Annie's Edible Gardens | Businesses

Annie's Edible Gardens

Add/Update information

Reviews

Tags

• Businesses
• Local service
• Home improvement
• Gardener

25.01.2022 Passionfruit Marigold! The best thing about this plant is its amazing aroma. It smells like ripe passion fruit! I have it planted next to my back step so every time I brush past it I am intoxicated by the gorgeous sweet smell that is released. It also has bright yellow flowers that will brighten up any winter garden. The daisy like flowers attract beneficial insects including bees. It is drought tolerant and loves hot sun, although doesnt mind part shade. The roots and stems emit a chemical that insects find unpleasant which helps to keep them away. It also helps to repel root knotting nematodes in the soil. This is one plant I always encourage others to plant in their garden.

25.01.2022 Its not all zoom and gloom! Spring is here and its time to get ready to plant your veggie garden. For great tips to get you growing successfully, sign up for my newsletter, out tomorrow, click here. https://anniesediblegardens.com.au/index.php/contact/

24.01.2022 The first day of Spring and we got a hatch trick

24.01.2022 3 reasons to plant flowers in your veggie garden! https://anniesediblegardens.com.au/why-plant-flowers-in-th/

23.01.2022 The first tomato for the season! Not bad considering the cool weather we have had. Have you planted your tomatoes yet? Which variety is your favourite?

23.01.2022 Perfect day to dig in the green manure crop! Green manure is a crop that is grown specifically to be dug back into the soil. I planted broad beans that I saved last year for this green manure crop. This will add nutrients back into the soil, improve water retention and help improve the soil structure, making minerals more available to the next lot of veggies I plant here.

21.01.2022 Have you ever grown a purple cauliflower? This Italian heirloom is called the Sicily Purple. It produces a beautiful purple head which looks great in the winter garden. The purple colour comes from the antioxidant anthocyanin. It has a mild sweet flavour and is rich in minerals. The purple colour will fade to green when cooked. You can also eat the leaves of cauliflower, add them to your soups, stews or bake them to make chips. The Sicily Purple is far more resistant to in...sect attack that other brassicas. During the battle of the white cabbage butterfly this Autumn, I found the Sicily Purple was attacked far less that the other white cauliflower and broccoli. Sow your cauliflower seeds into punnets in late summer to early autumn. Plant the seedlings in rich, free draining soil and keep them well watered. Once established they will tolerate the frost. They take approximately 18 to 22 weeks from sowing until harvest. You can peg the leaves over the developing heads to prevent the purple colour from fading in the sun. See more

20.01.2022 Happy Mothers Day to all the Mums out there!

20.01.2022 Wow! Thats a lemon!

20.01.2022 It has been a great season for tomatoes! Today we continued the 2021 tomato preservation with a few more bottles of tomato sauce made. The smell of the sauce cooking today was divine! Love the veggie garden!

20.01.2022 Intercropping is a great way to increase productivity in your veggie garden. Here I have planted Broccoli seedlings where they will start their life underneath the maturing summer crop of capsicum and eggplant. I know this is very different to the way most people grow veggies but well worth giving it a try. Having an overlap like this is an efficient use of space and maximises food availability in your garden. This way crops are not removed before they finish fruiting, yet the next seasons crop can get started.

18.01.2022 An unproductive space transformed to a productive tomato grove!

17.01.2022 Three ways to use Feijoas! 1. Eat them straight off the tree. 2. Preserve them. 3. Use them to flavour your next batch of Kombucha!

17.01.2022 It’s time to harvest the garlic. This garlic was grown in a pot, planted in early April and 7 months later beautiful garlic bulbs. You know your garlic is ready to harvest when the leaves start to turn yellow/brown. Have you grown garlic this year?

17.01.2022 Heirloom Tomato - Rouge De Marmande. This is a French variety, an early maturing tomato with exceptional flavour!

