Fabulous Food from Every Small Garden (CSIRO Publishing Gardening Guides)

233 Pages·2010·2.02 MB·English

by  Mary Horsfall

CSIRO pubLishing gardening guides CSIRO pubLishing gardening guides
f
a
b
u
Fabulous Food from Every Small Garden shows how to grow food at home in even the l
o
smallest of spaces. It explores the reasons for growing your own food, including the many
u
potential benefits such as improved taste, freshness and nutrition. Many types of food are fabulous food
s
covered, including vegetables, fruits, herbs, bush tucker plants and edible flowers.
f
o
The book gives detailed instructions for successfully growing plants from seeds, and explains
o
the use of organic pest and weed control and efficient watering methods. In addition, readers FroM EvErY SMall GardEn
d
are shown how to improve soil fertility by making their own fertiliser.

f
Written by the author of the best-selling Creating Your Eco-friendly Garden, this practical r
o
book also offers solutions on incorporating food plants with other plants to create beautiful
m
gardens in spaces such as balconies and flowerbeds. This is complemented with information

on innovative techniques such as aquaponics, hydroponics, wicking beds and grid gardening e
v
to achieve high productivity in small spaces. The final chapters cover growing, harvesting
e
and storing produce, and contain simple recipes. r
y

s
m
a
l
l

g
a
r
d
e
n

M
a
r
Y

h
o
r
S
F
a
l
l
MarY horSFall
gardening
guides
FABULOUS FOOD
FROM EVERY SMALL GARDEN
(cid:19)(cid:23)(cid:19)(cid:28)(cid:19)(cid:20)(cid:135)(cid:41)(cid:68)(cid:69)(cid:88)(cid:79)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:41)(cid:82)(cid:82)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:22)(cid:83)(cid:83)(cid:17)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:20) (cid:20)(cid:28)(cid:18)(cid:19)(cid:25)(cid:18)(cid:19)(cid:28)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:20)(cid:19)(cid:29)(cid:24)(cid:28)(cid:29)(cid:23)(cid:27)(cid:3)(cid:36)(cid:48)
This book is dedicated to everyone who ever sank their teeth into a tasteless tomato and knew
there had to be a better choice; for anyone who ever felt dismay at rising food prices; for
everyone who ever wondered where their food came from and what was in it; and most of all,
for the children, yours and mine.
(cid:19)(cid:23)(cid:19)(cid:28)(cid:19)(cid:20)(cid:135)(cid:41)(cid:68)(cid:69)(cid:88)(cid:79)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:41)(cid:82)(cid:82)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:22)(cid:83)(cid:83)(cid:17)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:21) (cid:20)(cid:28)(cid:18)(cid:19)(cid:25)(cid:18)(cid:19)(cid:28)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:20)(cid:19)(cid:29)(cid:24)(cid:28)(cid:29)(cid:23)(cid:27)(cid:3)(cid:36)(cid:48)
FABULOUS FOOD
FROM EVERY SMALL GARDEN
MARY HORSFALL
CSIRO PUBLISHING GARDENING GUIDES
(cid:19)(cid:23)(cid:19)(cid:28)(cid:19)(cid:20)(cid:135)(cid:41)(cid:68)(cid:69)(cid:88)(cid:79)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:41)(cid:82)(cid:82)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:22)(cid:83)(cid:83)(cid:17)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:22) (cid:20)(cid:28)(cid:18)(cid:19)(cid:25)(cid:18)(cid:19)(cid:28)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:20)(cid:19)(cid:29)(cid:24)(cid:28)(cid:29)(cid:23)(cid:28)(cid:3)(cid:36)(cid:48)
© Mary Horsfall 2009
All rights reserved. Except under the conditions described in the Australian Copyright Act 1968 and subsequent
amendments, no part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by
any means, electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording, duplicating or otherwise, without the prior permission of the
copyright owner. Contact CSIRO PUBLISHING for all permission requests.
National Library of Australia Cataloguing-in-Publication entry
Horsfall, Mary, 1949–
Fabulous food from every small garden/Mary Horsfall.
9780643095977 (pbk.)
CSIRO Publishing gardening guides.
Includes index.
Bibliography.
Vegetable gardening – Australia.
Plants, Edible – Australia.
Fruit-culture – Australia.
Small gardens – Australia.
635
Published by
CSIRO PUBLISHING
150 Oxford Street (PO Box 1139)
Collingwood VIC 3066
Australia
Telephone: [phone]
Local call: 1300 788 000 (Australia only)
Fax: [phone]
Email: [email protected]
Web site: www.publish.csiro.au
Front cover (clockwise, from top right): Swiss chard; tomatoes (EarthBox Australia); broccoli; native raspberry (Happy
Earth).
