The Star: June 15, 2017

The Star 31
Gardening
Latest Christchurch news at www.
Window dressing
No matter whether your garden is big or small, there’s
plenty more room to grow on the windowsill says
Rachel Vogan
.kiwi
Thursday June 15 2017
TIMES CHANGE and so do gardens.
This winter sees me relocating to a new
abode; a barn conversion. I have had a
seismic shift of sorts, going from a large
established garden to nothing. I am back
to the start-from-scratch scenario, and it’s
both fun and challenging.
Therefore, my crops this winter have to
be portable, productive, tasty and easy to
grow.
As there is little room for much outside
just yet, all my edibles are growing on the
windowsills around the new dwelling. It’s
almost like living in an apartment.
1. ROCKET
Where, oh where, would I be without
rocket? I grow both the perennial and
annual types and through winter the
serrated peppery leaves of the come-again
variety are one of my go-to crops. Either
sow seeds now or treat yourself to some
seedlings. The trick to keep the leaves
coming is to pick and harvest on a regular
basis. Not a lot of root room is required
either, so a plant will readily grow in a
takeaway coffee cup, if the container starts
to get a bit ratty, slip a new one underneath
the original one. Too easy.
2. BASIL
Yes, crazy I know, but it will keep growing
as a cutting in a glass of water over winter
if your kitchen doesn’t drop below 10 deg
C very often. And, so far, mine is chugging
away with plenty of vigour, mostly due
to the log burner, which is constantly
burning to keep the temperatures from
plummeting.
3. PARSLEY
What a campaigner this crop is. The curly
type is happy as, quietly hanging out on
the windowsill. I use a lot of it, so it never
gets too leggy. Pinch the stalks right back to
the base of the plant to keep the new flush
of flavour-filled leaves coming through
quicker and faster.
4. KALE & THE CABBAGE FAMILY
When I first started growing kale on the
windowsill I thought this would fail to get
past microgreens stage, but it didn’t. In
The magazine for
gardeners who
like To geT Their
hands dirTy
fact, it’s been one of the best crops. And
what’s even better is that I am using it far
more often as it is so handy, and is quite
sweet when the leaves are about thumb
size.
5. LETTUCE
The frilly lettuces are thriving. Whilst they
can get a bit leggy if I give them too much
water, or leave them too long between
harvest, they quickly re-grow new leaves
once I pluck them or give them a haircut
with the nail scissors. I rotate the pots
every few days so as the plants retain an
even shape.
7. SUPER SPROUTS
Goodness in a jar. Are sprouted seeds
your thing? Well, they never used to be
mine and now I use them most days. All
you need is a jar, a spot with good light,
some water and seeds, and you are in
business. Too easy. Consider having three
jars on the go at any one time, and soak
new seeds twice a week – this way you will
never run out.
8. MICROGREENS
These pint-sized seedlings are just the
ticket in winter. They are bigger than
sprouted seeds, but smaller than salad
leaves. Last year I grew them for the first
time and this year they are making an
appearance once again. I sow them into
those shallow takeaway containers with a
few holes poked into the bottom.
9. ARTHRITIS HERB – GOTU KOLA
(CENTELLA ASIATICA)
This wee gem is sensitive to frost, so
it needs to be tucked up inside. It will
cope with a spot away from direct light,
especially if the windowsill is getting a bit
full with other crops. I grow mine in the
bathroom.
I grow this purely for medicinal reasons; it
helps ease general aches and pains and has
definitely helped reduce my blood pressure.
Some people swear it eases arthritic pain.
Two leaves a day does the trick, easily
chopped finely into a salad
or thrown in with the greens for a
smoothie.
COMPACT: Little lettuce (left) and gotu
kola are easy to grow in tight spaces.
Rocket (below) needs to be picked on
a regular basis.
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