DAFFODILS SHEEEIRDLLOINOGMS TO TULIPS WiHnteearlvtheyg bulb beauties TO PLANT RIGHT NOW ORGANIC SEED sSTEoWAtRDSwa! WICKEDLY GO WAS BI Fresh from your garden CHICKEN CARE WHEN YOU MITE HAVE A PROBLEM! cabbage issue 132 2022 02 comeback AU $7.99 NZ $8.99 9 771447 733004 Grow it, Ferment it!
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contents march–april 2022 cover photo by Kirsten Bresciani. other PHOTOs: top: gap photos_maxine adcock. bottom: peter carlyon. on t co 24 18 Healthy winter veg to plant right now 40 24 Cabbage comeback: grow it, ferment it! 32 Daffodils to tulips: bulb beauties OUR C VE 40 Organic seed stewards show the way! 48 Raise your own heirloom seedlings from growing seedlings to 54 Wickedly good wasabi: fresh from your garden saving your own seeds and 81 Chicken care: when you mite have a problem! growing healthy winter veg, this issue is all about filling your oganic gadning garden with organic goodness and Kirsten Bresciani’s picture 16 PLANT: into the earth was the perfect cover image! Karen Sutherland suggests some super-nourishing root vegetables to plant now. 18 grow: winter wonders Paul West writes about nutritious crops you can plant now for a healthy harvest in the cooler months. 24 grow: Cabbage comeback Jian Liu says there’s a cabbage to suit any vegie patch. Plus, top fermenting ideas to stock up your pantry. 32 flowers: burst of beauty with bulbs Autumn is a busy time for Eliza Henry-Jones but she never regrets making space for spring-flowering bulbs. 40 organic farming: seeds of our futre Penny Woodward visits a Victorian couple who have transformed their property from organic food production into a thriving seed-growing enterprise. 48 grow: raise your own seedlings Building self-reliance is one important aspect of raising your own seedlings – you’ll also be part of the seed stewardship community, writes Helen McKerral. 54 grow: wicked, wonderful wasabi Helen McKerral looks at the truth behind your supermarket purchase and how you can grow your own. 59 tool talk: having a dig When it comes to small hand tools, such as trowels, Penny Woodward says look for comfort and durability. 62 action: cool operators Colder weather means it’s the perfect time to get cracking on garden jobs and planting. CHECK OUT FEATURE ARTICLES, READ BLOGS OR SUBSCRIBE AT ORGANICGARDENER.COM.AU organicgardener.com.au 5
72 SUBSCRIBE PHOTOS: FROM TOP: SOPHIE HANSEN/JIAN LIU/ILLUSTRATION BRENNA QUINLAN 81 FOR YOUR CHANCE TO WIN 90 A SIGNED COPY OF 6 COSTA’S WORLD 25 COPIES TO WIN VALUED AT $45 ea See page 68 for details oganic liing 72 harvest: wholesome creations Sophie Hansen and Annie Herron have put together a collection of art ideas and delicious recipes for their new book Around The Kitchen Table. 81 poultry: bitey buggers be gone Jessamy Miller looks at the importance of ‘pest patrol’ so your chooks can stay lice and mite free. 90 losing tHE PLOT: into the unknown Simon Webster loves the adventure of mowing – especially after a hot, wet summer. rgua 9 Editor’s Letter 10 MAIL: Reader questions and thoughts 12 Gardening on your ABC 13 MATTERS: News and events 14 market: Time to grow 80 LIBRARY: The latest books reviewed WIN!89 1 of 4 garden tool packs from forestry tools! worth $99 each! NEXT ISSUE ON SALE May 05, 2022 This issue of Organic Gardener has been printed using paper which is PEFC Certified. The text is printed on Holmen TRND 55, which is an offset paper that combines a low basis weight with high bulking properties. This results in a lighter product, with up to 40% savings in tonnage used. Using less paper and less energy helps to protect the environment. ABC Organic Gardener magazine acknowledges Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples as the First Australians and traditional custodians of the lands where we live and work.
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CTWAAARNTPVEAARUSPLRIONOS F Editor Steve Payne Art Director Karen Berge GREAT FOR COVERING A LOAD deputy & Digital Editor Leanne croker CAMPING, PICNIC RUG AND MORE Horticultural Editor Penny Woodward Good Breathability Visit our Website organicgardener.com.au Waterproof Anti UV Find us on Anti Mildew Eyelets every 60cm Advertising sales: 6 x 8\" (1.8M x 2.4M) $69.00 advertising DIRECTOR 8 x 10\" (2.4M x 3.0M) $107.00 Anabel Tweedale P: 02 9901 6371 E: [email protected] 10 x 12\" (3.0M x 3.65M) $155.00 partnership manager www.aussiegardener.com.au/tarps Donna Mcilwaine P: 02 9901 6384 E: [email protected] PHONE ORDERS: 1800 222 800 Senior Account Executive Annya Azzopardi P: 02 9901 6320 E: [email protected] MAXI COVER KIT Account Executive Iris McPherson P: 02 9901 6160 E: [email protected] $99 PRODUCTION MANAGER Peter Ryman PNeEWsPctROoFDUvrCeeT! er PRODUCTION/DIGITAL SERVICES MANAGER Jonathan Bishop Makes it easy to grow veggies without GM CONSUMER PUBLISHING Carole Jones using pesticides. head abc Publishing and Licensing Lisa Hunter Easy to harvest. Cover lifts on and o brand manager, abc magazines Jenni Powell in seconds. No clips to undo. Greatly reduces the need for weeding SUBSCRIPTIONS organicgardener.com.au since no seeds can land in the soil. EDITORIAL ENQUIRIES [email protected] UV stable PVC pipe and joiners for permanent outdoor usage. NEXT MEDIA PTY LTD “Absolutely love these. Easy to assemble Locked Bag 5555, St Leonards NSW 1590 Phone 02 9901 6100 and easy to lift off and harvest. Not only MANAGING DIRECTOR Arek Widawski do they work really well, but they also look really well in my garden. ” ABC Organic Gardener magazine is published by nextmedia Pty Ltd (ACN 128 805 970) under licence from the publisher, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), and is subject to Annette Willis, Woodhill, QLD copyright in its entirety. ‘ABC’ and the ‘Wave’ and ‘ABC Organic Gardener’ trademarks are www.aussiegardener.com.au/pestfree used under licence from the ABC. The contents may not be reproduced in any form, either in whole or part, without written permission from the publisher. All rights reserved in material accepted for publication unless specified otherwise. All letters and other material forwarded to the magazine will be assumed intended for publication unless clearly labelled not for publication. nextmedia and the publisher do not accept responsibility for damage to, or loss of, submitted material. Opinions expressed in ABC Organic Gardener magazine