5. Good Organic Gardening - September-October 2016 AvxHome.in

Earthy ideas | SHORT SHOOTS
and tie it up with cotton thread. Next, make
a soil mix using a ratio of 7:3 peat moss to
bonsai soil and combine with water until it’s
mouldable. Pack the soil mix around the ball
tightly, then wrap with another layer of wet
sphagnum moss to hold it all in place, tying
it up with cotton thread. Bind again with
garden twine to ensure the ball stays firm.
Hang and enjoy!
8
It’s a wrap
Move your pot plants indoors or
to warmer microclimates when the
cool weather sets in. You can also insulate
your pot plants by wrapping them in hessian
or even leftover bubble wrap. A layer of
mulch, hay or straw around the base of the
plant will act like a blanket and help keep the
soil warm and the plant healthy.
7
9
Up against
the wall
If you’ve always wanted to grow
a fruit tree but don’t think you have space,
try espaliering it flat against a wall. Choose
a warm, north-facing position for your tree
and plant it 30cm from a fence or wall. As
the tree grows, train the branches to follow
the fence, tying them in place. You’ll need to
prune your tree regularly to maintain the flat,
two-dimensional effect. This technique works
particularly well for citrus and fruit trees such
as apples, pears, peaches, nectarines, olives,
plums and cherries.
10
Handle like
eggs
Starting seeds in the warm indoors
ensures they have a strong, healthy start in
life. Sowing seeds in egg cartons with drainage
holes punched in the bottom is a great
alternative to a planting box. The pockets allow
you to grow each plant individually so you
won’t have to untangle roots down the track.
Once your seeds have sprouted, cut out the
individual egg cartons and plant them directly
into the ground. The cardboard will decompose
naturally and the plant won’t experience any
stress in the transplantation process. Used
toilet roll tubes are another good option.
9
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Good Organic Gardening | 83