Good Organic Gardening

A four-week visit to Western Australia at the time of putting this issue together proved, among other things, a reminder of how incredibly beautiful our native plants are. Our timing was spot on. Swathes of pink everlasting daisies, clouds of white a

Jo is an environmental scientist, photographer and writer. She has worked in the environment movement for decades and is co-ordinator of the National Toxics Network, an organisation dedicated to creating a toxic-free future. She has written many arti

A horticulturist, writer, presenter and passionate organic gardener, Chloe uses her social media profile Bean There Dug That to educate and inform likeminded gardeners, using fun, creative videos and posts. Find her on Facebook and Instagram @beanthe

When a plant has lots of common names, especially across many languages and cultures, it’s a sure sign that it’s both very useful and widespread. Egyptian spinach has a plethora of names. Grown throughout Africa, Asia and into the Middle East, it’s a

The Queensland Mater hospital group has been trialling edible gardens to boost the wellbeing of health workers as well as patients’ nutrition. Mater’s Director of Dietetics and Food Services Sally McCray says healthcare workers had been under increas

The papaya, commonly known in Australia as the pawpaw, is an attractive, easy-to-grow and fast-maturing tropical tree that will grow to a manageable size of 3–4m. Some call the red-fleshed fruits papaya and the yellow ones pawpaw, but I think most se

It was 10 years ago that Ian Driver decided he and his family — wife Sharon, son Lachy, and Gypsy, the cutest spoodle in the inner-Brisbane suburb of Bulimba (pictured opposite with Lachy’s girlfriend, Kirsten) — needed to green up their lives. Conce

Many native plants have commercial potential. With much to offer gardeners in warm, frost-free areas, the native currant deserves a closer look. Evergreen, handsome and productive, it’s also adaptable as it grows in both sun and shade. It’s quick to

Bowelling, a rural community in southwest WA on the edge of what is now the Muja State Forest, began as a junction and signals exchange for the state railway. Two sawmills cut jarrah for sleepers well into the 20th century. It’s not an unlikely place

Nectarines, the smooth-skinned cousins of peaches, were likely domesticated some 4000 years ago in China after a random genetic mutation occurred. For people who don’t like the tongue tickle of downy peach skin, this smooth mutation is a summertime w

Mid-summer is a time of high productivity but the heat can be very harsh. Keep the watering consistent if the weather is dry and look out for fungal diseases if it’s wet. This month you can start thinking about sowing some cooler-season crops, but yo

A bad day at work and a lucky find on the internet led Ina Ansmann and Timothy Noonan to a completely new life in Tasmania. “We were living and working in Brisbane and we’d both come home after a bad day at work and just thought there had to be more

These maps are simplified versions adapted from climate maps by the Bureau of Meteorology and are only a rough guide. Microclimates can be formed anywhere. ■

If you want to tuck into stews and delicious bowls of soup next winter, it’s time to get busy sowing and planting root vegetables. Beetroot, carrot, daikon, radish, parsnip, turnip, swede and, in the subtropics, onion, can all be started in summer fo

For some, a visit to the cinema just isn’t right without a tub of buttery, freshly popped corn. As I’m sure you already know, fresh popcorn is made by heating dried corn kernels until they become crunchy white corn blobs — and lashings of butter and

There isn’t just one plant known as a gourd. The term takes in lots of vegetables from pumpkins, cucumbers and squash to vines that produce hard ornamental fruits that rattle when shaken. Many bean-like vegetables are also known as gourds. The vegeta

It’s neither a pine nor an apple. In fact, pineapples are members of the bromeliad family, a spiky-topped, yellow-fleshed tropical fruit that’s a summer favourite. Pineapples are easily grown in frost-free climates around Australia. Pineapples need a

When flowers are brought indoors it’s usually to put them in a vase — but don’t stop there. Flowers are also good to eat (well, some are) and edible flowers are all the rage at restaurants and cafes. Turn your next salad or dessert into a gourmet aff

A beautifully framed garden can leave a lasting impression. With the right blend of landscaping elements, you can define borders with finesse and create bespoke spaces that are both functional and visually appealing. Pretty-as-a-picture defined space

As well as composting your newspaper you can also fashion the pages into homemade eco-friendly pots, which can then be planted straight in the ground. Using a wine bottle or glass as a mould, tightly wrap newspaper around the base, tucking-in at the