are those of the contributors and not necessarily those of nextmedia or the publisher. No responsibility is accepted for unsolicited material. No liability is accepted by nextmedia, the publisher, nor the authors for any information contained herein. All endeavours are made to ensure accuracy and veracity of all content and advice herein, but neither ABC Organic Gardener magazine nor its publisher or contributors is responsible for damage or harm, of whatever description, resulting from persons undertaking any advice or using any product mentioned or advertised in ABC Organic Gardener magazine or its website. Printed in Australia by IVE Distributed in Australia and NZ by Are Direct Organic Gardener issues are delivered wrapped in film containing Reverte™ - an additive that breaks down the polymer chain to make the film biodegradable. For further information visit: reverteplastics.com/oxobiodegradibility.php PRIVACY POLICY We value the integrity of your personal information. If you provide personal information through your participation in any competitions, surveys or offers featured in this issue of ABC Organic Gardener magazine, this will be used to provide the products or services that you have requested and to improve the content of our magazines. Your details may be provided to third parties who assist us in this purpose. In the event of organisations providing prizes or offers to our readers, we may pass your details on to them. From time to time, we may use the information you provide us to inform you of other products, services and events our company has to offer. We may also give your information to other organisations, which may use it to inform you about their products, services and events, unless you tell us not to do so. You are welcome to access the information that we hold about you by getting in touch with our privacy officer, who can be contacted at nextmedia, Locked Bag 5555, St Leonards, NSW 1590. ISSN: 1447-7335
EDITOR’S LETTER Going under big time I’m writing from the epicentre of a first world humanitarian crisis caused by climate change. It will be some weeks past by the time you read this, and the crisis may have spread and deepened. The immediate flooding in our region may have gone, but the trauma and struggle will continue. I live in Northern NSW, not far from Lismore, among the many towns, villages and communities in a widespread region, including Byron Bay, Ballina, and Murwillumbah – devastated by flood. That’s not to mention Brisbane, Queensland (where this picture was taken) and now the whole coast of NSW is being affected. what does that mean? Do they think it is going If you are not impacted, you no doubt have to be another 500 years until the next one? read all about it, but I’ll summarise. Now I know first hand the reality of the At this moment, few roads are open, many planning we need to do to withstand what is bridges damaged and unpassable, no fuel, little coming. Relocate towns or part of, move food or supplies, for many no power, no internet, infrastructure, water tanks, renewable power dodgy phone… with storage, local organic food production out People walking hours to reach contact or of flood – to name a few. unable to reach anyone. Thanks to deputy editor Leanne, horticultural Major supermarkets that were built to be clear editor Penny, and art director Karen for getting of flood, up to their roofs in water. Deaths, horrific this issue out the door. If you encounter any stories of frightening rescues. Unimaginable, even scrapes, leaks, mudslides, outages… when you are experiencing it all. There is so much more to say – but I’ll save I live out of the flood area but even then, at it for next issue. Until then. 6am I got an evacuation order for our village which said the local dam was failing. This is a PHOTO OF MILTON IN BRISBANE: ABC NEWS MICHAEL LLOYD dam nearby to us that supplies many towns in the region, including Lismore which is a major regional centre. It seems it was overflowing, but didn’t break. Fingers crossed. I feel incredibly angry at the climate change deniers over They are now calling this a one-in-500-year flood. the decades that have led us But what does that mean? Do they think it is going to this point. Unprecedented bushfire disaster, now to be another 500 years til the next one? unprecedented flood disaster. They are now calling this a one-in-500-year flood. But organicgardener.com.au 9
ORGANIC FEEDBACK Purple and GROWING PAINS PHOTO OF BASIL: KIRSTEN BRESCIANI/BELOW: ALAMY variegated basils What can you do if you have big trees in your garden can be more (or nearby) that create shade but also suck nutrients resistant. and moisture out of your soil. When asked for a recent competition many readers nominated this as the main BASIL problem in their gardens. Trees are really important for habitat, wildlife, Any clues for a fungicide to treat fungal outbreaks in basil. diversity, and for their cooling effect on both houses We had thriving window boxes full of it and now the fungus and the environment more generally. The answer to has spread and destroyed the lot. both shade and competition, is to grow in raised beds, Don Ingram, Mount Pleasant (QLD) wicking beds and large pots. If some of these are on wheels, you’ll be able to move them into sunny or Hi Don, shaded positions as needed. I like growing in 45L It might just have been over watering (or too much rain) grow bags with wide handles so they can be lifted with a cold snap. But I suspect it may be Basil Downy Mildew, and moved to a sunnier spot when needed. Or folded Peronospora belbahrii, that is destroying basil crops overseas up and put away when not in use. Wicking beds, but has only recently (a few years ago) been found in Australia. although more expensive to set up, dramatically It affects all basils (Ocimum species) but some of the non-sweet cut down on watering and maintenance. The plants basils like purple or variegated forms can be more resistant to seem to grow themselves. this disease. There is no cure for this fungal disease although a few products have been licensed in Australia against it, but none If you can’t move your plants to follow the sun during is organic. There is one copper based spray recommended, so the season, then look for plants that love shade. Some it might have been worth trying an organic copper based spray. of my favourite edible