GARDENING
Gardening and television personality Angus Stewart has moved to Tasmania just in time to launch his latest book. Grow Your Own: How to be an
Urban Farmer (Murdoch Books, $45) is all about growing edible plants in the modern garden. Stewart has written the book in conjunction with soil expert Simon Leake to put the focus on growing in small spaces, such as garden beds and containers as well as rooftops and vertical gardens.
As he plants his new vegie garden on his Tasman Peninsula farm, Stewart has already discovered Tassie’s top crop-destroyer: the possum. While he repairs fences and plans a large possum-proof vegetable enclosure, he’s taken a tip from his own book and grows his summer vegetables in covered Vegepods.
“I am using a Vegepod growing system that has commercial-grade mesh screen covers that provide ventilation for the crops but are strong enough to repel possums,” he says. “At least that’s the plan, and so far, so good.”
Vegepods are Australian-designed, and include a wicking watering system as well as a possum- and pest-proof cover.
Stewart’s farm has a century-long history of producing crops and farm animals. Everything from vegies and strawberries to cows and pigs have thrived on the 15ha property, although it hasn’t been used for farming in more than two decades. “It’s surrounded by water and in a bit of a microclimate with a north-facing aspect, dolerite soils and two spring-fed dams,” Stewart says.
As well as getting his vegies flourishing, Stewart plans to continue cultivating his passion for Australian native plants with trial plantings of Western Australian plants along with Tasmanian natives. He is also continuing his involvement with the Koonya Garlic Festival, and has joined the committee.
“It’s a great Tassie event and I am really looking forward to next year’s festival,” he says. “It will be held on February 24, 2018 and we are working on the speakers program.”
LONG GESTATION
One person he could rope in for next year’s garlic festival is his co-author, Leake. The pair studied agricultural science together at university. It is their friendship and common interests that have led, 30 years on, to the new book.
“We wanted to write a book on the science of growing plants but in an easily accessible style,” Stewart says.
“There are no recipes for cooking but plenty on how to make a great potting mix and other nuggets of information.”
The result is a work peppered with case studies from around Australia, with real gardens and hands-on solutions.
Stewart describes his new book as ‘radical’. People are now approaching gardens in new ways and need new information he says, which is why the book includes details about how to assess your property for potential soil contamination – and if there is a problem, how to fix it.
He has also written about the new planting method called deep planting, which he first showed on the ABC’s Gardening Australia program several years ago.
“Deep planting encourages strong roots but also makes plants more stable in windy conditions,” Stewart says.
For vegie gardeners he recommends deep planting for soft-wooded plants such as potatoes and tomatoes. “As well as being a useful book for gardeners – both urban dwellers and those with larger plots – I am also hoping it will be seen as a reference book for horticulturists,” Stewart says.
Grow Your Own: How to be an Urban Farmer will be launched on Thursday from 5.30pm at Fullers Bookshop, 131 Collins St, Hobart when Angus Stewart will be in conversation with ABC TV Gardening Australia presenter Tino Carnevale. Tickets are free, but booking is recommended via fullersbookshop.com.au