Book, Christmas, Gardening Book, Gardening for Beginners: Hints and tips for Melbourne Australia, Sarah Jackson

Looking for a gardening Xmas holiday read?

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Why not download “Gardening for Beginners: Hints and tips for Melbourne Australia” by Sarah Jackson.

“Gardening for Beginners: Hints and Tips for Melbourne Australia” by Sarah Jackson

So you want to start a garden? No idea where to start? Then this may be the guide for you. “Gardening for Beginners” is a handy reference book with basic hints and tips for the new gardener. It contains no fancy terms, no superior expertise, just honest advice from someone just like you. There are sections on what tools to buy, growing vegetables, fruit, herbs and flowers, dealing with pests, and working out which fertilisers are best for you.

It is written for a cool climate, but the advice is useful anywhere. The book is based on the quirky and informative blog Sarah’s Melbourne Kitchen Garden.

For more information about the book: “Gardening for Beginners”

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Growing Mint

Growing Mint

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Mint is difficult to grow from seed, but easy to grow from seedling, or cutting. Mint grows well in a pot and can be grown on balconies and indoors. It has a lot of weed-like properties and will quickly take over garden beds and lawns of planted directly into the ground – consider yourself warned. If you want to try and control it, consider planting it in a pot, into the ground.

Mint like warm, moist, loose soil. Mint seems to grow happily enough in either full sun or shade, provided it has sufficient water. Plant seedlings about 15cm apart (they will spread to fill the gaps). I wouldn’t waste time and resources fertilising them, but use your best judgment.

For more information on growing mint download the Fact Sheet: Mint Fact Sheet

Manure

Have you fertilised you Summer crops yet?

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Consider manure!

Manure makes a great fertiliser. It is natural, breaks down well, and helps to condition your soil by adding nutrients and assisting with water storage.

When using manure, dig it into your garden, with a garden fork, as soon as you can as manure loses its nutrients if it is left sitting.

The three most common types of garden manure are: Cow, Horse and Chook. For more information on manure for the garden, download our handy fact sheet: Manure Fact Sheet