Perfect Gardening Weather

Hi

I've been revamping parts of the garden

Haven't the last few days just been gorgeous !!! I don't often get into our own garden but that's where I have been mostly for the last few days and it's been just fabulous. I have had the team in helping me and we have been redoing a piece of garden that has been there for the past 15 years. It had just got past it, so out came all the old Iceberg roses and all the Hostas that were underneath them. In went new white Icebergs bushes and all those massive clumps of Hostas , we have split and put back. Perennials often do better for being lifted and a new piece put back.  Fresh, new and young always has heaps more vigour LOL shame we can't do the same to ourselves.  H really likes dealing with the cows and he has been busy trying to get some calves onto the cow that calved the other week, apparently she has way too much milk.

   

Couldn't resist these cute shots of Holly and Magenta. They snuggle down togather every night to keep each other warm

We always like to grow a few spuds and for that reason we started to stock these a few years ago. One thing leads to another and we have quite a good range here. Now Angela who's a JJ's girl knows a thing or two about spuds so I conned her into writing a few pointers down for me and  I learnt a new tech term and its "chitting" I laughed at her and said that you wouldn't want to slur your words when you say it. Chitting is the process to make the the spuds eye start to shoot. if you want to make your seed potatoes go a bit further you can cut them in half. Look for the eyes and cut in between so that you have an eye on each piece. Let the cut dry so that it seals over and then chit them in a hot water cupboard or even in the garage on a shelf.
Once the shoots are approx 2-3 inches they are ready to plant.  In the garden dig a hole approx 30ish cm deep and 30cm apart. I always dig a trench and in the bottom of hole throw small handful of Potato fert or superphosphate and cover with small amount of dirt so that the  fert doesn't  touch our specially chitted  seed spuds.  Place the spud with shoots upwards being careful not to break off the new shoots and then cover the spud so you just can't see the shoot.  Water if there is no rain coming. In a number of days the shoots will show themselves and you have to cover them up again. You can repeat this method 2-3 times before you come even with the surface. Another top up of fert and keep mounding them up. Finally you then let the foliage grow and when they are ready they will flower and then the flowers will eventuallyl turn to green seed heads
Ang says that the plant will let you know when they are ready to be dug. The foliage will go yellow and then brown n dry. This is when you test dig. Pick a plant, dig down and all going well you will have a whole heap of fresh new spuds. If you are like us then dig for fresh potatoes as needed. If your spuds are not ready, then leave the plants another week or so and test dig again.

Think about texture waxy or floury, white or cream flesh skin colours white,cream,reds or even purples. Think bout how you will mainly cook them, boiling, mashing ,salads, chips, wedges, casseroles, soup or roasting as there is probably a specialist spud for every occasion
There are three selections of spuds and for those like me that didn't know there is, 1st Early, then 2nd early and finally your main crop.
Early,
These are for those that like to get home grown fresh spuds on the table for Xmas and Jersey Bennes and Cliffs Kidney would have to be favs of mine, Liseta, Maris Anchor are a couple of different varieties and all have approx 60-90 day from plant to harvest  A quick crop for those that leave it too late are Rocket and Swift being ready in approx. 60 day
2nd early / Main
For the fence sitter or those that like to get in heaps and while Im on it I have grown Heathers and they are a damn nice potato. Heather, Ilam hardy, Karaka, Nadine, Pentland dell, Purple heart ( purple on inside and  retains after cooking) and Purple passion
Main crop- Often these varieties are found in supermarkets and include  Agria, Desiree, Moonlight, Red king, Red rascal, Rua and Van rosa. and its worth noting that these potatoes usually require the warmer weather than  earlier varieties.

Now Angelas suggests, get a potatoe frenzy going and c hallenge your family or friends to who can grow the biggest, heaviest and weirdest shape spud or even pre order with some one else a 25 kg sack and split with a mate. Mail order spuds click here or preorder 25kg bu emailing Ang at sales@wairere.co.nz. A 25 kg sack would be $95 plus courier.

Prunus Campanulata Pink Cloud is another one of those cherries that will lure in the Tuis. These are huge plants at over 2.5 to 3 metres and are normally $49.99  down to  $25. Sorry but they are too large to courier so collection only and you will need a trailer. When in flower as its name suggests an amazing pink cloud of colour
 
Escallonias, dont know if they have a common name but that are an oldie but a goodie for hedging, Red Elf is awesome for a small hedge  and Red Dream and Apple Blossom are just perfect for a medium sized hedge. Just awesome chunky plants and a real steal at $12.99 down to $7.99 each

Helleborus or Winter roses. A couple of newsletters ago we had Ice Queen but hey there are more Queens out there and they look awesome in flower. Now Queen of the night is the darkest plum red that you could imagine of a winter rose, Cream Queen takes after its name sake. Amber Queen is a pretty ambery pink colour,  Tutu is from a different stable and looking ptretty smart.

     

Tea trees or Leptospermums are excellent filler shrubs and are great for attracting bees to your garden and we all know that we need a bee or two to keep all our flowers and fruit trees happy. There is a range of the taller growing varieties with double and single flowers

Asparagus. Sweet succulent and tender and of course you can grow your own. Now you have to remember that Asparagus is a true perennial and so needs its own spot in the garden. I reckon that if you have the space make a dedicated Asparagus patch.  Plant the crowns now to get well established before the summer. As with most perennials the crown will get bigger yielding more spears as the years go past. They love lots of food so feed them well. Hopefully we have sorted the software and you can have 4 packets sent for $5.00 NZ wide so just add them to your shopping cart if wanted.

The weather is perfect for getting in there and gardening, make the most of it and have a great weekend

Cheers, Lloyd and Harry and the team