3 April 2015 East Kilbride Post


GARDEN Pot Marigold, Calendula


Officinalis, or Scottish Marigold; gorgeous, sunny flowers, with aromatic, dark green leaves. The petals brighten up any salad.


15


Chives, Allium Schoenoprasum; in addition to delicious foliage that can be used in salads, this plant also produces pretty pink, mauve or purple flowers.


Nasturtium,


ropaeolum Majus; a colourful salad can be


T


made from the beautiful peppery orange, red


or yellow flowers and foliage.


Wild Strawberry, Fragaria Vesca; this plant loves partial sun and fairly


The fractal beauty of


the Roman


Cabbage, Cavolo R


omano TASTE


llOne of the more magical properties of gardening is the gradual transformation from seed to fruit (or vegetables). To have the garden con- tribute to your meal is an easy thrill. Fruit trees are usually pe- rennial and regular bearers of apples, pears or plumbs. Si- milarly strawberries, toma- toes and raspberries are easy enough to grow, even in small spaces – the real skill is in keeping pests like insects, ro- dents and birds away before you can harvest.


Herbs are often seen as an exotic flash of foreign colour to a dish and yet many of them will thrive even in poor quality soil.


If you’re really starved of spa- ce, many will grow well enou- gh in window boxes or hanging baskets, and when in season, will provide a clump of flavo- ur every few days to your meals. (In any case, you can still enjoy taste sensations in the garden – it’s called a picnic.)


Although a garden is lar- gely a collection of natural, li- ving things, it still needs a little management. Firstly, planting things in the right place is im- portant if you want the garden to be a success. This some- times means moving things into either light or shade or topping up certain soil types with either compost for food


.


better than when you grow them yourself.


These are plants too of course, and taste no


Vegetables.


Spearmint, Mentha Spicata; a vigorous


growing herb, which


tastes great with peas or new potatoes.


Rosemary, Rosmarinus Officinalis; highly fragrant leaves, used to flavour meat and fish, its scent is wonderful.


damp conditions and produces small, sweet, delicious fruit.


Oregano/Wild Marjoram, Origanum Vulgare; the aromatic leaves are


delicious dried or fresh in pasta dishes. This plant also produces pretty pink or white flowers in midsummer to early autumn.


or grit for drainage. Seasons can also be a challenge since you’ll probably want to avo- id having a completely bar- ren space in autumn and win- ter – a few evergreens might be enough. It’s not that com- plicated and in any case, na-


ture usually finds a way of hel- ping you out. (Or maybe a nei- ghbour.)


Gardening as a project is also highly satisfying. It’s gre- at to get the family involved in the planning and planting of what is effectively their space.


There’s also a great de- al of therapy (literally) rooted in the garden. No matter how bad you feel, you’ll never in- terrupt the quiet workings of the garden as plants conti- nue to grow and birds conti- nue to sing. It’s a place where


it’s very difficult to be in a bad mood for long. Just being the- re is enough.


All you greenfingered residents can get in touch with your tips and tricks via


garden@eastkilbridepost.co.uk


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