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Jhb West - Nov 24

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Indoor plant of the month<br />

Venus flytrap is a carnivorous little<br />

plant that sounds creepy enough for<br />

Halloween hi-jinks but is actually quite<br />

practical and beautiful in a bizarre<br />

kind of way. The leaves act as fly traps,<br />

with the inner part of the leaf looking<br />

like a pink mouth surrounded by<br />

spiny, sharp teeth. Along comes a fly<br />

and the leaf snaps shut.<br />

When grown indoors the Venus<br />

flytrap needs at least six hours of sun,<br />

so it will thrive in a sunny room, on a<br />

windowsill or on the patio. Place the<br />

plant in a 2 to 4cm deep saucer filled<br />

with water. To prevent it from rotting,<br />

let the tray dry out for a short period<br />

every week but never let the plant<br />

dry out completely as this will kill it.<br />

There is no need to fertilise because<br />

the flies provide all the nutrients the<br />

plant needs.<br />

In Winter the plant goes dormant<br />

and dies down. Move it to a cool area<br />

so that it stays dormant. Water less,<br />

keeping the soil lightly moist. Come<br />

Summer, move it back into the sun.<br />

Details: lvgplant.co.za<br />

Text: ALICE COETZEE<br />

Veggie of the month<br />

Squash Bennings Green is a quick and easy<br />

to grow heirloom patty pan squash, that is regarded as<br />

one of the tastiest of the Summer squash varieties -<br />

with a nutty, slightly sweet flavour. The saucer shaped<br />

fruit has scalloped edges and is pale green<br />

when young, maturing to a creamy white. The<br />

medium sized bushy plant is a prolific producer<br />

throughout Summer, with the first fruit ready to<br />

harvest within 50 days of germination. Sow seed<br />

directly into the soil in a sunny position, in fertile, well<br />

composted soil. Water around the base of the plant<br />

and don’t allow it to completely dry out. The fruit is at<br />

its tastiest when eaten young and green.<br />

Older fruit can be added to slow cooked stews,<br />

casseroles and potjies. Details: kirchhoffs.co.za<br />

28 Get It Magazine <strong>Nov</strong>ember 20<strong>24</strong>

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