Episodes
Sunday Oct 30, 2022
Grow, Harvest, Eat Yacon on Real World Gardener
Sunday Oct 30, 2022
Sunday Oct 30, 2022
THE GOOD EARTH
How to Grow and Use Yacon: Peruvian Ground Apple
Scientific Name: Smallanthus sonchifolius
Common Name: Yacon, Peruvian ground apple
Family: Asteraceae-same as daisies and sunflowers.
Plant Height & Width: 1.5m x 0.5m
If you look at the flowers they are like much smaller versions of sunflowers.
Here’s a tuber that tastes similar to a nashi pear, looks something like sweet potato on the outside, and the sugars from it aren’t absorbed by the body.
Not only that, the tubers contain a lot of juice, and the sugars that make it sweet is not absorbed by the body so you can't put on the kilos! How good is that?
Then there’s the fact that it’s easy to grow, and has small flowers that resemble sunflowers and you just can’t buy it from the supermarket or fruit and veg store.
Yacon plant growing in Margaret's garden |
How to Grow Yacon from Tubers?
Yacon has two types of tubers unlike ginger or turmeric.
- The tubers that you plant are attached to the main stem and are much smaller and pinkish in colour. I planted mine in early September and October was the time that it sprouted in my Sydney garden.
- If you were to receive some brown tubers that look like a brown sweet potato, that's what you eat and not what you plant.
- The edible tubers spread from the clump sideways meaning you need at least 1/2 metre of space to produce sizeable clumps.
- Can be planted in any district as they can withstand frost.
When to Harvest?
Yacon is a herbaceous perennial meaning it has a dormant period that starts when the leaves die down in late autumn.
This is the time when the tubers are ready to harvest. Simply fork up the entire crop, and harvest the large brown tubers to eat fresh, and use the small reddish rhizomes at the top to replant for next year’s crop.
What Can You Do With Yacon?
Eat it of course but how, is the thing so here are some of Margaret's tips.
- Yacon is sweet and crunchy and is great eaten fresh.
- Ever heard of Yacon chips? That's right you can make chips out of this tubber.
- Just cut up into chip sizes and drizzle some oil over the top and bake in the oven.
- Try using it in salads like Waldorf salad and wherever you would use fresh pears.
- Use it in stir fries.
- You can also juice it or cook down the juice to make syrup and use it as a sweetener.
Fun Tip from Margaret
- Running short of toilet paper, try large soft fluffy leaves like those of the Yacon plant.
But there's more uses, have a listen to the podcast.
I'm talking with Margaret Mossakowska of www.mosshouse.com.au
If you have any feedback email realworldgardener@gmail.com or write in to 2RRR PO Box 644 Gladesville NSW 1675
Wednesday Sep 21, 2022
Leaf Celery in the Kitchen Garden
Wednesday Sep 21, 2022
Wednesday Sep 21, 2022
KITCHEN GARDEN
Leaf Celery
Scientific Name:Apium graveolens var. secalinum
- Leaf celery is a biennial plant growing to 60cm in height.
Sugo For Sure-How to Make it
Then adding the garlic and tomatoes to make a tomato base for any Italian dish.
This winter I have practically depleted my supply of leaf celery because of the number of soups, and slow co
- Corinne suggests dehydrating the leaves to make celery leaf salt.
- Chop the stems and leaves and make a compound celery butter.
Much easier to grow too.
If you have any feedback email realworldgardener@gmail.com or write in to 2RRR PO Box 644 Gladesville NSW 1675
Sunday Sep 04, 2022
Cardamom in Cooking on Real World Gardener
Sunday Sep 04, 2022
Sunday Sep 04, 2022
SPICE IT UP
Know Your Cardamoms.
There are many budding chefs and cooks that use heaps of spices in their recipes going by the success of cooking shows on television.
Green and brown cardamom pods |
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Brown (black) Indian cardamom (right) |
Cardamom pods are one such spice that comes a variety of colours and suit different cuisines.
- So which one should you use?
Brown cardamom-Indian and Chinese
- The brown Indian cardamom is a much larger pod than the green cardamom by 4-5 times the size. This cardamom has a smoky aroma and is especially used in tandoori dishes.
- Chinese cardamom is usually used whole.
* Ian’s big tip is never grind the pods and seeds together.*
Marianne (host of Real World Gardener radio show) is Ian Hemphill from www.herbies.com.au
Hopefully that’s set you on the right path to using the correct coloured cardamoms in your cooking.
If you have any questions you can email us Realworldgardener@gmail.com or write in to 2rrr, PO Box 644 Gladesville NSW 1675.