Incorporating palms into a garden creates the feel of a tropical resort, even in the suburbs a long way from the beach. Palms are very appealing, especially when planted in groves or groups and underplanted with dense foliage plants such as colourful

The genus Hakea is endemic to Australia and part of the Proteaceae family, named after the Greek god Proteus, who could change his form at will, which gives you some idea of the diversity in this fascinating and highly ornamental group of plants. Whi

If it’s time to bring some newcomers into the flock, consider the Ancona. Thirty years ago, I wrote about them for a poultry magazine under the title A Breed for Recession Times and the points made back then are just as relevant today. Anconas, wheth

Did you know that the tiny roundworms known as nematodes are the most abundant animal on the planet? And did you know that, due to their role in maintaining soil fertility, without them we could not survive? These interesting but often maligned critt

The Queensland fruit fly (Bactrocera tryoni) is one of Australia’s most destructive pests, attacking almost every known fruit, berry and fruiting vegetable through all stages of growth and ripening — and even after harvest. These pests are native to

The soil in your garden works hard producing food and flowers and sometimes it just needs a break. However, rather than leave a bed lie empty to sprout weeds, an organic crop of green manure might be just what the dirt doctor ordered. Green manure cr

Rock minerals — also known as volcanic rock dust, rock powder, stone dust and stonemeal — are the secret, essential ingredients often lacking in conventional plant fertilisers. While the manures and organic fertilisers many gardeners use are big on m

∙ It can still be cool in the shade but things are warmer out in the garden. That’s your cue to put in some leeks, lettuce, spring onions and zucchini. If cucurbits are failing to form fruit, hand pollination can work. ∙ Heat stress can be a thing at

∙ This is probably as hot as it gets. While it’s still warm, why not put in some lettuce, spinach and silverbeet? Towards the end of the month, as nights start to cool, Asian greens, broccoli, leeks and spring onions can go in. Don’t consider garlic

In a new study, researchers analysed the performance and gut health of a group of well-matched, highly trained endurance runners. The aim was to see the impact of both high-protein and high-carbohydrate diets. The results showed that those on a high-

The olive tree is indigenous to the Levant, in the Eastern Mediterranean, but is now grown and used extensively throughout the world. The first Spanish settlers introduced the tree to America and, since ancient times, it has been used for its many me

Matcha tea is grown in the shade, resulting in a higher percentage of chlorophyll than other green teas, and is the centrepiece of ancient Japanese tea rituals. Before it can be used, matcha is forced through a sieve to remove lumps. For the Japanese

Let’s deal with the colour question first. Why is it white if it comes from the same plant as green and black tea, Camellia sinensis? Indeed, it does, but it’s made from the unopened buds, which are clothed in a fuzz of fine, silvery “hairs”, giving

“Your mother was a hamster and your father smelt of elderberry!” Was the “Your French soldier’s famous taunt in Monty Python and the Holy Grail meant as a slur on Englishness? Elderberry wine does seem such an English thing. It’s even said that the E

Apricot, avocado, banana, berries, carambola (starfruit), cherry (Morello sour), currants (red currant, black currant), grapes, lemon, limes, lychee, mango, melons, nectarine, passionfruit, peach, pear (Paradise, Williams), pineapple, plum, prickly p

By Matthew Evans, Murdoch Books, $65 Chef, farmer, broadcaster and food activist Matthew Evans first made his name as a restaurant critic and his writing still shines. In this revised edition of Real Food, he recalls the birth of his child — how sudd

98 Mushroom Shakshuka on Toast with Spiced Labneh 99 Mushroom French Toast with Poached Egg & Parmesan 100 Balsamic Mushrooms on Sourdough Toast with Blistered Cherry Tomatoes, Feta & Basil Oil 101 Thyme Mushroom on Wholemeal Toast with Cashew Butter

Common name: Beaded lacewing Scientific name: Lomamyia latipennis Found on every continent except Antarctica, the beaded lacewing, as a young predator, goes through a serious toilet humour phase. Its tiny larvae target termites, which are 35 times th

Flower Blend is used by professional growers, commercial nurseries and award-winning gardeners. This secret to gardening success is as simple as throwing a handful or two around any plants in pots or in the ground. Formulated with minerals, microbes

As the new year unfolds, so do the exquisite gardens we have found to inspire you throughout the year. Featuring striking photography and illustrations of beautiful blooms, grand gardens and outback oases, these 2023 calendars and diaries capture the