The post October Planting Guide: Veg to Start Now appeared first on Stodels.

Why grow your own garden-to-kitchen vegetables?

Besides giving you another reason to spend time in your garden (as if you needed one!), growing vegetables for soup has a range of benefits for your meals, your pocket and your health:

• A budget-friendly way to cook. The more you incorporate seasonal vegetable growing into your home vegetable garden, the less you need to rely on buying cold-season vegetables from the supermarket.
• Fresher than fresh. No grocery-shopped carrots, onions or leeks will be as fresh as those you pull from the earth right on your doorstep moments before cooking.
• What you need, when you need it. The beauty of winter vegetable gardening is that you get more control over what you plant, and can harvest your produce when you need to.

Which are the best winter vegetables to grow?

Which vegetables thrive in our local winter conditions? Here’s our pick:

Carrots

Ask any novice gardener who’s added these nutrient-rich soup staples to their veggie patch, and they’ll tell you they are one of the easiest winter veggies to grow. 

Linked to lower cholesterol levels and better eye health, they’re often paired with celery and onion to make a great base for soup dishes.

Chantenay Karoo is a popular variety, known for its long tapered, deep orange carrots with strong tops, and can be grown from seeds available at your local Stodels garden centre. These carrots have a crisp texture and sweet flavour, bringing dimension to any winter vegetable soup.

Looking to fast-track your growing process? Pick up a carrot seedlings 6-pack instead. 

Top tip: For a continuous supply throughout winter, sow a new row every 3 to 4 weeks.

Onions

From ground to kitchen, a good companion of carrots are onions. Growing onions in alternating rows with carrots keeps carrot fly at bay, and onions work well with carrots to create an aromatic base for winter veggie soups.

The Texas Grano variety is available in vegetable seed packs at your nearest Stodels garden centre, and has a mild, sweet flavour – making it ideal not only for your cold-season stews and soups, but sliced up in salads and sandwiches, too.

Top tip: Onions have very shallow root systems, so they can’t compete with weeds for water. Make sure you keep your onion patch well weeded.

Spinach

Iron-packed and one of the fastest growing winter vegetables that also add bulk to your winter soup, spinach deserves a spot in your winter veggie garden.

The Fordhook Giant variety is available in seed packs at Stodels, and is ideal for sautéing, steaming or adding to winter veggie soups and stews. A rich source of vitamin K, spinach is known to help regulate blood sugar levels and support heart health.

Top tip: Make sure you grow your spinach in well-drained soil rich in organic matter for the best yield.

Leeks

Growing leeks has a few advantages outside of the delicious depth of flavour they bring to your soups and stews. 

For one, they don’t need a huge amount of space, growing upright in a small patch of your garden. They also are ready for harvesting by 10 or 12 weeks, meaning you can sow them in early June and use them in, say, a batch of leek and potato soup by early August.

Grow them from seedlings or sow Carentan leek seeds in your vegetable garden beds for a hardy, fast-growing plant that will reward you with a distinct mild, sweet flavour to accompany your other winter season veggies in soups.

Top tip: Leeks have attractive foliage, making them a great ornamental plant, too.

Start your winter soup garden today

At your local Stodels garden centre, you can browse a range of seedlings and seeds for your home vegetable garden that will take your winter vegetable soups to the next level.
Got questions about companion planting, or the best gardening tools to get the most rewarding harvest? Our in-store experts and Consultants-on-Call service are there for just that. Armed with your vegetable planting list, the right tools and expert advice, you’ll be stirring a pot of extra-satisfying winter veggie soup in no time.

The post Best winter vegetables to grow for soup appeared first on Stodels.

Whether it’s for the delicious soups on your cool-weather cooking list, delectable roasts for those cosy family weekend meals, or simply having an endless supply of home-grown basics like leafy greens for whenever spontaneity strikes – we have you covered with our autumn vegetable planting guide for gardeners.

Here, we share the vegetables to plant in autumn, as well as tips for companion planting. 

Leafy legends

Start with spinach – both English and Swiss chard varieties. 