Monday Jun 20, 2022
Success with Germinating Australian Native Seeds on Real World Gardener
Monday Jun 20, 2022
Monday Jun 20, 2022
PLANT DOCTOR
Germinating Native Seed
Australian plants have evolved over thousands of years to respond to a variety of climatic extremes, from fires, to droughts to floods as well as being grazed by native animals.
Wattle seeds need boiling water treatment |
Australian plants have developed various adaptations so that the seeds of which can grow in the most suitable environment for that species of plant to survive.
So what are some of the treatments to break native seed dormancy?
- Not all seeds need smoke chemical treatment, but there's a few that benefit from using it, in fact are difficult to germinate without it.
- Sturt Desert peas comes to mind, also Dianella, Philotheca, Xanthorrhoea, Actinotus, Callistemon and Banksia.
Flannel flowers |
But what other tricks are there?
So let’s find out more.
I'm talking with Steve McGrane, horticulturist and agriculturist.
I hope that’s given you some idea about perhaps why some of the native seeds are more difficult to germinate than regular seeds.
In fact not everything germinates the same way, and here lies the problem.
That’s why a bit of research into the seed type you’re trying to germinate goes a long way.
If you have any questions you can email us Realworldgardener@gmail.com or write in to 2rrr, PO Box 644 Gladesville NSW 1675.
Sunday Mar 20, 2022
Phosphorus and Potassium Deficiency in Plants Solved
Sunday Mar 20, 2022
Sunday Mar 20, 2022
Plant Nutrition Deficiencies:Phosporus and Potassium
- In fact there are three major nutrients which are classified as NPK ratio on the back of all fertilisers. So in this part of the blog, we carry on with the two other major or macro nutrients.
Let's look at phosphorus deficiency
- Phosporus is known as a mobile nutrient which can move around the plant to where it's needed.
- Phosphorus deficiency happens more often in cold weather or gardens receive high rainfall, or a combination of both.
- Often affects heavily fruiting plants such as citrus.
- N..B. native plants are highly sensitive to phosphorus, so avoid spreading phosphate fertilisers near these plants.
Let's look at potassium deficiency
I would recommend becoming familiar with the NPK ration on fertilisers, whether organic or not to see if you’re applying the right sort for your plants.
For example, fertilisers that promote flowering and fruiting have higher ratios of potassium than those that are just for general purpose fertilising.
If you have any questions you can email us Realworldgardener@gmail.com or write in to 2rrr, PO Box 644 Gladesville NSW 1675.
Saturday Mar 19, 2022
Nitrogen Deficiency in Plants
Saturday Mar 19, 2022
Saturday Mar 19, 2022
PLANT HEALTH
Plant Nutrition Deficiencies: Macro Nutrient Nitrogen
The 'Plant health' segment was created for my radio show "Real World Gardener,' as a division of the 'Plant doctor' segment, because I felt that it’s important to focus on what can go wrong with plants that isn’t a pest or a disease.
In the following audio podcasts, you will hear about what to look for in plants that have deficiencies of one of the macro nutrients: Nitrogen:Phosphorus:Potassium; in other words NPK or the macro nutrients.
Gardeners can often see problems appearing first in the colour of the leaves, but this can also be followed closely by lack of vigour, stunted growth and general unthriftiness of the plant.
Macro Nutrient Nitrogen
Listen to the podcast: I'm talking with Kylie Last horticulturist and tafe teacher.
If you have any questions you can email us Realworldgardener@gmail.com or write in to 2rrr, PO Box 644 Gladesville NSW 1675.
Friday Feb 25, 2022
Brown Rot of Stone Fruit in Plant Doctor on Real World Gardener
Friday Feb 25, 2022
Friday Feb 25, 2022
PLANT DOCTOR
Brown Rot of Stone fruit
There’s plenty of cultivars of stone fruit trees that can fit into any size garden.
Trixie and Pixie dwarf nectarine and peach trees have been around for years.
“There’s even a nectarine tree classed as Super Dwarf called ‘ Peach Sunset” that is grafted onto super dwarfing rootstock to produce a more compact tree growing to around 1.5 m tall.
This Nectarine is self fertile so only one tree is needed.
- But before we get too carried away, what are the cons for growing stone fruit?
- Is deciduous a con? Possibly, because stone fruit tree are deciduous so if you don't like the bare look in winter, stone fruit trees are not for you.
- Do you need two trees for fruit set? Not always so do your homework.
- Preventative spraying for peach leaf curl and brown root of stone fruit may be needed.
- The bad news is, it's too late to do something about it now.
You may even have to open the centre of established trees a bit more than usual to increase air flow.