15.01.2022 Fresh snow peas on the way. Lovely in salads or cooked in a stir fry!

14.01.2022 This is bok choy, a type of Chinese cabbage. Also called pak choi or pok choi. Bok choy grows well in the colder weather. It tends to bolt when grown in warmer weather. This healthy plant is a good source of vitamin C, A and K and full of fibre. My favourite way to cook it is in a stir fry with chilli, ginger and garlic. It is also good in soups or shredded in salads. I recommend adding some bok choy into your veggie patch now.

14.01.2022 How to get your zucchini to fruit!

14.01.2022 It’s a bee fest in the garden this morning!

13.01.2022 Looking at fresh spinach makes my mouth water. Spinach is one of my favourite leafy greens to grow and eat. It is said that spinach originated in ancient Persia. It then made its way to China, India and the Mediterranean. It arrived in England and France in the 14th century. This type of spinach is an heirloom variety called Bloomsdale. It has thick crinkly bright green leaves. It takes approximately six weeks from seed to harvest. Like all fresh veggies, spinach packs a h...ealth punch as it is full of vitamins and minerals. It is a good source of omega 3 fatty acids. Spinach is good for your skin, eyesight, heart, blood pressure, stronger bones and stronger muscles. No wonder Popeye loved it! See more

13.01.2022 Outdoor edible gardening substitute for freezing cold days like today! These are white oyster mushrooms, (pleurotus ostreatus) growing inside. I made up several bags with oyster mushroom spawn, let them incubate for a few weeks then put them into the laundry under humid conditions to fruit. Good fun and tasty!

13.01.2022 A veggie garden spruce up! I love bringing veggie patches to life. This veggie garden has been planted out with a variety of heirloom veggies such as tomatoes, capsicum, cucumbers, beans, zucchini, spinach, snow peas, pumpkin and lettuce. I have also added a range of flowers such as sunflowers, calendula, zinnia, marigold and cornflower. Mmmm..fresh natural food for the season ahead! #veggiegarden

13.01.2022 I cant get out into your gardens during restrictions so I have plenty of time to observe whats going on in my own edible garden. It was an absolute delight to see the first apricot blossom today! Earlier this morning I could see the buds bursting and then by lunchtime a beautiful flower. For those of you who have signed up to my monthly updates this event would come as no surprise to you. If you would like to get the goods on edible gardening each month, sign up to today!... https://anniesediblegardens.com.au/index.php/contact/

13.01.2022 This is called New Zealand Spinach, also known as Warrigal Greens. It is a perennial spinach native to Australia and New Zealand. You can often find it growing along the coast. Warrigal Greens are easy to grow, especially good in the warmer months when other spinach may struggle. I also use it as a ground cover to help suppress weeds. The green leaves are very fleshy. It might not look like spinach but it definitely tastes like it. Pick the stem tips and leaves for cooking. It does contains oxalates which you dont want to consume in high quantities but this can be easily resolved by blanching before eating. Warrigal Greens are high in antioxidants and high in fibre. You wont find this one in the supermarket.

13.01.2022 What is wrong with my tree? Recently I have had a few queries in regard to what is all this black sooty stuff on my plant? If your plant looks like this then it is likely to be suffering from sooty mould! Want to find out more? Sign up to our monthly updates and receive more information in the July edition, coming out soon! https://anniesediblegardens.com.au/index.php/contact/

13.01.2022 We are very excited as the Imperial Mandarins are nearly ready for picking. Each winter this tree produces a heap of sweet juicy mandarins for us to enjoy. Melbourne is perfect for growing citrus. We are very lucky!

