Indholdsfortegnelse for Issue #14.4 i Good Organic Gardening

As we head into summer, it’s hard not to feel apprehensive about what will confront us. The winter just past, I wore my Ugg boots only a handful of times. Most winters I live in them, at least for a few months. July this year, in New South Wales, was the hottest on record. At the same time as we were having such a mild winter, the Northern Hemisphere was experiencing the highest temperatures ever recorded. Canada had its worst wildfire season in history. Temperatures in California’s Death Valley reached 53.3°C. Sanbao in China got to 52.2°C and we all watched the Greek and Spanish wildfires in horror. Surfers used to fantasise about the endless summer, a state of bliss you could achieve by following the sun and the waves…

Beans are one of the easiest and most rewarding summer vegetables to grow. They really are a bountiful crop and come in many different shapes and sizes. They are also a great crop to share. One local gardening friend swears by a climbing bean variety known as ‘Westralia’ — he always has a big harvest and plenty to share. They are large, green and stringless, making them easy to prepare and totally delicious to eat. Another friend grows butter beans, medium-sized, butter-yellow stringless beans that are also totally delicious. She’s also happy to share bags of beans in midsummer when her crops are at their most productive. If you fancy beans in other colours, add purple beans to the lineup. Violet-podded ‘Purple King’ beans look good on the bush but…

Fungi are fascinating organisms — but misunderstood. They don’t belong to the plant kingdom and don’t require light to grow. They function in a totally different way. The vegetative body of fungi consists of many long, thin, thread-like filaments known as hyphae, which are collectively referred to as a mycelium. The mushrooms we observe are just the fruiting bodies filled with spores that help fungi reproduce. The biggest group of large-growing fungi are the saprotrophic fungi that break down and feed on nonliving organic matter, recycling nutrients back into the soil. Commercially grown edible field and white button mushrooms, as well as exotic shiitake mushrooms, belong to this category. Some fungi derive their nutrients from other living organisms instead and can be classified into two broad categories: • Parasitic: A…

I recently started to grow my own sprouts and it’s amazing how easy it is to do and how little equipment you need! No soil, fertiliser or even garden required — you can do it in your kitchen and it only takes a few days. You can sprout almost any seeds, nuts and legumes, though the process for each does vary. The information in this article, however, is specific to sprouting seeds. So, why grow your own? THEY’RE GOOD FOR YOU! Each sprout has the same amount of nutrients as — or even more than — the fully grown vegetable. Sprouts provide vitamins, minerals, proteins and enzymes. They’re great for your gut microbiome and are easy to digest, even for those with digestion issues. Home-grown sprouts are super fresh, as…

COOL & TEMPERATE VEGIES • Even at this late stage of spring, it’s not too late to start planting some of summer’s big guns. If frosts are still likely, consider getting your Solanaceae (capsicums, chillies, eggplant, spuds, tomatoes) going under cover. • Cucurbits (cucumbers, melons, pumpkins, zucchini) can be sown outside. Ditto leafy greens (lettuce, kale, silverbeet), root vegies (beetroot, carrots, parsnips) and tubers. • Shelter pumpkins with a crop of tall sweet corn planted in blocks at least a metre square to maximise wind-pollination and yield. • It might still be cool but it’s time to get the herb garden under way. Try chamomile, chives, dill, oregano and Simon and Garfunkel’s favourites: parsley, sage, rosemary and thyme. In warmer areas, add basil, sweet or purple. Plant lemon balm and…

Hawthorn, the common name of the genus Crataegus, is a thorny shrub with bright-green leaves, white flowers and bright-red berries each containing one to three or five seeds. Crataegus is from the rose family, Rosaceae, which includes more than 280 species. The flowers, leaves and fruit are recommended for patients suffering from heart failure. Hawthorn grows worldwide and is used in many cultures, featuring in Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), Western medicine and Ayurveda. Many herbal writers discussed its benefits from the 15th century onwards. In 1640, Parkinson wrote about the ripe berries being used for kidney stones and dropsy with the flowers steeped in wine being a sovereign remedy for pleurisy. From the 17th century, hawthorn was increasingly used for heart and cardiovascular illness. In Chinese medicine, the fruits are…

TOUGH NEW SPRINKLER Introducing Wobble-Tee’s newest Sprinkler, the RolaRain. We have been asked why would you make a newer model when the Wobble-Tee has been so popular and successful? Well, the Wobble-Tee Sprinkler was designed as a domestic sprinkler to be used on the lawn in your back yard, but it has been utilised in so many other situations that are outside the original design concept. So, simply, we have made a tougher new design that is more suited to farming applications, sporting fields and industrial use. Featuring wheels and a new tough flexible sprinkler top. For more information visit wobbletee.com.au GREENING YOUR LIFE! In pursuit of sustainability, Biotuff introduces a remarkable range of compostable bioplastics that offer a truly environmentally friendly choice. From kitchen wrap, sandwich bags, food storage…

