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The Correct Way to Plant a Tree

By on December 30, 2013 in Grow Your Own, Public Articles
Training an apple as an espalier

Training an apple as an espalier

Buying trees can be an expensive process so it is important to get these trees off to a healthy start in life. Following these simple steps your trees will quickly become established. The best time to plant trees is autumn. This gives time for the tree roots to re-establish during autumn and early winter. This provides a better root system to help the tree withstand the hot, dry conditions of summer. Soil temperatures are generally warmer and soil moisture levels are often more suitable for planting during autumn than spring. Often there are fewer drying winds at this time of year. Continue Reading →

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A Thousand Year Old Way to Water your Plants

By on December 30, 2013 in Grow Your Own, Make Your Own, Public Articles
Effective use of water and gardening go hand in hand

Effective use of water and gardening go hand in hand

Using a buried unglazed terracotta pot you can copy our ancestors. This method of irrigation was invented by farmers in Northern Africa thousands of years ago. Unglazed clay pots are porous which allows water to seep out slowly. This type of irrigation is up to 10 times more efficient than watering plants from above with sprinklers or watering cans, and because it is such an economical way of watering, domestic rainwater barrels can provide all your garden irrigation needs. This method is also cheaper and more reliable than many drip or spray irrigation systems which often clog with foreign particles. Continue Reading →

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Fruit Tree Rootstock Explained

By on December 30, 2013 in Grow Your Own, Public Articles
An apple tree ready to be harvested

An apple tree ready to be harvested

Many fruit trees are grafted, as they do not grow true to form from pips and stones. Root stock enables you to choose trees which will grow well in your soil and climatic conditions. If in doubt I suggest you choose a more vigourous root stock and prune your tree heavily, rather than a spindly tree due to its restricted rootstock. Before you buy a fruit tree check its attached label. this should state what rootstock the tree has been grafted onto. Continue Reading →

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Create a Mini Urban Orchard

By on December 30, 2013 in Grow Your Own, Public Articles
Fig trees can be grown successfully by espaliering them in a small space.

Fig trees can be grown successfully by espaliering them in a small space.

Many people think that it is not possible to have an orchard in the city but there are many cleaver ways of cramming fruit bearing trees into a small space. My personal tree philosophy is don’t just choose a tree on its looks but choose a tree which will produce an edible crop for you as well. Continue Reading →

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Edible Fruits and Berries to Grow

By on December 30, 2013 in Grow Your Own, Public Articles
A small courtyard full of food producing plants

A small courtyard full of food producing plants

When most people hear ‘edible gardening’ they imagine the vege plot around the back of the house. Straight rows of caterpillar eaten lettuce and wilted silver beet!

Today; as garden’s become smaller and lives busier, edible gardens have the opportunity to become the main garden. As we are faced with issues such as genetic engineering and high levels of pesticides and herbicides in the food we buy, it makes sense to grow as much food as we can. Continue Reading →

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Make A Sandwich Garden

By on December 29, 2013 in Grow Your Own, Members Articles
Cavelo Nero

Cavelo Nero

If you are anything like me, you want a beautiful garden with the least amount of effort. Well here is a way to achieve this and if you can make a sandwich you can do this sort of gardening!

Sandwich Gardening is a layering system for healthy gardens, which requires no digging and no weeding. It is an organic process which is neat and efficient, using materials found around your house or neighbourhood to create wonderful fertile soil.

All you need to build a Sandwich Garden is lots of newspaper and a variety of natural ingredients such as compost, grass clippings, leaves, sawdust, straw, seaweed, animal manure or anything else organic you can lay your hands on. Continue Reading →

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Saving Seed Makes You Truely Self Sufficient

By on December 29, 2013 in Grow Your Own, Members Articles

broad beansWhen you start saving your own vegetable seeds you can truly become self sufficient in the garden and you also become part of an ancient tradition. For centuries people have been saving heirloom plant seeds and exchanging and gifting to neighbours, family and friends.

Seed saving, in the past, was something of a necessity, unfortunately today, with multi national seed companies enticing us to buy their seeds, seed saving knowledge has been somewhat lost. By saving our own seeds we preserve heritage species which could be lost forever. Continue Reading →

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Growing Vegetables From Seed

By on December 29, 2013 in Grow Your Own, Members Articles
Seedlings ready to be planted out into the garden

Seedlings ready to be planted out into the garden

A punnet of six seedlings from the garden centre costs around the same as a packet of seeds, which will, depending on the type of plant, have over 100 seeds in it. You do the math’s on which is more cost effective!

 

There is something very satisfying with raising vegetables from seeds. Seed raising will open up a huge world of hard to find, heirloom varieties for you. These old fashioned types are the one’s our grandmothers may have grown and not only have great names like Black Krim and Purple King but also have that great old fashioned taste. Continue Reading →

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