Video: Our guide to pruning raspberries

Submitted by Aurora Christialis on
A lot of people find pruning raspberries intimidating. But once you understand how raspberry canes grow, a few seasonal snips will help keep your patch healthy and productive. That’s why we have created this video that shows you step by step how to prune raspberries, with Pip’s very own Julie Bennett. Winter is the ideal […]

MEDICINAL PLANTS – Growing and using hops

Submitted by Aurora Christialis on

Hops (Humulus lupulus) has been traditionally used in herbal medicine for its relaxing action on the nervous system.

If you’re having trouble sleeping or feeling stressed, hops might be a remedy. The dried flowers can be added to a lavender eye pillow to help soothe tension headaches, toothaches and earaches while the bitter taste supports digestive function. Hops can be used with lemon balm, chamomile or mint in herbal teas to ease indigestion.

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Feed your soil with winter cover crops

Submitted by Aurora Christialis on
If you’re finding it hard to muster the energy to get a winter veggie patch going, you’re not alone. As the seasons shift and the days grow shorter, many of us feel that natural pull to slow down. But just because you’re not up for planting broccoli or garlic doesn’t mean your garden has to sit idle—or worse, lose its hard-earned soil health. Sowing a simple cover crop is one of the easiest ways to both rest and regenerate your patch at the same time.

Green tomatoes: fried, pickled and even cake!

Submitted by Aurora Christialis on
It’s the same story every year – summer’s heat eases, the days shorten and despite your best efforts, a good chunk of tomatoes stubbornly refuse to ripen on the vine. Do you leave them and hope for a last-minute colour change, or do you admit defeat and find another way to use them? The good news is, unripe tomatoes aren’t just edible; they’re actually pretty versatile.

How to make leaf mould

Submitted by Aurora Christialis on
Autumn has arrived in Australia and for many gardeners that means one thing: an abundance of fallen leaves. Rather than stuffing them into the green waste bin or adding all of them to the compost, consider turning them into one of the best soil conditioners nature has to offer – leaf mould. It’s easy to make, requires minimal effort and will reward you with rich, crumbly organic matter that your garden will love.

IN THE GARDEN – February – May 2025

Submitted by Aurora Christialis on

The moon’s phases and its associated gravitational pull has a significant effect on the behaviour of tidal oceans, so it’s easy to understand how the moon can have a similar effect on the moisture in our soils and plants. By planning what you sow to coincide with the phases of the moon best suited to the type of vegetable and how you’re planting, you’ll give yourself a higher chance of success as well as increase your yields.

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