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Sweet Sapphire Grapes, a New Variety
Last year I had the pleasure of trying out this sweet and crisp new variety of grape, the Sweet Sapphire grape, developed in California and now grown here in Australia and around the world. They were just so sweet and delicious. The Sweet Sapphire grape is a new variety, naturally crossbred and GMO free, and grown in farms around Mildura in Victoria and in the … Continue reading Sweet Sapphire Grapes, a New Variety
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Enjoying and Growing Pulses
The year 2016 was nominated as the International Year of Pulses. We joined the activities by listing recipes on this page along with links to information pages for growing various pulses in the home garden. Check out the recipes and growing information below. Last year we grew Chickpeas with success and you can see the plant in the banner of this post and photographed below. … Continue reading Enjoying and Growing Pulses
Happy Mother’s Day
Today is Mother’s Day in Sydney. Wishing all mothers a wonderful day surrounded by love. This is the Oriental Lilium ‘Stargazer’, a hybrid with blooms that face upwards on really strong stems. They are very fragrant and attract butterflies. ‘Stargazers’ can grow to a height of 36 inches with a spread of 10 to 14 inches with 2 to 8 flowers per stem. This lovely gift has … Continue reading Happy Mother’s Day
What to Plant in May
The following is a list of vegetables and herbs that you can plant in May in Sydney, a temperate zone (just click on the link for the growing guide for each vegetable): Beans – broad beans Brussels sprouts seedlings Cabbage seedlings Carrot Cauliflower seedlings Garlic Kale seedlings Kohlrabi Leeks seedlings Lettuce Mizuna Mustard greens Onion Pak Choy Parsley Peas Radish Rocket Shallots Silverbeet Snow Peas … Continue reading What to Plant in May
Risotto with Sausage and Tomato
Risotto is one of those comfort dishes that is delicious at any time of year. Using a quality risotto rice will make your risotto creamy while maintaining the integrity of the individual grains of rice, keeping them pleasingly al dente. Also, a homemade chicken or vegetable stock will give your risotto a lift too, as will the addition of a good dry white wine and … Continue reading Risotto with Sausage and Tomato
Happy Easter
To all; gardeners, friends and followers, I wish you a Happy Easter! Christós anésti, Buona Pasqua, Joyeuses Pâques, Felices Pascuas, Feliz Pascoa, Frohe Ostern, Schöni Oschtere For those who like to colour their own Easter eggs here is a link to show you how to make red Easter eggs. You can adapt the instructions to make eggs in any shade that you find pleasing. In … Continue reading Happy Easter
What to Plant in April
The following is a list of vegetables that you can plant in April in Sydney, a temperate zone (just click on the link for the growing guide for each vegetable): Amaranth Beans – broad beans, fava beans Beetroot Broccoli Brussels sprouts Cabbage Carrot Cauliflower Daikon Endive Garlic Kale Kohlrabi Leek seedlings Lettuce Mizuna Mustard greens Parsley Peas Radish Rocket Shallots Silverbeet Snowpeas Spinach Turnip Plant … Continue reading What to Plant in April
Chocolate, Fruit and Nut Slice
Dark cocoa, brandied fruit and nuts combine to make this delicious slice. The fruit gives moisture and the nuts give a lovely crunch. The orange zest and brandy used to soak the fruit adds flavour. It takes only a little preparation and is quick and easy to make at any time. This slice is perfect for a snack or with your favourite coffee or tea. … Continue reading Chocolate, Fruit and Nut Slice
What to Plant in March
Today is the first day of autumn and this is the first Planting Guide of the season. The following is a list of vegetables and herbs that you can plant in March in Sydney, a temperate zone. Just click on the name for the growing guide for each vegetable: Amaranth Beans – broad beans, fava beans Beetroot Broccoli transplant seedlings Brussels sprouts Cabbage Carrot Daikon … Continue reading What to Plant in March
Joe’s Fig and Cinnamon Jam
Late summer and autumn sees the fresh figs ripening fast, in fact, faster than one can eat them all. So making jam is a great way to use up the glut of figs and to keep enjoying them when the season is over. It is also a lovely way to share your bounty with family and friends when figs are no longer available. Joe has … Continue reading Joe’s Fig and Cinnamon Jam
What to Plant in February
The following is a list of vegetables and herbs that you can plant in February in Sydney, a temperate zone. Just click on the name for the growing guide for each vegetable or herb: Amaranth Beans (dwarf) Beetroot Broccoli Brussel sprouts Carrot Cauliflower Chives Cucumber Endive Fennel Kohlrabi Leeks Lettuce Mustard greens Onion Parsley Radish Silverbeet Swedes Turnip Zucchini Plant of the Month – the … Continue reading What to Plant in February
Caramelised Figs with Brandy
Every year we prune the old fig tree hard and in spring it roars back to life with a huge bounty of figs in late summer. Delicious as they are fresh, it is very satisfying to make Caramelised Figs with Brandy to keep in the fridge and enjoy with ice-cream. In Sydney they are ripening already. It is so easy to make up jars of … Continue reading Caramelised Figs with Brandy
