Real World Gardener-Horticulture, Gardening, Learning to Grow

Real World Gardener-Horticulture, Gardening, Learning to Grow

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Real World Gardener-Horticulture, Gardening, Learning to Grow episodes

  • Old Man Saltbush in Plant of the Week
    PLANT OF THE WEEK Number 2

    Scientific Name: Atriplex nummularia

    Common Name:Old Man Saltbush
    Family: Chenopodiaceae
    Native Habitat: found in semi-arid and arid areas of Australia.
    Description:-grey-green leaves on a somewhat woody shrub. Dioecious-separate male and female plants.
    Height-Width: 3 x 2-5 m
    Flowering: small white flowers occur throughout most of the year.
    Fruiting:rounded fruits.
    Position: Full sun and tolerant of some shade. 
    Attributes: Dry tolerant once established due to the extensive deep root system that extends to 5m deep and 10m across.
    • The leaves impart a salty flavour if your dry and crumble them and sprinkle on food.

    Possibly, listeners would be familiar with the term ‘old man saltbush’ or even have seen this plant growing somewhere.


    But I daresay, you would not have heards that parts of this plant are considered bush tucker.
    There are many bush tucker plants that are not that well known and this is another one of them.

    • The Department of Primary Industries NSW recommends the following for farmland. 

    "Shrubs are grown in hedgerows as block or alley plantings across the farm to provide high-protein green feed during periods of feed shortage."

    Old Man Saltbush: Photo courtesy DPI NSW

    "Shrubs are grown in hedgerows as block or alley plantings across the farm to provide high-protein green feed during periods of feed shortage.Not recommended for areas with less than 300 mm average annual rainfall, or more than 600 mm average annual rainfall." 

    In the home garden, if you’re first planting out old man saltbush, don’t expect it to survive without any water at the start. After the first warm season, then it’s good to go on just what falls out of the sky in rainfall.

    Let’s find out more by listening to the podcast with Adrian O' Malley horticulturist and native plant expert. 


    8 min
  • Australian Native Raspberry in Plant of the Week
    PLANT OF THE WEEK
    Scientific Name: Rubus parvifolia
    Common Name:Native raspberry
    Native Habitat: found mainly along the east coast in rainforest or coast heath communities.
    Description:A scrambling vine or shrub the shoots from underground rhizomes with hooked thorns to help it climb. 
    Height-Width: 2 x 2 m
    Flowering: December to April
    Fruiting:Juicy fruit produced in clusters.
    Position: Full sun or part shade.
    Attributes: Dry tolerant once established.

     

    Rubus parvifolia


    Not all fruiting vines or canes come from the northern hemisphere, Australia has quite a lot of its own.
    These plants have similar fruits and are easier to grow than there northern counterparts so why are we growing them more? 

    My experience is observing one such plant in Sydney Botanic gardens, scrambling on a stream bank near the Palm House. This plant is part of the native garden along with banksias, grass trees, lomandras, carpobrotus and many others, including a peppermint gum.

    The habit of rubus species is to keep suckering and spreading, much like the non-native blackberry bushes, so take care where exactly you plant it in your garden.

    Listen to the podcast to find out more.

    I'm talking with horticulturist and native plant afficionado, Adrian O’Malley 

    PLAY : Rubus parvifolius_25th August 2021

    7 min
  • Hidden Talents of Nasturtiums on Real World Gardener
    Nasturtiums 
    with Corinne Mossati

    Quite often we gardener have flowering plants in the garden but never think about bringing them into the kitchen to make something.

    They may be just fillers or self-seeders, but in this case, the nasturtium, has so many extra uses other than ornamental, you’ll be inspired to do something.


    Germinating  Nasturtium Seeds.
    Plant the seeds in moist well drained soil, keeping the soil moist but not waterlogged.
    Corrine find it takes between 14-21 days.
     
    Why not try the Alaska variety with variegated leaves, or 'Black Velvet' with deep red flowers and dark leaves.
    The one pictured is growing in my garden, is 'Cherry Rose.'
    Eating Nasturtiums-Corinnes'tips:
    Leaves taste peppery and are great for adding with other greens to salads.
    Why no try drying the leaves and grind them to a powder. 
    When combined with salt you have a condiment to flavour food or crust the rim of your margeurita cocktail glass!
     
