growing veggie garden spring
Let’s see what’s growing in the veggie garden this Spring

Let’s see what’s growing in the veggie garden this Spring

Back in August the social media gardening groups were abuzz with comments about who was planting what for spring. Many recommended sowing seeds in trays in the greenhouse so the seedlings would be ready to transplant into the veggie garden as the weather started to warm up. Now, being two thirds of the way through spring, let’s see what I have managed to grow in my veggie garden. Being someone who has been known to follow solid, logical advice on…

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Attention Ladybirds! The Aphids are this way

Attention Ladybirds! The Aphids are this way

My heart just sinks when I see aphids on my plants. I am sure this is the case with most gardeners. These little sap sucking insects can wreak havoc in the garden especially in spring time when there are so many new shoots and succulent leaves to devour. Remember though, nature is all about balance so at the other end of this see saw is the little ladybird. A hero in my eyes without a doubt. What is an aphid?…

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Garden Project #4 – Part 2 of the Garden Makeover

Garden Project #4 – Part 2 of the Garden Makeover

The journey of the garden makeover continues. The drought had played a pivotal role in our decision to redesign our garden to include hard landscaping. In Part 1 of the story I shared details about the design and preparation work done thus far. The excitement was in the air on that November morning because it was the day that the exposed aggregate would be exposed. The retarding solution sprayed onto the cement had prevented the top layer from drying overnight….

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Garden Project #4 – Part 1 of the Garden Makeover

Garden Project #4 – Part 1 of the Garden Makeover

We were in the grips of the worst drought Cape Town had experienced in a hundred years. Stringent water restrictions had been in place for more than a year and Day Zero was predicted for early the following year if it didn’t rain. We don’t have a borehole so our garden, as with many others, was left to its own devices. We decided that a drastic garden makeover was needed and hard landscaping would be the answer. This is Part…

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Broad Bean Dip
Delicious Broad Bean Dip Recipe from Homegrown Beans

Delicious Broad Bean Dip Recipe from Homegrown Beans

Harvesting something from the veggie garden is a very satisfying feeling. After weeks, or in some cases, months of nurturing the plants it is very exciting to be able to pick the crops and prepare a dish with them. Growing my own broad beans is no exception and today I’ll share a delicious broad bean dip recipe with you. Broad beans have become a favourite winter veg in our home. Not only are they super easy to grow, but they…

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The wormery - creating super compost
The Wormery – Creating Super Compost

The Wormery – Creating Super Compost

I never knew the unassuming earthworm plays an such an immensely important role in the garden until I heard about wormeries. These little guys really are the superheroes of the soil. Their mission in life is to replenish the ground with nutrients which they do by consuming organic waste and turning it into highly rich humus. Making your own wormery means your earthworms will be creating super compost for your garden. Worm terms 101 If you’ve heard someone speaking about…

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Planter box veggie garden
Garden Project #3 – Planter Box Veggie Garden

Garden Project #3 – Planter Box Veggie Garden

Veggie gardens come in all shapes and sizes. The design options are endless which gives one the scope to create a garden that is tailor made to your own situation and available space. Growing veggies and herbs in containers is one such option which remains popular among gardeners. This garden project is all about the planter box veggie garden we made for herbs and some leafy greens. This is the third of the five major garden projects tackled over the…

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Spiders in my Garden
Spiders in my Garden

Spiders in my Garden

Spideroo, Spidora or “That Spider” – whichever name they go by, love them or hate them, one thing is sure: spiders are beneficial to have in the garden. Spiders help with the control of insects like mozzies, flies and some larger bugs like crickets. I welcome spiders in my garden and find it quite fascinating to observe them. Rain Spiders In our household spiders all have names. Rain spiders all go by the name of Ringo. Officially they are called…

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Companion planting
An Introduction to Companion Planting

An Introduction to Companion Planting

Just as humans get along with some neighbours better than with others, the same can be said for plants. My article this week is about an introduction to companion planting. I’ll give you some tips to provide a happy plant neigbourhood in your veggie garden. In the vegetable kingdom some plants help others flourish by repelling pests, attracting beneficial insects, or improving flavour and yield. Pairing these plants is the idea behind companion planting. The classic good neighbourly partnership known…

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Cement Spirals
Garden Art Project – How to make Cement Spirals

Garden Art Project – How to make Cement Spirals

Making DIY arts and crafts for the garden is a very trendy hobby. One of the popular mediums to use is cement. It is durable and pretty easy to work with and can be moulded into such a variety of shapes. I love the rustic look of cement objects. The decorative cement spirals featured in last week’s blog about creating a contemplative garden are from a DIY project in a gardening magazine. You can use these to add a personal…

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