With so many amazing plants in garden centres today, it can be easy to forget some of the most obvious choices. Geraniums flower beautifully, keep a lush appearance in some of the hottest, driest conditions, are elegant in pots and can be the mainstay of low-maintenance gardens. With the recent geranium revival, it’s time to give the humble geranium a ... Read More »
Add flavour to those winter dishes with delicious herbs grown from your garden. 1. Bay tree (Laurus nobilis) This is great grown in a large tub or in the garden. It responds well to pruning so is also great in hedging and topiary. Has a handsome pyramid shape when left unpruned. Its aromatic, evergreen leaves are an essential ingredient in ... Read More »
The rows of bare rooted trees in cool climate nurseries at this time of year can seem rather unglamorous. Looks, however, can be deceiving. In fact, many gardeners refuse to plant at any other time, greedily anticipating the cool season when we have some of the finest jewels of the plant world at our fingertips. Here are eight (8) tips ... Read More »
Like other cold/winter season crops, cabbage need full sun and good drainage. Soil preparation Cabbage prefer a slightly acidic and somewhat heavy (clay) soil which will prevent leaching of nutrients with the regular watering they require. Alkaline soil can be balanced by adding organic compost or the pH can be lowered by adding sulphur powder. Read up on how to use ... Read More »
A favourite in warm temperate to tropical Australian gardens where they can grow year round, the passionfruit originates from South America. This lovely climber has it all; lush foliage, beautiful flowers and of course, delicious fruit! Planting In warmer zones with mild winters, passionfruit can be planted throughout the year. In cool or cold zones, plant only during the warmer time of ... Read More »
There is nothing finer than the sight of a poinsettia blooming naturally. The hot red colour of its bracts never fail to liven and its famous red and green foliage has become an important part of Christmas tradition. But did you know that in Australia the poinsettia is artificially coaxed into its flamboyant floral displays for Christmas, preferring to flower ... Read More »
South-East Asian cuisine encompasses the refreshing and often pungent fragrances and flavours of Burma, Vietnam, Laos, Cambodia, Indonesia and Thailand cooking. Dishes are mostly an amalgamation of four contrasting flavours of hot, sour, sweet and salty and herbs play an important role in this fusion. Here are some commonly used herbs of South-East Asia. Coriander (annual) Coriander is used ... Read More »
