The loofah gourd is low-maintenance and prolific, yielding hundreds of fruits annually. It’s resistant to droughts. Used in cooking, body scrubbers, and cleaning tools, it also enriches compost. Its versatility and resilience make it valuable for the kitchen, household, garden, and livestock feed.
Growing Loofah Gourd in Lusaka Read More »
Gallery, Very Low Maintenance Plants, What is thriving this season?
Some people garden for the love of cooking and good food, valuing herbs and spices for nutrition, flavour, and medicinal properties. Dried spices can be costly and less flavorful, but certain herbs thrive in drought conditions. Consider growing and drying your herbs and spices to save money and enhance dishes.
Hardy Herbs And Spices Read More »
Gallery, Herbs & Spices
Gardening serves to enhance our surroundings with beauty. Ornamental gardens prioritize aesthetics, while edible “ornamentables” offer both beauty and sustenance. Vines bring elegance and privacy and can even act as natural shelters. Despite the need for support, they can transform any space, adding a unique and beautiful touch.
The Beauty Of Vines Read More »
Gallery, What is thriving this season?
Growing annual or seasonal vegetables in the subtropics poses challenges due to frequent droughts and sporadic floods. This results in stunted growth, failed germination, and washed-away plants, requiring intensive labour and time. In contrast, deep-rooted perennial vegetables offer established growth, minimal water reliance, labour savings, and flood protection, making them an ideal choice for small gardens.
Growing Perennial Vegetables in Times of Drought Read More »
Gallery, Spring and Summer Gardening in the Subtropics, What is thriving this season?
Bees play a crucial role in horticulture and urban food forests. Thunderstorms can cause bee casualties, but planting windbreaks and ensuring flower availability near hives can help mitigate losses. Rain leads to flourishing plants and diverse hybrid pollination. #LoveHomeGrown
Flowering Plants That Sustain Bee Populations In The Rainy Season Read More »
Gallery, General Topics, Useful Insects
Despite challenging weather and pest pressures, growing edible and ornamental plants is still rewarding, especially with perennial plants. We have good harvests with pomegranates, mangoes, lychees, grapes, figs, bananas, apples, citrus fruits, assorted vegetables, and spices. We hope to inspire others to thrive regardless of the conditions. Check out a few of our harvests in this gallery. We wish everyone a Merry Christmas and hope you have a joyful, loving, and peaceful holiday season.
Merry Christmas to Our Customers, Subscribers, Friends and Followers Read More »
Gallery
Shifting plants from a nursery to a home garden can be demanding due to their sensitivity to weather extremes. While greenhouses can mitigate this issue, cost and space can be barriers. Using trees and vines to form natural greenhouses protects plants from harsh weather conditions. Cultivating grass further helps maintain moisture, moderate temperatures, and reduce dust, thus safeguarding both potted and ground-based plants.
Weather Proofing the Garden Read More »
Gallery, Plant Care
Fig trees flourish in warm winters and hot summers, with older trees producing exceptionally sweet fruits in dry conditions. Fig varieties have differing growth patterns, crop density, fruit size, and colour; those with an open ostiole prove less likely to spoil under erratic rain patterns. Sharing tasty summer figs can be a rewarding experience.
Fig Tree Gallery During Summer Drought Read More »
Figs, Gallery, What is thriving this season?
Pomegranates are currently blooming and fruiting; threats include flower drop from wind and water scarcity, fungal infections, and maggot-infested fruit due to fruit flies. Prevention strategies include setting fruit fly traps early, using a monthly spray regimen against fruit flies and fungi, and avoiding planting pomegranates near fungal-hosting trees like mangoes and papayas.
Pomegranate trees in spring Read More »
Gallery, Pomegranate, Spring and Summer Gardening in the Subtropics, What is thriving this season?
Mulberry trees, once prevalent in urban landscapes, have declined due to suburbanization and preference for exotic plants. These trees, available in Pakistan, Himalayan, White, and Tehama strains, provide beneficial fast-growing foliage, useful in feeding livestock and making jams, juices, and desserts. However, their roots are extensive and not appropriate near foundations and plumbing structures.
Mulberries in Spring Read More »
Gallery, Mulberry plants, What is thriving this season?