Minty Spice and All Things Nice

SPICE IT UP

MINTS
Originally taken as a medicinal herb to treat stomach ache and chest pains, nowadays it’s mostly called upon for soothing indigestion to heartburn and the common cold to bad breath.
There are three common mints:

1. Mentha viridis or common min has a rounded leaf and not as bright as
2. Mentha spicata or spearmint which has a more elongated leaf. 
3. Then there's Peppermint, Mentha x piperita, which is a cross between spearmint and watermint.

Mentha spicata

Not all mints are equal and if you want to add the best culinary type mint to your cooking then you need to pay attention to this next segment. Let’s find out what it is now. I'm talking with Not all mints are equal and if you want to add the best culinary type mint to your cooking then you need to pay attention to this next segment.
I'm talking with Ian Hemphill from www.herbies.com.au

Not all mints are equal and if you want to add the best culinary type mint to your cooking then you need to pay attention to this next segment.
Herbies Spices sells dried mint which is imported from Turkey.
Peppermint wasn't known in the UK until the 1700's.

Peppermint

Peppermint is mostly used medicinally and in sweets or confectionary, but not in savoury cooking.
Apple mint is a less common mint but can be used in cooking. Apple mint flavour goes well with peas and in mint ice.
On the other hand Eau de Cologne mint is not suitable in any recipe.
Although mint is easy to grow, its roots, which are called "runners," are also incredibly invasive: they quickly grow, sprouting new leaves and new plants as they go.
Mint will overtake a flower bed or garden in no time if you're not careful
If you have any questions about Wollemi Pines or have some information to share, drop us a line to realworldgardener@gmail.com or write in to 2RRR PO Box 644 Gladesville NSW 1675

VEGETABLE HEROES

Nasturtiums or Tropaeolum majus.
Did you know that Nasturtium plants were discovered in the jungles of Peru and Mexico in the 16th century?
The common name nasturtium comes from the Latin words for nose (nas), and tortum (twist), which is supposed to be because of a persons’ reaction when tasting the spicy, peppery leaves.

Nasturtiums

Renaissance botanists named it after watercress, (Nasturtium officinale in Latin) which has a similar taste.
And the second part of the latin name came about in the seventeen hundreds.
The Swedish botanist Carl Linnaeus named them after the Latin word tropaeolum, meaning trophy.
Linnaeus compared the funnel shape of nasturtium’s flowers to battle helmets and its flat leaves to shields, which were traditionally hung on trees after an army was victorious.
The original plant would’ve been a small vine with orange-yellow flowers with dark red spots on the petals and shield-shaped leaves.
 According to Jesuit missionaries, the Incas used nasturtiums as a salad vegetable and as a medicinal herb.
Over the centuries as plants-men derived different colours and variegation on their leaves, there was a shift from Nasturtiums being thought of as a herb to more of an ornamental plant.
Monet used to let Nasturtiums ramble in one part of his garden in Giverny, France.
Why Grow Nasturtiums
Tropaeolum majus or Nasturtiums are easy to grow, edible, cheerful and they are great companion plants as well!
Nasturtiums help deter aphids, whiteflies, squash bugs, cucumber beetles and other pests.
Plant them with tomatoes, radishes, cabbage, broccoli, and under fruit trees.
They come in bright colour as well as soft tones-variegated leaves such as the Alaska series, or plain leaves-even dwarf varieties that grow to 50cm tall while others can be used as a vine, climbing 1 ½ metres or more!
Nasturtiums are often found in neglected or older gardens because they don’t need too much care once they get started.

Tropaeolum majus

So What Do Modern Day Nasturtiums Look Like?
Firstly, Nasturtiums are annual plants with rounded leaves like a water lily.
The flowers are an open funnel shape with a little claw or spur on the underside.
Save the seeds for ‘ron.
Autumn/early winter is still the time to plant Nasturtiums and to get a faster sprout soak your seeds (they are large and pretty hard) in some warm water overnight and then place directly in the garden or pots where you want to grow them.
Nasturtiums resent being transplanted so don’t buy the seedlings.
If you want to sow them in coco peat pots you can then plant the seedling, pot and all into the garden.
I've found the trick with nasturtiums is to keep them watered during the entire growing season.
Especially when they are in containers.
They love part sun or semi-shade, but they don't do well in drought-like conditions.
As long as you keep them watered and give them room for the air to circulate they give you lots of flowers.
The soil shouldn't be too rich because you will get more leaves than flowers.
Grow them in sandy and they will still thrive.
You can use wine barrel planters, window boxes or porch boxes too.
Pick the flowers often once they start coming, and you will have many more,
So why are nasturtiums a herb?
Because the entire plant is edible as long as you don’t use pesticides!  
Keep it organic and you’ll find this peppery plant is perfect for salads, herb vinegars, appetizers and garnishes.
Try mixing assorted greens such as romaine, radicchio, spinach and arugula or rocket with a handful of nasturtium blooms topped with your favourite dressing.
You can decorate cupcakes with Nasturtium flowers on top of the frosting for something really different!
Nasturtium vinegar is easy too, just add several flowers and some leaves to a jar with a clove of garlic.
Fill with vinegar and allow to sit for 4-5 weeks.
The leaves and flowers can be added to any salad, used as garnish, or chopped into pasta salads.
Did you know that the seeds were ground during World War II as a replacement for pepper and you can still do this. Wait for the seeds to dry-they are larger than peppercorns-and grind them in a grinder.
You can add this mixture with herbs to make a savoury herb salt as well.

