Real World Gardener-Horticulture, Gardening, Learning to Grow

SPICE IT UP

Black pepper, White Pepper: Peppers of All Sorts

Until recently, this next spice, black pepper, was one of the most traded in the world. We’re talking thousands of tonnes of black pepper, can you imagine? But why was that and how does this it grow?

 

On a tree, a shrub or is it an orchid?

Did you know that to get black peppercorns, the berries are harvested when they are green?

Let’s find out more.

I’ve being talking with Ian Hemphill from www.herbies.com.auThe peppercorn that we know isPiper nigrum vine native to south India.

All peppercorns are harvested by hand.

Gardeners in the tropics and possibly sub tropics can grow this vine up a trellis or a tree outside in the garden.

Pepper is a jungle plant so that the roots need to remain cool,The vine will fill a trellis in about three years. Berries that are picked when they're fat and green can be dried to make black pepper.

In the wild, or in plantations where they are allowed to grow up palm trees, the hermaphrodite pepper flowers  are pollinated by rain running down the catkin. This occurs during the monsoon

So if you want to grow one in your home garden, watering the flowers should mimic this.

Berries allowed to mature and turn red, can be peeled and inside is a seed.This is actually white pepper.

SPICE IT UP

Black pepper, White Pepper: Peppers of All Sorts

Until recently, this next spice, black pepper, was one of the most traded in the world. We’re talking thousands of tonnes of black pepper, can you imagine? But why was that and how does this it grow?

 

On a tree, a shrub or is it an orchid?

Did you know that to get black peppercorns, the berries are harvested when they are green?

Let’s find out more.

I’ve being talking with Ian Hemphill from www.herbies.com.auThe peppercorn that we know isPiper nigrum vine native to south India.

All peppercorns are harvested by hand.

Gardeners in the tropics and possibly sub tropics can grow this vine up a trellis or a tree outside in the garden.

Pepper is a jungle plant so that the roots need to remain cool,The vine will fill a trellis in about three years. Berries that are picked when they're fat and green can be dried to make black pepper.

In the wild, or in plantations where they are allowed to grow up palm trees, the hermaphrodite pepper flowers  are pollinated by rain running down the catkin. This occurs during the monsoon

So if you want to grow one in your home garden, watering the flowers should mimic this.

Berries allowed to mature and turn red, can be peeled and inside is a seed.This is actually white pepper.

PLANT OF THE WEEK 2

Scientific name:Austromyrtus dulcis

Common name: Midgen berry

Flowers: white with 5 petals, in spring and summer. Later in cooler districts.

Leaves: variable 9-30mm with noticeable oil glands. New growth is covered with silky hairs.

Site: part shade to full sun

Uses: bush tucker food

 

Cultivars: Austromyrtus  'Copper Tops." ( A hybrid between A. dulcis and A. tenuifolia.)

Here’s a shrub that has not only green leaves but berries that you can actually eat.

Let’s find out more…I'm talking with Adrian O’Mally, qualified horticulturist and native plant expert. 

The white berries have pale purple spots and a reputedly crunchy with a similar taste to blackberries.

I never found that thinking they were more pasty albeit sweet tasting. 

The preferred soil is will drained.

Midgen berry hedges is a great alternative to murraya hedges. Plant that closer together than the recommendation on the plant tag. Usually half the distance is best.

In it's native environment it may grow as a spreading shrub up to 2 m tall. Usually found in sandy soils in heath, scrub or open forests and occasionally on the margins of rainforests. 

In the home garden 40cm x 1.4m wide

Midgen berry copper tops has coppery coloured new growth.

PLANT OF THE WEEK 2

Scientific name:Austromyrtus dulcis

Common name: Midgen berry

Flowers: white with 5 petals, in spring and summer. Later in cooler districts.

Leaves: variable 9-30mm with noticeable oil glands. New growth is covered with silky hairs.

Site: part shade to full sun

Uses: bush tucker food

 

Cultivars: Austromyrtus  'Copper Tops." ( A hybrid between A. dulcis and A. tenuifolia.)

Here’s a shrub that has not only green leaves but berries that you can actually eat.

Let’s find out more…I'm talking with Adrian O’Mally, qualified horticulturist and native plant expert. 

The white berries have pale purple spots and a reputedly crunchy with a similar taste to blackberries.

I never found that thinking they were more pasty albeit sweet tasting. 

The preferred soil is will drained.

Midgen berry hedges is a great alternative to murraya hedges. Plant that closer together than the recommendation on the plant tag. Usually half the distance is best.

In it's native environment it may grow as a spreading shrub up to 2 m tall. Usually found in sandy soils in heath, scrub or open forests and occasionally on the margins of rainforests. 

In the home garden 40cm x 1.4m wide

Midgen berry copper tops has coppery coloured new growth.

PLANT OF THE WEEK

Thryptomene sp and Thryptomene saxicola F.C.Payne

There are some plants that can be forgiven for not doing much for most of the year, then, when they come into flower, they become the star of the garden.In a way, they behave like a spring or summer bulbs, because they’re practically invisible until they pop out and flower their heads off.

