2020-01-01_ABC_Organic_Gardener

20

ORGANIC PLANT

PHOTOS: ALAMY/ISTOCK

Climate Zone Key:

Tropical subTropical Arid/Semi-Arid Warm Temperate Cold Temperate

20cmH

20cm W

Plant

spring-

autumn

Full sun

VARIEGATEDAPPLE MINT

Menthasuaveolens‘Variegata’

Variegated apple mint is a fresh-looking and tasting

addition to a kitchen garden and makes an aromatic gift.

Like other mints, it’s easily grown but is best kept in either

a pot, hanging basket, wall garden or some other confined

garden bed, where it can’t take over. The patterned leaves

add interest and help identify the plant when harvesting.

Add young leaves to salads, fruit salads, summer drinks

or make a refreshing tea, which is delicious hot or cold.

Cut plants down to ground level in winter and give them

some slow release organic fertiliser when they regrow

in spring. Plants need to be lifted and divided each year

or so, to allow them fresh soil to grow into. Look out for

fungal diseases such as rust or mildew in late summer.

PEACELILY

Spathiphyllumvarieties

Peace lily is one of the most reliable of indoor plants so is

a fantastic gift to give a beginner gardener and is available

in a range of sizes and varieties. With lush, green foliage and

long-lasting white lily-like flowers, these plants tolerate

fairly low light and don’t have high water requirements.

Water your plant in a sink every 7-10 days with lukewarm,

preferably filtered water, and allow to drain fully before

returning to its location, to avoid salts building up in the

potting mix. Give your plant the occasional shower to keep

it dust free. Apply an organic liquid feed a couple of times a

year. Like other lilies, all parts of this plant are poisonous

to animals, so if you have a curious kitty avoid this plant.

STRAWBERRY ‘PINK’

Fragaria x ananassa ‘Pink’

Strawberry ‘Pink’ looks as good as it tastes, with fruits that

are small-to-medium in size, sweet and flavoursome. All

strawberries need rich, well-drained soil and regular watering.

Although they will grow in some shade, they need full sun to

fruit well. Like other strawberry varieties, this one can be

grown in pots, hanging baskets, or in wall gardens, which all

help to keep the tender fruit away from slugs and snails and

also from touching the soil, which helps reduce the fungal

diseases they are prone to. Plants also work well planted

along raised garden bed edges. Grow multiple plants per

person if you want a reasonable harvest. Plants need to

be replaced every three years to keep them producing well.

30-50cm

H

50cm W

spreading

Plant

spring

and

summer

Fullsun/

partial

shade

30-60cm

H

30-60cm

W

Buy all

year

round

Tolerates

low light