Warm, settled weather usually makes December a great month to grow and harvest fresh vegetables in the home garden. The dilemma faced by many gardeners is that Christmas marks the start of the holiday season and that coincides with many summer crops being ready to pick.
Watering too can be a problem as it’s vital that soil moisture levels are maintained through the dry, sunny weather that holiday makers love. A surface mulch of organic matter such as compost or straw, applied after the ground is thoroughly soaked, will certainly help but computerised automatic watering systems and/or reliable friends and neighbours may be needed to keep the garden going if you’re away for more than a few days.
 
SEEDS TO SOW  
There is still time to sow tomatoes, capsicum, chillies, zucchini, cucumber, dwarf beans, climbing beans, butternut squash, pumpkin, basil, egg plant, melon and sweet corn. Spring onions, lettuce, silver beet and perpetual spinach can now be sown directly into the garden or, as I prefer, into containers to produce seedlings for transplanting later.
Leeks are a great winter standby and the seed can be sown this month. I like to make a seed bed in the garden with a view to producing strong seedlings (with stems the thickness of a pencil) that will be transplanted into their final positions in March.
Carrots, peas, rocket, radishes, beetroot, onions and parsnips can be sown directly into the garden. Covering seeds with a layer of seed-raising potting mix helps to prevent soil from forming a hard crust that can hinder germination.
 
VEGETABLES TO PLANT
Almost anything goes this month bearing in mind any limitations on watering and after care. All the varieties listed in ‘Seeds to Sow’ can be planted out into the garden. There’s still time to plant kumera but remember that they need up to four months growing time to mature fully.
 
HERBS
Continue to plant basil in pots or gardens to provide lots of leaves for summer pesto. In fact all culinary herbs and lavenders can be planted now.
 
Contributed by Chris Green, SuperGrans  WBOP Volunteer

Want to know more?
SuperGrans WBOP have launched a Life Skills Mentoring Programme for individuals and families wanting to learn how to start or improve a vegetable garden. You'll be matched with a "gardening buddy" who will support and guide you as you learn to grow your own food.
Email info@supergranswbop.org.nz for an application form or download a form from here.

Higher soil temperatures, good moisture levels and lengthening daylight usually make November a great month to sow and plant all your favourite summer varieties. The thing that’s missing this year is the good moisture level. In over fifty years of gardening I can’t recall ever needing to water the vegetable garden so much in October. Mind you, there are many other things that I can’t recall, but still, soil moisture reserves are unusually low for this time of the year. Until we get some significant rainfall regular, deep watering will be required to ensure that summer vegetables get off to the best possible start.
 
SEEDS TO SOW
Tomatoes, capsicum, chillies, zucchini, cucumber, dwarf beans, climbing beans, butternut squash, pumpkin, basil, egg plant, melon, sweet corn, spring onions, lettuce, silver beet and perpetual spinach can now be sown directly into the garden or, as I prefer, into containers to produce seedlings for transplanting later.
Carrots, peas, rocket, radishes, beetroot, onions and parsnips can be sown directly into the garden. Covering seeds with a layer of seed-raising potting mix helps to prevent soil from forming a hard crust that can hinder germination.
Summer varieties of broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower can still be sown or planted but be prepared to protect them from the cabbage white caterpillars that will soon start to infest these crops.
 
POTATOES
Crops planted in July or early August should now be ready to harvest as small to medium new potatoes. Yum!
Potatoes can still be planted in November but the later they go in the ground the more they are susceptible to attack from potato psyllid, sap sucking insects that spread a bacterial disease that can ruin crops.
Earth-up existing crops. This involves drawing soil up and around the plants until only the top of the foliage is showing. It provides protection from the weather and insect pests as well as preventing ‘greening’ of any exposed tubers. The same principal applies to potatoes in containers, just top up the growing mix as the plants grow.
 
VEGETABLES TO PLANT
Almost anything goes this month. All the varieties listed in ‘Seeds to Sow’ can be planted out into the garden. It is also the time to plant kumara as they thrive in warm conditions and need up to four months to mature. Plants should available now in garden centres but be aware that kumara have a wide spreading habit of growth and so require lots of space.
 
HERBS
November is a great time to plant plenty of basil in pots or gardens to provide lots of leaves for summer pesto. In fact all culinary herbs and lavenders can be planted now. Lovage is a strong growing, perennial herb that dies down in winter and pops up again in early spring. It has a distinctive celery-like taste that is useful in soups, stews and casseroles. Coriander prefers cool growing conditions so plant it in a shady spot if possible.
 
Contributed by Chris Green, SuperGrans  WBOP Volunteer

Want to know more?
SuperGrans WBOP have launched a Life Skills Mentoring Programme for individuals and families wanting to learn how to start or improve a vegetable garden. You'll be matched with a "gardening buddy" who will support and guide you as you learn to grow your own food.
Email info@supergranswbop.org.nz for an application form or download a form from here.