So what is this Thryptomene which I have been alluding to? Let’s find out more… I'm talking with Adrian O’Mally, qualified horticulturist and native plant expert.PLAY:Thryptomene NEW_26th August 2020 

Rock thryptomene is as close to a common name as you'll get for this plant.

Growth is as for a sub-shrub 0.75 – 1.5m tall by 1 – 1.5 wide.

Adrian came across seven thryptomene planted along a bank with a south-east aspect.

They had grown leggy so to keep your shrub bushy, keep up the formative pruning in the early stages.

Doing this you will able to keep the shrub to 60cm in height.

Thryptomene is evergreen with a slightly weeping habit and  aromatic small leaves are small.You may find it as a filler in bouquets because the tiny 5-petalled flowers blend well with larger flowers of any kind.

Thryptomene saxicola (pictured below)

 

Thryptomene paynei, then newly introduced to New Zealand was "raised by FC Payne of Adelaide".

F.C. Payne was the owner of "The Sanctuary" plant nursery in Ashton, in the Adelaide hills of South Australia who promoted the use of Australian native plants in local gardens.

By 1967 the cultivar had become a "garden favourite" in Australia and was featured in a gardening guide for native plants in The Australian Women's Weekly.

Bird and insect attracting plants always make a lovely addition to your garden. Look out for the different cultivars of thryptomene in your nursery or big box store this spring, because there won’t be many, and they’ll be snapped up quick smart. If you have any questions about anything gardening, why not email us [email protected]

PLANT OF THE WEEK

Thryptomene sp and Thryptomene saxicola F.C.Payne

There are some plants that can be forgiven for not doing much for most of the year, then, when they come into flower, they become the star of the garden.In a way, they behave like a spring or summer bulbs, because they’re practically invisible until they pop out and flower their heads off.

So what is this Thryptomene which I have been alluding to? Let’s find out more… I'm talking with Adrian O’Mally, qualified horticulturist and native plant expert.PLAY:Thryptomene NEW_26th August 2020 

Rock thryptomene is as close to a common name as you'll get for this plant.

Growth is as for a sub-shrub 0.75 – 1.5m tall by 1 – 1.5 wide.

Adrian came across seven thryptomene planted along a bank with a south-east aspect.

They had grown leggy so to keep your shrub bushy, keep up the formative pruning in the early stages.

Doing this you will able to keep the shrub to 60cm in height.

Thryptomene is evergreen with a slightly weeping habit and  aromatic small leaves are small.You may find it as a filler in bouquets because the tiny 5-petalled flowers blend well with larger flowers of any kind.

Thryptomene saxicola (pictured below)

 

Thryptomene paynei, then newly introduced to New Zealand was "raised by FC Payne of Adelaide".

F.C. Payne was the owner of "The Sanctuary" plant nursery in Ashton, in the Adelaide hills of South Australia who promoted the use of Australian native plants in local gardens.

By 1967 the cultivar had become a "garden favourite" in Australia and was featured in a gardening guide for native plants in The Australian Women's Weekly.

Bird and insect attracting plants always make a lovely addition to your garden. Look out for the different cultivars of thryptomene in your nursery or big box store this spring, because there won’t be many, and they’ll be snapped up quick smart. If you have any questions about anything gardening, why not email us [email protected]

CROP ROTATION with The Veggie Lady

You may have heard of crop rotation but perhaps relegated it to the basket where moon planting and biodynamics reside.But did you know that crop rotation isn’t something that gardeners should scoff at because of it’s importance in the life-cycle of plants and insects.

In fact it’s a really important strategy that organic gardeners use. Let’s find out.. I'm talking withToni Salter the veggie lady of www.theveggielady.com Toni only changes crops once every 12 months but uses a 4 bed rotation system. Changeover is usually spring.

Group 4 groups together so you're planting the same thing in the same place only every 4 years.

You can do it based on the plants families.

Toni likes to put it into whether it's a leaf crop, a flowering crop or a root crop.

This system divides per type of vegetable

Root crops-onions and garlic.

Leaf  and legumes together-leeks and spring onions, brassicas,

Flowering crops are split further into two beds

 

Bed 1 is tomato, capscium and chilli plants

Bed 2-cucumbers, zucchini, pumpkin and corn

Bed 3 root crops-carrots, parsnips, beetroot, onions and garlic

Bed 4 leafy crops-beans, lettuces.

Start with a 4 bed rotation.

That means you’re only planting the same thing in the same place every four years. 

So you will be growing four different types of crops in each garden bed. 

Toni divides it into leaf and legumes in one bed, then, flowering crops are split into two beds-tomato family in one, and all the rest into the other. 

Finally root crops like carrots, beetroots, onions and garlic. 