NASTURTIUM SEEDS

 Store in tightly closed bottles.
The fresh seeds can be pickled as a type of substitution for capers, which are fairly expensive. You can find more recipes and uses for Nasturtiums on the internet. Try putting in the words “old fashioned living.” http://oldfashionedliving.com/nasturtiums.html
So why are they good for you?
Nasturtiums were known to help prevent scurvy, since the leaves are rich in Vitamin C.
The leaves of Nasturtiums also contain iron and  have antibiotic properties which are more effective just before the plant flowers.
In traditional medicine an ointment is made from nasturtium flowers and used to treat skin conditions as well as hair loss.
AND THAT WAS YOUR VEGETABLE HERO FOR TODAY?

DESIGN ELEMENTS

SOIL pH series introduction


Chlorosis, or iron deficiency

This next topic isn’t all that glamourous but can mean that your garden plants won’t grow as well if you do nothing about it.
Plants will be stunted, or have deformed leaves, even yellowing leaves with green veins can be one of the outcomes.
You’ll often read or hear the recommendation to check soil pH, but what does that really mean?
Pity about the topic name but let’s find out in this introduction to soil pH.
I'm talking with Glenice Buck, Consulting Arborist and Landscape Designer. www.glenicebuckdesigns.com.au

Soil pH measures the alkalinity or acidity levels in the soil.
This ranges from '0' to ;14' on a pH scale, where pH 7 is considered neutral.

pH chart

Levels falling below 7 are acidic and those above 7 are considered alkaline.
Soil pH is important because it influences how easily plants can take up nutrients from the soil.
Did you know that plant roots absorb mineral nutrients such as nitrogen and iron when they are dissolved in water?
If the soil solution (the mixture of water and nutrients in the soil) is too acid or alkaline, some nutrients won’t dissolve easily, so they won’t be available for uptake by roots.
If you have any questions about measuring soil pH drop us a line to realworldgardener@gmail.com

PLANT OF THE WEEK

Leptospermum laevigatum Foreshore

Leptospermum laevigatum Foreshore photo PMA

Some native plants can grow in next to nothing soil, on rocky outcrops, be battered by salt laden winds and receive almost no water, but still keep on growing.
These plants have developed tactics to keep surviving in such harsh conditions so when you transfer them to your garden, they’re practically low maintenance.
Let’s find out about this new low native shrubs. I'm talking with the plant panel: Karen Smith, editor of Hort Journal www.hortjournal.com.au  and Jeremy Critchley, The Green Gallery wholesale nursery owner. www.thegreengallery.com.au

2.5 year old tea tree hedge. photo PMA

Leptospermum laevigatum Foreshore, grows to only 50 cm in height and is of course a tea tree. A native alternative to box hedges and is perfect for low hedge planting because not only are the plants tough but you won’t have to keep pruning them every couple of weeks to keep them to size.



Once established it is reasonably dry tolerant requiring only occasional deep watering during
extended periods of heat.

Tea trees can be planted in most soil types that are well draining.

Best grown in full sun but will tolerate part shade.

   

PRESERVES, MINTS AND SOILS AINT SOILS

THE GOOD EARTH

with Permaculture North's Margaret Mossakowska
Do you or someone in your family preserve fruit using the bottling method?
Somewhere in the garage or shed there’s a row of preserved plums, peaches and nectarines?
Preserving is creating an environment to prevent bacteria growing, so usually preserving is with vinegar, or sugar and water.

