Category: growing
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The Cure For Brown Thumb Syndrome
I have a cure for Brown Thumbitis. Brown what you say? I know lots of people (including yours truly) that say they are or were serial plant killers. Most had given up but I can share the secret for a happier life, at least in the garden 馃檪 . Here are my 6 steps to…
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Gotu Kola
Gotu Kola is a herbaceous perennial native to Asia that can be grown as a ground cover or in a pot. It is often used in cooking as you would a leafy green in curries or soups. It can be eaten raw by itself or in a salad for that bit of zing. It also…
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Edible Plant Lifecycles
Planting out a kitchen garden takes planning and a knowledge of each edible plant’s lifecycle in the region you are in. It might seem obvious that some plants just won’t grow where you live.聽Less obvious is that plants may behave differently if your climate is not their native one. There are three main classes of…
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Sage
This essential herb can be grown in Perth as a perennial or an annual. I keep it trimmed down to a small clump to encourage growth. It was missing from my herb garden but no more 馃檪 Next time you do a roast leg of lamb, season with salt, rosemary and sage for that most…
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Basil And How To Store It
This ‘king of herbs’ is an amazingly aromatic cooking annual. It grows to about 15cm tall and although it does better in summer sun it will provide all year. It dries well but I would avoid freezing it as it doesn’t hold up well. I use it in salads, pasta, pizzas, pesto, soups and stocks.…
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GoodCritters: Praying Mantis
I have always been fascinated by praying manitses and love seeing them in my garden. I suppose you could also call them BadCritters because they eat GoodCritters if they catch them. However I think they are part of a balanced garden. Females are larger than the males and are supposedly not good fliers. Both sexes…
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BadCritters: Aphids
These little plant suckers are often not noticed until their numbers are out of control.聽 Another sign is that are often seen with ants that are “herding” them for the honeydew the aphids secret. Species: One of the many in the aphid superfamiy Aphidoidea. Identification: Damage: Aphids suck the goodness out of the plants and…
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GoodCritters: Ladybirds
The common spotted ladybird is found in many gardens around Australia but species vary from state to state. There are even several introduced species. Whilst they are a welcome visitor any day of the week in my garden, if you can’t see them don’t worry. That might just mean your garden’s BadCritter population is too…
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GoodCritters: Daddy Long Legs Spider
These delicate spiders get an automatic entry into the GoodCritters club :). They munch on the munchers (BadCritters) and keep to themselves otherwise. Legend has it they can’t bite humans. Species: Pholcus phalangioides Identification: Benefits: These little guys munch on other insects such as mosquitoes, other spiders and slaters (woodlice). Encouragement: As usual keep insecticides…
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Tatsoi
What a great addition to any salad or stir fry. It brings a little variety and that is great for your diet. Tatsoi is an Asian cultivated variety of the same species as聽Komatsuna but with a subtler taste. I grow it as a ‘cut and regrow’ plant next to my other salad greens. Taste/Aroma: A…
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