Hard shells Seeds with hard husks, such as peas, beans, silverbeet and beetroot, will benefit from being soaked in water overnight before sowing. This helps break down their protective coating and speeds up germination. Chilli pest spray An organic chilli spray can help protect your crops from pests and diseases and is particularly economical if you can’t eat your chilli harvest fast enough. Puree 20 chillies with 500mL of water. Strain the...

Sprouting in the kitchen Home-grown sprouts have a much better flavour than store-bought ones and can be easily grown in the kitchen year round. Place sprout seeds in a jam jar covered with muslin cloth and secure with an elastic band. Douse the seeds in water twice a day and drainthrough the muslin. Within three to seven days the sprouts will be ready to eat. You can extend the short shelf life of sprouts by freezing them. Double harvest Buy...

Recycling is about living in balance with the Earth, creating harmony through nurturing and valuing what we have, not wasting it. How much junk do you have stashed away awaiting the next council cleanup? With a little lateral thinking it can be given a new lease on life. Gardeners are connected intimately to their environment and can make a positive impact in many ways. By recycling and reusing items in the garden, we can save objects intended...

Beetroot (Beta vulgaris) is a rewarding crop to grow in the home vegetable garden. Not only does it produce its tasty red roots, but the young leaves can be harvested and eaten in a salad. Our last issue described heirloom beetroot varieties and now we will look more in-depth at how to grow this nutritious vegetable. This root vegetable is best known for its round red root, but beetroots come in other colours and shapes. They can be red and...