    Nasturtium flowers are edible too.
    Use them as you would zucchini flowers.
    Nasturtium seeds are edible, often referred to as 'poor man's capers.'
    Let’s find out more, listen to the podcast.
    I'm speaking with Corinne Mossati, drinks writer and founder of The Gourmantic Garden: http://www.thegourmanticgarden.com
    and Cocktails & Bars: http://www.cocktailsandbars.com
    Her website tagline & hashtag “Grow It. Eat It. Drink It.” sums up Corinne’s garden and we look forward to more segments with Corinne.
    If you have any feedback email [email protected] or write in to 2RRR PO Box 644 Gladesville NSW 1675
    8 min
  • Therapeutic Horticulture part 2 on Real World Gardener
    Therapeutic Horticulture part 2
    The next part of my interview with specialist Cath Manuel,  is more about how anyone interested in this field can get started plus the actual benefits for participants.
    Cath was asked what kind of activities she creates or devises?  
    Cath uses basic gardening skills and/or tasks but the activity is very much person centred. 
    For example, someone with  low confidence and low self-esteem who is unable to participate in a community garden, perhaps on the NDIS then simple tasks such as sowing seeds, simple propagating, growing crops and fruit, watering.
    Corporate sponsorship for organisations is very important because it can provide materials such as plants, gloves, potting mix, and other garden related products.
    photo M Cannon
    Observations
    Cath has seen a lot of successes over the years, one she mentions in particular is when she works with the 'Memory Support Unit' for dementia patients.
    Patients within a few minutes of being in the garden, are suddenly transported to being the gardener they once were. They are happier, often start talking to others and communicating better.
    Training-How to Get Started
    For anyone that wants to train in therapeutic horticulture, there is training online with  https://soiltosupper.com
    There are two programs, one for individuals and one for those wishing to train in therapeutic horticulture.
    Support is provided by Cath Manuel
     
    Let’s find out moreI'm talking with Cath Manuel, Therapeutic Horticulture Specialist . Listen to the podcast.Cath Manuel is the founder of Soil to Supper website and a specialist in therapeutic horticulture and kitchen gardens. https://soiltosupper.comIf you have any feedback email [email protected] or write in to 2RRR PO Box 644 Gladesville NSW 1675
    14 min
  • Therapeutic Horticulture part 1 on Real World Gardener
    GARDEN AS THERAPY
    Therapeutic Horticulture
    What makes a garden therapeutic? What is therapeutic gardening?
    Are these two things connected or are they separate?
    You would think that yes gardening is therapy, so doing a bit of gardening would amount to therapeutic horticulture but you would be wrong.
    To understand therapeutic horticulture, you have to be across two areas:-health and well-being and horticulture. You can start from the health sector and then gain some qualifications in horticulture or vice versa..
    Therapeutic horticulture then means using gardening as an activity to improve people's health and well being through the use of plants . 
     There are lots of courses that can assist you with training to be a therapeutic horticulturist.
    The next step is to gain some hours through volunteering with an organisation, eg aged care, through NDIS, and disability sector.
    It's also a good idea to join THA or Therapeutic Horticulture Australia https://tha.org.au.
    photo M Cannon
    Let’s find out moreI'm talking with Cath Manuel, therapeutic horticulture specialist Cath Manuel is the founder of Soil to Supper website and a specialist in therapeutic horticulture and kitchen gardens. https://soiltosupper.com
    If you have any feedback email [email protected] or write in to 2RRR PO Box 644 Gladesville NSW 1675
    11 min
  • Dealing with a Tough Garden Bed part 3 in Design Elements
    Part 3: The final Countdown
     
    In the last 5 years Glenice and husband Phil, have made so many improvements to the soil .
    A very difficult spot that experiences 40 degrees C  temperatures in summer and winter temparatures below 0  and even minus 5 degrees C at times.
    A hard clay soil that had been compacted by heavy vehicles driving over part of it for many years.
    The planting also included these very tough and hardy plants.
    Teucrium fruiticans- also known as Germander, is a very hardy small evergreen bush in the mint family with grey stems and undersides of the leaves. 1.2m
    Phillyrea angustifolia . Drought, heat, frost and salt tolerant. Phillyrea are olive related which explains their toughness-dark green glossy leaf with serrated edge, making a contrast to the other silvers in the bed. Height to 2.5m, slow growing. Alternative to English box. can be kept to under 1m in height
    Aloes
    Other succulents
    Beschoneria yuccoides-Mexican lily, is a perennial succulent with a rosette of slender strap-like leaves that can grow to 1m in length. 
    Rhagodia spinescens Salt bush-Small, native shrub with silvery, grey triangular foliage growing to approximately 1.5m. Tolerates all soil types and coastal conditions
    Atriplex nummularia, commonly called Old Man Saltbush, a large grey shrub to 2 m tall and to 4-5 m wide, with brittle woody branches
     
