ABC Organic Gardener Magazine Nr. 121

Most of the food we see at supermarkets could never be described as ‘magnificent’. It turns out that the nutrients in commercial non-organic crops have been gradually diminishing since the widespread adoption of industrial agriculture many decades ago. In an article this issue – ‘The Way to Magnificent Food’ (page 34) – Justin Russell sets out the reasons why, and it’s not just, as you might expect, about the nutrient loss from our soils. It turns out that modern hybrids – big on yield and low on flavour – also pack less nutrient punch than traditional heirlooms, while climate change is also diluting the nutritional value of our crops. Giving back to our soils is essential if we want a long-term future in feeding ourselves. Although conventional soils fed with a pile of…

APPLE ACHE I have old apple trees in 60cm pots. I grafted a Granny Smith and Royal Gala in 2002. They are stunted due to their time in pots but I am worried about the growth on parts of the trunk.. Is it an insect or disease and should I cut and remove it? Tracy Bryen, Liverpool, NSW Dear Tracy, The knobbly growths on the trunk of your apple tree is a natural occurrence known as aerial burr knots. They are an attempt by the tree to send out a mass of new roots in search of nutrients and water, and for this reason it’s quite common for burrs to form on the rootstock below the graft. However, some apple cultivars are prone to developing burrs on the upper part of their trunk. A couple…

FLYING HIGH Flies may be a big nuisance to humans, but they can also help gardeners and pollinate crops. When we think of pollination, we tend to think of bees, but new research has shown how certain native fly species can be excellent pollinators. In 2018, the WA Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development gathered a team combining universities, private business and agricultural industries in a five-year, multi-million dollar research project to look at native fly species as potential pollinators for agricultural and horticulture crops. Stage one aims to identify individual fly species visiting flowers of major crops, including blueberries, strawberries, mango and avocado. The team recently reported that, while several interesting flies had been identified, including two hover flies, the western blue-bodied fly Calliphora dubia increased blueberry yields by 36 per…

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Life in the bush (and the city) Richard Glover, who presents Drive on ABC Sydney, has just published the book Love, Clancy – a collection of letters written by his dog Clancy. Many are about Clancy’s less-than-ideal incursions in the garden. year Your , mudbrick how are things house now survived ? The bounce the fires -back earlier is slower this than we hoped. Some trees are sprouting, but – all these months on – a giant gum will creak and then collapse in a splintering roar. The good news: we’ve rebuilt the burnt-out shed and the melted septic tank. Next job: the fences. build It took your 30 house years in for the you bush and , why your did friends you do to it? It all starts with an…

WINGED BEAN (OR GOA BEAN) PSOPHOCARPUS TETRAGONOLOBUS Winged bean is an intriguing and versatile climbing vegetable native to Papua New Guinea, which thrives in hot and humid conditions. Winged bean can also be grown in warm temperate regions if planted in a warm position in spring. Sow seeds where they are to grow and provide with a strong trellis for support. Seeds need to be treated before sowing by scarification with sandpaper or soaking in hot water until the seeds swell up, or a combination of the two. Plants are effective nitrogen fixers, hardy and disease-resistant and can begin flowering 40 days after sowing. Most parts of the plant are edible when raw or cooked; the flowers are tasty in salads; the leaves can be cooked as a green vegetable; the pods…