But bottling isn’t the only method of preserving fruit.
So what else is there? For a start there's sauces, jams and relishes.
Ever heard of Plum Povidil?
Listen to this…..
Something for you to think about-
Preserving doesn’t improve the taste of fruit. So it’s best to preserve only sun ripened fruit with flavour.
Preserving green tasteless fruit is a waste of your time.
To preserve things whole you can use salt, eg salting lemons.
Did you know that you can use the flesh from preserved lemons to scrub your sinks?
Sure it's sticky, but then you wipe it off with a damp cloth. But the lemon juice cuts through grease and the salt acts like an abrasive.
Fruits that are higher in acid are better for preserving as they are far less likely to harbour clostridium botulinum, which is the bacteria that produces the botulinum toxin.Low acid fruit and most vegetables are at risk of contamination by this bacteria and therefore require different preserving systems than for high acid fruit.
Plums have lots of pectin which sets the jam.
A litmus test should be able to confirm the acidity if you’re at all concerned;
If you have any questions about the scale, or  even have a photo a problem on your plant, why not drop us a line to realworldgardener@gmail.com or write in to 2RRR P.O. Box 644 Gladesville NSW 1675.

VEGETABLE  AND OTHER HEROES:

 

The mints belong to the genus Mentha in the family Lamiaceae which includes other plants with oil in their leaves such as basil, sage, rosemary, marjoram, lavender, pennyroyal and thyme.
Sometimes the history of the herb or vegetable of that I'm talking about is simply fascinating.
Mint is no exception.
Here’s a fabulous legend or myth from Roman times.
There was a nymph called, Minthe who was
Pluto's lover. When his wife Persephone found out, in a fit of rage she turned Minthe into a lowly plant, to be trod upon.
Pluto couldn’t undo the spell, but softened the spell by giving her a sweet scent which would perfume the air when her leaves were stepped upon.

In the 1700s mint was considered to be an important medicinal herb, appearing in remedies for everything from digestive disorders to headaches. Mint also began to make more appearances in foods and drinks.
Did you know that peppermint is usually the mint that’s used commercially in liqueurs, toothpastes, soaps and mouthwashes?
All mints are fairly low-growing plants, readily sending out runners, or stolons, which develop new roots and shoots at the nodes. Under good growing conditions, stems can reach up to a1 m in height.
The mints will grow in a wide range of climates and are pretty popular in home gardens all over Australia. \
Growing Mint from Seed
If you’re growing mint from seed, the best times vary all around Australia.
In temperate and sub-tropical zones-August to November, in Tropical Zones, it’s April to July,  in arid areas-June and July is best, and cool temperate, September  to December.
But who grows mint from seed these days?
It’s really quicker and easier if you just get a piece of the stolon and plonk into the ground.
If you leave in a frosty area, put your mint cutting into a pot under cover until all frost has finished for this year.
Growing Mints-What do they like?
In general mint likes a cool moist root run, yet plenty of filtered light, and they also likes a fairly constant environment.
We’re looking for a humus rich moist deep soil, but well drained, filtered light but not deep shade. A light soil, not a clay type.
Growing in a pot is fine as long as it’s a largish one, because mints like to have a little room, it’s a bit of a roaming plant so give it space.
Keep up the moisture-mint doesn’t like to dry out, so use a specialist terracotta and tub mix with some added water retention crystals.
Growing mint in warmer climates can cause problems,
Mint does require constant moisture, so in Queensland try growing mint in morning sun and shade from midday on.

Eau de Cologne Mint

A high water requirement means that soils must be deep and well drained while holding plenty of water.

Remember that in cooler areas mint will die back in winter, but will bounce back in spring. Generally not to many pests to worry about.

Planting
Mint can be propagated either cuttings or by seed.
You can grown new plants by digging up plants in late winter-early spring and dividing them into runners with roots, then replanting. This will prevent the plants from becoming root-bound and prone to disease, giving you strong, healthy plants for the new season.
Most of the time we are busy trying to just keep it tidy. It can take over your garden if your not care so, be like me, and grow it in a pot that you can sink in the garden bed.
Companion Planting
Planting mint near peas, cabbage or tomatoes will improve their health and flavour. Mint will attract hoverflies and predatory wasps to your garden.
Mint is also a favourite of earthworms.

