 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.
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 June continued our run of great gardening weather with relatively warm temperatures and finally some good soaking rain. No doubt we will have cold, wet conditions ahead so July is a good time to clean up old crops, check out the seed catalogues and get ready for Spring. There are, however still plenty of vegetables that can be grown right now.
SEEDS TO SOW. Seeds sown directly into garden beds will be very slow to germinate this month but cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, lettuce, silver beet, beetroot, perpetual spinach and spring onion can all be sown under cover in containers. A sunny windowsill can be used to germinate seeds but the seedlings can quickly become spindly and weak if left indoors for too long. Move them to a sheltered spot outside a couple of days after germination to ensure hardy, sturdy seedlings. Peas, broad beans and snow peas can be sown in pots or straight into the garden but again they will do much better in containers filled with seed-raising potting mix. Florence, or Globe, fennel prefers cooler temperatures so now is a good time to raise some seedlings to plant out next month. Carrots are best sown direct into the garden in late August when soil temperatures start to increase . POTATOES First early potatoes can be planted in a warm, sheltered spot from mid July onwards so, if you haven’t already done so, purchase and prepare seed potatoes 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 Garlic and shallots can still be planted this month along with our winter standbys cabbage, beetroot, broccoli, cauliflower, perpetual spinach, lettuce, spring onions and silver beet. 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. STRAWBERRIES Planting now allows the maximum time to produce a strong plant with a well developed root system that will support a large crop of succulent fruit. It also encourages early and prolonged cropping. If using bare-rooted strawberry plants that are dug straight out of the ground just be careful that the roots are never allowed to become dry before planting. 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.  June, the official start of winter, is when keen gardeners start to think about growing edible treats such as strawberries, garlic and shallots to be enjoyed next spring and summer. Our ‘Green Drought’ continues with enough rain to wash off the dust, make the lawns grow and the weed seeds germinate but nowhere near enough to really soak down into the subsoil so occasional watering may still be needed in the vegetable garden.
SEEDS TO SOW. Only hardy varieties can be sown in June and I find I get the best result by sowing the seeds in containers and producing sturdy plants to plant out later. This gets them away to a good start as they deal with wintery conditions. Cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, lettuce, silver beet, beetroot, kohlrabi, perpetual spinach and spring onion all benefit from this method. Peas, broad beans and snow peas can be sown in pots or straight into the garden but I favour growing them in small pots before planting out. POTATOES First early potatoes can be planted in mid July so this is the time to prepare seed potatoes 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 Garlic, shallots, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, perpetual spinach, lettuce, rocket, spring onions, silver beet, kohlrabi and Florence fennel can all be planted this month. GARLIC & SHALLOTS Individual garlic cloves are usually planted point upwards approx 10cm apart with 15cm to 30cm between rows and covered with 2cm to 3cm of soil. Shallots are spaced 10cm apart with 20cm between rows with the base of the bulb pressed firmly into the soil but leaving the top half exposed. HERBS Plant hardy herbs such as rosemary, thyme, sage, parsley and coriander. Mint is best in pots to prevent invasive roots and shoots from overpowering less vigorous plants. STRAWBERRIES Commercial strawberry growers like to get their beds planted as soon as possible in late autumn/early winter. Planting now allows the maximum time to produce a strong plant with a well developed root system that will support a large crop of succulent fruit. It also encourages early and prolonged cropping. If using bare-rooted strawberry plants that are dug straight out of the ground just be careful that the roots are never allowed to become dry before planting. Next summer, here we come. Contributed by Chris Green, SuperGrans WBOP Volunteer Want to know more? SuperGrans WBOP will be launching a Life Skills Mentoring Programme in Level 2 and will be welcoming applications from 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. Follow us on Facebook (supergranswesternbop for updates) or email info@supergranswbop.org.nz for an application form.  Warm, sunny weather through April has promoted strong growth for autumn and winter crops. The only downside has been the continued lack of significant rain. I can’t remember ever having to water my vegetable garden in April as much as I have this year. The rewards are plentiful though and I am currently harvesting broccoli, spring onions, carrots, kohl rabi, silver beet, perpetual spinach, baby leeks, beetroot and snow peas along with still producing capsicums, zucchini, butternuts and a good selection of herbs.