12.01.2022 Has your summer veggie garden grown out of control? Yes, it is time to tidy up the summer veggie garden. Annie’s Edible Gardens offer an edible garden maintenance service to help keep your veggie garden neat and tidy. Tasks include weeding, pruning, tying up/training plants, fertilising, conditioning soil and feeding plants. We also provide seasonal seedlings, seeds and plants if requested. Contact me now to arrange a visit tailored to your needs. https://anniesediblegardens.com.au/index.php/services/

11.01.2022 Want to grow you own fruit and veggies? Looking for inspiration? Need some advice on how to get started?... OR Do you need some advice dealing with pests and diseases in the food garden? Increase your chances of success and book an on-line consultation today. All consultations booked in May receive a 20% discount! Book now. Get in touch now or book via the website www.anniesediblegardens.com.au/services

11.01.2022 Keep your veggie garden productive this winter. Now is the perfect time to plan your autumn/winter veggie garden. Do you need some help to grow a productive veggie garden? I provide an edible garden maintenance service to help you achieve your edible gardening goals. Visits can be tailored to your needs whether you wish to learn more, be hands-on or simply have me do everything for you. Contact me now to arrange your winter veggie seedling order for you next edible garden ...visit. NDIS participants welcome. Servicing the edible garden needs in Melbourne’s south eastern suburbs. https://anniesediblegardens.com.au/index.php/contact/ See more

10.01.2022 Are you growing grapes? Grape vines are perfect for creating some shade during the hot summer and of course proving sweet fruit. In the winter they lose their leaves which is perfect for letting in the winter sun.

09.01.2022 Lettuce is one of the easiest leafy greens to grow at home. This type is called a butterhead, it has succulent buttery soft leaves. The big leaves form a loose head. When it is young You can harvest the outside leaves which allows a longer harvest until it is mature. Lettuce grows quickly so it is a good idea to sow more every few weeks, this way you will have a constant supply of your own fresh pesticide free lettuce.

08.01.2022 Winter is coming and so is the Broccoli! As a child I loved being served broccoli. I would prop up the florets in my mashed potatoes to make a little forest then pretend to be a giant and eat it. I still love eating it today. The heirloom sprouting varieties like De Cicco, Waltham, Green and Purple are my favourites. Rather than just one head of broccoli you can keep harvesting for 3 to 6 months. Tasty and great for your health, whats not to like!

08.01.2022 Today is the shortest day of the year, aka the winter solstice. This is when winter really begins. Even though we are on the path to longer days and shorter nights, it is time to rug up and brace yourself for the cold days and nights ahead. A telltale sign in my garden that winter has arrived is the appearance of the tarragon and lovage. The first photo is the tarragon a month ago and the second photo is what it looks like today. The third and fourth photos show the same thing with the lovage. They have both died back. If this has happened in your garden, dont fret. It is normal for perennials to do this. When spring arrives they will both re-emerge for another season year after year.

08.01.2022 The first Feijoas of the season! Flowers in November/December and fruits in April/May. They have a pear like texture and a floral taste with hints of strawberry and pineapple. Also known as the Pineapple Guava.

08.01.2022 Want to know what to do in the veggie garden in November? My newsletter with helpful tips comes out tomorrow, sign up here! https://anniesediblegardens.com.au/index.php/contact/ #veggiegarden #ediblegarden

06.01.2022 The first blueberry flowers for the season ahead!

05.01.2022 Todays harvest. Keeping us nourished at home. Are you thinking about growing your own fruit and veggies? Need help to get started? Book in an online consultation www.anniesediblegardens.com.au

05.01.2022 Strong winds are forecast in Melbourne and across the state today so its a good idea to check that your snow peas are secured.

05.01.2022 Remember this little problem with the pumpkin growing into the side of the chook pen? I left it to see what would happen. The pumpkin continued to grow without breaking the cage, phew! Today we cut it out. We usually cure our pumpkins by leaving them out on the bench under the patio for a few weeks. When harvesting pumpkins, always leave a good part of the stem on. Dont use the stem as a handle because it might break off. Pumpkins without a stem are more susceptible to rotting therefore wont store as well .

