IN THE GARDEN
From page 40 them in almost any soil, but( like all plants) they thrive in soil that has been improved with organic material. You plant the seeds directly( no need for seed trays and transplanting). Prepare the bed to a fine tilth, breaking up all clods. Plant the seeds in a shallow trench and cover with 1 to 1,5cm of fine soil, leaving 12 to 15 cm between rows. To ensure continuity don ' t plant them all at once, rather plant a few every two to three weeks. Because they are so easy to grow, it ' s worth experimenting with different cultivars of radishes, including those of
From page 40
❑ Muscovies. If you are looking for poultry that is easy to care for, resists disease, and controls flies at the same time, then Muscovy ducks have a number of advantages over other poultry. The ducks are resistant to most diseases, including Newcastle disease, they are hardy, they forage well for their own food and reproduce easily. Muscovy meat is tasty and low in fat. They are a large duck, with the males measuring about 76 cm in length, and reaching a live mass of 4,8 kg in 12 weeks. Females are considerably smaller, and only grow to a couple of kilograms, roughly half the males ' size. The bird
Daikon radish different shapes and colours. From the same family, consider growing Daikon or Japanese radish. This is a long white radish, milder in flavour than the small round or oval radishes. They should be planted in similar conditions
is predominantly black and white, with the back feathers being iridescent and glossy in males, while the females are drabber. The amount of white on the neck and head is variable, as well as the bill, which can be yellow, pink, black, or any mixture of these. They may have white patches or bars on the wings, which become more noticeable during flight. Both sexes have pink or red wattles around the bill. The great advantage to Muscovys is that they don ' t need a pond nearby ~ just make sure they have clean water to drink. If you want to keep the 16 indigenous species such as to the ordinary radishes, but they grow well in deep soil and must be watered regularly. The best flavour is to be enjoyed when they are about the size of a carrot and they can be stored in the refrigerator for a couple of weeks if washed and dried and the leaves cut off. The leaves, by the way will be a treat for poultry or livestock. Daikon radish can be eaten simmered, stir fried, grated, pickled or baked. Its leaves
WATERFOWL
Yellow Bill, Hottentot Teal, Cape Teal, Red Bill Teal, Fulvous Whistling, White Faced Whistling ducks etc, you will need a permit from Gauteng Nature Conservation – 011 355-1207. are also edible and its seeds make sprouts to eat in salads or in sandwiches. Nowisalsothetimetoplant broad beans, especially in frost-free areas. The seeds are sownsingly15to20cm apart in holes 5cm deep. Double rows should be 25 to 30 cm apart, giving you room to work in between. Double or triple rows are less prone to damage by heavy wind and the closeness also encourages a moist microclimate. Daily watering is most important. These beans are of upright habit and can grow to a height of 1m, so they will need support. Another cool-weather crop is beetroot, whose leaf will provide lovely colour in your garden. It prefers friable, rich soils with well-decomposed organic matter. Plant the seeds directly in the bed 5 to
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