Hi Jules. Yes, my orchard trees are increasing - and after purchasing and really enjoying figs recently, I'm adding a fig tree too. does anyone recommend any of the varieties - there are so many! Thanks for help.
I hope you've had lots of rain and the drought has ended up there.
Let me know if I can get a choko for you here, I think they're $2 - $3, and post would probably be about $4 I'd think for the size a choko is.
jules.,
May 3, 5:06am
thanks for that julie. we are planning a trip to the bach in the next few weeks now and im hoping they are still going strong up there (may have died with the drought though). but if not might take you up on the offer, you are a gem :)
juliewn,
May 4, 1:41am
Hi Jen. the feijoa I have growing doesn't need a second tree as a pollinator - I don't know the name of this type - the fruit are large - about 8-10 cm. the flesh is creamy coloured and delicious. it maybe worth asking for a self-pollinator at a garden centre. Cheers. Julie
juliewn,
May 4, 1:59am
Hi Flossy. Leeks do look like thin grass growing when they're small.I bought leek seedlings at a garden centre - in a punnet - they were about 15 to 20cm tall. I've planted them and they're growing well. With your seedlings around that height, I would plant them out in your garden. They're such a useful winter vegetable I find. sliced finely in stirfry's, added to soups and casserole's (either instead of or as well as onions), sauteed with a little lemon zest and juice, finely chopped in quiche and pies, steamed or simmered and added to white or cheese sauce, added to a Scalloped Potato recipe, etc.etc.
juliewn,
May 4, 1:59am
Leeks can be used in place of onions in a caramelised onion recipe (wash the leeks well and cut them in half lengthwise, then into thick slices. Place in a frying pan and add a little water. Place a lid on and simmer, stirring occasionally, until the leeks are very tender. Drain off any liquid, and place the pan back on the heat to dry any moisture. stir often so it doesn't burn on. Add several tablespoons of balsamic vinegar and a couple of tablespoons of brown sugar. Stir through well - add extra Balsamic vinegar or brown sugar to your taste. Season to your taste. heat through and serve with steak, chops, roast meats, meatloaf, etc. This is great made the day before needed, and reheated before serving. You can also chop them and freeze them in small containers. When making soup, add a container of the frozen leeks straight into the pot with the other veges. I use the green section too. just remove the roots and any damaged or marked pieces, wash welland use the full leek in your goodies. Good luck for a great crop of leeks. :-)
flossy21,
May 4, 2:21am
Re the Feijoa's I have the variety Feijoa Sellowiana Apollo and they are fruiting quite well only after a short time being in the garden. The card that came with them says they are a self fertile variety that are pollinated by birds. Thanks Juliewn for your info about the leeks. I had a look today and they are starting to look like chivesnow.
jen92,
May 4, 2:29am
#339 Hey Julie, I see that the poster at no.7 (the link you typed) said he planted a Sellowiana and it fruited fine!Flossy, sounds like you have a Sellowiana too, so I'm going to leave the Feijoa in that I planted recently and hope for the best.I won't evict it yet.Thanks guys for all your help, much appreciated !
jen92,
May 4, 2:33am
I never thought you could plant 2 fruit trees in one hole!I'm busy thinking of where to plant more fruit trees, that means I'll have to remove a few ornamental trees that are taking up valuable space.The dwarf varieties seems to be the way to go for me.
stevee6,
May 5, 4:45am
Bump for another new vege grower.
juliewn,
May 5, 5:32am
Hi Everyone. Nice to see all the posts. I haven't been online as much - our phone is connected to the new house now, and we're back online. yay! The ground is now levelled around the house, and my vege garden plans being put into action. can't wait to have them established. I made a small vege garden beside the front deck - not the usual place, however when earth is piled up on three sides of the house, it's a case of needs must. It's so good to be enjoying the fresh veges again. Happy growing all. :-)
juliewn,
May 5, 5:39am
Hi Callistar. this is how I save Cucumber seeds. cut the cucumber in half lengthways. then use a spoon to run down the centre of the cucumber to scoop the pulp and seeds out. You can do this into a sieve, then run water through the sieve, thus removing the pulp from around the seeds, then give them a shake to dry a little in the sieve, and spread the seeds out on a paper towel. Or spread the pulp and seeds out on the paper towel. Spread them out so each seed isseparate. Write a note in a dry corner of the towel including info like where you grew that cucumber, etc. and the date, so you have a record of what it's from.
