Many of our readers would have heard of the organic gardening technique ‘companion planting’. Some of you may be confidently planting according to this method; others may be hard and fast sceptics. I imagine there are also some readers who have never even heard of the concept. This final article in the Stoep Harvest series will explain the ideas behind companion planting and … [Read more...]
Stoep Harvest part 10: Rotating your plants
Today on Stoep Harvest we look at the concept of crop rotation. What is it, why do it and how does one go about doing it? Having spoken to a number of hobby-gardeners over the past few years, there seems to be a general sense of mystery and fear or scepticism around rotating one’s plants in the vegetable garden. I hope to bring clarity and confidence through making this … [Read more...]
Stoep Harvest part 9: Pest control
This time on Stoep Harvest we look at pests. Pests come in all shapes and sizes. Large pests may include dogs, cats, birds, porcupines, monkeys, baboons, and even children and their sports equipment! Smaller pests include insects such as caterpillars and beetles. There are even microscopic pests such as nematodes and eelworm that cannot be seen by the naked eye but cause … [Read more...]
Stoep Harvest part 8: Planting for winter
In this exciting edition of Stoep Harvest, planting time is here again! This is a fun time of the year where we can dream of crops to come. It is hard work, however, and is a busy time of preparation before the actual seeds go into the ground. This article will look at preparing the ground and then at the winter plants that we can look forward to eating. In the March Garden – … [Read more...]
Stoep Harvest part 7: Intelligent Watering
So far in the Stoep Harvest series we have covered how to plan your organic vegetable garden, increase your soil health, plant your crops and make compost. We have also discussed the benefits of mulching and how to weed and prune in the small-scale vegetable garden. After a few months without an article, it’s time to begin the series again. In a prelude to next month's article … [Read more...]
Stoep Harvest part 6: Harvesting weeds
So far in the Stoep Harvest series we have covered how to plan your organic vegetable garden, increase your soil health, plant your crops and make compost. Last month we looked at the benefits of mulching. Today I am writing about weeding and pruning in the organic garden. Your garden should now be in full swing, with food growing all over the place. In our (large) vegetable … [Read more...]
Stoep Harvest part 5: Mulching
Having already covered the planning, preparing and planting of your vegetable garden, this month on Stoep Harvest we look at the vital importance of mulching. If you have never mulched before, now is the time! The essence of organic gardening is to emulate in our gardens what naturally occurs in the wild. I find this especially true when it comes to mulching. If we look at … [Read more...]
Stoep Harvest part 4: Spring planting
This month on Stoep Harvest its time for Spring planting! In the southern hemisphere, the first of September is officially the beginning of spring. This is the time to be planting the vegetables that will feed you throughout summer and the early stages of autumn. If you are planting seeds directly into the soil, it is important that no new compost has been added in the … [Read more...]
Stoep Harvest part 3: Making compost
This month on Stoep Harvest, we look at composting, an essential part of enriching the soil. We focus on two different ways of going about it. As promised, we also describe the 'chicken tractor' an ingenious contraption that does all the hard work in preparing your garden! If you are already a compost fundi, come back next month for summer planting tips. Composting is the … [Read more...]
Stoep Harvest part 2: Preparing your soil
Last month on Stoep Harvest, we showed you how to plan and design your vegetable garden. Now we move on to the most important ingredient in a successful garden, the soil. We will look at the various soil types and how to enrich it. Composting is an important part of enriching the soil, so come back next month where we will cover how to make your own compost and how to use a … [Read more...]
Stoep Harvest: Introduction
Welcome to The Stoep Harvest, an exciting new addition to the Green Times. Once a month, Sam Adams will be writing an article that looks at how to design, create and maintain a successful organic vegetable and herb garden. There will be information for both first-time gardeners as well as those more experienced. Learn how to reap a harvest straight from your stoep, … [Read more...]