These hardy greens thrive in our autumn conditions and will keep producing leaves throughout the season. Plant them in well-composted soil and ensure it stays healthy with less frequent, deep watering. 

Lettuce is another autumn vegetable garden winner, and, in addition to spinach, is one of the autumn vegetables to grow in shade. 

Top tip: try loose-leaf varieties that allow you to harvest outer leaves while the plant continues growing.

Brassica brigade

Cabbage, cauliflower and broccoli are autumn favourites that deserve prime spots in your autumn vegetable planting list. 

These nutrient-rich vegetables need about 60 to 90 days to mature, so getting them in the ground now means you’ll have fresh produce during the winter months. Don’t forget to space them properly – these guys need room to grow!

Root for you

Carrots and beetroot are the perfect vegetables to plant in autumn. 

Our soils can be quite heavy, so work in plenty of compost and ensure the soil is loose to a depth of at least 30 centimetres. 

Top tip: Plant radishes between your carrots – they’ll be ready to harvest in just 4 to 6 weeks, marking rows and breaking up the soil for their slower-growing neighbours.

Allium army

The makings of a marvellous soup should all go in the ground now to be ready for the heart of winter. Onions, garlic and leeks planted now will be ready for harvest in late winter or early spring. 

These kitchen staples are relatively low maintenance. A bonus is that they help deter pests from your other vegetables. Plus, there’s nothing quite like pulling your own garlic from the ground!

All together now: Companion plants

Celery, radishes and other leafy greens like coriander make great companion plants for spinach, so when planning your vegetable garden beds for autumn, consider planting these veggie friends together.

Basil, sage, dill and thyme make ideal herby companions to both broccoli and cabbage, while cabbage and cauliflower can easily get along with celery and beetroot in your veggie patch.

Onions and sage work well alongside both beetroot and carrot plants, while lettuce, spinach and peas keep radishes in good company. 

Autumn vegetable planting tips

To increase your odds of getting your autumn vegetables growing strong, we suggest helping them along with these easy tips:

Soil preparation

Prepare your soil thoroughly before planting. 

Our intense summer sun can deplete soil nutrients, so rejuvenate your kitchen garden beds with plenty of compost and well-rotted manure.

Mulch

Mulch well after planting. Not sure what type of mulch is ideal for your vegetable garden? Browse our range of mulch products in-store.

Alternatively, a layer of straw or autumn leaves helps retain moisture and regulate soil temperature as the weather changes.

Thyme to get growing

At your local Stodels Garden Centre, you’ll find everything – and we mean everything – you need to start planning and planting your autumn vegetable garden. Seeds, seedlings, spades, watering cans, mulch… not to mention gardening experts available to guide you on your kitchen gardening journey.

Start small, learn from your successes and failures, and most importantly, enjoy the process of growing your own food.

The post Best vegetables to plant in autumn appeared first on Stodels.

Tale as old as thyme

To those who know how much thyme thrives in the warmer months, this may come as a surprise. Yes, indeed, thyme is something of an all-rounder, hardily pushing through the colder weather.

For gardeners up north, thyme is an especially good choice for your winter herb garden: it’s frost hardy and able to manage dry conditions, ideal for those highveld winters.

Ideal companion herb

Sage and oregano are friendly neighbours to thyme, as they share similar growing conditions. 

Freshly minted

Another resilient sprout, mint is quite a fast-growing spreading plant, so take care to give it enough space for its roots to spread. Some gardeners aren’t big on this characteristic of the plant, so if you’re one of them, rather stick to pots or raised beds when planting this herb. 

In the Cape, winter rainfall will keep this herb happy; for Gauteng gardeners, be sure to water regularly to keep the soil moist, but not waterlogged.

Ideal companion herb

Mint is the exception here: it’s not a particularly hospitable neighbour to other herbs. But consider planting it alongside veggies from the brassica family (so, your cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower and kale). Interestingly, these crops benefit from the fragrant essential oils in the mint plant.