    Glenice said in her post that
    She said of the garden that;We used a rotary hoe to break up the soil before planting.Spread/dug through gypsum and watered in liquid gypsumDug through premium garden soil and compost.Mulched the area with fine grade pine bark, sugar cane mulch, straw and tea tree mulch.Continued fertilising any new plants with composted animal manure pellets and liquid fertilisers every 2 to 3 months.Continued to give any plants in the area a deep slow water by hand to ensure they receive a good amount of water closest their roots.
    Garden at the Berkshires-photo Glenice Buck
    Selected plants that will cope with the tough conditions that area hot and dry conditions.
    Over planted the slope- I planted out all the plants with closer spacing than recommended as they will help protect and buffer each other in this tough location. They will grow, settle in and get established more quickly together.
    When you're dealing with tough locations like this you also need to have patience and give the garden soil time to take in all these improvements. Soil preparation is very important and you should try to hold off planting before the soil is ready - haha! try telling a gardener to do that when there is open soil / spare space in the garden. I didn't wait!
    I'm talking with Glenice Buck Landscape designer and Arboriculture consultant.
    www.glenicebuckdesigns.com.au
    9 min
  • Tackling a Tough Garden Bed part 2 in Design Elements
    Part2 Tough Garden Bed
    In the last 5 years Glenice and husband Phil, have made so many improvements to the soil .
    We used a rotary hoe to break up the soil before planting.
    Spread/dug through gypsum and watered in liquid gypsum
    Dug through premium garden soil and compost.
    Mulched the area with fine grade pine bark, sugar cane mulch, straw and tea tree mulch.
    Continued fertilising any new plants with composted animal manure pellets and liquid fertilisers every 2 to 3 months.
    She said of the garden that they did this process listed above ,every year for 5 years but it wasn't until the 3 year mark that there was a turn around in plants being able to survive.
    Without those years of soil preparation, the plants would not have been able to thrive.
    Miscanthus transmorrisonensis
    Planting Palette Glenice used for this area - lots of silvers!
    Miscanthus transmorrisonensis-Evergreen Feather grass, evergreen leaves to 80cm tall by 100cm wide fountain-like mounds
    Panicum virgatum ‘Heavy Metal’ or Blue Switch grass is special for its dramatic, metallic blue foliage and for its strong upright habit to around 140cm.
    Senecio viravira- a beautiful rounded evergreen shrub with silver-white dissected leaves topped by soft lemon flowers. One of the best silvers. Sun loving and drought tolerant. 80cm x 100cm.
    Artemisia Powis Castle- a hardy, bushy, low growing shrub that has very attractive, soft, silvery grey, deeply divided foliage
    Olea europaea 'Piccolo' suits really tough conditions - drought, frost, poor soil, no irrigation. Grows to 2m
    Teucrium fruiticans- also known as Germander, is a very hardy small evergreen bush in the mint family with grey stems and undersides of the leaves. 1.2m
    Philorea
    Aloes
    Other succulents
    Beschoneria yuccoides-Mexican lily, is a perennial succulent with a rosette of slender strap-like leaves that can grow to 1m in length. 
    Salt bush
    Atriplex nummularia, commonly called Old Man Saltbush, a large grey shrub to 2 m tall and to 4-5 m wide, with brittle woody branches
    I'm talking with Glenice Buck Landscape design and Arboriculture consultant.
    8 min
  • Tackling a tough garden bed part 1 in Design Elements
    DESIGN ELEMENTS
    When the going gets tough
    Many gardeners have a section of their garden that might often see plant failures year after year.They’ve tried all sorts of plants that claim to be tough as old boots, but still they fail.Glenice Buck has dealt with one such problem garden bed where she lives and this week starts a series of 3, on how she went about solving the problem.
     
    Glenice explains that the bed is on a slope (see photo below) so the water would just hit the soil and run down the hill.
    This garden bed also gets all day sun on heavy clay soil.
    Access to water is limited to hand watering. Not ideal considering the busy schedule that Glenice's parents have.
    On top of the lack of shade and being baked by hot afternoon summer sun, the soil had been previously used as bit of a driveway and had been compacted by heavy machinery when the house was being build.
    Glenice said in her post that 
     
    "This section of garden bed in the rear garden at #thegardenattheberkshires has been the toughest bed I have ever dealt with. Five years on with a lot of work and improvements it is finally starting to fill in and look good. It has been hard to get anything to grow in this area. The reasons for it being a difficult spot to deal with is 
    Tough garden bed at the Berkshires photo Glenice Buck
    Have a listen to the podcastI'm talking with Glenice Buck Landscape design and Arboriculture consultant.
    8 min
  • Success with Coriander in the Kitchen Garden
    THE KITCHEN GARDEN
    SUCCESS WITH CORIANDER
    Scientific name: Coriandrum sativum
    I mentioned before that certain herbs that look alike and again I find myself talking about another herb that confuses people.
     
    Australians refer to the seeds and leaf as coriander but in the northern hemisphere, the leaf is sometimes known as 'cilantro.'
    Coriander is one of those herbs that people either love it or hate it.
    Do you love it?
     
