organic vegetable gardening courses, growing tips and homegrown recipes.
You'll see most of these winter salad crops in the demonstration raised bed we'll have set up at the Festival of Flowers and Music 'market day' in Thorndon, Wellington on Saturday. Endive, red mustard, mizuna, mibuna, claytonia (miners' lettuce), misome, red chicory, turnips, radishes. … [Read more...]
The secret of good soup is good stock. I make stock in a slow cooker by simmering bones and vegetables left over from roast dinners just covered with boiling water for a few hours. I strain it and freeze it until I need it. There are lots of pumpkins around at the moment so you might want to try mini pumpkin soup too. If you want to get more from … [Read more...]
My winter salad is coming on well but there's still time to sow some seeds for the top seven crops or to become a rocket scientist. I've used a grid of bamboo canes tied together with string to mark out areas for different crops. Once they're established I can move the grid on to another spot and sow a succession of crops. … [Read more...]
We like to snuggle under a duvet as the nights draw in. So does the soil. Covering it up stops it being washed away by the rain and blown away by the wind. Covering the soil helps keep it aerated and gives a better environment for the microorganisms and worms to live in. … [Read more...]
You'll get more done by doing things at the wrong time, than you get done by not doing things at all. I'm refering to gardening but the same could be applied to saving for retirement or changing jobs. There are lots of rules about when you should do what. Sometimes doing things later or earlier means they turn out better, or at least, not much … [Read more...]
Beetroots are easy to grow. You can sow seeds now and they'll continue to grow slowly through the winter. Each 'seed' is a group of seeds stuck together in a corky-husk so they're relatively large and easy to handle. In a square 30cm x 30cm, you can sow sixteen 'seeds' (4 x 4). Watch out for slugs and snails. You'll need to pinch off the weaker … [Read more...]
If you like corn fritters, zucchini fritters are a good alternative in high summer when you can't face another zucchini. Vegephobes may not notice the inclusion of a significant quantity of zucchini in their diet.You could cook them on a hot, oiled barbecue plate. They'll keep overnight in the fridge to reheat in the oven but are much better … [Read more...]
Fresh food garden is a half-day organic vegetable gardening course for beginners. A course will get you started and give you the confidence and enthusiasm that a book can't. If you're not a beginner, it will still give you lots of ideas and new inspiration for your vegetable gardening. Next dates for fresh food garden are Saturday 3rd October 2009 … [Read more...]
A rich and delicious homemade treat that will convert even the staunchest rhubarb-haters. I make both the base and topping in a food processor. A shortbread base with a sweet, rhubarby meringue topping. It freezes well. If you've got lots of rhubarb you might also like to try rhubarb gingerbread or rhubarb crumble. shortcake 125g … [Read more...]
My top seven choices to grow in winter are coriander, pak choi, perennial spinach (silverbeet with green stems), red kale, cos lettuce, spring onions and rocket. … [Read more...]