plants for semi-shade/shade But really the only way to deal with it is to destroy any plant are: lettuce, kale, radish, sweet potato and leafy Asian material affected by the fungus as soon as you see it. Spores are vegies like bok choy, tatsoi and mitsuba. Herbs that spread by seed, plants and in the wind, so it’s very hard to stop cope with shade are chives, parsley, chervil, rocket the spread. There is a bit more information on the Queensland and coriander, while flowers include cowslips, Agriculture site: daf.qld.gov.au/business-priorities/agriculture/ nasturtiums, primroses, violets, violas (all edible) as plants/fruit-vegetable/diseases-disorders/basil-downy-mildew. well as annuals such as begonias, impatiens, lobelia I suggest you try again in new soil, after washing the container, and snapdragon and perennials like hellebores, fuchsia, using new seed or healthy looking seedlings. This disease is not hydrangea, Jacob’s ladder and lily of the valley. wide spread in Australia yet, so chances are you won’t have the Penny Woodward same problem again. Good luck, and cheers, The solution for competition Penny Woodward WWIONRNDINSG from a tree is to grow Thanks Don for your question, in raised beds. hopefully when the weather dries up you can have another go with more success. We're sending you a copy of Paul Davies' book What's Eating The Universe. Enjoy! 10
Instagram Bulbs GET THEM NOW AT GREAT PRICES READY FOR PLANTING IN AUTUMN BLUEBELLS ERLICHEER 90¢(SPANISH) 95¢JONQUILS each YOU AND YOUR GARDEN GRAPE These little cuties have been grown by 32HYACINTH Lee @urbanveggiepatch, who was very ¢ excited at their arrival in her garden in Lake Macquarie, NSW. It seems many of our readers grow cucamelons and you all shared some great ideas on Instagram for using these grape-sized mini melons that taste like a cucumber. From fermenting and pickling to just adding a handful to a fresh salad (along with edible flowers like the African Blue Basil here), they are clearly a popular veg in many gardens! FOLLOW AND TAG US ON INSTAGRAM @organicgardenermag ANEMONES 95¢DAFFODILS 40MIXED ¢ Please include your town/suburb. Photos are helpful, and any details $4.95 shipping for overs over $20 such as climate and soil. The more information we have the better. 1800 222 800 post Locked Bag 5555, St Leonards NSW 1590 email editor@organicgardener. com.au www.aussiegardener.com.au/bulbs web organicgardener.com.au Find us on:
t bt o you gardeanbincgoRnAYDOIUORlocal As producer of Radio National’s Awaye!, Rudi Bremer NSW ABC Gold Coast PHOTO: TERESA TAN. THIS INFORMATION IS CORRECT AT THE TIME OF PRINTING BUT IS SUBJECT TO CHANGE. relishes the opportunity to share her love of Indigenous languages, performing arts and literature. She talks ABC radio Sydney Saturday 9am to OG about her connection to country. Saturday 9am ABC Sunshine Coast I’m a Gamilaroi woman, connected to Pilliga in north-west NSW. ABC radio Central Coast Thursday 10.30am My ngambaa (mum) grew Saturday 8.30am up on the mission there, Saturday 9am raised by her mother, ABC Southern Queensland aunts, and grandfather. ABC Central West Saturday 9am Gamilaroi country is Saturday 8.30am geographically very large, ABC North Queensland with varied terrain. But the ABC Illawarra little patch my family calls Friday 10am home is red-dirt country, and Saturday 8.30am other than the Warrumbungles in ABC Tropical North, the distance, it’s incredibly flat. One of ABC Mid North Coast ABC Capricornia, ABC Wide my favourite things about Gamilaroi country is the & ABC Coffs Coast Bay, ABC North West QLD, gunagala (sky). Pilliga has the most beautiful sunsets, ABC Western QLD and on a clear night you have a blanket of stars. Saturday 9.30am, Thursday 9.30am WHAT IS THE NO.1 ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUE Friday 10am YOU ARE PASSIONATE ABOUT? ABC Newcastle Land rights. In order to address the climate crisis, it’s also ABC Far North vital we address the ongoing dispossession of Aboriginal Saturday 8.30am people. For example, Santos Gas recently lodged an Friday 10am application to extinguish Native Title rights of the Gamilaraay ABC New England Saturday 8.30am people to begin the first stages of the Narrabri Gas Project in North West the Pilliga Forest. This is my Country. My ngambaa’s Country. SA My waabi’s Country. It’s also on the edge of the Great Saturday 8.30am Artesian Basin, right in the middle of the Murray-Darling Thursday 9.30am ABC radio Adelaide, ABC North Basin. Purely because of its location, it will have a huge & West, ABC Eyre Peninsula, impact on our lives, our food, our water, and our culture. ABC North Coast ABC South East SA WHAT BOOKS HAVE YOU READ RECENTLY THAT HAVE MADE AN IMPACT? Saturday 8.30am Saturday 8.30am I’ve been slowly working my way through Chelsea Watego’s Another Day in the Colony and there’s a chapter on hope ABC Riverina ABC Riverland that really resonated with me. Specifically, about the way in which hope is weaponised against Blackfellas. Watego Tuesday 9.35am Saturday 7am calls hope “a poor excuse for a pacifier: barely soothing, Saturday 8.30am let alone offering any sustenance for survival”. ABC Broken Hill ABC South East Listen to AWAYE! on ABC Radio National, Saturdays Saturday 9am at 6pm. Repeated: Tuesday 9pm and Thursday 1am. Wednesday 10am Saturday 9am Statewide, ABC radio Adelaide, besditscoofvetrhtehAeBC ABC North & West, ABC Eyre ABC Western Plains Peninsula, ABC South East, Get your fill of tips and advice from the Gardening ABC Broken Hill, ABC Riverland Australia team on Friday nights at 7.30pm. You can Thursday 9.35am, fortnightly always catch up on the gardening goodness on iview. Saturday 8.30am sunday 11am 12 WA VIC ABC radio Perth, ABC Great ABC radio Melbourne; Southern, ABC SOUth west, ABC Victoria ABC Goldfields Esperance ABC kimberley, ABC pilbara, Saturday 9.30am ABC Midwest and Wheatbelt ABC Southwest Victoria Tuesday 2.15pm Saturday 9.05am Thursday 7.20am fortnightly NT ACT ABC Darwin & ABC Katherine ABC radio Canberra Saturday 9am Saturday 8.30am ABC Alice Springs & TAS ABC Tennant Creek ABC radio Hobart Saturday 8.30am ABC Northern Tasmania QLD Saturday 9am ABC radio Brisbane Saturday 6am For more information about coverage in your area call 139 994 or visit: reception.abc.net.au Download the ABC listen app and listen to live radio streams of gardening programs across Australia.
