Plant now for a healthy harvest!
Autumn is planting time: with soils still warm, fruit trees, shrubs and vegies planted now will establish quickly and put on some growth before colder weather sets in. So we've filled this issue with naturally great ideas to help fill your garden with goodness. Learn all about growing carrots, garlic and cold-loving salad greens. Plus, pot up nature and bring some of that green goodness indoors.
It's also mushroom foraging time so don't miss our essential guide: it's all about picking the best and leaving the rest. And, after our indepth look at heirloom veg and heritage fruit last issue, we look at rare farm animal breeds and why we need to nurture them to maintain diversity. And for all you chook lovers out there, our chook expert shares her feeding tips to keep your hens happy and healthy.
ABC Organic Gardener magazine is available online.
Plant: Cool greens
Karen Sutherland finds some top cold-loving salad greens to plant in your garden now.
Grow: Glorious garlic
Penny Woodward gives all the essentials for growing, harvesting and curing this favourite health-giving plant.
Grow: Off the chart carrots
Paul West says you’ll be excited by the colour chart of vibrant heirloom carrots ready to be planted now. Plus, all the basics of growing from seed.
Foraging: A basket of mushrooms
Our essential guide to foraging for edible fungi: Helen McKerral heads into the forest with Kate Grigg to pick the best, and leave the rest.
Ornamentals: Bringing nature indoors
Karen Sutherland introduces the wonderful world of indoor plants: how to care for them, what to grow, design ideas and potting mix tips for top health.
Basics: Taking a spin
It’s good to have a crop rotation plan to avoid pest and disease build up, writes Justin Russell.
Action: Get planting!
Autumn is the perfect time to get your vegies, shrubs and fruit trees into the ground before the cold of winter sets in.
Harvest: The whole truth
Eat Better Forever by Hugh Fearnley-Whittingstall of River Cottage fame is filled with ideas to get healthy wholefoods from the garden to your table.
Planet: Why 30 years is too long
Dr Karl Kruszelnicki has written a new book about climate change, looking at where we’ve been and what’s ahead.
Poultry: Chicken feed
Jessamy Miller gives the low-down on grain and pellet feed options that should provide the bulk of your chooks’ diet.
Organic life: Space to grow
May Volp of Full Circle Farm near Toowoomba talks with Leanne Croker about how micro farming can be big business (if in a small way).
Farming: A rare breed
Just like heirloom vegies, rare farm animal breeds and their amazing qualities need to be nurtured if they are to survive, writes Jessamy Miller.
Plus our regular articles…
- Editor’s letter
- Market: Garden party
- Organic matters: the latest news and events
- Competition: Win one of five worm farm prize packs worth $104.90 each!
- Losing the plot: Simon's tree salon – Simon Webster can take tree pruning a little too far.
- Gardening on your ABC: Your ABC local radio and TV gardening guide