We like to think rules are made to be broken, just the big child in us, I suppose. The garden is one of those places where this can be readily applied. For example, our style of Hugelkultur deviates from the norm and is more a combination of raised hugel mounds and lasagna layers. Anytime from [Continue]
Liebig’s law of the minimum. Baron Justus von Liebig, a German scientist in the mid 19th century, popularised the “law of the minimum,” which states that “plants will use essential elements only in proportion to each other, and the element that is in shortest supply—in proportion to the rest—will determine how well the plant uses [Continue]
Comfrey An excellent perennial with many uses in your natural garden. It has a turnip-like root and large, hairy broad leaves that bear small bell-shaped flowers, usually blue. Comfrey is fast-growing and produces huge amounts of leaf during the growing season, therefore, it benefits from being mulched with grass clippings to supply the plants with [Continue]
Companion planting has been around for years, you know, plant marigolds to deter aphids and attract hoverflies etc. Marigold roots also help deter eel-worm and nematodes which effects potatoes and tomatoes, they reputedly also keep white butterflies away from brassicas, and planted near your doors and windows they help deter flies and mosquitoes. So go [Continue]
Comfrey is a perennial herb with a turnip-like root and large, hairy broad leaves that bear small bell-shaped flowers, usually blue. Comfrey is fast-growing and produces huge amounts of leaf during the growing season, therefore, it benefits from being mulched with grass clippings to supply the plants with extra nitrogen. Its prolific growing habit means it [Continue]
Kohlrabi looks a little like a spaceship, it comes in two colours – green or purple – but both taste the same and once peeled you cannot tell the difference. Otherwise known as Brassica oleracea gongylodes, this vegetable is related to cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, kale, etc. Kohlrabi is easy to grow from seed and can be [Continue]
Many gardeners like to build raised garden boxes, they are a convenient height, and look tidy and neat; however, they have a tendency to dry the soil out quickly. Why not employ the hugelkultur principle instead – either by utilising the methods in the garden box, or forgetting the box altogether and creating mounds. Hugelkultur [Continue]
Our new garden in South Taranaki is doing well, we are already harvesting from our seed grown vegetables planted in early December when we moved in – courgettes, peas, amaranth leaves. The following is a list of what I will be planting in February, all from seed. We live in Waverley, so please remember our [Continue]
The range of dried beans can be daunting, yet many are interchangeable. Today, I want to inspire you to grow and eat a variety of different beans – they are packed with nutrients, protein, fiber and antioxidants and they are low in fat – wow, can’t do better than that! Please note this is an ongoing [Continue]
First things first: Green, immature soybeans are called edamame – popular in Japanese cuisine. Soybeans are a good source of protein – 36 gm per 100 gm of raw beans. Over 90% of soybeans grown in the US are genetically modified (GMOs), and are sprayed with Roundup. Because of the last point [Continue]
