Christian Gardeners International

Celeriac (Apium graveolens rapaceum) Job 13:25 Wilt thou break a leaf driven to and fro? and wilt thou pursue the dry stubble? Also known as turnip celery, knob celery or celery root Is a cool season vegetable It has a tuberous root stem which can be eaten The root stem can grow up to 15cm across The root stem tastes like celery Is closely related to celery It has as many uses as celery It can be boiled, steamed or grated in salads The leaves have a slightly bitter taste Celeriac yields ten heads per 3 meters How to Grow Sow Spring, Summer and Autumn A rich soil with organic matter in it An open sunny site Place plants 30cm(12in) apart In rows 45cm(18in) apart Harvesting It takes six months to mature from seed The stems are ready when 8-13cm in diameter Lift the stems from the ground and wash The leaves can be used in soups See More! The easy guide to Onions http://cga777.blogspot.com.au/2018/02/

Sweet corn (Zea mays) Mark 4:28 For the earth bringeth forth fruit of herself; first the blade, then the ear, after that the full corn in the ear. Also known as corn or maize Is a grass with long leaves Is one of the most important crops in the world Is an easy crop to grow The kernels are yellow or white or sometimes bicoloured It can grow to about 2 meters tall Each plant produces about 2 cobs It is a good source of starch Tall plants will shadow neighbouring plants It can be grown in all climate zones It can be used as a livestock feed The grains in the cobs have a high sugar content How to Grow  Spring and Summer A sunny site with rich soil Sow seed 35cm apart in rows 45cm apart Grow in short rows to increase pollination Use a nitrogen fertilizer to aid growth Water well in dry weather Cultivate between plants to destroy weeds Hill plants with soil to give them support Harvesting About 12 weeks from sowing When the silks turn brown and the c

Brussel sprouts (Brassica oleracea gemmifera) Luke 23:31 For if they do these things in a green tree, what shall be done in the dry? Also known as sprouts,  toy cabbages or mini cabbages It belongs to the cabbage family Is a cool season crop Are popular throughout the world Produce compact edible buds called sprouts Sprouts grow up the stem of the plant The plant has large leaves It is known as a traditional winter vegetable Plants grow to about 1 meter tall Plants are strong and can survive severe winters One grown plant can produce 60-70 sprouts 9-12 plants are recommended for a good supply These plants can be intercropped with salad plants How to Grow Sow or transplant Spring, Summer and Autumn A fertile soil with lots of organic matter in it is best Place plants at a minimum of 60cm apart each way Keep seedlings and new transplants well watered Hoe to destroy weeds In windy areas plants should be staked Harvesting Are ready 16-20 week

Lettuce (Lactuca sativa) Job 39:8 The range of the mountains is his pasture, and he searcheth after every green thing. Is a cool season crop Lettuces either form a head(heart) or dont Is popular around the world as a salad vegetable There are different forms of lettuce The most widely grown form is head lettuce Lettuce has short roots Has been grown for hundreds of years Lettuce can be grown in all climate zones Cos lettuces grow best in cooler weather How to Grow Can be sown all year round An open sunny site with fertile soil Sow seed direct or transplant seedlings Water the plants often Apply a liquid fertiliser every 2 weeks Harvesting Lettuce is mature in 8 to 12 weeks Varieties Butterhead - large hearts Cos Verdi - large green leaves with a tall heart Freze - A good winter lettuce Green Mignonette - Small heads Iceberg - Very dense heads The easy guide to

Chinese Cabbage (Brassica cernua) Job 13:25 Wilt thou break a leaf driven to and fro? and wilt thou pursue the dry stubble? Also known as Wong Bok, Pe-Tsai or Chinese leaves Are fast growing plants A plant like lettuce and cabbage combined It has dense heads and a mild cabbage flavour Is grown like lettuce Is easy to grow Leaves and stems can be put into a salad They are a native of China and Japan They have shallow roots They can be used in the same way as Cabbage They yield 12 heads per 3 meter row How to Grow Sow nearly all year round Space plants 25cm apart in rows 25cm apart Water little and often Use a nitrogen fertiliser to aid growth Harvesting Usually 8 to 10 weeks after sowing Flowering shoots can be eaten also Varieties Wong Bok hybrid - large heads See More! The easy guide to Shallots http://cga777.blogspot.com/2018/02/the-easy-guide-to-shallots.html The easy guide to Onions

Cabbage (Brassica oleracea capitata) 1 Timothy 6:8 And having food and raiment let us be therewith content. It is a common green vegetable Is grown for its central heart or head The heart is large tightly packed leaves Heads can be round, conical or drumhead in shape Cabbages can be named as a particular season eg summer Heads are usually 15-30cm in diameter Leaves can green, dark green, purple or red Are related to broccoli and brussel sprouts Cabbages are rich in vitamins and minerals They can be steamed, braised, stuffed or put into a soup Home grown plants may taste better than shop ones Yields depend on the varieties grown How to Grow Sow anytime of the year into seed containers or Transplant young plants into their position Cabbages prefer firm fertile soil Large cabbages need more space than small cabbages Space plants 40cm to 75cm apart depending on the variety Keep plants well watered until they are established Use a water fertiliser ev

