Phaseolus vulgaris HEIGHT x WIDTH: 50cm x 50cm. DISTANCE APART: 50cm WHEN TO HARVEST: Harvest the beans when they are still young because this is when they are sweetest. Simply pick the beans off with your fingers. HOW MUCH WATER: Water every day unless it rains. WHERE TO PLANT: Full sun CAN I GROW THEM IN A…
A hydroponic garden is a method of growing plants in nutrient rich water instead of soil. In most gardens, the roots of the plant would be potted into a pot or planted into the ground where the soil that surrounds them are filled with nutrients and it gets watered every day. In a hydroponic garden,…
An onion is a great example of a bulb. It is round, has roots at the bottom and a pointy part at the top from which leaves grow if it is planted in the ground. But, there are many other plants that grow from bulbs though they definitely can’t be eaten. Daffodils, jonquils and some…
Indoor plants have pores in their leaves just like you do and these get clogged with dust and oils from the house and the kitchen and makes it difficult for them to breath and photosynthesize. Just like you need to wash your face and hands, plants also need to have a wash every now and…
Over time, the soil in the garden or in potting mixes becomes ‘hydrophobic’. This is also referred to as ‘soil repellent’. The word hydrophobic is made up of two parts. ‘Hydro’ means water and ‘phobic’ means to have a fear of something. Of course, soil can’t be scared of water but sometimes it can put…
1 1/2 cups plain flour 1 cup rolled oats 1/2 cup white sugar 2 tsp baking powder 1 tsp bicarb soda 1/2 tsp salt 1 egg 3/4 cup milk 1/3 cup vegetable oil 1/2 tsp vanilla extract 2 bananas, mashed METHOD Wash your hands. Preheat the oven to 180°C. Prepare a 12 cup muffin tray…
A dibbler is a great name for a very simple tool that is poked into the ground to make holes for planting seeds or seedlings into the soil. It is often made from wood and has a pointed end. If you don’t have a dibbler, you can use a thick stick or cut down…
Perlite is made from volcanic rock that has been heated really quickly causing the water in it to soften the rock, making it expand. It turns into very light pebbles that are mixed into potting mixes and soils. Perlite is combined with coco peat when making a mix for growing cuttings and seeds. It helps…
Most states of Australia have very strict rules on when a household is allowed to water the garden. These are called ‘water restrictions’. To find out what the water restrictions are in your state, visit the website of your local water authority. Fortunately, most plants in the garden don’t need as much water as we think they…
How to Grow Button Squash Button squash or ‘patty pan squash’ are small fruit that look a bit like space ships with scalloped edges. They grow to between 7 and 10cm in diameter and although they are available in other colours, the most common are the pale green and the bright yellow ones. The flesh…