Swift Grow is a fertiliser that’s purified and sold in concentrated liquid form. As outlined so far, Swift Grow’s benefits include its ability to: • Restore dead soil • Increase crop yields • Restore colour, scent and flavour to food • Increase farm productivity and bee immunity • Provide a solution to climate change Last issue, we looked at Swift Grow’s ability to restore colour, scent and flavour to food. This time, we examine its propensity to increase farm productivity and restore bees’ immunity to pathogens. HOW IT WORKS While bees are generally hardy creatures, the recent varroa outbreak in the Newcastle area of NSW has highlighted their vulnerability when their immune systems are compromised and they become susceptible to pathogens. Swift Grow helps rebuild bee immunity and their health…

Birch isn’t just a slender, attractive tree for gardens and street plantings in cool climates; it also has medicinal benefits thanks to methyl salicylate, an anti-inflammatory and analgesic found in the bark and wood and other parts of the tree. Leaves and branches are used to treat sprains, strained muscles and headaches, while steaming the leaves is said to clear sinus congestion. Birch is a traditional medicine in North America, where there are several species including dwarf birch (Betula glandulosa) and white birch (B. papyrifera) that also have uses from guitar manufacture to the creation of baskets from the bark. Of the many traditional medicinal uses for birch extracts, research has found little scientific basis for them. These include the treatment of joint pain, kidney and bladder stones (along with…

The Mediterranean diet is rated as one of the best in the world, thanks largely to its high vegetable and good fats content. Edible weeds and leafy greens are the hero ingredients in many Mediterranean dishes, from Turkish börek and Greek spanakopita to Italian spinaci alla romana. Little wonder then that the Greek word for vegetarian is hortofagos, meaning “weed eater”! Some of the most popular Mediterranean greens include endive, sorrel, mustard greens, chard, radicchio, chicory and amaranth. These and many other dark leafy greens are loaded with vitamins (A, C, E and K) and contain fibre, iron, magnesium, potassium and calcium. A diet high in leafy greens is said to reduce brain ageing and improve heart health. Leafy greens are also highly versatile: they can be simply cooked and…

Embarking on the journey to create extraordinary garden plants requires a lot of time, patience and unwavering dedication. For plant breeders, it often entails a decade-long pursuit, constantly refining and striving for continuous improvement. Amid this pursuit of botanical excellence, a breeding program has revolutionised the world of lavender by creating hardier, stronger and more dependable varieties. The Lavinnova® range of lavenders is a new generation with over 20 unique varieties that proudly bear the mark of Australian breeding by Howard Bentley and Steve Eggleton, originating from the heart of Victoria. These remarkable plants embody the fulfilment of years of meticulous effort, delivering a breakthrough in lavender cultivation that is set to redefine your gardening experience. These beautiful Lavinnova® lavenders offer both aesthetics and benefits to any garden. When it…

TROUBLESHOOTING Though beans are easy to grow and bountiful, they can have problems. One pest that turns up in the bean patch is the green vegetable bug, a shield-shaped green stink bug that feeds on developing beans and can cause dry or misshapen beans. The best organic control is to catch them by knocking them into a jar of soapy water. Be careful, though — these bugs can fly and move to other plants. Aphids may also congregate on new growth but are easily squashed or hosed off the shoots. HARVESTING AND STORING Begin to harvest green pods when they are still small, searching through the leafy growth to find all the beans that are large enough to harvest. Large pods quickly become tough and fibrous. With regular harvesting, watering…

With its scaly, spiked skin atop a prickly cactus, it’s easy to see how this wondrous fruit gets its name — it does everything but breathe fire. Dragon fruit comes in white-, pink-or yellow-fleshed varieties speckled with tiny black edible seeds and it has a magenta-pink or yellow skin. It originates from tropical Central and South America but is also a staple in many parts of Southeast Asia. In Australia, dragon fruit will grow happily in warm, frost-free areas but in cooler regions you could try growing it in a greenhouse. Ideally, the plant should never be subjected to temperatures below 10°C. Left to their own devices, the plants can become an unruly mess, clambering over fences and sheds or even up into trees, so when you plant them it’s…

