Monday, April 7, 2014

F Is For Fruit Trees & Flowers

When I was young, my grandfather, who was born in 1889 or so, grew our food in this very space that I garden. It was different then. The yards in my village were intended to provide a place for families to live and grow food except grains, which were grown on bigger patches of land outside the village (allotments, we'd call them today). There was a big vegetable patch and a huge orchard ( my cousins and I counted 18 orange, maybe nine peach and 5 clementine/naartjie tress, as well as one tree of apple, grape and apricot.

Then there was the lone fig tree, hidden right at the back of the orchard. Sometimes we forgot about the figs, too busy enjoying the citrus fruit in winter and the rest of the fruit in summer. The trees were old by the time I came along and the other gardeners before me were more interested in growing annuals.

I'm going to plant as many fruit trees as possible over the coming years (have already started) and in my orchard, there will be more fig trees so that in summer our kids can enjoy the sweet, juicy stickiness of a fig picked off a tree after playing outside for hours on end. But that's not going to happen this April (figs are planted in Spring, not Autumn, from what I understand).

Meanwhile, I'm going to chat about flowers, with special focus on marigolds and nasturtiums, as I grow a lot of them almost year-round (sorry post is loooong)

This pretty can share space with anything!
How to grow marigolds

Preparing the soil: Marigolds can very easily grow in sandy, loamy or clay soil, as long as they get full sun. You can make sure that the soil is moderately fertile and well-drained, though I've had seeds grow is some pretty inhospitable places.

The planting process: You can sow the seeds directly into the soil in Spring once the soil is warm, or you can start seeds indoors about a month to 6 weeks before the last spring-frost date. In warmer areas, you can grow them almost year-round. Last winter I had a beautiful showing of flowers that lasted through mid-winter.

My sowing differs based on specific gardening needs: I broadcast seeds all over my food garden. These flowers are for pest control, as marigolds are supposed to repel animals and insects. I also plant them as starts to be transplanted to strategic places in the garden.

Caring for the plant: Marigolds transplant exceptionally well. Ideally you can transplant them after six weeks, though I've moved much older plants, some of them even close to starting their buds.

tiny avocado tree sapling peeking through marigolds
Different varieties of marigold have different sizes, so you need to check your seed packet to make sure what amount of space you need between your plants.

Also do your best to control how many plant you grow in each bed, as they can very easily take over either in quantity or size, and you don't want that unless your intention was to focus on marigolds as your crop.

Harvesting and uses: When you pick marigolds for flower arrangements, strip off any leaves that might be under water in the vase; this will discourage the overly pungent smell.

You can also munch on them as a quick snack, throw them in salads or make a body cream with them (Rhonda's recipe makes very nice and smooth cream. Not sure if marigold and calendula are the same plant though, as calendula is said to be a daisy family plant, so not guaranteeing medical benefits.)

Growing nasturtiums

If you think growing marigolds was easy, then you haven't grown nasturtiums:). These flowers prefer poor quality soil. How cool is that? So you can grow them in all those awkward and unsightly places you've been wondering what to do with.
See it grow in the far ngelected end of the yard too far for me to do anything

They self-seed quite well too, so once you've planted then in an area, you can be sure that they'll keep coming back. Unless you live in a warm climate region like mine, in which case they'll be perennials. Pretty way to tidy up your yard, no?

Planting: I usually just soften then soil in these awkward places and then take a walk, sticking the seeds in the depth almost up the first bend of my finger. I then water the area regularly (4-5 times during the height of summer, twice a week in winter) until they break through.

Caring for the plants: Eeh.. I'd be lying if I said I did anything to care for the poor things. In rainy season, they're on their own once they've broken soil. In summer, I may water them twice a week. Or they accidentally get watered while I care for something that's planted near them.

Serving suggestions: I usually pick the flowers while I'm gardening, just as a quick snack because I like the taste. I also like throwing them into my green salad salads, especially when I have different types of greens in there. Tasty, and looks pretty too.

I've also heard that a couple of leaves a day can help clear up acne and that the tea, where you allow a cup of the flowers to simmer in boiling water for 15 minutes and then cool it, can be used as a toner(I'm not vouching for that!).

A very big cautionary: I have many other edible flowers in my garden - borage, basil, chives, fennel etc- and you probably do too, if you have a garden. However, we all need to be cautious when we eat flowers, especially if  we use fertilisers or insecticides etc. Here is a guide  about edible flowers that I found online.


And for gardening inspiration, here are some photos from my garden taken this April (most of them yesterday)

28 comments:

  1. A post on something very close to my heart -Flowers! I have a small garden now, so I mostly grow flowering bushes and tropical plants and some herbs (and yes there are some trees - coconut, a few bamboo trees, and a few others.) I didn't plant marigold this year, got a bit late and it may be a bit too hot right now to plant them. But I love marigolds! Did you know these flowers are used in many worshiping rituals and also other festive celebrations in India, especially north India :) Lovely post, as always! I find it so restful and calming to read your posts about your garden :)

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    1. I'm glad you enjoy the posts. I also enjoy writing them. Yes, I knew vaguely that marigolds are used in Indian ceremonies and festivals, though I didn't give it much thought when I wrote the post. Also, Johannesburg is big on celebrating Diwali, among other multicultural events, and I've seen a few puja.

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  2. Yes, it's not easy caring for flowers, and I've discovered that orchids are so much more simple and straight forward!

    Teaching English with Mr. Duncan
    A-Z of hotels

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    1. Really? I always had this preconceived notion that orchids were delicate and need extra care etc. Also, I tend to grow flowers I can get cheap, in large quantities (because my yard is big and my budget is tiny) and requires very little care, as my focus is more on growing what we can also eat. I'll read up on orchids when I have a minute.