Back cover (clockwise, from top right): broad beans; no-dig bed in a straw bale; pumpkin harvest;
lilly pilly berries; tank beds.
All photographs are by Rodney Horsfall unless otherwise stated.
Set in 10.5/14 Adobe ITC New Baskerville
Edited by Janet Walker
Cover and text design by James Kelly
Typeset by Desktop Concepts Pty Ltd, Melbourne
Printed in China by 1010 Printing International Ltd
The paper this book is printed on is certified by the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) © 1996 FSC A.C. The FSC promotes
environmentally responsible, socially beneficial and economically viable management of the world’s forests.
CSIRO PUBLISHING publishes and distributes scientific, technical and health science books, magazines and journals
from Australia to a worldwide audience and conducts these activities autonomously from the research activities of the
Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO).
The views expressed in this publication are those of the author(s)and do not necessarily represent those of, and should
not be attributed to, the publisher or CSIRO.
(cid:19)(cid:23)(cid:19)(cid:28)(cid:19)(cid:20)(cid:135)(cid:41)(cid:68)(cid:69)(cid:88)(cid:79)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:41)(cid:82)(cid:82)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:22)(cid:83)(cid:83)(cid:17)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:23) (cid:20)(cid:28)(cid:18)(cid:19)(cid:25)(cid:18)(cid:19)(cid:28)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:20)(cid:19)(cid:29)(cid:24)(cid:28)(cid:29)(cid:23)(cid:28)(cid:3)(cid:36)(cid:48)
CONTENTS
Acknowledgements vii
Introduction ix
Part One All about the garden 1
1 Why grow your own? 3
10 good reasons
2 Where and what? 15
First thoughts
3 High productivity from small spaces 33
Some special techniques
4 Creating super soil 55
Soil biota and fertility
5 Making the most of your space 83
Plants for places
6 Getting started with vegetables 99
Seeds and seedlings
7 Plant care 109
Weeding, watering, controlling pests
Part Two All about the plants 131
8 Vegetables 133
9 Fruits 165
10 Bush foods 187
11 Herbs and flowers 193
12 A taste for all seasons 207
Final words 213
Appendix 1 Suppliers and information 214
Appendix 2 Bibliography 216
Index 217
v
(cid:19)(cid:23)(cid:19)(cid:28)(cid:19)(cid:20)(cid:135)(cid:41)(cid:68)(cid:69)(cid:88)(cid:79)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:41)(cid:82)(cid:82)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:22)(cid:83)(cid:83)(cid:17)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:24) (cid:20)(cid:28)(cid:18)(cid:19)(cid:25)(cid:18)(cid:19)(cid:28)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:20)(cid:19)(cid:29)(cid:24)(cid:28)(cid:29)(cid:23)(cid:28)(cid:3)(cid:36)(cid:48)
(cid:19)(cid:23)(cid:19)(cid:28)(cid:19)(cid:20)(cid:135)(cid:41)(cid:68)(cid:69)(cid:88)(cid:79)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:41)(cid:82)(cid:82)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:22)(cid:83)(cid:83)(cid:17)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:25) (cid:20)(cid:28)(cid:18)(cid:19)(cid:25)(cid:18)(cid:19)(cid:28)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:20)(cid:19)(cid:29)(cid:24)(cid:28)(cid:29)(cid:23)(cid:28)(cid:3)(cid:36)(cid:48)
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
Loving thanks to my husband Rodney suitable for use in numerous small areas. See
Horsfall for always being ready with the Appendix 1 for contact details.
camera, and for his support throughout the
Barb and Wane Cull for inviting Rodney to
project. Unless otherwise stated, the
visit and photograph their Mornington
photographs are his work.
Peninsula straw bale vegie garden.
A number of other people have helped
Our neighbour David Cerini for access to his
generously at various stages and to all of them
productive backyard food garden.
I extend sincere thanks:
Alison Mellor and Richard Walter for Sue Heggie for the photo of her bathtub vegie
allowing me to use photographs of their garden.
wonderful permaculture garden ‘Happy
My gratitude also extends to the many
Earth’ near Wollongong, NSW. To discover
contributors to Grass Roots magazine for their
more about how this enterprising couple
inspiration and shared knowledge over
turned a suburban lawn into a permaculture
decades, which has contributed greatly to my
paradise, see their website: www.happyearth.
own learning and to what I can share in my
com.au.
turn through this book. Little did I know
Christopher Debek of EarthBox Australia for when I started working at Grass Roots in 1989
photographs of this productive system where the journey would take me.
