Soil pH: The Gardening Topic Everyone Talks About... But Do You Really Need to Worry? With spring just around the corner, thousands of South Africans are preparing their vegetable gardens. Compost is being spread, seedlings are being bought, seed packets are coming...
Small space, big harvests… even in winter
May in the garden is a shift. The air cools, the soil stays wetter for longer, and growth slows down—but if you get your containers right now, winter can be one of the most rewarding seasons to grow. Whether you’re gardening in the rainy Western Cape, the frosty Highveld, or even colder climates elsewhere, containers give you something incredibly valuable this time of year: control. You can move them out of the rain, into the sun, and protect them from cold snaps, creating a small but powerful growing environment right at home.
There’s something about winter gardening that feels slower, calmer… and then rust arrives and reminds you that the garden never really rests. One week your garlic is standing tall, your onions are pushing on, and everything feels steady. The next, you notice those...
April is that sneaky month in the garden. The heat starts fading, the mornings get cooler, the soil stays damp for longer… and suddenly the problems shift. You’re not only dealing with summer pests anymore — now it’s slugs, snails, fungal issues, and those pests that...
Winter in the garden can be incredibly rewarding… but let’s be honest — it also comes with its fair share of challenges. Between hungry birds, heavy rain, icy mornings, and that relentless Cape wind, your veggies need a little extra protection this time of year.
At VanZylStead, we’ve tested quite a few methods over the seasons — some worked, some didn’t. And one thing we’ve learned?
What works in one garden might not work in another.
For example… those shiny CDs hanging in the garden?
They look like they should work… but in our garden, the birds honestly couldn’t care less 😅 They sit right next to them and carry on eating. That said — in your space, it might just do the trick. Gardening is always a bit of trial and error.
There’s something about winter that makes us slow down a little… warmer meals, slower mornings, more time in the kitchen. And this is exactly why April is such a powerful month in your garden. Because while everyone thinks the garden is winding down… this is actually...
Pine needles… you either love them or you’ve been told to avoid them at all costs. If you’ve spent any time in gardening groups, you’ve probably heard this; “Don’t use pine needles — they make your soil too acidic!” But here’s the truth… it’s not that simple. And like...