n cLaltimesatteIncthearnngaetiroenpaol rt economic opportunities, especially for our regions,” she says. The sixth and latest Intergovernmental Panel on Climate The report shows there’s still hope, but if the world doesn’t Change (IPCC) assessment report, which was released February 28, has an important message: the impact of act quickly we will end up with catastrophic warming over climate change is accelerating, causing irreversible damage. 2ºC. From recent disastrous events, it’s easy to know the cost of inaction is much greater than the cost of action, “The report is very clear: any further delay in global action both financially, environmentally and for humanity. For more will miss the brief and closing window to secure a liveable information go to: climatecouncil.org.au. Penny Woodward future,” says the Climate Council’s director of research, Dr Simon Bradshaw. The recent unprecedented rainfall and flooding in Queensland and NSW are just one example of the devastating impact, as seen in this picture taken in the outer Brisbane suburb of Milton by ABC News photographer, Michael Lloyd. “These events will only get worse if we don’t act now to reduce emissions,” says Professor Will Steffen, who has worked on previous IPCC reports. While it’s often hard to comprehend the extent of the action needed, leading economist Nicki Hutley, says that the solutions are clear. “… Urgent emission reductions through renewable energy and new clean industries could see us avoid the worst financial shocks and bring about incredible events PHOTOS: TOP: ABC NEWS MICHAEL LLOYD/FAR LEFT: DENIS CRAWFORD/INSET: HELEN MCKERRALL. The native teddy bear bee. unlock the potential of our native bees, a valuable Right: Warrigal greens. but underutilised natural resource. Date: June 11–12 Let’s talk about native bees Location: Rosehill Garden Racecourse, Sydney Details: anba.org.au/anba-conference/ Considering the importance of the 1,700 or so species of native bees here in Australia, it’s no wonder that taking Australian the time to share knowledge about these proficient Bushfoods pollinators is high on the agenda for members of the Conference Australian Native Bee Association Inc. They are inviting beekeepers, farmers, educators, industry leaders and The Australian Institute of researchers to the 3rd Australian Native Bee Conference Horticulture (AIH) is co-host of the to encourage an exchange of ideas and information. Topics Australian Bushfoods Conference, will be discussed that will help increase understanding and which will be held late May in North Maclean in Queensland. The conference theme is ‘Design and Development of Urban Landscapes for BushFood Production’ with topics covered including: application and use of bushfoods; development and management of bushfoods in the urban environment; design of urban landscapes for bush food production. Date: May 26–29 Location: Australian Technology and Agricultural College, North Maclean, Qld Details: aih.org.au organicgardener.com.au 13
Tim to go Tools and tips to help get your garden ready for a bumper harvest. Autumn gingo Top tip fo gaic Add a splash of autumn colour to your garden with the The new publication Garlic ginkgo ‘Lemonlime Spire’ from Plants Management Guide: Culinary, culture and Australia. A dwarf version of the colourful ginkgo, climate, is a handy tool to have this tree is ideal for tight settings, such as along the by your side (or on the wall) as side of a driveway, and can be used as a container preparation for garlic planting display. The ginkgo is considered a ‘living fossil’ from begins. Written by Tasmanian the ancient Gondwanan continent, descended from grower Letitia Ware, this 32-page guide trees that probably provided food for dinosaurs. In describes the 11 garlic groups shaped by climate and 1000 a modern setting, it loves a home in full sun and has cultivars shaped by culture, plus five culinary styles. Use it low to medium water requirements once established. either as a laminated flip book or open up as a large poster. Available nationally from local garden centres. A great resource to help you choose the right garlic for you Visit pma.com.au for more information. and your garden. Available at tasmaniangourmetgarlic.com. au/product-category/books-guides; $24.95. Biodgada sding pot Forget plastic, Aussie Environmental’s seedling pots are made from 100 per cent biodegradable coconut fibre. The pots are good for starting young plants that don’t necessarily ke being transplanted, such as beans, squash and corn. They can be planted directly in the garden, pot and all, aving their roots undisturbed. he pots will promote good root distribution so young plants don’t become pot-bound. Visit: aussieenvironmental.com.au; $11 (20 pack). Mix it wit t bt Healthy plants require healthy soil and mixing it up with Vegepod’s Perlite-Plus helps improve drainage and aeration as well as moisture retention – all of which ensure your soil is kept at its optimum for growing. The larger, coarse grade of the Vegepod perlite prevents soil compaction, provides ideal soil structure for beneficial microbes, and improves mineral density. The soil additive has been specially formulated for raised beds, wicking beds and container gardens. Available at vegepod.com.au; $39 (50 litre bag). 14
ORGANIC M KET ROEFADER ILLUSTRATIONS: ISTOCK Hand potction Sma spac soution Most gardeners understand the importance of protecting Two gardening challenges answered in the one pack: their hands with hardwearing gloves, but also the frustration a grow bag for container planting in smaller, urban of finding a pair that doesn’t impede their grip and sense of spaces and an olla waterpot to help give your plants touch. The durable Foxgloves Grip has silicone ovals that water when they need it. The Root Pouch grow bags provide a non-slip hold, while its breathable knit fabric keeps are made of 100 per cent recycled post-consumer soil out, hands and nails clean. The elbow length of the Elle PET water bottles, some with natural fibres of jute, Grip extends comfort and protection of hands and forearms bamboo or cotton for the lining. Grow a Garden against scratches, irritation from plant oils and sun damage. Packs are available at upontherooftop.com.au; from Visit: foxglovesdirect.com; $41.95 (Foxgloves Grip or Elle Grip). $64 (45 litre growbag). There’s a special offer for readers of ABC Organic Gardener magazine for the Scap into food month of April: 10% discount for purchases from the gardening range of products on the website Having a small (minimum spend $100; conditions apply, see website). backyard or balcony doesn’t have to limit Swt on sd your ability to recycle kitchen scraps. It will soon be time for hearty soups and stews Nothing has to go to and Southern Harvest’s swede ‘Tasmanian Butter’ waste with the new (Brassica napus) is an ingredient you can harvest Cube worm farm fresh from your garden as needed. Sweet and rich in from Tumbleweed, flavour, it is easy to grow from seed. Even better? a compact, stylish A substitute for potato, the swede can be stored solution for cramped in the ground through winter and spaces, even in your produces great kitchen! Easy to yields. All assemble, the you will Australian-designed need to do and made system has is decide if two insulated working you will add trays for worms and to a filling a built-in worm tea winter soup or bucket, that has a bake as a gratin? level indicator. When full, this is easily removed, and can Visit: southern be diluted with 5L water to use on potted plants, or a harvest.com.au; balcony garden. Available at tumbleweed.com.au; $89.95. $3.50 (300 seeds). organicgardener.com.au 15
Bubt uolbbaust wit Autumn is a busy time on the flower farm for Eliza Henry-Jones but she never regrets making space for some stunning spring-flowering bulbs.