Oregano, the all-rounder

The delectable aroma from your pot of bolognaise or fresh home-made pizza takes enough convincing, we think, to add this herb to your winter garden.

Oregano is impressively resilient against winter frost, and comes with the added bonus of deterring aphids and other pests from neighbouring plants. A herb that earns its place – we’re fans!

Ideal companion herb

Parsley and rosemary are good friends of this Mediterranean mainstay, so be sure to plant them together for an easily accessible supply of fragrant sprigs for your kitchen.

Rosemary rules 

It isn’t winter without roasts, and it isn’t a roast without that distinct rosemary aroma.

She can handle the cool climes, just be sure to take care of her by planting in a well-draining pot in a nice sunny spot. Allow the soil to dry out between waterings and you’ll be rewarded with a continuous supply of garnishes and flavourings.

Ideal companion herb

Quite the opposite to mint, rosemary is the popular companion to many a winter herb. In fact, you can grow it alongside all the other herbs we’ve mentioned!

Sage advice

Needing a little more attention than thyme, sage is still remarkably hardy, thriving in cooler weather. Plant this long-leafed herb in a pot with good drainage in full sun for the best results.

A heads-up: expect slightly smaller leaves in winter. 

Ideal companion herb

Rosemary is sage’s bestie, intensifying the health and flavour of sage when grown alongside it. Other top companions to add variety to your herb garden and keep your sage happy include lemon balm, oregano and fennel.

Stock up and savour your herbs

At your local Stodels Garden Centre, you’ll find all you need to start or boost your winter herb garden, including seeds, seedlings, fertiliser, tools… and gardening experts! 

Western Cape customers, you can also browse these online and use our Consultants-on-Call service for guidance.

The post Herbs for your winter garden appeared first on Stodels.

As the chill in across the country, you may find yourself needing a bit more… shall we say… convincing to dive into gardening activities. However, the winter season can be an exciting time to engage young gardeners in the joys of tending to nature’s gifts on your doorstep. 

One way is to involve the kids in growing vegetables during the winter months – especially during the school holidays. This not only provides a fun and educational gardening activity, but also offers a unique opportunity for family bonding and learning. 

Let’s explore some creative ways you can make your winter garden a hub of excitement and growth for the younger members of your household.

Set the scene

Transforming your garden into a winter wonderland can capture children’s imagination and enthusiasm. 

Engage your kids in the process of designing the winter vegetable patch. Good, healthy soil, plenty of sun and water is what will give the winter crop the best odds of flourishing. In the Cape, the rains take care of the latter; for those up north, regularly watering the patch will give the little ones a good sense of responsibility in the process.

You may find it neater and easier to tend to if you mark out square ‘lots’ for planting, starting at around 30 x 30cm. Want to add some colour? Pansies are the perfect edging plant for cooler months.

Choose winter vegetables

Encourage your children to research and choose a variety of winter vegetables to grow in your garden. 

The below options are bound to result in a successful winter harvest:

Easy leafy greens like: 

• Spinach 
• Kale 
• Lettuce 

Colourful root vegetables such as:

• Carrots 
• Turnips 
• Radishes 

Explaining the seasonal preferences of different vegetables can be an educational experience for your kids, helping them understand the natural rhythms of plant life.

Lettuce plan and plant together!

Get your kids involved in the planning and planting process right from the start. 

Allow them to help prepare the soil, sow seeds and plant seedlings under your guidance. Tooled with our guide to growing veggies from seeds, and our wide range of vegetable and herb seeds, you and your family can plant a memorable winter vegetable crop that will be well worth the extra hours in gumboots and gardening gloves. This hands-on experience not only teaches your kids valuable gardening skills, but also instils a sense of responsibility and ownership over the garden. 

Encourage them to keep a gardening journal to track the progress of their plants and note any observations or insights along the way. It will be a project they can proudly invest in, while they learn how to take care of plants.

Fun & games

Turn gardening into a thrilling adventure by organising winter garden scavenger hunts for the kiddos. 

