ABC Organic Gardener Magazine Issue 139 - Early Autumn 2023

Welcome to the first issue of ABC Organic Gardener for 2023. Here at OG we are ready for the new year after some time away from our desks. During the break, I’m pleased to say that, in between family events and catching up on jobs around the house and garden, I was able to dig into a few books and reduce the pile on my bedside table. One of the highlights was Heather Rose’s memoir Nothing Bad Ever Happens Here. Rose’s novels include the award-winning and wonderful Museum of Modern Love, and more recently Bruny. Her memoir covers a lot of territory from personal loss, chronic health challenges, marriage and mothering, to her spiritual exploration and love of the world. I also discovered Rose has been active in environmental and forest protection. She…

BALCONY CAPSICUM I recently read an article on growing capsicums where I was surprised at the author’s reservations. I have grown capsicums in pots for years. Neither plant nor fruit grow to much of a size, but on my small Sydney balcony, I do what I can. I have always grown capsicum from seed and find that it is most successful when I take the seeds from ripe capsicums. Perhaps seeds take time to ripen, as well as fruit? Caterpillars are fond of capsicums, so I have to keep an eye on the plants. At one stage I put them against a brick wall which retained heat, but eventually moved them because the caterpillars liked that spot, too. I’ve kept the plants going for longer than a year, as well. Rosemary Sharples Penshurst,…

STINGLESS BEES AT RISK The eradication program for Varroa mite affecting European honeybees in NSW is a potential threat to native stingless bees, according to Dr Anne Dollin, Chair of the Australian Native Bee Association Varroa Response Subcommittee. “NSW Department of Primary Industries (DPI) has begun, or is about to begin, using Fipronil, a very toxic pesticide, to eradicate Varroa mites within all of their red eradication zones,” Dr Dollin said. “As a result, native stingless bees within these areas will be at risk of poisoning for up to three years.” Dr Dollin said anyone with native bee hives within the Red Zones need to move them asap. The Australian Native Bee Association (ANBA) has just launched a campaign to assist. Dr Dollin also said that strict protocols were in place to prevent native insects,…

GREENER POTS Mix style with sustainability and you get a potting solution that works both indoors and out. No matter the size of your garden, whether a small balcony or backyard, the Greenville collection by Elho has a selection of self-watering plant pots that show design, functionality, and sustainable production can go hand in hand. Plus, the integrated water reservoir system ensures your plants won’t go thirsty in the warmer summer months. Available in five sizes from bunnings.com.au; priced from $22.48 to $69.98. INSPIRATION AT YOUR FINGERTIPS If you are still in the hunt for a diary or calendar, then why not go for these offerings from ABC Organic Gardener. As well as keeping track of your year, the 2023 ABC Organic Gardener calendars and diaries offer expert practical advice and inspiration. You’ll…

IF SPACE IS LIMITED, CONSIDER WHAT YOU ARE GOING TO EAT MOST AND CONCENTRATE ON THOSE. The cool season is just around the corner, so it’s time to get busy planning and planting. There are so many delicious vegetable crops that thrive through the cooler months, and with fewer pests about, the growing is easy! It means that with good preparation, you can have your own abundant harvest of fresh, nutritious vegetables through autumn and winter, and even better, using organic methods, you won’t be ingesting any pesticide and herbicide residues that may be lurking on shop-bought produce (see page 22). Here’s a selection of crops to get you inspired. Given there is so much choice of what to grow, if you have limited space, consider what you are going to eat most…

My love affair with growing and using native edible plants started around 15 years ago with herbs such as lemon and cinnamon myrtle, native thyme and sage, and native pepper. Since then, I have learned about the many native fruits that grow in my cool climate garden: finger limes, desert lime, ruby saltbush and midyim berries, to name a few. I’ve also just harvested my first quandongs and wattle seed from small plantings on my family’s land. However, most gardeners have limited experience of growing native food plants beyond finger limes, lemon myrtle and midyim berries. Yet there are thousands of edible plants that have been used by indigenous Australians. Mostly unaware of the wealth of these foods on our doorstep, non-indigenous Australians are now beginning to appreciate the variety of edible…