Still, the fruit I ate off my trees this year were super delicious and well worth growing your own stone fruit trees.
Let’s find out
PLAY: Brown rot of stone fruit_16thFebruary 2022That was Steve Falcioni from www.ecoorganicgarden.com.au
If you have any questions you can email us Realworldgardener@gmail.com or write in to 2rrr, PO Box 644 Gladesville NSW 1675.
Saturday Dec 18, 2021
What Are Slime Moulds? part 1 of Plant Doctor
Saturday Dec 18, 2021
Saturday Dec 18, 2021
PLANT DOCTOR
Slime Mould: What Is It?
Part 1
What do the words slime mould conjure up in your imagination?
Is it that black stuff growing in the grout and on the tiles in your bathroom?
Or is it that green stuff on your paths on the south side of the house?
You may be surprised to find that it’s neither one of those so where is it lurking?
There are a lot of other moulds that live in the garden some of which are very useful.
Wolf Milk Slime mould |
Slime moulds are in the kingdom:Protista.
Did you know that slime moulds have a life cycle, and when you are able to observe them, is only part of their lifecycle?
They're usually brightly coloured -reds, vivid greens, yellow and purple.
They can grow on grass, logs and pretty much anywhere where the environment is conducive.
Slime moulds are not very well known in Australia, but Tasmania has around 100 species of slime moulds one of which is called 'dog vomit.'
Slime moulds are highly useful in that they break down materials, 80% of which is made available to plants.
Let’s find out more by listening to the podcast.
I'm talking with Steve McGrane, horticulturist and agriculturist.
If you have any questions about slime mould or some feedback why not email us realworldgardener@gmail.com or write in to 2RRR PO Box 644
Thursday Nov 25, 2021
Grafting Techniques part 2 on The Good Earth
Thursday Nov 25, 2021
Thursday Nov 25, 2021
GRAFTING TECHNIQUES Part 2
Approach grafting is an alternative method for citrus. |
In part 1 of grafting techniques Margaret Mossakowska and I talked about how growing from a tree such as an orange or lemon from seed isn’t all that successful unless you graft it onto hardy rootstock.
In this segment, we refresh some of those points and take you onto more grafting techniques.
There are many types of grafting that are available to be used, some more complex or more exacting than others.
My Take On Grafting
Cleft grafting I find is quite straight forward and easy to get right.
I've tried grafting Camellia reticulata scions onto Camellia sasanqua rootstock with a 100% success rate. Camellia reticulata has huge flowers, a feature I wanted growing in my garden.
Camellia 'Red Crystal' is a cross between C.reticulata ‘Crimson Robe’ and C. japonica ‘Wildfire,’ however, both are slow growing. and don't grow so fast in temperate Sydney.
I find this is a faster alternative, plus Camellia sasanquas are very hardy and less prone to root rot.
Camellia 'Red Crystal' |
- Grafting citrus is essential in Australia because the table citrus that we love to eat are not native to Australia, and so are prone to many diseases.
The grafted union in most cases needs to be above the ground. There is one exception and that is with lilacs(Syringia vulgaris.). Lilacs tend to sucker if grown on their own rootstock so they are grafted onto privet rootstocks.
Things to Watch Out For.
- At first the graft union may seem all fine and dandy, but if you see shoots from below the graft union, you may have a problem Houston.
- Shoots from below the graft union could signal failure of the graft and the rootstock is trying to take over.
- Keep on rubbing off these shoots and hopefully it's only a minor abberration.
- If this persists, you may find the top part or scion is slowly dying, so time to start all over.
You’ll also need the correct root stock.
If you have any feedback email realworldgardener@gmail.com or write in to 2RRR PO Box 644 Gladesville NSW 1675
Thursday Nov 25, 2021
Grafting Ctirus a Technique in The Good Earth
Thursday Nov 25, 2021
Thursday Nov 25, 2021
THE GOOD EARTH
Grafting Techniques part 1 & 2
Lemon tree |
- Switch to grafting methods.
Practice makes perfect and I would recommend wearing gloves before attempting to do any type of grafting.
So What is Grafting?
- The scion has to be a particular size and be related botanically speaking to the rootstock. That means you can't graft an apple onto citrus rootstock, because apples are in the family 'rosaceae' and citrus are in the plant family 'rutaceae.'
- Margaret describes cleft grafting where the scion's base is cut as a 'V' and inserted into the same length slit into the rootstock. The cambium (green wood) of each must be aligned.
You’ll also need the correct root stock.
Let’s find out more by listening to the podcast. I'm talking with Margaret Mossakowska of www.mosshouse.com.au