juliewn,
May 5, 5:39am
Over several days, the seeds will dry on the paper towel - and once completely dry, I fold the paper towel up and place it in a paper envelope in a dry place. When planting next Spring, cut the paper towel between each seed, and leave the seed on the piece of paper when planting - which helps keep the plants apart. Or cut a piece of paper towel with three seeds on and plant, so you have three plants growing together.I've been learning a lot about saving seeds and growing them from this thread and others over the past few years, and am looking forward to growing them next Spring. Hope this helps. enjoy saving your very own seeds.
callistar,
May 5, 4:33pm
Thanks juliewn I had come across that method for tomatoes and I imagined it would work for cucs but it's good to have it confirmed, just in case.
jen92,
May 5, 4:52pm
Just heard back from Palmers, they have the Apollo and Unique varieties in stock, so I'm off to buy some.Hey Stevee6, thanks for bumping this thread.
stevee6,
May 5, 5:47pm
Misskittydragon - I also love colour in the winter garden and it's fairly easy, even down in the south. Many winter vege plants have lovely colour - cabbages and silverbeet come in greens, yellows and crimsons, ornamental kales have the fabulous steely blues and if you add edible flowers such as heartsease and calendulas your vege garden will glow. You can train fruit trees and bushes in decorative shapes and of course you have seeding heads of plants such as onions, garlic, kale and fennel which add texture and drama.
jules.,
May 6, 1:30am
Hubby picked up the water tank, so thats one of his jobs to get done this weekend (fingers crossed). We are going to connect it to one of the down pipes with the overflow going back down the drain. yay, I cant wait, its such a good feeling knowing I will be able to water the garden without using (and paying for) tap water!
juliewn,
May 6, 7:29am
Hi Jen. two years till you're picking your own feijoa's. yay!
revengeme,
May 7, 9:43pm
I'm thinking of planting a new fruit tree this . year. I have a triple grafted apple tree, a new golden queen peach tree, several plum trees,2 lemon trees, 2 guavas(not doing well.too cold in christchurch), many different berries etc. I'm not sure what type of fruit tree to get(for eating not bottling etc.), something that can handle the cold down here, any suggestions!
revengeme,
May 7, 9:45pm
oh and I also have 1 feijoa , I think I'll get another. Also have a lime tree and a cherry tree that the birds quite like.
katelin1,
May 8, 12:20am
new feijoa Called 'Kaiteri' which is earlier than existing early season varieties so should be better in colder areas like Chch (where it sometimes can get too cold at this time of year for feijoas to ripen properly). Oderings should have some of these variety, or ask them to order in for you.
revengeme,
May 8, 1:36am
Is it self fertile! or will I need 2 of them! running out of space you see, and I'm not sure which variety I currently have.
juliewn,
May 9, 5:26am
Hi Everyone. how are your gardens growing!
Whiskey. my copy of the magazine is. somewhere! My Daughter's 21st party was here a couple of weeks ago, I remember putting the magazine where it'd be 'safe' - and can't remember where I put it! A real 'safe' place! I'll find it. somewhere. I want to find the magazine that has the chillies featured too. have been given some fire chillies and want to make a sweet chilli jam (I think that's the name) with them.
A kind-of upside down season here - a few days ago I picked a strawberry (more flowers there too), a couple of blueberries, a Braeburn apple, some feijoa's and ten tamarillo's - made for a delicious goodies.
juliewn,
May 10, 6:39am
Bumping for you - and hopefully someone can help answer your question.
stevee6,
May 11, 2:55am
Bump for another new enthusiast.
rubyjane11,
May 11, 3:46am
oh I am excited. vege plot has come with the house never had one before but carn't wait to get in a have a go!.will be avidly gleaming all info I can!
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