonly used in cooking, but should be. It pairs exceptionally well with sauces for meats, potatoes, and egg dishes. Here are the types to grow at home: French tarragon A French chef would consider tarragon one of the essential herbs in the kitchen as it is the main flavouring for a Béarnaise sauce. This sauce is often referred to as the world’s best steak sauce, although many would disagree. Artemisia dracunculus (little dragon) is a perennial herb that was used in ancient times to ‘cure bites from snakes and venomous dogs’. French tarragon has a milder flavour than the grassy Russian tarragon, and is the one to use for cooking. Russian tarragon This is a larger bushy shrub than…

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Salad burnet Salad burnet is a perennial herb with numerous uses in the garden and the kitchen. It is super easy to grow, has cucumber-flavoured leaves and bright red flowers that attract many pollinators. In the kitchen Salad burnet is the perfect herb for salads and is also lovely in cocktails. Imagine this cucumber flavour in a cucumber sandwich for tea. Infuse the herb in vinegar and add to dressings. It also adds a lovely flavour to herb butters and cream cheese dips. It pairs well with seafood and egg dishes. In the medicine cabinet Historically, salad burnet was used to stop bleeding, treat wounds and dysentery. It was used to add to wine “to which it yeeldeth a certaine grace in the drinking” – Gerard, Generall Historie of Plantes,…

Most root vegetables prefer cooler seasons for growth, but carrots and radishes can be grown year-round, and some types of beetroot can be grown in summer to late summer. Turnips and parsnips can also be grown in late summer to harvest in winter. Soil prep Find a position in full sun with at least 6-8 hours of sunlight a day. The ideal soil for growing root vegetables contains less nitrogen. Excess nitrogen will promote leaf growth, not root growth. Use high potassium and phosphorus fertiliser at planting. The soil must also be loose and friable, allowing the roots to grow downward and form well without becoming misshapen. It should also be well-draining. Add plenty of organic matter, rake up any clumps and rocks to create a smooth surface for sowing…

My sister and I were always forced to remain seated at the supper table until our baby sister, a toddler about a decade younger than us, ate her vegetables. It was at a time when most households in suburbia, bought fresh vegetables (a very limited choice!) at the corner café owned by a Portuguesespeaking guy hailing from Madeira. For the rest, most of the plant-based foodstuff was preserved in tin cans. No amount of cajoling, bribing, and even a slap or two could entice her to eat any vegetable until my Mom, in desperation, tried out a can of pea soup. Voila! Henceforth, the little sister only ate canned pea soup on ‘vegetable-eating’ nights until reaching the age of about five. To this day, I can still not stand the…

Gardening station A permanent place to pot and sow seed is a luxury, but it doesn’t need to be fancy. A touch of style, some stacked pots, and you have a functional space that becomes a valuable asset in the garden. We love how these designers displayed their tools and pots with rustic charm. Colour coding Coordinating vegetables and herbs with colour palettes may seem obsessive, but it has a strange appeal, and it stands out when displayed in a setting like this one. Why not? Yellow nasturtiums planted next to yellow squash would be quite acceptable and very pleasing to the eye. Let us also not forget to try a vegetable or fruit in a different form, like the yellow beans instead of the standard green ones. You’ll find…

1 Use poor soil Rosemary is not fussy about soil as long as it’s well-draining, but it does prefer a sandier soil. Adding plenty of organics and compost at planting will just be a waste. Too much moisture in the ground can cause the plants to get root rot, which often results in them dying. 2 Plant in early spring New rosemary plants will establish quickly if planted in warm soil. If you’re a fan of taking cuttings of rosemary, which can be done very easily, do so early enough to plant them into warm soil. It will take 4-6 weeks for rosemary to root in a pot of coarse sand. Although rosemary is drought-tolerant, it requires some time to acclimate before the summer heat arrives. Plant in a sunny…