“There’s a 98 per cent chance of the hottest year on record coming in the next five years and a 66 per cent chance of exceeding the critical 1.5°C warming This chilling forecast was made by the World Meteorological Organization and published in The Conversation in May, 2023. Reading it made me very worried. Now, as we head towards the end of another year, we’re looking at the start of warm weather, the bushfire season and possible the arrival of that forecast hottest year on record. Some areas may already have experienced bursts of hot weather and be dreading what lies ahead. Chances are, if you have a weather app on your smart phone, you’ll be notified about forecast extreme heat conditions in your local area over the months ahead.…

COOL & TEMPERATE VEGIES • Seedlings planted in November as well as ripening salad crops could use a feed around about now — a seaweed tea or low-environmental-impact liquid fertiliser — plus shade and regular water. Plant dwarf beans from seed for a quick crop. • Until the New Year, this is probably as warm as it’s going to get in the cooler regions. It’s a good time to put in carrots, capsicums, cucurbits, French beans and, if you haven’t planted some already, some sweet corn. You might also try tomatillos and perhaps a crop of borlotti beans for autumn harvest. • Get that herbarium happening! Put in some basil, chives, dill, parsley, rosemary, sage and thyme. Mint, however, should be started in pots — it’s good to go now…

As consumer costs rise, growing what you can at home makes good financial sense. Food remains one of our biggest ongoing expenses. The 2020 national Pandemic Gardening Survey found edible gardening was particularly important to people on low incomes or those with chronic health issues. Few of us live on farms or acreage, but we shouldn’t let that hold us back. Neither do we have to own our own home to grow food. Many people successfully produce food in rental accommodation using mobile growing beds and in cities by using containers. Another idea is to “borrow” space from someone in exchange for a share of your produce. Provided you meet the core needs of plants — sunlight, water, good soil and shelter from extreme weather — you can grow food.…

GARDEN GRANOLA Of course, seeds aren’t just for planting. Nuts and seeds are highly nutritious little parcels of fat, protein and minerals. Try this for a delicious breakfast. Add berries if you like a little pop of moisture. INGREDIENTS • ½ cup pumpkin seeds• ¼ cup sunflower seeds• 3 tablespoons chia seeds• 3 cups coconut flakes• 2 cups mixed nuts (from the garden if you have them growing)• ¼ cup cacao nibs• 1 tablespoon raw cacao powder• 1 teaspoon carob powder• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon myrtle• ⅓ cup coconut oil, melted• 3 tablespoons maple syrup• 1 tablespoon zest from your favourite citrus fruit• Handful dried flower petals• Sprig dried rosemary or thyme, chopped (optional) METHOD 1. Preheat oven to 150°C. Line two baking trays with baking paper and set aside.…

Jo is an environmental scientist, photographer and writer. She has worked in the environment movement for decades and is co-ordinator of the National Toxics Network, an organisation dedicated to creating a toxic-free future. She has written many articles for magazines and is the author of two books: Toxic Playground and Safer Solutions. WHEAT DISGUISE STYMIES MICE A chance glimpse of a photo of a wheat field impacted by a mouse plague caught the eye of Sydney University-based conservation biologist Peter Banks and led to innovative research that could be a gamechanger in the management of rodents. You might think mice dig soil willy-nilly looking for seeds but in fact they’re strategic and excavate them in neat lines just as they find them in the ground. The neat lines in the…

Looking for a way to give your summer salads a kick? Add the vibrant leaves of red mountain spinach, also known as orache. As well as adding the colourful leaves to salads you can cook them like spinach. The purple-red leaves taste like spinach, are around 15cm long and lance shaped and are on the growing list of plants dubbed superfoods. Orache has a slightly salty flavour and is said to be good for heart health. Its superfood status is due to its high nutrient content, which includes phosphorus, iron, zinc, selenium, calcium, magnesium, protein, anthocyanins, vitamin C, vitamin K, carotene, tryptophan, and dietary fibre. Red mountain spinach is good looking enough to earn a spot in the ornamental garden where its lush red leaves add a bold splash of…

THE IMPORTANCE OF OUR HEALTH, THE HEALTH OF OUR PETS AND BY EXTENSION THE ENVIRONMENT CANNOT BE OVERESTIMATED. IT WAS THIS THINKING THAT LED TO MY CAREER AS A NATUROPATH. My name is Karen and Jack is my partner. We live in a lovely part of the world, in the coastal temperate climate of Sydney’s northern beaches. I have been interested in gardening since a child — my great grandfather grew food and kept chickens in the backyard until his mid-90s when he passed away — and have always used whatever space I had (even balconies) to grow food. Now semiretired, I studied physics and ran nuclear medicine departments in various hospitals then changed direction and spent 40 years as a clinical naturopath and part-time academic at the University of…

