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Familiar signs of spring are gathering in the garden. Bird droppings move miraculously along the leaves of our lemon trees, while butterfl ies with handbreadth wingspans fl utter languidly overhead. The swallowtails are early this year, their breeding cycle hastened by an unusually warm winter. Our orchard swallowtails usually emerge from their winter cocoons in late September. This year, however, they have already laid their fi rst batch of eggs, and the early instars are chomping into our citrus leaves, ignored by hungry birds unwilling to tuck into what appears to be fresh dung.Over the next fi ve weeks, the...

We harvested our first home-grown bananas this year. I don’t know why it took me so long to plant some, but I’m glad I finally did. They thrive in our subtropical climate, with minimal effort. We didn’t have to wait long for our first crop. In less than 18 months, we were harvesting more bananas than we knew what to do with. Some went to friends – my neighbour laced them with lime juice and chilli before dehydrating them and, thankfully, bringing some back – and many were frozen for smoothies. There’s more fruit forming already. I don’t think we’ll...

With growing awareness of the decline in bee populations around the world, and concerns about using glyphosate-based products, today’s gardeners are reaching less for chemicals and more for organic and natural solutions to maintain their homes and gardens.Engineered and manufactured in France (Europe being a leader in the eradication of harsh chemicals), Hozelock Pure Sprayers have been designed for use with naturally derived pesticides, herbicides, fungicides, fertilisers and homemade solutions.Available in 5L and 2L sizes, the sprayers are trusted equipment that allows you to use chemical-free, natural concentrates, and homemade solutions incorporating white vinegar, baking soda, soap and so on,...

Most plants we grow in our home gardens enjoy a bit of a feed. But what, how much and how often varies widely. Roses and citrus are examples of ‘gross feeders’, meaning they enjoy generous amounts of fertiliser, regularly. Productive plants such as vegetables are likely to grow better if they have access to extra nutrients, while indigenous plants grown in their natural environment won’t need fertiliser to perform at their best.The nutrients that plants require in the greatest quantities are nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P) and potassium (K), and a fertiliser containing all three is described as a complete fertiliser....