Author Archives: Phil Dudman

Phil Dudman

About Phil Dudman

Presenter on gardening talk-back radio, author of Down-to-earth Garden Design, co-presenter of garden2kitchen, convenor of Landshare Australia. North Coast, NSW

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERA Top 10 vegetables to grow in pots

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If you want to grow some of your own veg, and you’re short on space, then growing them in containers is a great option. But it’s not the only reason. If your soil is rubbish, and you hate digging, then it’s easy to create beautiful soil for growing in pots… and I’ll be sharing my recipe for a super soil mix a little later on. If you’ve never grown anything before, then grabbing a few pots, filling them with mix and planting out some established seedlings is the quickest and easiest way to get a start. Continue reading →

Phil's chosen hardy easy-to-propogate plants that can handle neglect On the verge of a greener community

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With all the doom and gloom of environmental disaster coming at us from every angle, it’s easy to get stuck, feeling like there’s nothing you can do to change the big picture. That’s when it’s time to go back to that old saying… ‘Think globally… Act locally’. If you’re a gardener, you are already making a positive impact on the world, simply by growing plants and nurturing the soil, and if you are growing some of your own food, then there are environmental benefits there too. Continue reading →

My completed worm tower How to make a worm tower

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I love worms and all that they do… and I’m sure you do too. Earth worms are super, but I especially love composting worms… I mean, what is there not to love about these quiet achievers… every day, going about their business of converting all sorts of organic waste into the most beautifully rich soil conditioner. They don’t ask for much… just a little moistened cardboard or a fresh banana skin from time to time. Continue reading →

Who could resist those strawberries How to create a dog-friendly garden

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Can a dog, a garden and a gardener live in harmony? My immediate thought is no. Dogs love to dig in places where you don’t want them to… and they naturally have an insatiable attraction to smelly things like blood and bone and animal manures, which I use a lot of in my garden. Continue reading →

BBQ sweet corn How to grow sweet corn

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Fanatical food growers like me are always raving on about the superior flavour of home-grown produce… and we’re not joking… all of it is true… and it’s especially the case when it comes to sweet corn. When you eat corn freshly picked from the garden… it’s incredibly sweet, crisp and juicy. Continue reading →

Jabotica fruit Must-have fruit trees

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For a guy who is passionate about growing his own food, I have surprisingly few fruit trees. My vegetable and herb garden is extensive… and I couldn’t live without that, and I do have a highly productive lemon tree, along with an espaliered hedge of other citrus, an overgrown mango tree, a grape vine, a fig, a mulberry and a few paw paws. But the more I take the quality of the food I eat more seriously, the hungrier I get for more of my own fresh homegrown organic fruit. Continue reading →

Buddha belly harvest To grow, or not to grow BAMBOO?

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To grow or not to grow… BAMBOO? It’s a big question, because in most gardening circles, bamboo has a pretty bad rap. I’m sure many of us have seen or heard the horror stories of running bamboo, escaping gardens, under neighbour’s fences, even under concrete pathways on its merry way to causing heartache and misery. I have many times, and in the past had to deal with a number of invasive issues for clients when I worked in professional garden maintenance and construction… and it nearly killed me… but still, I love bamboo. Continue reading →

GardenDrum PDudman Jasminum polyanthemum Plants, memories & responsibilities

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Lately I’ve been thinking how delightful it is that plants, particularly scented ones can evoke such special memories of people, places and times in our lives… and how a garden itself often becomes a collection of plants and ornaments that remind us of these special things. This is what makes plants and gardens so incredibly powerful and enriching. Continue reading →