Veggie of the month
You may think rhubarb is a fruit, but it is actually a vegetable, belonging to the sorrel family. Only the stalks are eaten. The red stemmed Victoria is the most popular variety for its spicy, rich flavour. Thanks to MasterChef and the cookery channel, rhubarb has become a lot sexier than the usual rhubarb and apple crumble. Although there’s nothing wrong with that either. Think rhubarb gin, rhubarb fizz, rhubarb cheesecake with ginger, and even with pork (BBC Food). Rhubarb is a perennial that can be sown from spring to autumn. It needs deep, well composted soil that drains well and plenty of sun. Space plants 1m apart. Although the stems are best harvested after two or three years, a rhubarb plant will reward with juicy stems for many years. Do not eat the leaves as they are poisonous. Details: kirchhoffs.co.za
Rhubarb cocktail
How about a pretty pink rhubarb cocktail … very summery. Start off by making a simple syrup, which involves combining one cup each of water and chopped rhubarb with half a cup of sugar in a saucepan and bringing to the boil. Reduce the heat, and simmer slowly for around 20 to 30 minutes – until the vegetable is mushy and the syrup thickened. Take off the heat, cool, and then strain through a fine mesh strainer. Discard the mush, and store the syrup in a glass bottle in the fridge (it’ll last throughout the festive season). Now for the cocktail. We make ours with vodka, but gin will work, too. The ratio is two tots vodka to one tot rhubarb syrup … add a squeeze of lemon juice and shake madly in a cocktail shaker with plenty of ice. Pour into a fresh ice-filled glass and top with soda water.
Indoor plant of the month
If it’s December it has to be poinsettia! This year’s new variety is Kayla Red, with multi-coloured oak-shaped leaves, both bright and dark red, black and bright green. It’s a compact, heat tolerant, long lasting plant … this Christmas flower will look good for two to three months or more if displayed in a warm room that receives bright, direct light. Keep the soil moist but don’t over water as the roots may rot. After flowering, cut it back down to 10cm and repot into a larger pot (if you want it for the patio) or plant it in the garden in a position that gets plenty of sun. Details: lvgplant.co.za
Take your cue from nature when looking for a gift for gardeners. This Bramley’s Aloe Vera & Olive Oil gift set has a tissue oil and hand cream … perfect to restore, revitalise and rejuvenate dry skin. Affordable, too. R36.99 from PEP.
We’re planting …
Zinnia Zahara Double Salmon Rose – because its blooms stay bright, fresh and pickable during the hottest months of the year. Vintage zinnias are durable garden flowers and Zahara even more so because it has outstanding disease tolerance and low water needs. This zinnia variety doesn’t get sick like the older varieties did. It sails through heat, rain and humidity. Plants do just fine in ordinary garden soil and flower well with regular watering through to autumn. It also has a great colour range: orange, cherry, raspberry ripple, fire, yellow, salmon rose, white and two brilliant mixes. Details: ballstraathof.co.za
What to do in the garden
Five ways to keep the garden alive if you’re leaving home during the December holidays
- Mulch flower beds before you go. This keeps the soil moist and cool.
- Check the irrigation system for blocked nozzles and make sure that automatic systems are set correctly.
- Move plants in pots and hanging baskets out of the direct sun. They can even be sunken into the ground in a shady area.
- If you don’t have an automatic irrigation system arrange for the garden to be watered at least twice a week, unless it rains heavily.
- Delay fertilising until you return.
And if you’re staying at home …
- Fertilise flowering plants with 8:1:5, 5:1:5 or Vigorosa.
- There is still time to sow marigolds, alyssum, bedding dahlias, Eschscholzia (California poppies) portulaca and nasturtiums.
- Water early in the morning or llate afternoon
- Pests are out in force over December. Use organic insect sprays when you notice them.
