Episodes
Saturday Sep 18, 2021
Success with Coriander in the Kitchen Garden
Saturday Sep 18, 2021
Saturday Sep 18, 2021
THE KITCHEN GARDEN
SUCCESS WITH CORIANDER
Coriander leaves |
Coriander is easy enough to grow but being in the carrot family,(Apiaceae) its green leafy tops can look not only like other herbs, but other vegetables!
- My guest, Toni Salter in the podcast, calls it the 'primadonna' of herbs.
- Soil is too dry
- Too little water at the right time.
- Poor or impoverished soil.
- Poor drainage in your herb garden.
- Temperatures too warm for it's liking.
- Temperatures too cold for it's liking
- Transplanting-the worst sin.
- TIP: Always sow the seeds directly into the position where it will grow.
Coriander seedlings |
When to Sow in Australia
For sub-tropical and arid zones, you have August to September;Temperate districts, sow the seeds from September until the end of November,
In cool temperate zones, October to November,
- Sow your seeds about 1 cm deep, cover them and keep them moist.
Coriander seeds drying on plant |
In fact the whole herb, including the roots can be ground up to make a Thai Green Curry paste.
Let’s find out more
I'm talking with Toni Salter www.theveggielady.com.au
PLAY: Success with Coriander_8th September 2021
If you have any feedback email realworldgardener@gmail.com or write in to 2RRR PO Box 644 Gladesville NSW 1675
Saturday Sep 18, 2021
Winter Savoryvs Thyme in Spice it Up
Saturday Sep 18, 2021
Saturday Sep 18, 2021
SPICE IT UP
SAVORY VS THYME
Often there’s a couple of herbs that look alike and even have similar flavour profiles.
If you had them growing together in the herb garden, you may even confuse the two because of how closely they look to each other.
If you rubbed both herbs without knowing which was which, you would most likely think they both were the same herb.
- Winter savory, unlike thyme, is not sold as a cut herb in the produce aisle of your supermarket.
- Confusingly there is a 'summer savory' which tends to die off in winter and usually not come back.
- I've never seen the seeds of savory being sold however if you have a pot of winter savory that's overgrown and become leggy, follow these tips to refresh it.
- Dividing the roots in spring, will rejuvenate the plant.
- Start off by trimming about a third of any wrapped or circling roots.
- Divide the root ball into thirds or quarters, making sure that each section has a healthy piece of root and stems with green leaves attached.
- Remove one-third of the top growth, and trim away any dead or damaged stems and leaves.
- Re-pot into new containers and gift some to your friends.
But can you substitute one for the other?
Wild thyme growing amongst a rocky outcrop |
- Did you know there are over 100 varieties of thyme?
- The wild thyme of Provence is known for its strength of flavour. Think 'herbs de Provence' is a blend with this wild thyme.
- You will find winter savory, Satureja (sat-you-rea) montana, as a plant sold in most garden centres.
- So time to get some of your own.
I'm talking with Ian Hemphill from www.herbies.com.au
If you have any feedback email realworldgardener@gmail.com or write in to 2RRR PO Box 644 Gladesville NSW 1675
Saturday Sep 18, 2021
Control of Fungus Gnats in Plant Doctor
Saturday Sep 18, 2021
Saturday Sep 18, 2021
PLANT DOCTOR
FUNGUS GNATS
These tiny flying things can swarm around your indoor plants but other than annoyance, are they killing your plants?
Those tiny little flies that hang around your fruit bowl or indoor plants aren’t always that same thing.
Sometimes they’re confused with fruit flies, or even ordinary house flies, but none of those two are correct. Inevitably they’re up to no good but how to tell them apart?
- There are fungus gnats and fermentation flies.
- they are attracted to different things.
- Fermentation or vinegar flies tend to hang around the fruit bowl, especially if you've got overripe fruit because vinegar flies are attracted to sugars.
- Fungus gnats are smaller, flitting around erratically: the adults of which are attracted to moisture.
- the adults are doing much if anything to your plants other than laying lots of eggs, although there is evidence that they can transmit plant diseases.
- The larvae can be the problem because the feed on the roots of your plants.
Fungus gnats -magnified heaps. |
- Remember: Vinegar or fermentation flies are attracted to sugary treats, such as over-ripe fruits, whereas fungus gnats are attracted to moisture such as overly wet potting medium.
- Greenhouses can also have an outbreak of fungus gnats.
- Keep your soil medium a bit on the dry side.
- Drench the potting mix with neem oil which will control the juvenile stages.
- Make a sticky trap using vaseline to trap the adults.
- Use a type of mulch the prevents the adult fungus gnats burrowing into the soil to lay the eggs.
- Worst case, repot with fresh potting mix.
- Greenhouse control can be with predatory insects.
If you have any feedback email realworldgardener@gmail.com or write in to 2RRR PO Box 644 Gladesville NSW 1675
Wednesday Sep 08, 2021
Spotting Plant Deficiencies in Plant Doctor
Wednesday Sep 08, 2021
Wednesday Sep 08, 2021
PLANT DEFICIENCIES:
But still the plants look sickly, or perhaps a bit yellow, or they’re just not putting on any growth.
Does that sound familiar?
- So what’s the problem?
Basic pH test kit |
- Ideally the ideal pH range that gardeners should strive for is pH 6 - 7.5
- This is the range that the major nutrients of NPK are available to the plant the most.
- Some plants such as rhododenrons and azaleas like a like a low of pH6.
A good tip when taking soil samples from your soil is to get a sample from just below the surface for an accurate reading.
I'm talking with Kylie Last, horticulturist and TAFE teacher.
If you have any feedback email realworldgardener@gmail.com or write in to 2RRR PO Box 644 Gladesville NSW 1675
Wednesday Sep 08, 2021
Plant Nutrition: What Plants Really Want in Plant Doctor
Wednesday Sep 08, 2021
Wednesday Sep 08, 2021
PLANT NUTRITION UNPACKED
Major Nutrients
Have you ever asked yourself "how do plants take up nutrients when you spread fertiliser around them on the ground or dilute it into liquid ?"
- What went wrong?
- So What Are These Nutrients?
- Nitrogen:Phosphorus:Potassium or NPK:
A selection of fertilisers - Kylie's main mantra is NPK refers to shoots:roots;fruit
Without the major nutrients, your plants may not grow and develop roots, stems leaves and flowers properly.
If you know what and how much to give your plants, the plants will be healthier and more productive.
Just remember to read the NPK amounts on the bag or packet of fertiliser.
Let’s find out more about what plants really need.
I'm talking with Kylie Last, horticulturist and TAFE teacher.
PLAY: Major Nutrients_21stJuly 2021
If you have any feedback email realworldgardener@gmail.com or write in to 2RRR PO Box 644 Gladesville NSW 1675