Bare rooted plants are field grown plants which have been dug up from the soil in their dormant state, no soil remains attached to the remaining root mass, hence the term ‘bare rooted’. Read on if you’d like a head
More...Edible Gardening Info
There is nothing like the taste and satisfaction of growing your own fresh herbs, fruit and vegies. Not only are there the health benefits of growing your own for you and your family, you are also helping the planet by reducing your food miles. If you have never tried, or would like a bit of a refresher this is a great place to start.
Community Gardens
What is a community garden and what’s the fuss about? There are many fabulous advantages for your community to have a shared garden. If you’re curious, or thinking about getting involved, here are a few aspects of community gardening you
More...Starting a gardening group
I love working in the garden. However when you have limited time and/or small children, sometimes the hard yakka you want to put into gardening is pushed down the list of priorities after changing nappies, making a kite, sticking feathers
More...Produce Gardening in Small Spaces
We do not all have access to large sunny gardens or even any garden at all. If you would like to grow food at home but feel like you don’t have the room, help is at hand. If you have
More...Preparing your winter vegie garden
Autumn is the best time to plant your winter vegetable garden. As the weather cools and the rain starts to fall more frequently it is a pleasure to get back into the garden, remove spent summer crops and plant vegetables
More...Drought Tolerant Produce Plants
With Melbourne’s potential for very hot periods during summer, for exposed positions we need to think about heat tolerant produce plants. Even though there are many garden plants that burn and suffer through the heat without protection, there are also
More...Growing Produce From Seed
Growing your own herbs, fruit and vegies from seed is fun, easy and will save you loads of money. Not everything is easy to grow from seed, but you will be surprised how many things are. We have been working
More...Duo or Multi Fruit Tree Planting
Duo or multi planting is our preferred option (rather than double or multi grafting) when two or more trees are wanted in a small space. The resulting multi trunked, single canopy tree, is easy to manage and prune. You can
More...Tropical Fruit in Melbourne
As summer approaches our taste buds tingle in anticipation of luscious mangoes and other tropical delights. What better than to grow your own? Don’t be put off by the fact that you live in Melbourne, it is possible to grow
More...Vegie Patch Basics
There is nothing like the taste and satisfaction of growing your own vegies. Not only are there the health benefits of growing your own produce for your family, you are also helping the planet by reducing your food miles. Kids
More...Land Cress as a Natural Pest Control
Land Cress (Barbarea vulgaris and Barbarea verna) releases chemicals which attract the Diamondback Moth (right) and the Large Cabbage Moth (left) – both small brown moths which are common pests in the vegie garden. These moths lay their eggs in
More...BAAG vegie seedlings are going organic
From spring 2015 all the vegie seedlings we stock at BAAG will be either Certified Organic or grown using Low Environmental Impact Practices.
More...Planting Guide – the ‘how’ and ‘when’
When it comes to planting good timing helps, but life goes on if you miss it. There are quite a few good horticultural reasons for planting trees, shrubs and perennials in autumn or winter; however life has a habit of
More...What to do with your excess produce
Gluts, gluts, gluts. Funny word, but gluts in your produce garden are rather unfunny if you can’t get rid of the excess. It’s a familiar story: joy as we watch the new season’s vegetable and fruit crops starting out healthy
More...Crop Rotation
What is it and why do it? Crop rotation is the seasonal rotation of vegetable crops from bed to bed. There are many variants of crop rotation but they all more or less achieve the same thing. The main reasons
More...The Renter’s Guide to Produce Gardening
It can be tricky setting up a productive garden when you don’t own your own place. However it’s certainly not impossible – so if you rent and you’re dreaming of a bountiful yard full of homegrown produce, here are some
More...Grow Tunnels
Up until now we have been using these cloche hoops with netting to protect the vegies from birds, possums and cabbage moth. Our ever adventurous Dennis recently used the hoops with UV resistant Greenhouse Plastic and is now wildly enthusiastic
More...Heritage or Heirloom Varieties
Do you remember the amazing flavours from your grandparent’s vegie garden? Why don’t tomatoes taste like that anymore? If you are bored by the tomatoes available from supermarkets, heirloom varieties could be just the thing you are looking for. Tomatoes,
More...Growing your own… Italian Style
When asked to reflect on a recent holiday in Italy, what immediately comes to mind is the everyday relationship that Italians have with their food. The word “passion” springs to mind. Seasonality is also a key issue and there you
More...Make seedling pots from newspaper
Who feels like a bit of origami? Here’s a video I have uploaded to YouTube which gives you some step-by-step instructions on making your own seedling pots from recycled newspaper. The best thing about these is they can be planted
More...Backyard Chooks
Sceptics say that you can’t have a garden with chooks. They dig up plants, they make a mess of mulch, they leave droppings around, but this could be said of many pets. My experience is that a garden just isn’t
More...Perennial Vegetables
There’s finally room at BAAG for me to have the Perennial Vegetables bench that I have been trying to get for twelve months. As you can see in the pic, this is just the beginning… I will be adding more
More...Ornamental Edible Gardens
Since Ancient Times, Edible Gardening and producing food was motivated by survival. The Egyptians, the Persians and the Romans developed ‘Paradise Gardens’ that became increasingly elaborate, intermingling ornamental and edible plants. In Medieval Times, Christian Monastery Gardens used function in
More...Permaculture
Feeling daunted by permaculture terminology? Wondering what it all means and whether you can have a slice of the Permaculture pie? Let us lead you gently through zones, elements and relative locations with our simple guide, leaving you feeling relaxed,
More...Materials for Vegie Bed Construction
When constructing a vegie bed it’s important to think about whether the material you are using is safe. Anything in your soil will more than likely end up in your plants… and with vegie gardens that means in your stomach!
More...Vegie Garden Overview
Few things can be quite as satisfying as growing your own herbs, fruit and vegetables. The quality and freshness of home grown produce combined with the peace of mind of knowing which fertilisers and chemicals have been applied has become
More...Tomato Preserving Recipes
These are some of Maria’s tried and true recipes for preserving the harvest. PEELED TOMATOES – This is a good way to use up different sized glass jars and loads of tomatoes. The Roma or plum-shaped types are best for
More...Why Grow Your Own?
Growing your own fruit and vegetables is one of the most environmentally friendly things you can do. 1) It saves water. According to a study done by David Holmgren, co-founder of ‘Permaculture’, (Holmgren Design Services) efficient backyard growers can use
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