
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.
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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

Sunday Oct 30, 2022
Flowers Have Their Seasons on Real World Gardener
Sunday Oct 30, 2022
Sunday Oct 30, 2022
TALKING FLOWERS
Seasonality of Flowers
Vegetables have their season when they’re available fresh and not just out of the cold room where they’ve been for 6 months or more.
What about flowers?
Many people forget that flowers have their seasons too, after all there are plenty of flowers available all year round.
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Hellebores-a winter flower |
If I asked you what’s the best time of year to buy peonies would you know?
What about roses, is there a best time?
Winter Flowers
Spring Flowers
Stephanotis |
Summer Flowers
Autumn Flowers
I'm talking with Nadine Brown of https://www.theivyinstitute.com.au/
The scientific name for spring stars is Ipheion uniflorum, often marketed as Triteleia Stars Of Spring, rather confusingly.
Got to say one my favourite spring flowers.
If you have any feedback email realworldgardener@gmail.com or write in to 2RRR PO Box 644 Gladesville NSW 1675

Saturday Oct 29, 2022
Spice Up Food with Furikake on Real World Gardener
Saturday Oct 29, 2022
Saturday Oct 29, 2022
SPICE IT UP
Furikake: Japanese seasoning
Isn't it time you enlivened your tastes buds with something you've never tried before?
This next spice isn’t just one spice on it’s on but several spices or a blend of spices that are just right for Japanese food or any other food for that matter.
Furikake is a traditional Japanese seasoning that is sprinkled on cooked food.
In some ways like shichimi togarashi seasoning, furikake seasoning has not only toasted sesame seeds in it but also black sesame seeds that combine to give you a delectable nutty flavour.
But wait, will it have monosodium glutamate I hear you ask as so often spice blends in Asian cuisine do?
Well, here’s the thing, with 50 years of sourcing and mixing spice blends, Ian Hemphill is just the man to find a substitute for MSG without compromising the flavour of just such a spice blend
Fuikake also has the combination of salt, nori flakes or nagi, to add that classic Japanese profile when it comes to flavour. Also orange peel, Sichuan pepper and Australian lemon myrtle.
Furikake goes well with rice, on top of eggs, seafood and on top of white or red meat.
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Miso soup with furikake eggs. photo courtesy www.herbies.com.au |
Let’s find out more bout this fabulous spice.
I'm talking with Ian Hempill, owner of www.herbies.com.au
Ian has been a regular on RWG for many years but never has he admitted to carrying emergency spices in his pocket before.
Ian carries Furikake spice in his pocket in the off-chance he’s going to snack on some sushi.
How good is that? If you have any questions about spices why not email us at realworldgardener@gmail.com or write in to 2RRR PO Box 644 Gladesville

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.
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.
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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.

Sunday Sep 04, 2022
Choosing the Freshest Flowers on Real World Gardener
Sunday Sep 04, 2022
Sunday Sep 04, 2022
TALKING FLOWERS
Tips on Choosing the Freshest Flowers
Do you regularly buy a bunch of fresh flowers to brighten up your home?
Sometimes I cringe when I see a bunch of flowers outside some supermarkets because I know what signs to look for that tell me whether or not they’re really fresh.
But could you tell how fresh a bunch of flowers are when you see them for sale?
Some of the top tips are
- Keep your flowers away from the fresh bowl of fruit.
- Feel the stems to see if they’re fresh and not slimy.
- Avoid buying flowers from the roadside.
Don’t worry, Nadine Brown will tell us how lots more .
I'm talking with Nadine Brown floral educator of www.theivyinstitute.com.au
If you like buying fresh flowers you should listen to the podcast.
If you have any questions you can email us Realworldgardener@gmail.com or write in to 2rrr, PO Box 644 Gladesville NSW 1675.