Draw up a list of items related to winter gardening tasks, such as finding the first sprout, spotting a ladybird, or harvesting a ripe vegetable. Give your kids magnifying glasses and notebooks to aid their exploration. Not only does this activity make gardening more exciting, but it also encourages children to engage with nature and develop their observation skills. 

Who said learning had to pause during the school holidays?

Supper’s up!

As anyone who’s successfully grown even a single veggie will know, one of the most rewarding aspects of gardening is harvesting the fruits of your labour and enjoying them at the dinner table. And if you have fussy eaters, you may just find them becoming veggie converts, now that they’ve proudly grown their own for the family to enjoy!

Involve your children in harvesting fresh vegetables from the garden and brainstorming delicious recipes to prepare together. From hearty soups and stews to nutritious sauces and stir-fries, cooking with homegrown produce teaches kids the value of healthy eating and self-sufficiency. 

Share the joy

Encourage your children to share their gardening experiences and extra produce with friends, neighbours or local charities. Organising a vegetable swap can inspire others to embrace gardening and foster a sense of camaraderie within your community.

By involving young gardeners in the vegetable-growing process and making it a fun and engaging experience, you can cultivate a lifelong appreciation for nature and healthy living. 

Your local Stodels Garden Centre has everything you could possibly need to grow your own winter vegetables and herbs, from seeds and seedlings, to compost and tools. 

And if things aren’t quite growing according to plan? Our Consultants-on-Call service is available to offer expert gardening advice.

So, bundle up, grab your gardening gloves, and let the winter vegetable gardening adventures begin!

The post Growing vegetables with kids in winter appeared first on Stodels.

The post How to grow veggies and herbs in containers appeared first on Stodels.

Zucchinis (also known as courgettes or baby marrows) are very rewarding plants to grow as the seed germinates easily and the vegetables are ready to be eaten as soon as nine weeks after planting. The plants are also very attractive, producing an abundance of yellow flowers which are also edible. 

STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE TO GROWING YOUR OWN ZUCCHINIS 

• Sow zucchini seeds in full sun in well-composted soil. Make sure you choose an area of the garden where there is good air circulation to allow the leaves of the plants to dry properly. Soggy leaves are prone to developing fungal diseases. 
• Sow seeds 7cm deep (with two seeds in each hole) and 50cm apart, in rows 1m apart. 
• Keep the soil moist, but don’t water heavily until the first shoots appear above the ground. 
• The plants have shallow root systems so they will need lots of water once they start growing. Always water at the base of the plant.  
• Feed your zucchinis once a month with 3:1:5. 
• If zucchinis are left on the stem, they can grow up to 50cm in length. However, the longer they are left to grow, the fewer vegetables a single plant will produce. For a regular harvest, pick the marrows when they are about the length of your finger. 

Did you know? Zucchinis are rich in B vitamins and fibre as well as vitamins A, C and K. 

The post Step-by-step guide to growing your own baby marrows, courgettes or zucchinis appeared first on Stodels.

• Beetroot grows best in partial sun or full sun, (you’ll need to water more regularly in sunny areas, so partial sun is recommended).
• Prepare the soil beforehand by digging it up to a depth of at least 30cm. Rake out any sticks and stones as these can harm the development of the roots. Ideally the soil should be light and friable – very heavy clay soil will inhibit the development of your beetroot plants.
• Sow beetroot seeds in rows 30cm apart, at a depth of about 3cm. Keep the soil moist until the seeds have germinated and you can see the seedlings peeking out from the soil.
• When the seedlings are about 5cm high, thin them out to their correct spacing – about 10cm for the globe variety and 15cm for the long variety.
• Globe varieties should be harvested when the diameter of the root reaches 7.5cm. Long varieties take longer to develop can be left in the ground until they are about 15-20cm long.
• When harvesting, gently dig under the root with a trowel, taking care not to damage the root, as this affects how long you will be able to store your beetroot.

Did you know? Beetroot leaves are also edible. Add them to salads instead of lettuce, or use them as a substitute for spinach.

The post Grow your own beetroot appeared first on Stodels.