Early spring, as usual, has given us a roller-coaster ride with the weather. September gave us several balmy days with temperatures in the high teens and gentle breezes that had us thinking that summer is just around the corner but then it hit us with gale force winds and horizontal rain. That is why I resist the temptation to plant out tender summer vegetables until mid to late October but, in the meantime I like to grow on potted seedlings in a warm, sheltered spot so that I have advanced plants to go in the garden when conditions have settled down.
 
SEEDS TO SOW
Into pots, punnets and trays under cover in a glasshouse, sun porch or sunny window sill :
Tomatoes, capsicum, chillies, zucchini, cucumber, dwarf beans, climbing beans, butternut squash, basil, egg plant, melons and sweet corn. A trigger spray bottle is a good way to keep them watered without splashing and washing out the seeds.
Carrots, peas, rocket, radishes, beetroot, onions and parsnips can be sown directly into the garden. Covering seeds with a layer of seed-raising potting mix helps to prevent soil from forming a hard crust that can hinder germination. I prefer to sow perpetual spinach, spring onions, and lettuce in pots to provide strong seedlings for planting later.
 
POTATOES
With a bit of luck, potatoes planted in early October will provide plenty of new potatoes for Christmas dinner. Earth-up potatoes as they grow by drawing soil up and around the plants until only the top of the foliage is showing. This provides protection from the weather and insect pests as well as preventing ‘greening’ of any exposed tubers. The same principal applies to potatoes in containers, just top up the growing mix as the plants grow.
 
VEGETABLES TO PLANT
Labour Weekend is the traditional time to plant out summer varieties such as tomato, capsicum, egg plant, beans, pumpkin, squash, cucumber, kumara, sweet corn and zucchini. Any time from mid-October should be fine but if the weather is unsettled delay planting. Warmth and shelter from strong winds are necessary for success with these crops.                                                            Winter standbys such as cabbage, beetroot, broccoli, cauliflower, perpetual spinach, lettuce, spring onions, snow peas and silver beet can still be planted though I choose not to grow cabbage, broccoli or cauliflower through the warmer months as, without protection, cabbage white caterpillars will ruin these crops and I prefer to fill the garden with seasonal summer vegetables.
 
HERBS
Most herbs can be planted this month. Thyme, parsley, sage, rosemary, lemon grass, chives and dill can be grown in pots or can be planted directly into the garden. Coriander likes cool conditions so it prefers somewhere with a bit of shade in summer. Mint is best grown in a pot as it can easily take over a garden bed with its underground runners. Tarragon is a perennial herb that dies down in winter and pops up again in spring. There are two varieties, Russian, which is almost tasteless or French which is delicious. Make sure you get the right one.
 
Contributed by Chris Green, SuperGrans  WBOP Volunteer

Want to know more?
SuperGrans WBOP have launched a Life Skills Mentoring Programme for individuals and families wanting to learn how to start or improve a vegetable garden. You'll be matched with a "gardening buddy" who will support and guide you as you learn to grow your own food.
Email info@supergranswbop.org.nz for an application form or download a form from here.

Wendy comes from a strong background in operations, sales and customer experience.  After two years running a Community House in Auckland, she took on a role overseeing the operations of a business coaching and development organisation.  "Both these roles gave me the great satisfaction of seeing people connect, network, learn from each other and grow," says Wendy.
"My husband and I, and two boys, moved to Whakamarama over 5 years ago, and have thoroughly enjoyed immersing ourselves in the community.  I spend a lot of time supporting the football mad teens and running a small lifestyle block of chooks, sheep and a couple of unruly goats.  Given the chance I like to garden, go camping and boogie boarding with family and friends, or simply just sit and enjoy the views from our always to be finished garden.
"I am passionate about community, and really excited about what SuperGrans is achieving, and the possibilities for the future. "

Anita's grandparents moved to Katikati in the 1950s, her mother and her mother's siblings grew up here, as did Anita and her partner, and now they are raising their three daughters in Katikati. "This community is important to me," says Anita.
"As are the knowledge and practical skills shared with me by my grandparents and parents that allow me to manage our household efficiently and effectively.
"I’m really excited to join the Board of Trustees for SuperGrans Western Bay of Plenty as prior to becoming a trustee I managed the SuperGrans office for 18 months and know first-hand that we are providing an important service - for the recipients of the service, for those who are sharing their skills and knowledge, and for the wider community. "

August ended with a beautiful spring-like day, let’s hope that September gives us many more just the same. Vegetable plants that were struggling to grow a month ago are now racing ahead as the days get longer and soil temperatures rise significantly. Now is the time to prepare for next month when we can safely start to plant many of our favourite summer plants directly into the garden.
 