Thursday Aug 11, 2022
Drying Flowers on Real World Gardener
Thursday Aug 11, 2022
Thursday Aug 11, 2022
TALKING FLOWERS
Dried Flowers and How To Do Them
Dry Your Own.
HOW?
I'm talking with florist and educator, Nadine Brown, florist educator and business mentor of the Ivy Institute
Why not have a go and drying flowers from your garden?
If you have any feedback email realworldgardener@gmail.com or write in to 2RRR PO Box 644 Gladesville NSW 1675

Sunday Aug 07, 2022
Drinks and tricks with Horseradish on Real World Gardener
Sunday Aug 07, 2022
Sunday Aug 07, 2022
KITCHEN GARDEN
Tricks with Horseradish
My father was a big fan of this vegetable or perhaps it should be called a herb?
He loved it grated on various meats, ‘clears out the sinuses' he always exclaimed.
Not too many gardeners are familiar with horseradish and even though it's a perennial vegetable that's easy to grow.
- Perhaps because gardeners and others aren't too familiar with what you do with this, ahem root vegetable.
- Well that's right, horseradish is actually classified as a root vegetable even though you can use it as a seasoning and in drinks.
Growing horseradish
- Firstly, to grow horseradish, get yourself a crown or a plant from the herb section of your garden centre.
- Planting in late winter is perfect.
- Choose a sunny but permanent spot.
- Dig in plenty of of well rotted manures and compost.
USES
Infuse it in vodka to make a savoury gibson style martina.
Just flavor a cup of vodka with a small amount of grated horseradish for a few days to give it that extra kick.
I'm talking with Corinne Mossati founder of the gourmantic garden website
If you have any feedback email realworldgardener@gmail.com or write in to 2RRR PO Box 644 Gladesville NSW 1675

Sunday Jul 10, 2022
What Is Sustainable Floristry in Real World Gardener
Sunday Jul 10, 2022
Sunday Jul 10, 2022
TALKING FLOWERS
Sustainable Floristry
Have you ever thought about what happens to the tons of flowers that are sold around Australia for weddings, funerals, special occasions like birthdays and anniversaries?
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Hydrangea flowers for sale |
Perhaps some of the lucky recipients might compost them when they're finished or at least throw in the in the green waste bin, but what of the others?
Did you know that approximately 10% of flowers that are sold in Australia are imported from overseas?
May not sound like much but do you know if the flowers you buy, are they imported or locally grown and does it matter?
A lot of flowers that are past their use by date end up in landfill, which I suppose means that they might decompose there but what of the mountains of wrapping, floral foam and other packing that the flowers come with?
According to the Sustainable Floristry Network "Excess packaging, plastic props, floral foam, and exotic blooms flown halfway around the globe are rationalised away because that’s what clients expect."
The next problem is that imported flowers are often sprayed with a glyphosate based chemical to prevent customers taking cuttings of the plant, before they arrive. then they are sprayed with the carcinogen methyl bromide, after entering Australia.
Imported flowers include Roses, Carnations, Orchids, Tropical Foliages and Chrysanthemums are these sourced from places like Kenya, Thailand, South Africa, China, New Zealand, Holland and Vietnam.
Nadine recommends that cut flowers should be bought when in season. Easily done by asking the florist where the flowers are from.
Marianne (radio host) speaks with 'Sustainable Floristry Network" ambassador and floral educator Nadine Brown of https://www.theivyinstitute.com.au/home about the meaning of sustainable floristry.
So ask the question when you next buy flowers, are these flowers locally grown?
Check out the sustainable floristry website https://www.sustainablefloristry.org/
If you have any questions you can email us Realworldgardener@gmail.com or write in to 2rrr, PO Box 644 Gladesville NSW 1675.

Sunday Jul 03, 2022
What are Root Knot Nematodes on Real World Gardener
Sunday Jul 03, 2022
Sunday Jul 03, 2022
PLANT DOCTOR
Nematodes part 1: the backstory
Did you know that there are 1,000,000 species of nematodes that have been identified?
- The majority of nematodes aren't plant or crop destructors.
- Then there's the problem of identifying what's going on with plants that are affected by nematodes.
- Have you ever had plants that seem to wilt despite you watering them religiously?
What they look like
Nematodes are a round worm but because they are unable to be seen by the naked eye, I would describe them as thread like with a large head and mouth.
Arm yourself with a magnifying glass and have a look at the roots of plants that you suspect have been attacked by nematodes. You should be able to see them then.
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Coffee tree nematode |
If nematodes are on your plants the symptoms range from perhaps they’re just stunted and don’t seem to grow much, r like the coffee tree pictured, continually looks like it's wilting despite the watering it receives. Another symptom is yellowing of foliage.
So let’s find out by listening to the podcast
Your host of Real World Gardener, Marianne is talking with Steve McGrane, agriculturist and horticulturist.
Next week we tackle the many, many ways you have to control the bad nematode, namely root knot nematodes.
If you have any questions you can email us Realworldgardener@gmail.com or write in to 2rrr, PO Box 644 Gladesville NSW 1675.