Let them explore the tastes and textures of their own herb garden

Mark a little corner of the garden as “theirs” and take them to your closest Stodels Garden Centre and help them pick out a few seedlings and seeds of their favourite herbs, explaining what they’ll taste like and how you can cook with them. Encourage them to water the herbs regularly and check for pests, and then celebrate the fruits of their labour when the herbs are ready for picking and use in the family’s favourite recipe. Rosemary, mint and basil are all versatile and delicious starter herbs.

Art + insects = hours of fun and exploration

Give them a sketch pad or a few sheets of paper, pencils, crayons and paints and tell them to surprise you with what they can find in the garden to draw, from clouds to plants and bugs to trees. You can make it a weekly challenge so they can see how their garden changes throughout the seasons – and with the changes your fridge “art” too!

Tip: You can collate the top 12 drawings throughout the year into a home-made seasonal calendar. Download a free monthly calendar and add your favourite artwork to the page above it.

Create an insect scavenger hunt

Everyone loves a scavenger hunt. Send the kids out with a pencil and paper to draw (or a phone to take photographs of) any insects they spot and see how many different critters they can find in an hour. Afterwards, you can sit together and see how many they can identify.

Tip: Remind your children to always observe bugs from a distance and to not interfere or touch them, as they could hurt the bugs or worse, be bitten by them. 

All about wiggly, wriggly worms

Worm farms are easy to assemble and provide an opportunity for a real-life science experiment! All you need is a styrofoam box, compost for bedding, newspaper, soil and some compost worm.

After a few weeks, your little ones can start adding fruit and vegetable scraps to the farm and watch their wiggly worm friends work their magic. It’s the perfect opportunity to explain why the garden needs healthy soil, and let them help you spread the compost over the flowerbeds.

Let them try their hand at rock art

Grab a few tubes of acrylic paint in fun colours and let your kids have fun painting rocks and pebbles on the grass. From ladybirds to frogs, butterflies and flowers, the paintings will not only keep them busy for hours, but also make adorable additions to any gifts you have planned for friends and family this Christmas.

The post 5 ways to keep your kids busy in the garden during the December holidays appeared first on Stodels.

If you prefer annual basil plants, a number of varieties are available, including lemon basil, cinnamon basil, mint basil, dark opal and purple ruffles.

HOW TO PLANT BASIL 

Position & planting 

Choose an area of your garden that receives morning sun and where the soil drains well. Remove any sticks and stones from the soil and add a generous amount of compost.

Sow seeds at a depth of 3mm and keep the soil moist until germination has taken place (usually within seven days). 

Once the seedlings are well established, thin them out by pinching out suckers until the remaining plants are 30cm apart. Pinch off growing flower tips to encourage the production of more leaves.

Watering & disease 

Water the plants regularly, about twice a week. Allow the soil to dry out slightly between waterings. Black patches appearing on the basil leaves (a condition known as botrytis) is a sign of too much water or poor drainage. Improve drainage by adding bark or coarse compost to the soil.

Harvesting 

Basil leaves should be harvested as you need them as they do not store well. You can pick whole stems and place them in a jar of water inside your home – they’ll last for a few days this way.

HOW TO USE BASIL

• Basil is an excellent companion plant for tomatoes as it repels aphids, fruit flies and beetles, and is said to improve the flavour of tomatoes grown nearby.
• It is an essential herb for both Italian and Thai cooking. The leaves have a delicate flavour that is heat-sensitive, so only add to your dish at the end of the cooking process.
• Blend basil leaves with olive oil, parmesan and pine nuts to make your own pesto.
• Rub fresh basil leaves on insect bites to relieve itching.

The post Basil appeared first on Stodels.

