Cultivate Workshop: What do I plant? (Part 2/5)

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Now that you've got your soil ready for planting, the next question is - what do I plant?

Dr Sultan Ismail's suggestion is the magical Indian borage. This plant is brilliant for even the most amateur of gardeners. Have no fear, this plant will not die on you! This picture of Indian borage is from my mother-in-law's herb garden. My husband drank many Indian borage brews as a child, when he caught a cough or cold.

According to the Herbs in Daily Life booklet by CAP , it's a hardy medicinal plant with amazing healing properties which include:

• remedy for cough and sore throat (chew 2-3 leaves)
• increases milk flow for new mothers
• tea brewed from the leaves is used to soothe symptoms of asthma, cold, flu and bronchitis

DIY planting

1. Cut a stem off the Indian borage plant, between the lengths of 13-18 cm.
2. Place the stem into the soil of your garden or garden container, with at least two nodes into the soil.
3. Ensure your garden container or pot has good drainage because this plant does not thrive in wet conditions. Be careful not to over-water.
4. Experiment with the location of your pot or garden container. With the ideal amount of sunlight, the leaves are a soft light green. Excess sunlight turns the leaves pale yellow. Insufficient sunlight causes the leaves to change into a darker green.

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