Broad Beans (Vicia faba) Proverbs 13:23 Much food is in the tillage of the poor: but there is that is destroyed for want of judgment. Also known as fava beans, cold beans Is a cool season vegetable Is a tall and leafy plant Are easy to grow They can grow to a 1 meter or more Are grown for the immature green or white seeds White seeds may taste better than green ones The pods are large, thick and fleshy Pod length is 15-30cm Plants have a long taproot Beans can be boiled or steamed or cooked The plant can be used for feed to livestock Yield is about 3kg per 3 meter row How to Grow Sow Autumn and Winter They can be grown with stakes or supports Sow seed 8cm(3in) deep and 20cm(8in) apart Row spacing is 45cm(18in) apart Control weeds by hoeing Water when the flowers begin flowering Harvesting Are ready in 3 to 4 months Pick pods before they get too old Young pods and shoot tips can be cooked and eaten Varieties Big B

Peas (Pisum sativum) Ecclesiastes 3:2 A time to be born, and a time to die; a time to plant, and a time to pluck up that which is planted; Also known as shelling peas or garden peas Have been used as a food for hundreds of years Are a green climbing plant Can grow to over 2 meters in height They are a cool season vegetable Are easy to grow in cool weather Peas have high nutritional value They go well with mint sauce and roast lamb They can be cooked or put into a soup They yield about 3kg per 3 meter row They can be canned or frozen How to Grow Peas are grown up supports to save space A trellis or fence is an option Sow Autumn and Winter Sow seed 4cm deep with seeds 5cm apart Weeding weeds will help alot Water well when the first flowers appear Water well when the young pods start to form Harvesting Usually 12-14 weeks from sowing Gather peas as soon as they are ready Fresh peas taste best They can be stored in a refrigerator

Shallots (Allium ascalonicum) Psalms 105:35 And did eat up all the herbs in their land, and devoured the fruit of their ground. Also known as eschalots or scallions They are part of the onion family Have small brown skinned bulbs Have small bulbs that grow in clusters Are grown for their stems and leaves Have a milder flavour than onions They are easy to grow A 3 meter row can yield up to 180 shallots They can be used for cooking or pickling They can be intercropped with other plants How to Grow Autumn and Winter are the best time to start Needs a fertile, well drained, non acid soil Sow one inch deep and 1-2cm apart in rows 30cm apart Or plant out as bulblets or sets Apply a liquid fertiliser every 3 weeks Weeding around plants can be done by hand Harvesting  Pull when the tops start to die and fall over Keep bulbs in the sun for 3 days to dry out See More! The

Onions (Allium cepa) Numbers 11:5 We remember the fish, which we did eat in Egypt freely; the cucumbers, and the melons, and the leeks, and the onions, and the garlick: Also known as bulb onions Are a bulbous biennial They may be brown, yellow, red or white The final size will be determined by spacing Have been grown for hundreds of years Can be used as a vegetable or in salads They take a long time to grow Can take 24-34 weeks to grow There are early, mid-season and late varieties A 3m row will yield 30 large onions Onions are suited to intercropping How to Grow Sow or plant Spring, Autumn or Winter Onions need an open, fertile site Raise seedlings in seed boxes or punnets Just cover the roots of seedlings with soil Plant seedlings 10cm apart in rows 30cm apart Or sow direct into the place where they will grow Use a water soluble fertilizer if there is weak growth Pull out weeds that are nearby Harvesting Pull when the tops start

 There are different ways to look at vegetables when wanting to plant them. Here are some ways

Garlic (Allium sativum) Song Of Solomon 1:12 While the king sitteth at his table, my spikenard sendeth forth the smell thereof. Is a perennial of the onion family Is grown for its bulbous root Each bulb consists of a number of cloves Cloves are used in cooking It has a strong flavour and distinctive aroma It has long flat leaves Leaves grow up to a meter high It has purple flowerheads in summer It grows readily in ordinary garden soil It has medicinal properties The yield is 17 bulbs per 3 meters It can be intercropped with other plants Garlic can be stored for up to 10 months How to Grow Prefers a sunny location with well drained soil Prepare soil with well rotted organic matter Plant cloves 3-10cm deep, 18cm apart in rows 30cm apart Keep weeds away Keep soil moist Harvesting Lift bulbs when the flowerhead falls over or when the leaves fade and turn yellow Varieties Italian White - good flavour New Zealand Purple -