Recent articles by Helen McKerral
![How to beat the summer heat Plant seedlings in soil that's protected by mulch.](https://www.organicgardener.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/Protecting seedlings with mulch_Phil Dudman_web-500x500.jpg)
How to beat the summer heat
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Helen McKerral has plenty of tricks to help keep vegies happy and productive throughout the summer months, including choosing heat-tolerant varieties.
![Mini watermelons you can grow in any space! A young 'Sugar Baby' melon grows on a frame to save space.](https://www.organicgardener.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/OG 143 Watermelon_Phil Dudman-500x500.jpg)
Mini watermelons you can grow in any space!
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Don’t think you have the room for watermelons? Helen McKerral shares her space-saving tricks, plus one of the smaller varieties for you to try.
![Top native trees Flowering callistemons are insect magnets](https://www.organicgardener.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/06/126 callistemon_Alamy_web-500x500.jpg)
Top native trees
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Helen McKerral suggests some small native trees that will fit into most gardens, attracting birds and insects with their colourful flowers.
![Top tips for a tidy garden Weeding garden paths has a big visual impact.](https://www.organicgardener.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/OG 139 garden clean up iStock_socials-500x500.jpg)
Top tips for a tidy garden
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A tidy garden may not lead to a tidy mind as some people claim a tidy home will, but it will certainly make maintenance easier throughout the busier times of planting and harvesting. Here's some simple tips from Helen McKerral to help you clean up your plot.
![Essential guide to seed saving Allium seed heads cut down for drying and seed-saving.](https://www.organicgardener.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/Allium seed heads by Alamy-500x500.jpg)
Essential guide to seed saving
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Helen McKerral explores how nature spreads seeds, the value of saving seed from your garden, and how to do it.
![Three super-productive veg to plant now! Three super-productive veg to plant now!](https://www.organicgardener.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/128 Thai Long Green_Penny Woodward-500x500.jpg)
Three super-productive veg to plant now!
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Spring is the season for planting vegetables and here's three super-productive ones you'll want to try.
![Soil secrets for citrus success Soil secrets for citrus success](https://www.organicgardener.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/134_citrus-care-500x500.jpg)
Soil secrets for citrus success
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There's many aspects of citrus growing that ensure success (climate, tree choice and where you plant it, for example) but it all starts with the soil, writes Helen McKerral.
![Fantastic citrus to try 'Eureka' has a very long harvest period.](https://www.organicgardener.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Eureka lemon by Helen McKerral-500x500.jpg)
Fantastic citrus to try
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It's time to plant your citrus and Helen McKerral suggests different options you may want to grow in your backyard.
![Grow your own wasabi Helen grows her wasabi in an old laundry tub.](https://www.organicgardener.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/Wasabi Helen McKerral_OG 132-500x500.jpg)
Grow your own wasabi
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Growing wasabi means you have this spicy food flavouring ready to be harvested in your own backyard.
![Seed sowing basics Look for pots that can be planted into the ground with the seedling.](https://www.organicgardener.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/03/Planting seeds by istock-500x500.jpg)
Seed sowing basics
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Growing your own seedlings gives you greater diversity in your garden, as well as contributing to the heirloom seed saving community, writes Helen McKerral.
![Growing colourful capsicum Capsicums love our climate.](https://www.organicgardener.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/Capsicum Kirsten Bresciani-500x500.jpg)
Growing colourful capsicum
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These beauties come in a vibrant array of shapes, colours and flavours, and with careful nurturing can be an essential part of your summer vegie patch, writes Helen McKerral.
![Tomato growing success Tomatoes are a favourite here at Organic Gardener!](https://www.organicgardener.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/Tomatoes_Kirsten Bresciani-500x500.jpg)
Tomato growing success
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You can never have too many tomatoes in your harvesting basket! And with these tips from Helen McKerral you are sure to have plenty to share.
![Make the most of your tomato harvest Preserving tomatoes](https://www.organicgardener.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/09/Tomato sauce by Helen McKerral-500x500.jpg)
Make the most of your tomato harvest
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With a tomato harvest, you'll find you have one of the easiest and most flavoursome crops that you can eat fresh, or preserve for later, writes Helen McKerral.