PHOTOS: MELANIE KERCHEVAL ORGANIC FLOWERS A bouquet of Ranunculus. Facing page: Bulbs make great displays indoors as well outside.
ORGANIC FLOWERS Whether you’ve got big spaces to play with These pots are filled with Narcissus PHOTOS: TOP LEFT: MELANIE KERCHEVAL/TOP CENTRE: GAP PHOTOS_JERRY PAVIA/BOTTOM LEFT: GAP PHOTOS/MARK BOLTON or pots on a balcony, late-winter to spring ‘Replete’ and ‘Spring Pride’ and tulips. flowering bulbs are a delightful addition to the garden. Flowering bulbs (think freesias, tulips and the like) are known for being tough, attractive and prolific, with many cultivars returning year after year without you needing to lift a finger. While freesias captured my heart in childhood with their sweet, heady scent, I’ve recently fallen in love with fluffy ‘Replete’ daffodils and repeat- flowering ranunculus ‘Elegance Salmon’. Whether you’re growing flowering bulbs to enjoy in the garden or to bring inside as cut flowers, planting an assortment of species is a great way to keep your beds bursting with blooms all spring long. How to grow them Sun, soil and water How much sun or shade a bulb needs depends on the species. Flowers like snowdrops are very happy in shade, while tulips and ranunculus prefer a sunnier spot. Given that these bulbs tend to die back over summer, summer shade won’t be a problem for your bulbs. Prepare your bulb beds by digging through some compost. Pick a spot with good drainage, as bulbs don’t like sitting in soggy soil. If your beds have heavy soils, try adding some course sand to break things up or raise the bed a bit. Keep bulbs well- watered during the growing season. Right: Drift planted daffodils. Top left: Jonquils and yellow tulips. 34
Perfect for a pot Sowing Spring flowering bulbs are perfect for growing in pots. Make Plant your spring-blooming bulbs in autumn. sure pots are at least 25cm deep. Keep in mind that plants A good rule of thumb when planting bulbs in will dry out more quickly in pots than in the garden and that Australia is to plant them three times as deep plants in terracotta pots will dry out more quickly than those as they are tall. There are specialised trowels in plastic pots (which are less porous). and dibbers that help with this (see ‘Tools of TRY THIS: You can plant up to three tulip bulbs in a 14cm the trade’ on page 37). While bulbs can be wide pot filled with quality potting mix, making sure tulips interspersed with other plants (for instance, are planted deeply. Also make sure the tulips are watered summer perennials), make sure they’re not during dry spells or hot weather to stop them flowering going to get crowded out during their growing “short” (meaning blooming on very short stems). season. If you’re planting out a bigger area, you might like to try drift planting – simply toss your bulbs out across your growing area and plant them where they land. Feeding Although feeding requirements vary from species to species, generally bulbs are hungry plants when they’re growing. Feed bulbs with a quality pelletised organic fertiliser when shoots first appear, and keep them topped up with regular liquid feeding up until flowering. Bulbs store nutrients for next year’s blooms, so be sure to keep them well fed. Summer storage While many bulbs are happy to be left in the ground during the warmer months, some varieties are best dug up and stored inside. It might not be pretty, but be sure to leave the bulb’s leaves intact until they have completely died back, as the nutrients from the leaves go back into the bulb – meaning stronger blooms next season. We let our bulbs dry on mesh racks after digging up before storing somewhere cool and dry with good airflow. You can pop your bulbs into paper bags or old stockings and hang up somewhere out of reach of mice and rats. Some varieties of bulbs, such as tulips, require a decent cold snap (known as cold stratification) in order to bloom the following year. When you purchase tulips from a supplier, they will have already been cold stratified. This means that chill-loving bulbs may put on a grand display their first year, only to peter out afterwards if they don’t get enough chill. Popping your bulbs into a breathable container like a paper bag, in the crisper, for 4–6 weeks can solve this problem. Turn the page for Eliza’s top 5 choices PHOTO: ALAMY Plant daffodil bulbs at the correct Suppliers depth then cover with potting mix. daffodilbulbs.com.au diggers.com.au gardenexpress.com.au tesselaar.net.au tonkinsbulbs.com.au vdqbulbs.com.au wabulbs.com organicgardener.com.au 35
ORGANIC FLOWERS Grow a variety of Narcissus bulbs for a ‘Replete’. colourful display. 5 top choices FREESIAS PHOTOS: TOP LEFT: GAP PHOTOS_VISIONS /TOP: MELANIE KERCHEVAL DAFFODILS (NARCISSUS SPECIES AND CULTIVARS) (FREESIA SPECIES AND CULTIVARS) Daffodils are one of the most beloved flowers in the world. These gorgeous, delicate blooms are perfect for bringing Plant daffodil bulbs in pots or en masse in the garden for a a cosy cottage feeling into your home garden. Freesias spectacular, low-maintenance burst of colour every spring. bloom from winter into spring, and can last up to three Most cultivars have a mild fragrance. Blooms grow one to weeks in a vase. Bergunden and bedding freesias come a stem and come in a range of peachy, cream, white and in a range of colours and sizes – from whites and yellow blooms and will grow to 40cm in height. creams to vibrant yellows, oranges, pinks and purples. The plants will grow up to 40cm high. Cultivars to try: Cultivars to try: Narcissus ‘Dutch Master‘: This heirloom cultivar dates back to 1938. It’s a bright, cheery yellow with trumpet-like blooms. Freesia ‘Refracta Alba’: An heirloom, mid-season Narcissus ‘Replete‘: This striking double cultivar has ruffled blooming cultivar (also known as Grandma’s Freesia’s) blooms with pale-cream outer petals and delicate inner with intense perfume and gorgeous cream blooms. petals that fade to a peachy-pink as they age. Freesia ‘Virginia’: These pure cream blooms have an extra row of petals. Scented: Yes – mildly. Scented: Yes. Sowing: Early autumn, 30cm to 40cm apart. Plant Sowing: Sow in autumn. Plant 10cm apart and 5cm deep daffodils deeply – shallow planting causes the bulbs to split prematurely and weaken. As a rule of thumb, plant with the pointed ends facing up. them three times their height. Always plant with pointy-end up. Daffodils particularly like slightly acidic soil. Feeding: Feed at planting and when blooming. Feeding: Lightly feed at planting and when flowering. Position: Prefers full sun, but can tolerate part shade. Position: Full sun. Tend to do well in cooler climates but Leave or dig: Leave all year round. don’t need cold stratification. Leave or dig: Leave daffodils in the ground all year long but dig them out every three years or so to stop them getting too crowded as the bulbs multiply. 36