    Coriander leaves

    Coriander is easy enough to grow but being in the carrot family,(Apiaceae) its green leafy tops can look not only like other herbs, but other vegetables!

    • My guest, Toni Salter in the podcast, calls it the 'primadonna' of herbs. 
    There are many things it doesn't like and without a second glance, coriander will bolt to seed giving you not much leaf at all.
    What causes it to bolt to seed?
    • Soil is too dry
  • Too little water at the right time.
  • Poor or impoverished soil.
  • Poor drainage in your herb garden.
  • Temperatures too warm for it's liking.
  • Temperatures too cold for it's liking
  • Transplanting-the worst sin.
    • Problems with germination?
    Try soaking the seeds for a few hours in a shallow saucer of water.
    • TIP: Always sow the seeds directly into the position where it will grow.
    Sow it into a container if you like, but keep it there.
    Coriander loves rich fertile soil, much like your vegetables.
    Coriander seedlings
    When to Sow in Australia
    For sub-tropical and arid zones, you have August to September;
    Temperate districts, sow the seeds from September until the end of November,
    In cool temperate zones, October to November,
    • Sow your seeds about 1 cm deep, cover them and keep them moist.
    Whether or not you sow them in rows, scatter them amongst your other veggies, or use them to grow as a shade plant for your lettuce, it really doesn’t matter.

    Companion planting: plant coriander near your spinach to confuse the grasshoppers.
    Let one or two plants go to seed. The flowers attract beneficial insects after which the coriander seeds can be harvested to use in cooking, once the seeds turn brown and crispy.

    Coriander seeds drying on plant
    A must if you like Asian cooking and even though coriander looks like parsley, as soon as you smell it, you know what you’ve got.
     
    Heaps of Coriander seeds are used in curries, tagines and many other Asian dishes.
    In fact the whole herb, including the roots can be ground up to make a Thai Green Curry paste.

    Let’s find out more
    I'm talking with Toni Salter www.theveggielady.com.au
    PLAY: Success with Coriander_8th September 2021

    If you have any feedback email [email protected] or write in to 2RRR PO Box 644 Gladesville NSW 1675
    11 min
  • Winter Savoryvs Thyme in Spice it Up
    SPICE IT UP   
     SAVORY VS THYME

    Often there’s a couple of herbs that look alike and even have similar flavour profiles.


    If you had them growing together in the herb garden, you may even confuse the two because of how closely they look to each other.

    Thyme is the better known herb in Australia, which from the 1950's was commonly used in soups, stews, scones and casseroles.
    For some reason, savory is not very well known in Australia, but it’s commonly used America and England.
    In England, and America, it's quite popular and in the US, winter savory is a key ingredient in the stuffing for the 'Thanksgiving Turkey.'

    If you rubbed both herbs without knowing which was which, you would most likely think they both were the same herb.
    • Winter savory, unlike thyme, is not sold as a cut herb in the produce aisle of your supermarket.
  • Confusingly there is a 'summer savory' which tends to die off in winter and usually not come back.
    • Looking after both herbs
    With their tiny leaves, both herbs are adapted to the dry regions of the mediterranean. 
    Both herbs are in the mint (Lamiaceae) family, but unlike mint, don't  feel you need to give either thyme or winter savory heaps of water with the exception of the hottest days in Australia's summers.
    • I've never seen the seeds of savory being sold however if you have a pot of winter savory that's overgrown and become leggy, follow these tips to refresh it.
  • Dividing the roots  in spring, will rejuvenate the plant.
  • Start off by trimming about a third of any wrapped or circling roots.
  • Divide the root ball into thirds or quarters, making sure that each section has a healthy piece of root and stems with green leaves attached.
  • Remove one-third of the top growth, and trim away any dead or damaged stems and leaves.
  • Re-pot into new containers and gift some to your friends.
    • But can you substitute one for the other?
    Thyme has the volatile oil: thymol which is a strong natural antiseptic.  
    Wild thyme growing amongst a rocky outcrop
    You only need to use a small amount to get the flavour, and is a key ingredient in mixed herbs.
    • Did you know there are over 100 varieties of thyme?
  • The wild thyme of Provence is known for its strength of flavour. Think 'herbs de Provence' is a blend with this wild thyme.
    • The answer is yes, both herbs are interchangeable, but savoury is less pungent than thyme.
    • You will find winter savory, Satureja (sat-you-rea) montana, as a plant sold in most garden centres.
  • So time to get some of your own.
    • Let’s find out more by listening to the podcast.
    I'm talking with Ian Hemphill from www.herbies.com.au

    If you have any feedback email [email protected] or write in to 2RRR PO Box 644 Gladesville NSW 1675
    12 min

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