Bec Shann

One way to support good soil is to keep it covered using an organic mulch. We’re all familiar with mulches like straw or woodchip, but the benefit of growing a living mulch also needs to be considered.

Returning from the backyard with an armful of freshly harvested fruit is a true pleasure. While sprawling acres make fruit tree growing easy, don’t think you have to miss out if you’re short on space.

Winter is the perfect time to prepare your patch for that crop of summer berries you’ve always wanted. No more plastic punnets, an unrivalled depth of flavour and the joy of being able to pick the sweet taste of summer straight from the bush.

If there is a plant group considered a staple in the modern diet, the onion family is it. From the ubiquitous brown onion to edible chive flowers, the diversity in the onion family is matched only by the many uses and flavours it brings to the kitchen.

Sweet pepper, bell pepper or capsicum, regardless of what you call it, this versatile vegetable is a firm favourite in households worldwide. As easy to grow in pots as they are in the ground, and with many varieties to choose from, capsicums are a delicious addition to the warm weather garden.

Biting into a sweet, crunchy pea pod straight from the vine is a highlight of any gardener’s year. As diverse as they are versatile, the humble pea is a nutritious and easy-to-grow annual that deserves a space in every home…

Sweet and juicy, dried and ground, grilled, boiled or popped, it’s easy to understand why corn is a favourite all-round staple. Fresh, frozen, ground into flour or made into porridge, polenta and tortillas. Hugely versatile, you can snack on corn raw, feed it to livestock, turn it into syrup, even convert it into ethanol. Originating in Mexico and spreading rapidly through the Americas, the humble grain has established itself as an essential in gardens and kitchens all around the world.

Almost everyone loves blueberries, a fruit as delicious to eat fresh as baked in muffins. This versatile little powerhouse fruit has a reputation for being super good for you, too – high in antioxidants (particularly anthocyanin, responsible for this fruit’s blue colour) and fibre, and a great source of the vitamins A, C, E, potassium and manganese.