vii
(cid:19)(cid:23)(cid:19)(cid:28)(cid:19)(cid:20)(cid:135)(cid:41)(cid:68)(cid:69)(cid:88)(cid:79)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:41)(cid:82)(cid:82)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:41)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:68)(cid:79)(cid:17)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:26) (cid:21)(cid:28)(cid:18)(cid:25)(cid:18)(cid:19)(cid:28)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:22)(cid:29)(cid:19)(cid:28)(cid:29)(cid:20)(cid:23)(cid:3)(cid:51)(cid:48)
(cid:19)(cid:23)(cid:19)(cid:28)(cid:19)(cid:20)(cid:135)(cid:41)(cid:68)(cid:69)(cid:88)(cid:79)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:41)(cid:82)(cid:82)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:22)(cid:83)(cid:83)(cid:17)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:27) (cid:20)(cid:28)(cid:18)(cid:19)(cid:25)(cid:18)(cid:19)(cid:28)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:20)(cid:19)(cid:29)(cid:24)(cid:28)(cid:29)(cid:23)(cid:28)(cid:3)(cid:36)(cid:48)
INTRODUCTION
This book is about empowerment, of dirt. Even the patch of dirt is not essential,
empowering you to take back a measure of as long as you have space for some pots.
control of your food supply. Australian
Through my work as editor of Grass Roots
Bureau of Statistics (ABS) figures indicate
magazine I am fortunate enough to share the
that about 35% of Australian households
experiences of thousands of readers
already grow some of the fruit and vegetables
throughout Australia. If there is one thing
they consume. If you are one of the 35%, you
above all others that never fails to amaze and
are bound to find new ideas about how to
impress me about this diverse readership, it is
increase your production. If you belong to the
the amount of food that people with only
65% who, according to ABS information, do
small spaces at their disposal manage to
not yet grow their own food, this is your
produce in those small spaces. With a little
starting point – a new adventure in taste,
resourcefulness, even a sunny balcony,
personal satisfaction, better health and
courtyard or suitable rooftop can be made
money saving is about to begin.
productive enough to supply you with salads
Interestingly, a poll commissioned by the and culinary herbs.
Nursery and Garden Industry of Australia
(NGIA) in 2008 showed that 63% of those In 2003, I began a new garden from scratch
surveyed had a garden planted with herbs, on a double block in a country town.
vegies or fruit trees. Perhaps the large High on my list of priorities was a kitchen
difference between the two sets of figures has garden. I had been used to growing the
to do with the amount of food grown and the majority of my family’s vegies and herbs, and
higher figure on the NGIA survey included a fair amount of fruit as well, on a country
anyone surveyed who grew a pot of parsley. acreage. There, I’d had plenty of space and a
The NGIA survey reported that 80% of good supply of the fertiliser and mulch
respondents were attracted to the idea of resources usually available on a small farm,
their garden being a mixture of decorative but limited water. In the new location I had
trees and plants intermingled with edible limited space and few free resources, but a
plants. This book will show how to achieve reliable town water supply, or so I thought at
such a garden easily. first until an extended drought period led to
severe restrictions.
Just about anyone can grow some of their own
food. You don’t need a huge garden, though, Though not far in distance from the old
of course, a large area gives you more options garden, the new one was subject to
and allows you to grow a greater variety of significant climatic differences and had a
vegies, herbs and fruit. Do not allow lack of different range of pests to identify and
space to hold you back; you’ll be surprised at contend with, but the main difference was
how much you can produce from a small patch the space available. I had formed many ideas
ix
(cid:19)(cid:23)(cid:19)(cid:28)(cid:19)(cid:20)(cid:135)(cid:41)(cid:68)(cid:69)(cid:88)(cid:79)(cid:82)(cid:88)(cid:86)(cid:3)(cid:41)(cid:82)(cid:82)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:22)(cid:83)(cid:83)(cid:17)(cid:76)(cid:81)(cid:71)(cid:71)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:28) (cid:20)(cid:28)(cid:18)(cid:19)(cid:25)(cid:18)(cid:19)(cid:28)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:3)(cid:20)(cid:19)(cid:29)(cid:24)(cid:28)(cid:29)(cid:23)(cid:28)(cid:3)(cid:36)(cid:48)