TOOLS OF THE TRADE A trusty trowel is a necessity when planting out spring bulbs. Also very useful is a dibber (a cone-shaped device with measurements on it), which will make the perfect bulb-planting holes. If you’re planting a large number of bulbs and have a drill handy, you could consider a garden auger attachment. Freesias Narcissus come in a ‘Erlicheer’. range of JONQUILS colours. (NARCISSUS SPECIES AND CULTIVARS) PHOTOS: BOTTOM: ALAMY/TOP RIGHT: GAP PHOTOS_JONATHAN BUCKLEY In the language of flowers, jonquils are said to mean “love me!” – and it’s hard not to! These cheery flowers tend to bloom in later winter and usher in spring. They come in a range of whites, yellows and cream colours. Unlike their relative the daffodil, each jonquil stem will have multiple blooms. They grow up to 40cm high and 15cm wide. Cultivars to try: Narcissus ‘Erlicheer’: These fluffy, pale-cream blooms are one of my favourites. They’re a versatile cultivar that tolerates hot and cold climates. Narcissus ‘Soliel d’Or’: These bright yellow blooms have an orange centre. They will light up the dreariest of winter gardens and once cut make a delightful display indoors. Scented: Yes – strongly. Sowing: Sow in autumn. Plant 15cm apart and 12cm deep with the round end pointed down. Feeding: Depending on your soil, feed at planting and when blooming in order to give the bulb energy for next season. Position: Full sun, but will tolerate part shade. Leave or dig: Leave in the ground all year but dig them out every four years or so to prevent crowding. organicgardener.com.au 37
ORGANIC FL WE S Tulipa TULIPS ‘Queensland’. 38 (TULIPA SPECIES AND CULTIVARS) There are over 6000 cultivars of tulips across the world, ranging from elegant and white to fluffy, double bright-pink and everything in between. You will get a single flower per bulb. Cultivars to try: Tulipa ‘Vedi Napoli’: Blooming mid-season, this lemony-yellow double bloom makes an impact when grown en masse. Tulipa ‘Queensland’: Unbelievably striking with rich pink blooms that are delicately fringed with intricate, lacy, pale edges. They will grace the garden mid-to late in the season. Scented: No. Sowing: Plant in late autumn or early winter, once soil temperature cools down a bit; 15cm apart and about 15cm deep. Feeding: As needed at planting and blooming. Position: Full sun unless in a particularly hot area, when they’ll benefit from some shade. Leave or dig: Dig up when foliage has completely died off and store somewhere cool and dry. Tulips generally require cold winters in order to bloom. If you live somewhere warm, try storing your tulips in the fridge for 4–6 weeks. Ranunculus. RANU C L S PHOTOS: MELANIE KERCHEVAL (RANUNCULUS ASIATICUS CULTIVARS) Ranunculus are tough and generous additions to a garden. Also known as Persian buttercups, these blooms come in an array of colours from pink-tipped white and striking salmon to burgundy and buttery yellow. The plants grow up to 60cm tall. Keep them deadheaded and they’ll reward you with continuous blooms. Cultivars to try: R. asiaticus ‘Elegance Salmon‘: ‘Elegance’ is a new Italian cultivar that offers prolific, double blooms. We’re particularly fond of the peachy-coloured salmon cultivar. R. asiaticus ‘White’: This elegant cultivar of pure-white, single blooms is a versatile addition to a garden or cut flower patch. Scented: No. Sowing: Sow in autumn. Plant your corms pointy end down, 15cm apart and about 4cm deep. Ranunculus do well with a good soaking for an hour or so before planting. Feeding: Keep these hungry blooms topped up with fertiliser and they will reward you with multiple blooms per corm all spring long. In particular, feed towards the end of the blooming period in order to give the corms energy for next season. Position: Full sun to part shade. Leave or dig: Dig up each year when foliage has yellowed and store somewhere cool and dry.
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ORGANIC GROW Lettuce seed crop close to harvest. Facing page: Robin Koster-Carlyon and Peter Carlyon. 40
PHOTO ROBIN & PETER: HONEY ATKINSON. oSf eouer fdutusre Penny Woodward visits a Starting farming with hydrophobic, sandy and Victorian couple who have weed-infested soil may not seem ideal but it transformed their property from has surprising rewards. For a start, you learn organic food production into a a lot about what makes good soil and how to keep thriving seed-growing enterprise. filling it with life. PHOTOGRAPHY BY PETER CARLYON That’s the journey Peter Carlyon and Robin Koster-Carlyon have taken on their spectacularly transformed Transition Farm – starting out growing organicgardener.com.au 41
ORGANIC GROW bfioaWrdmyhanintaigms ?ic With careful selection, though, we were trying to make a living organism. Peter and Robin have We wanted to encourage life to come to soil that had Biodynamic theories started created seed that is been devoid of life.” with the work of Dr Rudolf adapted to the intense Steiner in 1924. In the nearly Australian light. At the same time they were building soil, Peter was 100 years since, the practices planting perennial indigenous borders, native trees, have evolved and adapted, but shrubs and grasses to bring life back to the whole the principles have remained farm and create windbreaks. much the same. In biodynamics, farms and gardens are seen as Peter says the intention was to establish a CSA living organisms, which are supplying 40–50 families, but over the next few years biodiverse, bring plants and that got up to about 120 families a week. animals together while treating animals with respect, The next development came when a local using biodynamic sprays and restauranteur asked if they could grow for him. Peter treatments to improve soil and says they’d sit down with him around eight months plant health and encouraging in advance and plan out what crops were needed to integrity and diversity in seeds fit the menus. They ended up growing for other chefs and breeds. Biodynamics work over the next few years. to grow living soil using composting, cover cropping Seed reliability and crop rotation. Compost is enhanced with biodynamic Robin and Peter were aiming to grow food with the preparations made using very best flavour, so kept trialling different and medicinal herbs. Transition interesting heirlooms (see ‘Some favourites’ on Farm uses the Australian page 44), including new vegies developed through Demeter Biodynamic Method traditional breeding. and are certified by, and purchase preparations Growing organically and biodynamically, they through, Biodynamic knew the mineral and nutritional content of their Agricultural Association of Australia (BDAAA). Visit: demeterbiodynamic.com.au. vegies and fruit, and now developing and selling heirloom seeds Australia-wide. It was 14 years ago that Robin and Peter bought a property on the Mornington Peninsula, Victoria, with the aim of establishing a Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) enterprise (where people subscribe and buy directly from the farmer). “The property was covered in kikuyu and couch grass over white sand,” Peter says. “We started by pulling up and removing the couch and kikuyu, mostly by hand.” The soil was also hydrophobic – water just ran off. After initial failures they finally got green manures to grow to help build the soil. For three years they planted these crops, cutting them down just before seeding and then incorporating them into the soil. “The green manure acted like compost in situ, in combination with using biodynamic preparations,” Robin says. “We weren’t just trying to make soil, 42
