Get inspired

GET INSPIRED {EVERYDAY SPRING}

TITBITS, TRENDS AND STUFF WE LOVE COMPILED BY MELISSA NDLOVU & GAIL DAMON PHOTOS: ESTVAN VERMEULEN FOOD ASSISTANT: KRISTEN SCHEEPERS

GOOD IDEA Short on time? Use ready-cut pineapples instead

Scan here for a step-by-step on how to peel pineapples like a pro!

IN THE TROPICS

It’s the season for deliciously juicy tropical fruits like mango, papaya, kiwi and pineapple. Make the most of them by tossing together yummy salsas and braai relishes, or try this nifty cocktail for size... Clink-clink!

PINEAPPLE AND LIME FROZEN MARGARITA

Grilling the fruit adds a surprising caramelised fl avour. For a “mocktail”, replace tequila with juice.

2 pineapples, peeled and cut into wedges 3 limes, halved + extra for garnish 1 jalapeño, deseeded ¼ cup (60ml) honey or brown sugar 1 cup (250ml) each pineapple juice and

orange juice

1 cup (250ml) tequila (optional) 1 Tbsp (15ml) each maldon salt and coconut sugar (or brown sugar), mixed 2-3 cups ice cubes Mint sprigs (optional)

MAKES 2L (SERVES 4-6)

Grill pineapple and lime halves (cut-side down) over hot coals for 4-8 minutes until charred. Allow to cool. Add grilled pineapples, juice of limes, honey or sugar, pineapple and orange juice and tequila to the jug of a blender, along with ice. Blitz until smooth. Rub a lime wedge along the rims of serving glasses and dip into salt and sugar mixture. Fill glasses with frozen margarita and serve with a slice of lime or sprig of mint.

Ready, set, sow! HIDDEN

Spring means all things new and plants, glorious plants! Constance Stuurman, fl oral designer at Babylonstoren, dishes the deets on how to get your green babies growing

Scrolling through Instagram, you fi nd a bounty of beautiful blooms adorning spruced-up living spaces. You’re inspired to hit the shops to get every gardening tool you can fi nd, along with seeds, potting soil, bulbs, the works! But once you’ve fl ipped the seed pack over, read the super-tiny instructions and hoped for the best, they just aren’t sprouting. What’s the deal? Constance shares some advice.

I’d like to plant veg and fl owers. Does it matter what type of pot I use?

Flowers tend to do well in pots – just check whether they need to be in the sun or shade, and make sure the pot has a hole in the bottom for water drainage. You can also grow most vegetables in pots, though some require more space than others. For example, carrots tend to struggle in pots and cabbages like larger pots. Beans, lettuce, kale, radishes and marrows are easy seeds to start off with. They will need a warm, sunny place to grow.

Can I use garden soil to start seeds?

Be careful when sowing into trays – the soil needs to be well drained so that the seeds don’t rot. I’d recommend getting potting soil from a nursery as it will have the right mixture of sand and compost. If you are making a sowing bed in the garden, and you’re worried the soil might be too wet, you could heap it up to create a bed 10cm high – this allows the water to drain away. If you’re sowing in the rainy season, make a little clear plastic cover (an inverted tub works well) to cover your seeds on rainy days.

How do I know when it’s time to transplant into larger pots or into the garden?

The main sign to look out for is whether the roots are big enough (they are poking out the bottom of the tray) or whether there are enough roots.

Why are my pot plant’s leaves turning yellow?

There may be a lack of nutrients in the soil –feed with well-balanced plant food about once a week (or according to packet instructions). I recommend using organic liquid fertiliser, as granular fertilisers can “burn” your plants. Another reason for yellow leaves may be that the pot is over- watered – stick your fi nger into the soil to check: if it’s moist, don’t water the plant again until the soil is dry. With time, you will get into a rhythm of how often you need to water your pot plants.

gem nurseries

Who? Plantify Urban Plantery, @plantify_ Where? Gardens, Cape Town Why? This little nursery aims to help inner-city folk bring the outdoors inside with luscious greenery for newbies and the green-fi ngered alike. They also post useful hacks and tips that are worth checking out.

Who? JFF Rooftop Farm, @jffrooftopfarm Where? Braamfontein, Johannesburg Why? They’ve turned an unused rooftop space in the Juta Street precinct into a green oasis and a unique horticultural experience. Take your pick of what’s on offer or simply sit down and enjoy a cuppa.

Who? The Plant Inn, plantinn@telkomsa.net Where? Pinetown, Durban Why? They stock a wealth of indigenous plants to adorn your spaces, and specialise in landscaping, creating water features and fresh fl ower arrangements for functions.

CELEBRATE GARDEN DAY ON 17 OCTOBER!

No need to worry about getting your hands dirty on this day. Don a fl ower crown, get the kids involved and celebrate our gardens and green spaces. gardenday.co.za Also see page 31 for trendy ways to turn plants into décor statement pieces.