Short weeks and berries

Hi

Short weeks always seem to throw me, Im sure that it's the same for everyone, Its like, get five days work done in four and then there is the reward of four days off gardening LOL.  Mail orders have to go out a day early to make sure that they get where they are going on time and incoming plants have to be away. We are on a big roll though topping up our sales area with half price flowering cherries, fruit trees and more.

Whilst on the subject of short weeks, we are closed Good Friday, open Saturday and Sunday as normal and will open at 1pm on Monday Anzac day.  We are otherwise open normal hours of 8.30 to 5pm.

Fruits of all shapes and sizes

Our Feijoas are two years old now and we are getting bucketfuls every day. I have to say that good ole Harry planted at least one of every variety that we stock and my gosh what a variety of sizes and shapes that we are getting. Boxes of fruit get couriered to Tonys sister, Yvonne, Dad makes cakes and muffins and we even bottled some the other night. I have to say that Feijoas are an ultimate in  a fruit that takes no effort to grow. You can't pick them, though, Go around each day and pick up the fruit as it drops as it should be perfectly ripe.

Whats the diff between a Highbush and a Rabbiteye

Well we all know size doesn't matter and a good example would have to be the Blueberry.  For a small berry they are full of Vitamin C and antioxidants and Im sure a whole lot more that's good for us.

There are two main types of Blueberry here in NZ, the Highbush and Rabbiteyes. High Bush are native to the northeastern areas of the USA. They are the earliest berries to ripen and start fruiting from mid November and continue through to mid February.

Rabbit Eyes are a native of the southeastern USA. The rabbit eye bush differs in several ways from the high bush, they are evergreen, more vigorous and tend to have larger crops. In N.Z. these  the main producer of late season fruit, starting production early January and continuing to mid April.  To get the best crops of berries you should have different cultivars of the same type so that they can exchange pollen or more technically correct cross pollinate. In the rabbiteyes we currently have the following cultivars: Powder Blue, Tifblue and centurion. In Highbush we have: Marimba, Misty, O'Neal and Petite Blue. They prefer more acid soils that are rich and free draining. Nice bushy plants too!!

While we are on the subject of small berries that are good for us, I grabbed some Goji berry plants the other day and also a few Maqui berry plants. Now these are new to me so I had to be asked to me sent some material about each of them. Now without getting too technical these berries are packed with anti-oxidants, vitamins, minerals and unique disease-fighting polysaccharides. They are claimed to have an antioxidant score five times greater than blueberries. Apparently Goji berries have a  cranberry/cherry like flavour and the Maqui berry is said to taste like a cross between blueberry and cranberry with many similar attributes. A must have addition to the potager garden!!

There never seems to be any shortage of stuff to write about but I have to tell you about this heirloom grape variety called Matakana Gold. Beautiful sweet golden grapes that are just delicious. Another variety that is new in is Flame, a seedless one, so those that don't have someone to seed and peel their grapes here is the plant for you.

Celebration of Autumn Sale.

We have been busy topping up our sales area, not to mention looking for some good bargains to tempt you out. There is heaps to choose from

Buxus from $1.00, Perennials from $2.00, Camellia hedging from $8.00

Hedging of all types, all good value

Flowering cherries half price, fruit trees reduced to clear

Roses still 25 %off

 

Whatever you are doing for Easter weekend  have a great time Its one of the longest weekend in the year

Have a great weekend

Cheers, Lloyd and Harry