Young, bored puppies don’t mix well with new gardens in which plants and the lawn are not yet established. Wait to get your garden fairly established before you get a new pet, especially if it’s in the form of a large dog. If you’re moving to a new home with no...
We truly are spoilt for choice when planting in small areas or narrow garden beds. Within our indigenous palette of plants, there are many small trees from which to choose: river indigo (Indigofera jucundum), wild pomegranate (Burchellia bubalina), wild laburnum...
In the spirit of World Cucumber Day on June 14, Tanya is going to show you how to grow these versatile vegetables successfully! If you follow these step-by-step instructions, hopefully, there will be some fresh cucumbers in your garden this spring to use in your...
A window box can be a whole lot of garden in a very confined space! Did you know that some container gardening books are dedicated specifically to the rectangular container known as a window box? This is easy to understand, as there is something endearing and...
During the course of the last two or three decades, aloes have become popular garden plants for a number of different reasons. Many of them are indigenous to South Africa and are able to cope with dry growing conditions and the water shortages that have become a...
Most of us have at some stage in our lives been urged to ‘eat our greens.’ And our parents were right all along – ongoing research into brassicas has found that no other vegetable group is as high in terms of vitamin A carotenoids, vitamin C, folic acid and fibre....
Freesias and Tulips Breeding experiments turned two bulbous plants from different continents into the late-winter- and spring-flowering darlings of gardeners all over the world. Freesias The nose-pleasing blooms we’re able to plant today hale from a genus of 14-16...
Folks say that one should go the local route, and although it is true that there is no region in this country that does not have its own endemic plants, the question arises whether they are easy to find in a local nursery. Here is a selection of plants for a...
Winter flowers aplenty from the food garden. Alice Spenser-Higgs If you are hooked on the pleasure of picking your own grown veggies and herbs, why not extend that to cut flowers that will fill your home with colour in winter? A cutting garden fits easily into a...
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_column_text]All the rage at the moment. Full of concentrated nutrients and enzymes, they’re a great way to stay healthy through winter. Here’s how to get started: You need: A block of palm coir A planting tray Vermiculite Organic veggie seeds,...
April and May are the premier planting months for all colourful winter- and spring-flowering annuals. For a blaze of colour lasting for months, young seedlings need to be planted out during this period. Many gardeners forget about this important planting season, only...
Laying The Foundation Proper soil preparation is the foundation on which a productive food garden is built so it's important not to skip this step, whether you are working with virgin soil or previously used beds. It is hard work and if the soil has not been worked...
Its bulb time! Don’t miss out! It is definitely a great time to get your garden ready for a wonderful splash of winter colour. Aside from bulbs, it is always a good idea to get your garden a Sonic Mole Repeller to avoid a lot of hard work for nothing. Tried and...
Plants form an essential part of the water and pond ecosystem in the garden, both aesthetically and practically. Discussing pond margin plants and bog plants, this article explores all you need to know to create the perfect setting. Some bog plants cannot withstand...
Gardening, and especially food gardening, is a craft. It is hand’s-on, literally, which means you’ll make mistakes along the way, but that is how you gain experience. A lack of proper planning is responsible for many of the setbacks encountered, especially if you want...
Autumn is the most important seed-sowing season in a gardener’s calendar. If you need evidence of this just take a look at how many of the plant species have seeds that ripen and disperse during the autumn, effectively sowing them so that the next generation can...
Now is the time to start harvesting and preserving herbs so that you have a good supply during winter. While fresh is always best, the strategy behind preserving herbs is to have them available during those lean months when annuals like basil, coriander, dill and...
It’s tough out there folks. We have to save, save and save all the water we can! Harsh restrictions have been put in place by certain municipalities in South Africa. For me, this is an ideal opportunity to change our gardening ‘bad habits’ and, most importantly, to...