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  3. Calendula/pot marigold is definitely a different plant from the African (I think actually Mexican) marigolds you're talking about. I'm not sure about whether you can eat this type -- or whether it tastes nice.

    The calendula type self-sow quite readily, too, even in Canada. Nasturtiums are great soil fertility indicators -- the better the soil the bigger the leaves (and plants). I've transplanted them into different sorts of soil and watched the new leaves come in at a completely different size. Plus they're so cheerful. I love the "Alaska" type, with the mottled leaves -- I don't usually care for variegated plants, but I do with nasturtiums.

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    1. Thank you for the info on marigolds vs calendula, Victoria. I actually didn't know about Calendula until I needed a cream for mosquito bites and I asked on Rhonda's forum (www.simplelivingforum.com ) and users suggested Calendula cream, and I looked up the flower online and a number of sources referenced marigolds. Yet when I read further there were sources that said they were not even in the same family! But I found that substituting the flowers got me a nice smooth cream that loves my skin, though not to accomplish what Calendula cream is supposed to.

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  4. We always used marigolds planted amongst our tomatoes to keep the bugs off them. It worked very well.

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    1. They rock, don't they? Though this past summer even marigolds couldn't help my poor tomato crop. Drought:(

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  5. Hi Damaria .. you were lucky to grow up with so many different fruit trees in your orchard - I loved the fruits I had in SA ... but we had an orchard when I was growing up .. and was exceedingly lucky in that respect too. Marigolds are good bug deterrents aren't they .. cheers Hlary

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  6. I waaaas lucky. Neighbours grew different fruits - like pomagranate, avodaco, mango, banana etc.. so people could barter one fruit for another when they were in season.

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  7. Hi, These are very popular and highly used flowers in India. What about in your country ? I like them a lot and my mom grows many of them every year... They do not need much maintenance... I also like them a lot. Beautiful post with good pictures...

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  8. In my experience, we grow marigolds and nasturtiums, but as much as you'd expect considering how easy they are to plant and care for. Many of my neighbours, who have gardens of their own including ornamental/flower gardens don't really grow marigolds, although some have asked for seedlings since they've seen mine. They tend to go for other hardy plants. Like agapanthus (see that plant here http://tinyurl.com/qg2tv7d)

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  9. Thou I love plants....I'm quite lazy to look after them... so it's always my moms business...

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    1. Cool. I think many gardeners love having people in their lives who just appreciate the beauty of what they grow, even if they themselves don't garden. Mma is one such person.. she still hasn't figured out why I like to play in the dirt,as she puts it, or voluntarily do work that makes me sweaty and grubby:-)

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  10. Your blog is so interesting and helpful. I love marigolds, but I have a black thumb so I'll just admire them in my sister's yard. :-)

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    1. Can you believe when I first started gardening my rule of thumb was "grow what you can't kill?" LOL!

      Even today, my plant choice tends to veer towards the hardy types which have a better chance of surviving long enough for me to learn to care for them.

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  11. I have ZERO talent for gardens - flowers or vegetables. My sister is the same way and it is really funny because my father was an avid gardener (he had a huge garden to help feed the poor people) and my mother had incredible house plants. So, my hat is off to anyone who has a natural ability to grow beautiful flowers.

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    1. LOL! My older brother is like that.. has zero interest or talent with gardens, though my grandfather, father and even my younger brother have gardened.

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  12. My mom grew marigolds. I loved them. They always brought such a cheery air to our front steps. I do love flowers, but my husband learned a long time ago he couldn't get them for me, because I'd start to sneeze, then cough, and in general be miserable. I hate telling my daughter she has to leave the flowers she picked for me at the back door, but this is survival, you know?

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    1. Ouch! Allergy to flowers.. that's rough. I think a gift basket full of cheese, crackers and fruit will do you in place of flowers.

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  13. I have never tried gardening, but enjoyed reading your post !

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    1. Thank you Ananya for coming by. I find gardening to be addictive, and I hope that enthusiasm comes through.

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  14. I envy you for the gardening skills Damaria!! I enjoy reading these!!

    ~S(t)ri
    Participant|AtoZ Challenge 2014
    Smile, it makes (y)our day!

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    1. Thank you Sri. I enjoy doing it and learning about it..

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  15. Wow!! You are a gold mine of information regarding gardening! Some how, I dont have any inclination for gardening, though I love seeing potted plants in and around the house. :)

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    1. LOL! One of the drivers for me is that I trully enjoy doing it. I feel soo free and relaxed being outside and basically digging and carrying things etc. I get help for the heavy stuff, but I also enjoy playing in the dirt. Each to his own, I guess:)

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  16. We plant Marigolds amongst our veg, they look so colourful as well as being a good companion plant to most things. Calundula are also known as 'pot Marigolds' but their not the same family, I always thought the benefits were equal but I've never looked it up.

    Nasturtians LOL I has such trouble growing these. Every attempt failed then I accidentally dropped a seed on the floow and flowers! Stopped fussing and threw some in the garden last year and they stageda takeover bid. Love the leaves in salad, very peppery.

    I've planted Dwarf trees last year, Pear and Plum, always do well with Blackcurrants, Redcurrants, Goosegogs/Gooseberries and this year adding Blueberries because their a favourite. Good luck with your Figs.

    It's nice seeing and hearing about your plot. I help my dad with an allotment, its nice to have grown up with that space and see it produce.

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    1. Sounds like you're also having a lot of fun and adventures in the garden. I like to broadcast marigold seeds in the garden; just throw them all over the place and see where they take or don't. It adds a bit of colour everywhere, and as they self-plant, it means I don't have to worry about seeding so much.

      My first planting of nasturtiums was OK, but not wonderful. Since then, they've been self-planting and growing so big! I just leave them alone....

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