Sprouting is an easy and quick way to grow your own food. Learn how to sprout seeds, nuts, pulses and grains. Microgreens are 7 – 21 day old edible plants that are less mature than baby leaf plants. Microgreens are used in salads, sandwiches, raw food dishes and as stunning garnishes in restaurants and cafes.
When you’re growing microgreens or sprouts at home, you might notice a white fuzz or hair-like growth on your seeds. At first glance, it can be a bit confusing. Is it the healthy root hair of your microgreens, or could it be mould starting to form? Understanding the difference is important to ensure your […]
Healthy soils are a complex web of life, teeming with earthworms, beneficial fungi and bacteria. They smell good and are moist and crumbly. Roots are able to penetrate easily, deep into the soil. Plants growing in healthy soils have fewer pest and disease problems. If your soil doesn’t match this picture of health but instead […]
Green manures are a cornerstone of ecologically sustainable gardening. These are annual fast-growing crops, usually a legume combined with a grass, that are grown to build both organic matter and nitrogen levels to improve the soil. This combination works well, the legume providing nitrogen and the grass the bulk of the organic matter. ‘Grass’ refers […]
Grow your own pea shoots and add the health benefits of these nutrient rich greens to your diet. You’ll be amazed at how easy and quick they are to grow. In less than two weeks, you can have an abundant and beautiful crop of pea shoots. You can use pea shoots in salads, stir fries, […]
The growing medium beneath your microgreens has a bigger effect than it may appear. It holds water around the roots, provides physical support and influences drainage, aeration and how easily the finished crop can be harvested. Microgreens can be grown successfully in several different media, including fine potting or propagation mixes, coco coir and fibrous […]
Is Ceylon Spinach the same as regular spinach? No. It’s a different plant that grows as a vine and loves hot weather. Regular spinach prefers cool conditions and has soft, flat leaves. The botanical name of regular spinach is Spinacia oleracea and the botanical name of Malabar Spinach is Basella alba or Basella rubra. Can […]
Malabar Spinach is popular in Indian, Southeast Asian, and African dishes. It can be used raw or cooked, and the texture becomes soft and silky when heated. Here are some ways to use it: Stir-fried with garlic, chilli, or soy sauce Cooked in coconut milk with curry spices Added to soups, stews, or dhal Mixed […]
Gardening is already hard work, but trying to grow the wrong plants makes it even harder. If you don’t grow what suits your area and the right time of year, you will always struggle. This is why many gardeners end up using pesticides and fungicides. Plants that aren’t suited to your climate become weak, stressed, […]
Garlic Chives (Allium tuberosum), also known as Asian Chives or Chinese Garlic Chives, are a tasty and useful plant often used in Asian cooking. Their long, flat leaves have a mild garlic flavour, and they grow easily in home gardens. Whether you’re growing vegetables or microgreens, Garlic Chives are a great choice for gardeners and […]
Microgreens can be grown throughout the year, but that doesn’t mean every variety is equally easy to grow in every season. Temperature, humidity and airflow affect germination, water use, growth rate and the likelihood of mould and other problems. This becomes particularly noticeable in Australia, where growing conditions can range from a humid subtropical Brisbane […]
Summer is an enjoyable time of the year for gardening. However summer heat and storms can prove challenging for gardeners. In some regions, sowing in summer is too hot, but there are beautiful summer hardy flower options for most regions and ways to help your seedlings cope with the heat, whether that be a shade […]
Caterpillars, the larvae of moths and butterflies, can wreak havoc on your garden. Some species munch on leaves, while others eat the inside of fruit. In this guide, you’ll discover natural and organic techniques to tackle the leaf-eating species, as they are the easiest to manage. Types of Leaf-Eating Moths & Butterflies The most common […]
How to Grow Sunflowers from Seed in Australia Botanical Name: Helianthus annuus Common Name: Sunflower Plant Family: Asteraceae Sunflowers are tall, bright flowers that follow the sun as they grow. Their big yellow blooms attract bees and make great cut flowers or seed producers. This guide will show you how to plant, grow, and care […]
Whether you are a novice home gardener or a confident grower, this ‘How to Grow’ guide features everything you need to know about sowing, growing, and caring for tomatoes (Botanical name: Solanum lycopersicum). Determinate vs. Indeterminate The difference between tomato types is their growth habit or the shape of their fruit. In this article, we […]
Knowing when to harvest microgreens is partly about plant development and partly about the crop you want to produce. Many microgreens are harvested once their cotyledons have fully opened, while others are allowed to develop their first true leaves. Pea shoots and wheatgrass are different again: they are normally harvested according to shoot or blade […]