Create a pet-friendly herb corner in your garden
Here are some ideas for what to include:

• Health-boosting herbs
• Herbs that give your pets pleasure
• Herbs that provide shelter and shade 
• Memory-boosting herbs

Herbs for healthy pets

• Tonic herbs such as parsley, comfrey and borage are good for the general health and wellbeing of your pets.
• Fennel and mint help to promote healthy digestion.
• For arthritis and inflammation in older pets, try feverfew, comfrey, celery, parsley and yarrow.
• To help ward off problems with worms and parasites, try adding chopped yarrow, thyme or oreganum leaves to your pet’s food once a week.
• Calendula, thyme, chamomile or lavender can give your pet’s skin a boost. These herbs can be added to their food or made into a tea and sprayed directly onto your pet’s skin using a plant mister.

Herbs for pleasure

• Cats love cat grass (Dactylis glomerata), which is high in nutrients and good for their digestive systems.
• Catmint (Nepeta mussinii) and catnip (Nepeta cataria) are popular with our feline friends. Both will boost your cat’s mood and put a spring in their step.

Shade and shelter

• Large, bushy perennials like lavender and rosemary can be used to add shady spots to your garden, which your pets can use to seek shelter from the sun. Both these shrubs also repel fleas.

Herbs to boost memory

Nervines are herbs that can help to support your pet’s nervous system. These can be divided into relaxants and stimulants.

• Relaxants promote calmness and relaxation, which can help your pet to memorise things better. An example is lemon balm.
• Stimulants such as ginkgo and rosemary can also aid your pet’s memory by improving circulation to the brain. 

A note on dosages: If you’re not sure what sort of dosage to give your pets when it comes to herbs, it’s generally safe to follow this rule: use 1 teaspoon of fresh herbs per 10kg of your pet’s body weight.

Read more: Hassle-free gardening with herbs

The post Herbs do wonders for your pets appeared first on Stodels.

Easy Peasy has been created to make your life a little less complicated. With this initiative, Stodels Garden Centres get to supply 24-pack organic seedlings to households that want to try growing their own food. 

The lovingly cultivated seedlings are disease- and drought-resistant, and open-pollinated. Each month’s selection is perfectly timed for the season and includes an online support service that “tray farmers” can subscribe to for hints and tips on planting, maintenance and harvesting. Online support is offered via Instagram and Facebook (@easypeasyseedlings), as well as a monthly newsletter.

Anyone can grow these seedlings anywhere. Plant them in pots if you live in an apartment, or dedicate a patch to them in your garden if you’re a serious backyard farmer. All they require is approximately one small watering can of water every two days.

Great for the environment, high in nutrients

Growing your own vegetables is good for the environment and won’t leave you out of pocket, says Easy Peasy founder Leigh Brown. “The amount of water* used in industrial farming is far greater than that used in a home garden because you’re able to be very specific about where the water ends up. You can also reuse general household water. You’ll be amazed at how much your little garden provides and it will inspire you to eat well and share with others.” 

Food that’s ready to be harvested as needed also eliminates the waste associated with shop-bought food and delivers the best possible concentration of nutrients – nutrients that would be lost in the food-chain process.

The initiative was conceived and is driven by the award-winning public benefit organisation SEED. The organisation has been working with food security and climate adaption in under-resourced areas, particularly on the Cape Flats, for the past 20 years. During this time, SEED has perfected their potting mixes and organic-seed propagation to produce highly reliable plants. 

 “This project has gone out of the gates employing four previously unemployed people from the Cape Flats. As we grow, we hope to provide more employment in an area that’s under extreme social and economic pressure,” says Brown. “Growing your own food is the ultimate resilience.” 

Get your tray from your local Stodels Garden Centre

Easy Peasy is available at Stodels Garden Centres in the Western Cape. The Veg Out trays (including 24 seedlings) are designed to get you eating from your garden, and they are available for only R99.95 per tray.  

*Virtual water is the water that’s used in farming processes. It’s the hidden water footprint in food that isn’t seen in the end product. Beef farming is a big virtual water consumer, with 15,000 litres of water going into the production of just 1kg of beef while industrially grown lettuce uses 130 litres per kilogram. Home-grown vegetables require much less water than any industrial crop-growing system. With the certainty of ever-increasing food prices, it’s a lifestyle move that makes perfect sense. 

The post It’s “Easy Peasy” to grow your own veggies at home appeared first on Stodels.