![Growing blueberries in backyards Blueberries are perennial shrubs in the Ericaceae family.](https://www.organicgardener.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Blueberries by Gap Photos Tim Gainey-500x500.jpg)
Growing blueberries in backyards
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Given that blueberries are expensive to buy and don’t last long fresh, it makes sense to grow them yourself. These practical tips from Helen McKerral will help you do just that, and in your own backyard.
![A frosty reception Frost on kale leaves](https://www.organicgardener.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/GAP0123197-500x500.jpg)
A frosty reception
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When frost comes creeping into your garden, it can ruin all the hard work you've done in a snap! Helen McKerral suggests ways to combat the chills of winter.
![Spinach substitutes New Zealand spinach is a disease-resistant perennial also native to Australia](https://www.organicgardener.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/05/New Zealand spinach by Diggers Club-500x350.jpg)
Spinach substitutes
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Spinach is a no-fuss cool season crop but there are some excellent substitutes for warmer seasons and regions too hot for English spinach.
![Growing asparagus Asparagus spears](https://www.organicgardener.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/asparagus 03-500x500.jpg)
Growing asparagus
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A family favourite, asparagus is a must-have in the vegie patch, writes Helen McKerral.
![Finding fungi in the wild Finding fungi in the wild](https://www.organicgardener.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/124_Porcini mushrooms_Helen McKerral-500x350.jpg)
Finding fungi in the wild
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Mushroom foraging is a fun activity in autumn but do it safely with help from experts.
![Grow bee-attracting aquilegias Aquilegia vulgaris 'Double Pale Blue' by Helen McKerral](https://www.organicgardener.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Aquilegia vulgaris 'Double Pale Blue'_Helen McKerral_web-500x350.jpg)
Grow bee-attracting aquilegias
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Helen McKerral has long been captivated by the bonnet-like, bee-attracting aquilegias.
![How seeds disperse naturally Salsify seed will be blown by the wind.](https://www.organicgardener.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/02/Salsify seed_Helen McKerral-500x350.jpg)
How seeds disperse naturally
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Once plants start seeding in your garden, you'll be amazed where they pop up – Helen McKerral explains how it happens, naturally.
![Pruning and training raspberries Summer raspberries fruiting on the left, autumn raspberries on the right](https://www.organicgardener.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2021/01/Summer and autumn raspberries_Helen McKerral-500x350.jpg)
Pruning and training raspberries
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The freshness and flavour of raspberries are one of the joys of summer -- and you can grow them in your own backyard.
![Blooming blue flowers! The electric hued blue native, Lechenaultia biloba.](https://www.organicgardener.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Leschenaultia biloba by Helen McKerral-500x350.jpg)
Blooming blue flowers!
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Although blue flowers are relatively rare, they are well worth searching out, writes Helen McKerral, adding beauty and colour to your garden.
![Start your own food garden Start your own food garden](https://www.organicgardener.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/08/Start-a-garden_Kirsten-Bresciani-500x500.jpg)
Start your own food garden
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With gardeners new and old wanting to grow their own food, Helen McKerral goes through the basics of setting up a vegie garden, including easy crops to start with.
![Getting your vegie garden started Getting your vegie garden started](https://www.organicgardener.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/ABC_OG_CARROTS 102-500x500.jpg)
Getting your vegie garden started
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Starting a vegie patch? Well, there's one very important question to ask yourself, writes Helen McKerral.
![Bushfire recovery: start with the soil Bushfire recovery: start with the soil](https://www.organicgardener.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2020/03/Helen-McKerral_bushfire-copy-500x500.jpg)
Bushfire recovery: start with the soil
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The loss of a much-loved garden during a bushfire can be devastating, but with patience and time you can rebuild. And your soil is a good place to start.
![Easygoing cumquats Cumquats in basket](https://www.organicgardener.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/04Nagami cumquats 1-500x500.jpg)
Easygoing cumquats
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Helen McKerral says its best to always plant comquats into warm soil.
![Easy Asian greens to grow and eat Easy Asian greens to grow and eat](https://www.organicgardener.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/05/chinese celery-500x500.jpg)
Easy Asian greens to grow and eat
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Asian greens are readily available at markets and your local supermarket these days, but did you know they’re equally at home in a vegie patch? Helen McKerral explores how to grow them in your own backyard.
![How to take a hardwood cutting hardwood cuttings](https://www.organicgardener.com.au/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/cutting-500x408.jpg)
How to take a hardwood cutting
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Mid winter is a great time to propagate plants from hardwood cuttings, says HELEN McKERRAL.