If you have questions for Toni about crop rotation or have information to share, drop us a line to [email protected] or write PO 2rrr PO Box 644 Gladesville NSW 1675

CROP ROTATION with The Veggie Lady

You may have heard of crop rotation but perhaps relegated it to the basket where moon planting and biodynamics reside.But did you know that crop rotation isn’t something that gardeners should scoff at because of it’s importance in the life-cycle of plants and insects.

In fact it’s a really important strategy that organic gardeners use. Let’s find out.. I'm talking withToni Salter the veggie lady of www.theveggielady.com Toni only changes crops once every 12 months but uses a 4 bed rotation system. Changeover is usually spring.

Group 4 groups together so you're planting the same thing in the same place only every 4 years.

You can do it based on the plants families.

Toni likes to put it into whether it's a leaf crop, a flowering crop or a root crop.

This system divides per type of vegetable

Root crops-onions and garlic.

Leaf  and legumes together-leeks and spring onions, brassicas,

Flowering crops are split further into two beds

 

Bed 1 is tomato, capscium and chilli plants

Bed 2-cucumbers, zucchini, pumpkin and corn

Bed 3 root crops-carrots, parsnips, beetroot, onions and garlic

Bed 4 leafy crops-beans, lettuces.

Start with a 4 bed rotation.

That means you’re only planting the same thing in the same place every four years. 

So you will be growing four different types of crops in each garden bed. 

Toni divides it into leaf and legumes in one bed, then, flowering crops are split into two beds-tomato family in one, and all the rest into the other. 

Finally root crops like carrots, beetroots, onions and garlic. 

If you have questions for Toni about crop rotation or have information to share, drop us a line to [email protected] or write PO 2rrr PO Box 644 Gladesville NSW 1675

THE GOOD EARTH

Building Habitat for Native Bees

This year, gardening has been taken up by many people who have never gardened before.But that’s not all, worm farming, keeping chickens and bee-keeping have become more popular because people are spending more time at home. You probably know there are honey bees and Australian native bees. But which type of bees pollinate your crops better or is there no difference?Let’s find out.. I'm talking with Margaret Mossakowska of www.mosshouse.com.au Margaret suggests build habitat for the native bees because they are so much better at pollinating your flowers, in particular veggies in the tomato family, than honey bees. 

 

Building native bee habitat can be bricks made from clay, or wood and other materials.

Margaret's Clay Bricks Recipe

Mix clay with water then 2 or 3 parts of sand.

Margaret then pours the mix into moulds. One litre milk containers say from rice milk.

When dry she drills various size holes into these 'clay' bricks and places them strategically around the garden.

For 'blue banded bees,'  or even 'teddy bear bees,' drill holes 6mm in size and 6cm deep. The bees will excavate the holes further.

Bees will also next in bricks where the mortar has worn out. 

Most native bees are dormant or die during the Australian winters.

Flower are important from spring onwards.

Plant flowering trees with small flowers such as melaleucas or paperbarks.

Borage is also an excellent plant for bees because it has a high percentage of protein and sugar in the pollen and nectar.

Perennial basil is also fantastic for not only attracting bees but hover flies and other beneficial insects to the garden.

Why not also let some parsley or coriander go to seed.

Provide some water for the bees-not deep, and include some pebbles so the bees don't drown. Plant saucers are ideal for this purpose.

  If you have questions for Margaret about keeping native bees, or have information to share, drop us a line to [email protected]

THE GOOD EARTH

Building Habitat for Native Bees

This year, gardening has been taken up by many people who have never gardened before.But that’s not all, worm farming, keeping chickens and bee-keeping have become more popular because people are spending more time at home. You probably know there are honey bees and Australian native bees. But which type of bees pollinate your crops better or is there no difference?Let’s find out.. I'm talking with Margaret Mossakowska of www.mosshouse.com.au Margaret suggests build habitat for the native bees because they are so much better at pollinating your flowers, in particular veggies in the tomato family, than honey bees. 

 

Building native bee habitat can be bricks made from clay, or wood and other materials.

Margaret's Clay Bricks Recipe

Mix clay with water then 2 or 3 parts of sand.

Margaret then pours the mix into moulds. One litre milk containers say from rice milk.

When dry she drills various size holes into these 'clay' bricks and places them strategically around the garden.

For 'blue banded bees,'  or even 'teddy bear bees,' drill holes 6mm in size and 6cm deep. The bees will excavate the holes further.

Bees will also next in bricks where the mortar has worn out. 

Most native bees are dormant or die during the Australian winters.

Flower are important from spring onwards.

Plant flowering trees with small flowers such as melaleucas or paperbarks.

Borage is also an excellent plant for bees because it has a high percentage of protein and sugar in the pollen and nectar.

Perennial basil is also fantastic for not only attracting bees but hover flies and other beneficial insects to the garden.

Why not also let some parsley or coriander go to seed.

Provide some water for the bees-not deep, and include some pebbles so the bees don't drown. Plant saucers are ideal for this purpose.

  If you have questions for Margaret about keeping native bees, or have information to share, drop us a line to [email protected]