SEEDS TO SOW If conditions are still reasonably mild the first week of May we can try a late sowing of carrots, peas and snow peas direct into the garden. Covering carrot seed with a light dressing of seed-raising potting mix instead of topsoil will aid germination. With protection from the elements, onions, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, silver beet, spring onion, perpetual spinach and lettuce can also be sown in pots and punnets for later transplanting. Broad beans are cool weather vegetables and the seed can be sown direct into the garden now to provide a useful fresh crop in Spring and early Summer. Be prepared for the fact that broad beans grow tall and will require support. BROAD MINDED The world is divided into those who love broad beans and those who loathe them. If the only broad beans you have ever tasted were leather jackets swimming in a sea of tasteless white sauce why would you like them? In fact, fresh, tender broad beans provide a gourmet delight that is rarely available in supermarkets. Grow your own and pick ‘em young. Delicious! VEGETABLES TO PLANT Seedlings of broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, beetroot, silver beet, lettuce can still be planted in sunny, sheltered spots. May, June and July are the best months for planting garlic and shallots. Both take six to seven months to mature so it’s a good idea to enrich the soil with plenty of compost and a general fertiliser prior to planting. Individual garlic cloves are planted just below the surface, pointy end upwards, approximately 10cm apart with 15cm to 30cm between rows. Shallots are spaced 10cm apart with 20cm between rows with the base of the bulbs pressed firmly into the soil but leaving the top half exposed. STRAWBERRIES Bare-rooted strawberry plants are usually available at the end of the month or early June so now’s the time to prepare the area by incorporating compost and fertiliser. Create raised beds if the drainage is poor and perhaps cover the area with weed mat to suppress weeds, conserve summer moisture and to keep the fruit clean. Where space is limited, strawberries can be grown in patio pots, large hanging baskets, troughs or herb planters filled 50/50 with good quality compost and potting mix. Contributed by Chris Green, SuperGrans WBOP Volunteer Want to know more? SuperGrans WBOP will be launching a Life Skills Mentoring Programme in Level 2 and will be welcoming applications from 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. Follow us on Facebook (supergranswesternbop for updates).  The current situation highlights how beneficial it can be for us to grow at least some of our own food. Growing vegetables is not difficult but it does require some forward planning, patience, careful observation and stickability. Sowing seeds or planting seedlings are just the first steps of a commitment to care for our crops through to harvest. April is a great month to continue planting winter vegetables. Soil and air temperatures are still high enough to aid the rapid germination of seeds and establishment of transplanted seedlings. Our big problem this year is the severely depleted soil moisture levels around the Western Bay of Plenty. The top few centimeters may be moist but most sub-soils will still be bone dry so thorough soaking before planting is essential.
What a great time to start growing food. I think that our very own, local, Kings Seeds are still open for online business and their website provides heaps of useful information along with an amazing range of vegetable and herb seeds; SEEDS TO SOW Sow a few broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, kale and red cabbage every three or four weeks to give continuity of supply. I always start them in containers but they can be sown directly into a garden seedbed for transplanting later. Whichever method is used the seedlings must be protected from the voracious caterpillars of the Cabbage White butterfly. Because I don’t use chemical sprays on my food crops I prefer a simple frame to support a cover of Quarantine Cloth. This has the added advantage of providing light shade for the tender seedlings. 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 sown early in the month should germinate before temperatures start to fall and will be ready for picking in late winter/early spring. Rocket, radish, beetroot and parsnips (always use fresh parsnip seed for best results) 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. Peas, snow peas and sugar snap peas can all be sown directly into the garden but be sure to provide support for tall climbing varieties. VEGETABLES TO PLANT April provides a window of opportunity to plant winter vegetables before the weather deteriorates, temperatures fall and the days grow shorter. Seedlings of all the varieties listed in ‘Seeds to Sow’ can be planted now. HERBS Coriander prefers cool conditions so this is a good time to sow or plant. Contributed by Chris Green, SuperGrans WBOP Volunteer Want to know more? SuperGrans WBOP holds fortnightly Growing Food with SuperGrans sessions and these will resume “when things return to normal.” Follow us on Facebook (supergranswesternbop for updates).  SuperGrans Western Bay of Plenty’s upcoming events and activities have been cancelled and our office is closed to the public until further notice in response to the New Zealand Governments decision to raise the COVID-19 alert to Level Three (and Four).
Our staff are working from home and we're implementing a phone buddy system for the isolated in our community. If you, or if you know of anyone who is feeling lonely and would appreciate a friendly phone call please call us on 07 549 4522 or text 027 472 1112 and we'll match you with one of our SuperGrans volunteers as a phone buddy. Stay safe and be kind.  I started to plant my autumn/winter crops in the last two weeks of February. What a performance! The ground was, and still is, so dry that I had to prepare beds by digging ditches a spade depth deep before breaking up the bone-dry sub-soil with a fork. Then, using my precious tank water, I flooded the trenches and allowed the water to soak in before replacing some of the top soil, adding more water and mixing thoroughly. Repeating this process a couple of times gave me beds with enough moisture in the root zone to allow me to plant with confidence.