Robin checking the progress food would be good but they also noticed some of broccoli flowering and varieties were just intrinsically more flavoursome. setting seed. They also realised that crops from seed bought from Above: Diverse seed crops of the Northern Hemisphere often didn’t thrive. vegies, herbs and flowers with some netted for isolation. “They didn’t like the long days, the intensity of the sun, and couldn’t stand consecutive days over 35 degrees celsius,” Robin says. “We gradually became more aware of the seed we sourced and its effect on the reliability of the crop.” Reliability was especially important when growing for restaurants – they needed crops that didn’t bolt to seed after a string of days over 30ºC. One year they planted Northern Hemisphere ‘Reine d’ Glaces’ lettuce seed but nearly everything bolted. “We collected the seed from the good ones (that didn’t bolt) and planted it out the following year, and the year after,” Peter says. They ended up with a lettuce that could make it through 10 days of extreme heat, rather than going to seed after the first day. At the same time, Robin noticed that for a lot of their trial crops, one in five plants didn’t grow true to type. “You had all this wasted space and effort,” she says. organicgardener.com.au 43
ORGANIC GROW Above: ‘Beauregarde’ The big change Some favourites snow peas, which are left on the vine Peter and Robin had slowly been moving into more ‘Badger Flame’ beetroot is an until they’re dry seed production but with the size restrictions on their heirloom Peter and Robin for seed collection. small property they did not have the space nor the particularly love. It was bred by isolation to grow more seeds and continue with the Irwin Goldman in the US. He wanted Facing page, top CSA. Like lots of other businesses, the pandemic had to breed a beet that didn’t have the left: Sunflower a big impact. Their CSA farm pick-up had to change earthy taste that characterises the flower heads to boxes being delivered and the restaurants all shut. species. He achieved that and then drying before decided to make it exciting for his extracting seeds. “We looked at each other and agreed that it was grandkids. He bred a bright golden, Top right: Morepork a clear sign to just get on and start the seed business orange beetroot with a starburst owls, attracted by we had been talking about for the previous three when you cut it. It’s delicious raw native trees and years,” Peter says. and cooked. shrubs, help control rats and mice. Before coming to Australia, Robin worked as Robin says they have a Bottom right: a gardener and landscaper in the US, she says that responsibility to maintain these Calendula Australia was a real surprise. characteristics through regular ‘Bronze Beauty’. checking. It also emphasises the “I have never experienced light like we have need for seed growers to also be here in Australia,” she says. “It’s intense, and plants seed stewards – maintaining really respond to that. the purity and the important characteristics of heirloom seed. “With careful selection, we started to create generations of seed that were adapted to this light. Another couple of favourites We’re also only choosing seed from the plants that for autumn and winter are the deal with heat well. That’s climate adaptation.” purple/red ‘Kalibos’ cabbage, and a new open-pollinated sprouting The soil connection broccoli called ‘Piracicaba’, which is full-flavoured, sweet and tender. Robin says living soil, and plants that thrive in this soil, are a system. Finally, their ‘Beauregarde’ snow peas. They have purple pods that keep their purple colour after cooking. 44
“A plant that is fully photosynthesising, chooses what secretions to emit from its roots to attract different minerals,” she says. “It’s in control of its own health. That’s another genetic feature passed on. Also, if a plant is really balanced and healthy it has a natural immunity. As an organic or biodynamic grower, you have stronger plants that are already adapted to your low-input conditions.” Seed is always collected from the strongest, most resilient and healthy plants. “We know that when we put the seed back in the following year, we are a step ahead. Eventually it gets easier,” Robin says. “In contrast, conventional seed crops are some of the most heavily sprayed because they have to get that plant through its whole life cycle, all the way through to seed production.” Growing seed Robin says that when they were growing for the restaurants and the CSA boxes, they had more than 200 varieties in production, meaning it was impossible to save seed. To save seed that is true to type, varieties need to be isolated from others they might cross-pollinate with. These days, because of the isolation needs, Robin says large sections of the farm are left fallow or have organicgardener.com.au 45
ORGANIC GROW Top: The ‘back paddock’ with crops surrounded by green manure crops for a whole year. These crops not indigenous vegetation. only increase the organic matter in the soil, keeping Above: Daily tomato harvest for seed processing it healthy and alive, they reduce weed pressure. and collection. Easy and tough 46 As for the easiest crop to grow for seed, Peter nominates calendula – it dries quickly and it’s very easy to get the seeds out. The catch is, you can only grow one cultivar at a time to prevent cross- pollination. For Robin, the choice is peas. “Peas don’t cross. You just need to not pick all the peas. Leave some and let them dry on the crop.” Both nominate corn as the hardest because of the huge isolation distances needed. The pollen is carried by wind and can travel hundreds of kilometres. For this reason, they don’t grow corn as a sellable seed crop. Diversity Plant guilds are an essential part of how Robin and Peter operate. Put simply, a guild is a beneficial grouping of diverse plants that support each other, and by extension, other creatures, When starting out, Robin sought advice from a seed steward in Oregon, US, Frank Morton whose advice was “Design your guild”. She took a close look at his seed catalogue pictures and realised Morton had herbs and flowers growing amongst his vegetables – all in one block.
