What Is Your Veggie Garden Trying to Tell You? Part 1: Read the Leaves One thing I do almost every morning is walk through the veggie garden. Sometimes with coffee in hand, sometimes while I’m actually supposed to be doing something completely different, but I always...
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.
Why Does Wilde Als Get Black Aphids – And Why It’s Often a Good Sign If you’ve ever noticed your wilde als suddenly covered in black aphids, it can feel alarming. One week it looks strong and healthy, and the next it seems “infested.” But before reaching for a spray...
If you’ve been following our garden journey for a while, you’ll know I’m not quick to reach for chemicals when it comes to pest control. Over the years, our garden has become a little ecosystem of its own – with pests, yes, but also with pollinators, ladybugs,...
A trap crop is a plant that attracts pests away from a specific crop, protecting it from damage. Like most animals, insects have a preference for certain types of foods. Given a choice, insects will likely select their preferred food. If no option is given, they will...
Over the years, we have learned that herbs are an essential part of our vegetable garden, not only because when in flower, they are beautiful and attract beneficial insects, but they also play an essential part in the culinary world, making for delicious teas, and,...
Rooibos tea - packed with health benefits and classified as a superfood, AND it is brilliant for your garden. Much has been said about the multiple health benefits of Rooibos or ‘red bush’ tea, derived from the unique herbal shrub native to the Western Cape region of...
Diatomaceous earth and how it works Diatomaceous earth is made from the fossilized remains of tiny aquatic organisms called diatoms. Their skeletons are made of a natural substance called silica. Over a long period of time, diatoms accumulate in the sediment of...
Over ten years ago, when we decided to dedicate a section of our garden to a vegetable patch, I was determined to grow only vegetables that we could eat. This approach turned out to be my first major mistake in gardening. As a beginner gardener, I struggled to control...