The most common mint grown in home gardens is actually Spearmint (M. spicata).
Leaves are smooth, bright green and elongated with a pointed end. Flowers are a pink to lilac colour and grow in clusters on the ends of the stems.


chocolate Mint

The other common mints are eau-de-cologne mint (M. × piperita var. citrata) and apple mint (M. rotundifolia).
Peppermint (M. × piperita). This is a low-growing plant that has small, pointed, dark green leaves with a purplish tinge. Peppermint is the most commonly grown species for oil production.
But there are so many-ther’es chocolate mint, lavender mint, orange mint, basil mint …how about apple mint (M. rotundifolia).?
Very flavoursome with a strong apple taste and perfume. The leaves are light green, soft and downy, with a rounded shape.
Lemon Mint is good in drinks and used as a potpourri -mild mint and citrus aroma..
Eau-de-cologne (M. × piperita var. citrata). This mint has a very strong, sharp perfume. It has smooth green, oval-shaped leaves that are tinged with purple.
Moroccan Mint is used to make traditional mint teas -infuses better.
The main pests are slugs, snails aphids, loopers and leaf rollers. So watch out. Either had pick them off or go organic and pick up used coffee grounds from your local coffee shop, and spread it around your mint plants if you have this problem.

Why are mints good for us?

The menthol in peppermint soothes the lining of the digestive tract and a hot cup of herbal tea is an excellent way to settle your stomach after a big meal.
Did you know that if you want to increase the effectiveness of peppermint tea as a breath freshener, you can add a pinch of anise, caraway or cinnamon.
Mint is also a good remedy for gingivitis.
Peppermint is reputed to have the calming, sedative effect.
Mint contains Vitamin C and Vitamin A.


Mints in Cooking

Apple Mint

 

 

 

 

Chop up some leaves in a salad or use as a garnish on soups and stews.
Spice Up Your Vegetables: Put mint in water used to steam vegetables.
Minty rice: Toss whole mint leaves in cooked rice before serving.
Minty Salad Dressing: Make salad dressing with mint, lemon juice, vinegar and a light oil.

Spice up your tuna: Chop spearmint and mix with olive oil and use as a marinade for fresh tuna. Marinate 30 minutes, grill.

 

 

DESIGN ELEMENTS

with landscape designer Jason Cornish

 Soils are the least glamorous of topics in gardening.
We’ve all heard about soil types a few weeks ago when Louise mentioned them, but why exactly do we have different soil types and can we really change the profile in our lifetime?
Why do we need to bother so much about soils?
Plants obtain most of their oxygen and carbon from the air by photosynthesis; and hydrogen is obtained, directly or indirectly, from the water in the soil.
These three elements together make up over 90 percent of fresh plant tissue.
However, plants cannot survive without the much smaller quantity of essential nutrients that they obtain from the soil, such as nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium, calcium, magnesium and sulphur.
How do different soils come about? why do you have clay soil or sandy soil?
Soil composition is made of the parent material, air and water.
What happens if you have a type of soil that is luxurious loam with the right mix of water air and parent material?

Let’s find out what this is all about.
PLAY: Drainage_9thMay_2014

The characteristics of soil play a big part in the plant's ability to extract water and nutrients.
If plants are to grow to their full potential, the soil must provide a everything needed for plant growth.
The things that your soil is made from—your soil's composition—affect all of these aspects of plant growth. Knowing what soils are composed of will help you understand how soil affects plant growth.

PLANT OF THE WEEK:  Pistacia chinensis  - Chinese pistachio

Did you know that autumn colour is already in the leaf and it’s covered by the green which is chlorophyll during the growing season of the leaf.
Do you live in an area where deciduous trees give you great autumn colour?
Those turning leaves do give those brilliant, reds, yellows and oranges that make for a standout landscape that artists and photographers can’t resist.
Why not have a bit of this in your own backyard.
Q.Do you know why leaves change colour?
Leaves change colour because of certain pigments in them and as the tree approaches dormancy in cooler weather, the masking effect of the green part-or the chlorophyll starts to fade and the real colours come through.
Carotenoid pigments give leaves a more yellow or orange colour, glucose gives it more red as you might see in a Maple leaf, and anthocyanins give leaves a more purple-red colour.
Pistacia chinensis  - Chinese pistachio
Chinese pistachio is a small to medium deciduous tree with a rounded head and upright branching.
In the cashew family-Anacardiaceae, and is native to central and western China and Taiwan.
Chinese Pistacia has attractive fine pinnate foliage, dark green, almost lustrous, produces brilliant autumn colours of yellow, orange and scarlet.

Blue/red fruit following flowers.

The bark dark grey, has shallow furrows which reveal a salmon to orange inner bark.
Adapts to most soil types.
Formative pruning required developing central trunk.
height x width (m) 6-10 x 5-8:growth rate Moderate
flower colour Green, inconspicuous panicles. Dioecious with separate male and female plants. Followed by the fruit which is a small red drupe, turning blue when ripe, containing a single seed.
flowering time Summer
shade tolerance Mainly full sun
drought High drought tolerance grows satisfactorily with no obvious signs of stress in a
dry summer.