04.01.2022 Possums! Ahhh! In one night, the possums have feasted on our young broad bean crop. What a disappointing sight. After weeks of watching the seeds germinate and seeing the seedlings thrive they have been reduced to this. I forgive the possums, after all the broad bean plants are irresistible. I am more disappointed in myself for not putting in place some natural deterrents to keep the possums away. You see, when the deciduous trees lose their leaves in Autumn the possums lose... a substantial proportion of their food source. This is when they come looking for food in our veggie gardens more than ever. I can just imagine a hungry possum discovering the broad bean plants, it would have been as good as being locked in Haighs chocolate factory overnight. One of the best natural ways to deter possums is with an unpleasant odour. Things like blood and bone, garlic spray and Quassia woodchips. In the photo you might be able to see the remaining broad beans have a brown powder on them. This is cinnamon powder, my desperate attempt to keep the possums away. I have never used it before. It might work or it might be a coincidence, but the remaining plants survived last night. Please let me know what natural methods you have tried to keep those hungry possums off your garden? See more

04.01.2022 There is always some room to grow your own food! This little spot underneath the letterbox has been used to grow broad beans. Broad beans are a cool season bean. I aim to sow the seeds in May so they are ready in spring. At this time of year the winter veggies are coming to an end an we are waiting for the summer veggies to produce so harvesting maybe a bit lean. Broad beans are a great source of protein to fill this gap. You can pick the pods when they are small and tender, they are lovely steamed whole. Or you can let them grow large and shell them for the bean. The beans can be eaten or dried and stored for use in stews and soups. Don’t forget to save the best ones to sow next years crop. Tip: once your broad beans have lots of flowers on them, pinch out the tops as this will trigger the pods to form quicker!

04.01.2022 Now is a good time to be planting your winter veggies. This veggie garden has been reinvigorated with winter heirloom seedlings. The delicious delights that have been planted into this garden are: Broccoli Waltham, Broccoli De Cicco, Cauliflower Purple, Cauliflower Early Jesi, Cauliflower Snowball, Cabbage Chinese Michihili, Snow Pea Novella, Snow Pea Yukomo Giant, Tuscan Kale, Silverbeet Five Colour, Spinach Bloomsdale, Mizuna, Pack Choy and Mustard Giant Red.

04.01.2022 Cant find any pasta in the shops. No worries, grow your own! Beautiful home grown tromboncino zucchini that has been spiralised. Give it a light steam and voila, you now have a healthy carb free pasta alternative!

04.01.2022 Want to know what to do in the veggie garden in March? Find helpful tips in the March newsletter, comes out on Monday, sign up here! https://anniesediblegardens.com.au/index.php/contact/

03.01.2022 The great thing about planting your veggies in the right spot means you can increase productivity with a prolonged harvest. Todays harvest included cherry tomatoes. Still harvesting tomatoes in mid May is pretty good dont you think!

03.01.2022 Is this a tomato? Is it an apple! This is a Rocoto chilli! The Rocoto chilli has large crisp and juicy fruit with black seeds inside. It is known as capsicum pubescens and is native to Bolivia and Peru. Pubescen means hairy, as the leaves and stems of the Rocoto plant are hairy. They contain more dihydrocapsaicin than capsaicin which gives it a different burn than other chillies. It is very hot! The Rocoto grows well in Melbourne as it tolerates cooler temperatures, but it doesnt like frost so a little protection over winter helps. The plant grows like a tree; hence it is sometimes called a chilli tree. It can grow up to four meters tall and live for 15 years providing a lot of chillies to share over a long period of time.

03.01.2022 It’s Melbourne Cup Day! The poppies are looking gorgeous this morning. Have a great day everyone.

02.01.2022 What's good about powdery mildew?

02.01.2022 A brief moment of sunshine today. Just enough time for this little harvest of silver beet, carrots, red spring onion and coriander for tonights dinner. Just saved $12.95 and a trip to the supermarket.

01.01.2022 Tamed! The herbs in this self watering planter received a much needed haircut.

01.01.2022 The buds on the Apricot tree are starting to swell! How are your fruit trees going?