ABC Organic Gardener Magazine

It’s raining apples, apples, apples this issue! First off is Arabella Forge’s story of her family’s apple orchard, featuring old-fashioned apple cultivars that may not travel well if carted on a truck to the supermarket, but when harvested by hand prove to be a flavour and texture treat. And how can you go past exotic names such as ‘Peasgood Nonsuch’, ‘Sturmer Pippin’ or ‘Calville Blanc d’Hiver’ – all planted years back by Arabella’s mum when she first purchased her small landholding on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula. As Arabella writes, when compared to modern apples, these beauties have a wildly diverse flavour and a more intense piquancy – sweet, acidic and fruity. You’ll find her description of her favourite cooking cultivars and her French Apple Tart recipe that’s a winner on page 24. The…

WINNING IMAGE The International Garden Photographer of the Year competition is always full of wondrous images of gardens, wildlife, nature and more. This year’s edition is no exception, with the winning photo by Tony North from Manchester, England, entitled ‘Blue Tajinaste’. It features Echium thyrsiflorum (syn. Echium gentianoides), from the borage family, which is a threatened plant endemic to the mountains of La Palma, one of Spain’s Canary Islands. The composite night-time image reveals a stunning view of a caldera and the stars above. Tony North’s photograph also received the Threatened Plants Photographic Award – in association with Botanic Gardens Conservation International (BGCI). For the full gallery of finalists and winners, go to: igpoty.com FESTIVAL OF PERMACULTURE Permaculture luminaries and enthusiasts will be flocking to South Australia in April for a selection of celebrations…

AUTUMN WATERING Two years ago, I retired to coastal northwest Tasmania (Devonport). The property had little to no garden and is on a sloping block. I have been ‘autumn’ planting over the past two years and am very pleased with how well plants have established. However, I am uncertain as to just how much watering should be done over the late autumn/winter period given how quickly the ground/air cools at this time. Last autumn, we had quite low rainfall. I have planted orange jessamine (Murraya paniculata) to form a front hedge (north facing). I have taken the risk that with climate change it will do okay. I planted them last March and they blossomed soon after. How often do you think I should water it (depending on rainfall)? Joanna, via email Hi Joanna,…

COLOUR YOUR GARDEN WITH BULBS Prepare your garden for a burst of colour in spring by planting flowering bulbs now. GardenExpress has a selection of bulbs so you can pick and choose what suits your garden best. You can choose from new tulip bulbs that will need to be put snug and safe in the soil over winter, ready to bloom when warmer weather arrives. Look for their new Tulip Columbus, the Tulip Abba (pictured above) and the Tulip Crossfire for a stunning spring show. Available from gardenexpress.com.au; from $8.50 (pack of three). ADD APPLES TO THE MENU If you want to start growing fruit trees, apples are one option that will provide a tasty harvest. One favourite for cooking is the ‘Sturmer Pippin’, available from Yalca Fruit Trees. With a greenish-yellow skin…

ROOTED IN TRUTH Often referred to as root crops, the edible swollen ‘root’ on this group of vegies is actually a rounded, swollen stem. They normally develop just beneath the surface of the soil and become more exposed as the plant matures, appearing to sit on top of the soil when they’re ready to be harvested. With summer crops finishing, there’s plenty of space to fill in the patch right now and plenty of options to try, but brassicas are at the top of the vegie growing list. They are the real heroes of the autumn season – they’re nutritious, delicious, and teeming with antioxidants – but it’s mostly the better-known brassicas you see, like broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage and kale. Yesteryear favourites, the bulbous brassicas (including turnip, swede and kohlrabi) have been largely…

As the first of the autumnal leaves start to redden and fall, apple harvest season is in full swing at my family orchard at Main Ridge on Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula. We have spent the weekend unpacking the traditional apple pie dishes, canning jars and slow cookers. Picking the first of the ‘Peasgood Nonsuch’ heirloom apples, plushly pink with the autumn sunshine and hanging from the trees in round-bottomed clumps. Of course, like many of the apple varieties we grow, ‘Peasgood Nonsuch’ is not your average supermarket apple. It falls into a broader range of heirloom varieties that can be difficult to find in larger stores. In France, apples such as these are referred to as pommes oubliés, the lost varieties of heirloom apples that fall beyond the scope of mainstream markets. Without…