Asparagus picked from the garden can be eaten fresh without the need for cooking, and once you have them in your garden, you can harvest them every year for decades. To plant asparagus, use these tips: Mix the dug-out soil with plenty of compost and bonemeal. Build a small mound of compost and soil mix at the bottom of the trench, and drape the roots of the crowns over the mound to get the roots to spread out. Cover with a third of the soil. In two weeks, add another third of soil and in another two weeks, the final third to bring it up to soil level. This allows the plants to grow and establish their roots without having to push their way through a heavy load of soil.…

The fruit that will be ready to harvest now includes strawberries, rhubarb and some citrus such as lemons and limes. The best way to harvest strawberries is to grab the stem and pull and twist to release the fruit. Protect roots No matter how gentle we try to be when transplanting our vegetable seedlings out of trays into the ground or bigger containers, some root damage can occur, causing a setback in their growth. These include cucumbers, pumpkins, squash, beans, watermelons and root vegetables. The way to avoid this problem and prevent transplant shock is to sow them into containers that can be planted straight into the ground. These include paper pots, Jiffy pots, or cardboard tubes from toilet rolls. Once planted, the roots can grow downwards without any problems,…

I can hardly contain my excitement as melon season approaches! There’s something utterly delightful about the arrival of green melon, spanspek (cantaloupe), and watermelon – each offering a burst of refreshing sweetness that signals the start of summer’s culinary celebrations. Melons require a warm climate, with a growing period of between 70-90 days for watermelons and 80-100 days for the other species. Unfortunately, they are all more sensitive to disease than others in the cucurbit family. Most diseases that attack melons are associated with rainfall and humidity, so this fruit is most successfully grown in a dry climate with moderate rainfall. However, the good news is that we have seen the introduction of several varieties that have resistance to mildew in recent years. Planting and Spacing Choose an area with…

Potatoes are so versatile in the kitchen that they often form the starch part of a meal more than once a week. Growing your own is cost-effective, and you get the benefit of the freshest potatoes money can buy. Early potatoes are started from August to October, and then later from December to February. Prepare the ground Be prepared to mound up the soil around potatoes as they grow. Enrich the soil with plenty of compost. Ensure it’s friable so that the tubers can develop into a good shape, and that the soil is welldraining to prevent rot. Plant the potatoes with the sprouted bits pointing upwards at a depth of 5-10 cm and cover with soil. Set them 40-50 cm apart with 90-100 cm between the rows. Once the…

One of the most used herbs in the kitchen has to be parsley. It lifts a sauce, brightens a piece of fish, and adds flavour to vegetables. Here are the types that can be grown in the garden for variety: Curly leaf parsley Petroselinum crispum is, as its name suggests, very curly and the common parsley that has been grown for centuries. It comes originally from central Mediterranean countries but has been naturalised across the world. It has a mild taste and has been the go-to garnish since ancient Roman times. It is thought that it was used to fill up gaps on a plate to make it look full. So, this overuse or culinary cliche of a perfectly good herb is often the reason we don’t grow much of…

1. Starting fresh Basil is so easy to grow from seed and germinates in 6-14 days. They prefer a temperature of 24-29°C. Once the seedlings are 5-8 cm high, they can be transplanted into prepared beds or into pots. 2. Soil This is an essential step to get basil to grow well. They like moist, fertile soil that is not waterlogged. For the best results, mix plenty of compost into the soil with palm peat. The palm peat soaked in water will retain moisture in the soil. For containers, use 20% compost, 60% potting soil and 20% palm peat for a good, well-draining, yet moist soil. 3. Watering Water is essential for growing basil, and the soil must be kept consistently moist. To make sure your plants are getting enough…

Let’s get into a bit more detail… Sowing In colder weather, sow seed indoors to keep them warm and make sure they germinate well. The temperature should be between 18 and 21°C. To speed up germination, wrap the seeds in wet paper towel in a plastic bag for 24 hours before sowing. They will be ready to plant out when they are around 10-15 cm high with a good set of roots. Preparation Ensure that you select a position where all the plants in a block receive ample sunlight throughout the day. Corn is a very hungry plant and will need proper soil prep before planting out the seedlings. Dig in plenty of compost and a slowrelease fertiliser into the soil. Planting Plant the seedlings in the prepared soil, spacing…