NOVEMBER 2023 The calendar says it’s still spring but it feels more like summer in many parts of Australia. Staggered planting from now on will extend the summer harvest. DECEMBER 2023 It’s the end of another year but a good time to plant those salad vegies that love the heat, including cherry tomatoes, as well as the wonderful summer cucurbits. 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.…

The turnip may be a humble vegetable but it comes in a surprising array of flavours and has many uses. With their earthy taste and versatility, turnips have become a favourite addition to many cuisines around the world. More recently, they’ve even started to appear on the cool-season menus of fine-dining restaurants. Whether you enjoy them raw, cooked, or pickled, they provide a tasty twist to any dish. This fleshy root vegetable has been cultivated for centuries in Europe and Russia and since spread to most parts of the globe. Hardy and fast growing, it thrives in a range of climates, making it a popular choice for home gardeners. GROWING AND CARE As turnips are so easy to grow, they’re ideal for beginners. They prefer cool weather and tolerate mild…

Zucchinis should come with a warning: don’t plant too many! That’s because they are highly productive. One or two plants provide a bounty; three or four may leave you slightly overwhelmed. But, unless you have a large family, more than four plants can be a zucchini emergency: what do you do with all that fruit? Zucchinis are related to pumpkin and squash and have large green and mottled leaves with prickly stems. The typical zucchini produces a narrow, dark-green and slightly ridged fruit. Seedling growers often offer a mix of varieties (see box over page) allowing you to experiment with different colours and shapes. GET PLANTING Zucchinis grow through the warmer months, so spring is the ideal planting season. Once the last frost has passed, sow seeds from spring through…

If your idea of a mango tree is a broad, spreading, evergreen growing beside an old house in the tropics or subtropics, think again — the mango has had a makeover. Though mature trees can reach 10–15m tall and may be even wider, there are smaller options. Dwarf and semi-dwarf rootstock has reduced their size and spread to produce mango trees that fit smaller modern suburban backyards. Dwarf and semi-dwarf trees reach about 2–5m in height depending on variety and growing conditions. It’s also possible to control tree size and spread with regular pruning. The best-known mango varieties in Australia are ‘Kensington Pride’ and ‘Bowen Hybrid’, both selected from Bowen mangoes, but breeding has produced new varieties with smaller seeds and more flesh than these older varieties. The new varieties…

The name tea tree is familiar to most Australian gardeners, conjuring images of masses of star-like flowers in spring, and it’s one of those reliable shrubs that can cope with both wet and dry conditions. Belonging to the genus Leptospermum and a member of the eucalypt family, Myrtaceae, they became known as tea trees because early European settlers discovered the aromatic leaves made an acceptable tea substitute. Though the common name tea tree is usually applied to Leptospermum, there’s also some mild confusion as the related plant Melaleuca alternifolia produces a medicinal essential oil commercially known as tea-tree oil. But back to Leptospermum. There are around 80 species of these evergreen shrubs featuring beautiful flowers, interesting medicinal and aromatic compounds in the leaves and sometimes striking foliage colours as well.…

PLANTS CLEAN YOUR OFFICE The World Health Organization estimates that around 6.7 million deaths per year result from poor indoor air quality. Offices and apartment buildings often connect directly to parking garages, either via doorways or lift shafts, allowing harmful petrol-related compounds to seep into workspaces and homes. Many free-standing buildings are also exposed to exhaust fumes from nearby roadways. These fumes can lead to lung irritation, headaches, nausea and increased risk of conditions such as asthma and even cancer. In a new study, researchers used a small green wall made from a mix of indoor plants placed in a sealed chamber and infiltrated the chamber with petrol exhaust fumes. Analysis revealed that 97 per cent of the most toxic compounds were removed from the air in eight hours. The…

In the 1988 Talking Heads song Nothing But Flowers, David Byrne envisaged a world in which civilisation had decayed and was replaced by luxuriant vegetation. Today, nature is increasingly a part of inner cities — only to complement modern buildings rather than colonise their remains. Examples include green roofs, vertical forests, rooftop farms and green walls, most often encountered in urban areas. Sod roofs originated with Viking dwellings in Scandinavia and were widely used in the Middle Ages. They consisted of a layer of turf on top of layers of birch bark, providing much-needed winter insulation. From the 18th century onwards, sod roofs were gradually replaced with tile. The modern green roof was pioneered in Germany starting in the 1960s and featured a more sophisticated construction. Today at least 12…