Robin says this is one of the fundamentals of CANVAS growing seeds for sale – having a diversity of crops in GARDENING one block, but which are not closely related enough APRON to cross-pollinate, so you get pure strains of seeds. SIMPLY SLIP IT OVER “That’s why our catalogue is so diverse in having YOUR CLOTHES! flowers, herbs and vegetables,” she says. Made from heavy duty “If we only grew vegetables, we’d be limited to canvas and will last about 16 each season. There’s also been a real rise in you for years. the cut flower industry buying local flowers, so many small-scale vegie growers are now also growing $32100% .50 Adjustable neck and flower crops.” waist straps to get the COTTON right fit. Changing climate Pocket with Velcro VERY VERSATILE AND STURDY flap to keep your Robin says climate change, seed growing and food mobile phone secure security are all interwoven. Saves my clothes heaps. when weeding. Always able to quickly 3 Pockets for your “Climate change has shown me that we need answer my phone in the tools near your waist our food to continue to adapt with us if we want to front pocket. for easy access. maintain ourselves as a species. If we can regionalise Machine washable our seed, then that is food security. It’s why we need Sandra Harper, Jurien Bay seed adapting in real time.” www.aussiegardener.com.au/apron Also important, she says, is the history of seed growing and the connections – seed growers need PHONE ORDERS: 1800 222 800 to be collaborative. “There are lots of people who have been doing this seed work, way before we did,” she says. “We just jumped in and joined them. It’s really important for people to remember that seed happens in a network. It’s a co-o erative model that will help seed stay strong.” You’ll find Transition Farm on Instagram at transitionfarm_robin or visit: transitionfarm.com. Sourcing seed FROM OVER 70,000 $49 - $115 AUSTRALIANS ARE The ultimate for organic gardeners is to source locally grown and organic or biodynamically certified seed. USA made NOW USING This is not always easy. While we have many excellent POWER PLANTERS Australian seed sellers, where their seed comes from is not always made clear. Neither is its organic status. ATTACHES TO A REGULAR 18V CORDLESS DRILL We suggest you check seller websites or call and ask for more detail if information is lacking. WITH THE POWER PLANTER YOU CAN DIG: The difficulty for small growers of open-pollinated seed is economy of scale, which is one reason so much • Compacted Garden Beds is imported. • Solid Clay • Stony Ground A few Australian seed sellers grow all their own seed, • Fibrous roots (eg. shrubs and palms) but not all of these are listed as organic. Also, some • Co ee Rock organic seed sellers don’t declare on their website • Shale soil and more where the seed comes from. “My block is hard soil with many tree roots and rock. Getting both locally-grown and organic seed is The power planter has let me plant a few things without difficult. Transition Farm is one, while Greenpatch Seeds busting my back with a crowbar and shovel. I would most (greenpatchseeds.com.au) grows most on site or nearby, definitely recommend using a drill with the side handle and all is certified organic. In other cases, such as Seed for a more steady grip.” Kym Turnbull, Winnellie Freaks (seedfreaks.com.au) or Heirloom Harvest (heirloomharvest.com.au), most is grown on site with www.aussiegardener.com.au/powerplanter organic methods but certification has not been sought.
“The more seed savers we have, the more heirloom varieties will survive.” 48
ORGANIC W Rysoaueioseden lings Building self-reliance is one important aspect of raising your own seedlings – you’ll also have more cultivars to choose from, and be part of the seed stewardship community, writes Helen McKerral. PHOTO: ISTOCK Seedlings grown in trays with individual Anyone growing vegetables in the last few compartments means there will be less years knows the challenges: seedlings flying off nursery shelves as quickly as toilet rolls root disturbance when planting out. out of supermarkets. However, for centuries, people haven’t needed supermarkets or nurseries. Instead, they harvested not only fruit and vegetables from their own gardens, but also the seed that produced them… and all were free! These days, though, nurseries are limited in how many seedlings and varieties they stock. Another option, mail order seed companies, sell a huge range of marvellous old varieties developed over decades, with the most prolific, tastiest, toughest and longest- storing preserved for future generations. Heirloom varieties survive because they are special. Often, they have been bred by home gardeners around the world (and Australia) for specific challenges such as frost, drought, heat or disease. There’s almost certainly an heirloom perfect for the exact conditions in your garden. And when you grow heirlooms, you buy seed just once. After that, you simply collect it from your best plants and over time they will adapt to your climate and soil meaning they will grow better, too! Even better, when you begin planting your own seeds, you become part of a worldwide community conserving old open-pollinated varieties – the more seed savers we have, the more heirlooms will survive.
ORGANIC W WHAT YOU NE D Here are the basics of what you need to start sowing seed and raising seedlings: CONTAINERS (such as punnets, flats or egg cartons and household containers with holes added) or you can sow into small pots or module trays as well as small pots made of coir or wood fibre. A GROWING MEDIUM such as seed-raising mix. WATER and a watering can or hose with a soft spray rose. SUNLIGHT SEEDS A COVER FOR YOUR GERMINATING SEED, either a piece of shade cloth or insect exclusion net for hot weather, plus wire hoops and clothes pegs, or a clear plastic bag or cloche to pop over pots or trays if it’s cold. Getting Started Buying seed Buying seed is the first step (see box at end). Heirloom seeds are too niche for most large commercial seed suppliers, but perfect for smaller producers; Australian boutique mail order suppliers sell numerous wonderful cultivars. Collecting and raising your own seed isn’t rocket science; it’s the cheapest form of propagation possible, the ultimate in self-sufficiency and sustainability… and it’s fun! In this article we are focusing on raising seedlings and planting out, but for details of seed saving, see our ‘Essential Guide to Seed Saving’ in Issue 123 (available at: mymagazines.com.au/backissues/ organic-gardener). Top: Individual plastic cloches protect warm Germination workspace PHOTOS: TOP HELEN MCKERRAL/BOTTOM: ISTOCK season seedlings from frost It is good to have a designated germination area and Above: Position your potting bench so it’s sheltered. table. A wire mesh table is ideal but adapt with the resources at hand. Set up in a well-ventilated but not windy spot – this minimises fungal disease and helps thwart pests. Windy spots dry out seed-raising and potting mixes and seedlings too quickly. Full sun is also too hot for container seedlings in summer – dappled shade or filtered light is ideal. In southern Australia, full-sun is fine in winter. Balconies may be suitable, too. Easterly aspects suit warm weather, northerly or westerly ones colder conditions. Southerly aspects are okay for germinating seeds but, once seedlings emerge, move into more light. You can also start seed indoors but, as in southerly aspects, seedlings languish unless your house is exceptionally bright. Seedlings succumb to fungal disease more easily, too. 50
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