All indications are that early March is going to remain exceptionally dry so I might have to use the same technique for the next round of sowing and planting. I’m encouraged by the thought that increases in vegetable prices are almost inevitable as the drought continues. SEEDS TO SOW Sow a few broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, kale and red cabbage every three or four weeks to give continuity of supply. I always start them in containers but they can be sown directly into a garden seedbed for transplanting later. Whichever method is used the seedlings must be protected from the voracious caterpillars of the Cabbage White butterfly. Because I don’t use chemical sprays on my food crops I prefer a simple frame to support a cover of Quarantine Cloth. This has the added advantage of providing light shade for the tender seedlings. 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, rocket, radish, beetroot 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. Snow peas prefer cooler conditions but can be sown now in containers for transplanting later in the month. VEGETABLES TO PLANT March is usually a wonderful month to plant winter vegetables but for most of us this year planting will be limited by the amount of water we have available and by our commitment to applying it in a timely and effective way. Regular deep watering in the evening two or three times a week is best for most crops. All the varieties listed in ‘Seeds to Sow’ can be planted now but, if possible, give leafy crops such as lettuce and spinach some shade from the sun. Leeks should be planted as soon as possible to give them time to mature for winter harvest. HERBS Mediterranean herbs such as rosemary, thyme, bay and sage thrive in hot, dry conditions. In pots they still require regular watering but once established in the garden they should be left to fend for themselves. In my garden Italian parsley seems to stand up to heat better than the curly variety. Both can be planted now but growing from seed requires patience as it is very slow to germinate. Contributed by Chris Green, SuperGrans WBOP Volunteer Want to know more? Come along to our monthly (1st Wednesday of the month) Growing Food with SuperGrans at the SuperGrans Offices, 14 Jocelyn St, Katikati and meet our volunteer gardening gurus! Free event, just drop in. Are you receiving our monthly email newsletters? These are a great way to stay up to date with our news, events and activities!   Water, water, water! Deep watering two or three times a week, preferably in the evening will keep summer crops producing.
After the high temperatures and the lack of rain we’ve experienced through January it’s hard to think about preparing for winter but now is the time to start sowing seeds for autumn and winter crops. Limited rain and damaging winds early in the month necessitated regular watering to keep summer veges healthy and productive. The leaves of my climbing beans were bruised and shredded by the wind but the plants are now fully recovered and continue to crop well. The trick is to constantly remove old and damaged leaves as you pick the beans and keep up the watering. This rejuvenates the plants and also makes harvesting much easier. SEEDS TO SOW 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. Early in the month is the last chance to sow zucchini and dwarf beans. Carrots, rocket, radish, beetroot 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. It is time to start sowing broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, kale and red cabbage. I always start them in containers but they can be sown directly into a garden seedbed for transplanting later. Whichever method is used the seedlings must be protected from the voracious caterpillars of the Cabbage White butterfly. Because I don’t use chemical sprays on my food crops I prefer to use a simple frame to support a cover of Quarantine Cloth. This has the added advantage of providing light shade for the tender seedlings. Snow peas prefer cooler temperatures so I usually wait until the end of February before sowing my first batch. VEGETABLES TO PLANT 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. I tend to wait until mid to late February before planting large quantities because that should bring us closer to some significant autumn rainfall that will ease the pressure on both me and my water tanks. HERBS There’s still time to plant basil and all the other popular culinary herbs but coriander hates hot, dry conditions. However, it grows easily from seed so we just have to accept that it has a limited useful life and sow fresh pots of it every few weeks. Letting the old plants flower will provide the seed for future crops. Contributed by Chris Green, SuperGrans WBOP Volunteer Want to know more? Come along to our monthly (1st Wednesday of the month) Growing Food with SuperGrans on the 5th February, 10-11.30am at the SuperGrans Offices, 14 Jocelyn St, Katikati and meet our volunteer gardening gurus! Free event, just drop in. Photo: SuperGrans Western Bay of Plenty vegetable garden/jungle!  Happy 2020 everyone! The office is open Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays 9am - 2pm until February (when we'll be open on Fridays too). This means there will be no Sewing and Mending Connect and Chats in January.
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