SEEDS TO SOW
Into pots, punnets and trays under cover in a glasshouse, sun porch or sunny window-sill sow:
Tomatoes, capsicum, chillies, zucchini, cucumber, dwarf beans, butternut squash, basil, plus towards the end of the month, egg plant, melons and sweet corn. A trigger spray bottle is a good way to keep them watered without splashing and washing out the seeds.
Carrots, peas, radishes, beetroot, onions and parsnips can be sown directly into the garden. Covering seeds with a layer of seed-raising potting mix helps to prevent a hard crust that can hinder germination. I still prefer to sow cabbage, broccoli, perpetual spinach, cauliflower, and lettuce in pots to provide strong seedlings for planting later.
 
POTATOES
I planted my first early potatoes in July and they are already 20cm high and have received their first ‘earthing-up’. This involves drawing soil up and around the plants until only the top of the foliage is showing. This provides protection from the weather and insect pests as well as preventing ‘greening’ of any exposed tubers. The same principal applies to potatoes in containers, just top up the growing mix as the plants grow. Time to plant a few more!
 
VEGETABLES TO PLANT
Garden centres will soon be full of tender vegetable plants and it can be a huge temptation to buy up large and plant your summer garden in early September. Unless you have very warm, sheltered garden, a glasshouse, tunnel house or some other kind of protection it really pays to wait until October before planting. Even if early plantings survive they are usually overtaken by crops that are planted into more favourable conditions.
Winter standbys such as cabbage, beetroot, broccoli, cauliflower, perpetual spinach, lettuce, spring onions, snow peas and silver beet can still be planted but be prepared to provide white butterfly protection as your cabbage, broccoli and cauliflower mature in a couple of months time.
 
HERBS
It’s probably still a little too early for basil but everyday varieties such as parsley, thyme, rosemary, sage, chives and coriander will grow away quickly if planted this month.
 
Contributed by Chris Green, SuperGrans  WBOP Volunteer

Want to know more?
SuperGrans WBOP have launched a Life Skills Mentoring Programme for individuals and families wanting to learn how to start or improve a vegetable garden. You'll be matched with a "gardening buddy" who will support and guide you as you learn to grow your own food.
Email info@supergranswbop.org.nz for an application form or download a form from here.

Cold winds, driving rain and a couple of light frosts are just what we expect in July but we also experienced several days of calm, sunny weather that were great for both gardens and gardeners. Already the days are lengthening and through August we will begin to think that spring has sprung but we’ll be mistaken. Unless you have a glasshouse or tunnel house it pays to be patient for at least the next six weeks or so before planting out any tender, heat-loving summer vegetables.

SEEDS TO SOW.
Continue sowing onions, lettuce, silver beet, beetroot, perpetual spinach and spring onions. I usually make this my last sowing of cabbage, cauliflower and broccoli because later sow crops will need to be protected from Cabbage White butterflies. Peas, broad beans and snow peas can be sown in pots or straight into the garden. Florence, or Globe fennel prefers cooler temperatures so there is still time to raise some seedlings. Carrots and parsnip are best sown direct into the garden late in the month when soil temperatures start to increase. Always use fresh parsnip seed for best results. Mid-August is the time to start sowing early zucchini, tomato, capsicum, chilli, egg plant, dwarf bean and cucumber in trays and pots but only in a warm, sunny spot under cover.

POTATOES
Early potatoes can be planted now. The seed potatoes you purchase may have already formed shoots and mini root systems and can be planted straight from the bag. Otherwise, prepare seed potatoes before planting by chitting. Chitting involves pre-sprouting the tubers by putting them in trays (I use egg cartons) and placing them in a warm, light, dry spot to allow the young shoots to develop. Good early varieties include Cliffs Kidney, Jersey Bennes, Illam Hardy and Arran Banner.

VEGETABLES TO PLANT
Unless you have a glasshouse, August really is the month to exercise patience. Winter standbys such as cabbage, beetroot, broccoli, cauliflower, perpetual spinach, lettuce, spring onions and silver beet can still be planted. Asparagus ‘crowns’ are usually available from garden shops for planting in July/August. Planting an asparagus bed is a long term project as it takes several years to produce significant crops but it can then go on cropping for twenty years or more.

HERBS
Herbs are generally easy to grow and most can be planted this month. Thyme, parsley, coriander, sage, rosemary, lemon grass, chives and dill can be grown in pots or can be planted directly into the garden. Mint is best grown in a pot as it can easily take over a garden bed with its underground runners.

Contributed by Chris Green, SuperGrans  WBOP Volunteer

Want to know more?
SuperGrans WBOP have launched a Life Skills Mentoring Programme for individuals and families wanting to learn how to start or improve a vegetable garden. You'll be matched with a "gardening buddy" who will support and guide you as you learn to grow your own food.
Email info@supergranswbop.org.nz for an application form or download a form from here.