Thank you from me too for the posts about companion planting - I saw an article recently that included that borage and rosemary are very good at this time of year for attracting beneficial insects, and particularly bumblebees, to gardens. My plants of both are flowering well, and I saw bumblebees and bees on them today.
gr8tymz,
Sep 24, 8:31pm
Sweet Pea Growing Challenge We've finally put a few photos on our website. Start sending in your pics to [email protected] - we are looking forward to seeing them all!
alia1,
Sep 25, 10:36am
755. Goodbooks I copied Linda's idea about putting gladwrap around a climbing frame, planted some 'tiny toms' & put into my raised bed. They already have small flowers coming on. The gladwrap is a little worse for wear but seems to be doing the job.
flossy21,
Sep 25, 9:55pm
For those interested in companion plants there is a mix called Insect n'Flower that you buy from wildflower world. This is designed to be planted around the orchard and veges and attracts beneficial insects. I plant lowfield meadow wildflowers around my feijoa trees and they attract bees and butterfiles.
flossy21,
Sep 25, 9:59pm
Well sadly I am leaving New Zealand for California and will be gone by January so my dream garden will never be completed.sigh!
javlin,
Sep 26, 1:33am
flossy can you garden over there! California has a good climate. Best of luck.
javlin,
Sep 26, 1:34am
pixiegirl. There is a great thread on companion planting further down the page. I've just printed it out.
javlin,
Sep 26, 1:35am
i''ll bump up the companion thread.
flossy21,
Sep 26, 1:54am
No because we are going to be renting and from what I have seen most rentals don't have gardens. Just grass and everything has to be irrigated. We are on transfer for 3 years only. I am a bit worried about nasties like snakes as they get rattlers. Racoons I think are something else we have to watch out for as well.I have seen some absolutley lovely gardens with huge trees.
When should I sow my globe artichoke seeds! Is it too soon to start them off in egg cartons yet!
stevee6,
Sep 26, 7:12pm
Daleaway - go for it! If you're planting them outside in their permanent positions, you can stick half a plastic drink bottle over each seed in case of a late frost(keeps the slimy beasties from making a meal of the new shoots too).
ords,
Sep 26, 8:12pm
Its a beaut day here too. After one of the worst lambings in history, we are starting to dry out. My need for some inner healing has me graving time in the garden.
Things in the tunnel house are growing well. Some seedlings due to go outdoors if the weather continues to stay good. Have mowed the lawns,, they are still quite soggy but mowable.
Superdirt is a mixture of good soil and fertiliser, lots of nitrogen apparently. got it from Nicols Garden Nursery. It has made an amazing difference in the tunnel house and we will plant our main spud crop in it as well. Also gave some to the strawberries and they have handled the horrible weather quite well. Even the herbs survived under 1ft of snow!
mvr,
Sep 27, 12:14am
I'm so wrapt! today i planted seedlings of savoy cabbage, brocolli, red onions, & jersey benney potatoes! already got peas and beans, mini carrots, various lettuce, spinach and elephant garlic.Very very exciting for this first time vege gardener!
javlin,
Sep 27, 12:25am
Go mvr! I dont mean leave! - I mean go to it! Welcome to the joys of growing veges. May you have a great harvest. (ps you might find it addictive.)
mvr,
Sep 27, 1:19am
Thank you javlin! Yep i think I'm definitely addicted! i just want to sit out there and watch everything grow!I'm already comtemplating diggin up more of the back yard for vege patches!But there is only me and my man - the cats arent that keen on vegetables, so I have to get onto staggering the planting so we have a longer harvest :)
juliewn,
Sep 27, 5:27am
I'm admiring of all the lovely lists of goodies above. am almost there to start planting in the new gardens - too many things on the go at the moment. we've been away since Friday morning - got home just on dark and I'm amazed at the growth of the things I can see by the light of the security lights. just a couple of days, lots of rain and warmth - and things are flourishing- can't wait to see everything tomorrow morning.
books4nz,
Sep 29, 4:48am
You're inspirational Mvr - thanks :-) Can someone post where it's possible to purchase the Jersey Benne (sp) potatoes to grow please - thanks.
mvr,
Sep 29, 1:26pm
I got mine from the Warehouse They were $8 or $10,there were about 2 dozen potatoes in the bag. i saw some at Mitre 10 too.
stevee6,
Sep 29, 3:38pm
Our local organic shop also has seed potatoes, and I noticed they also had several varieties of maori potatoes, something quite a few of the garden centres don't bother with.
whiskey13,
Sep 29, 7:57pm
Rhubarb-Have i done the right thing! Dad was gonna throw out 2 rhubarb plants so i grabbed them and I've plant them in a big round bottomless concrete trough with well rotted pig and horse manure mixed with straw and a bag of mushroom compost. Now i have read on here that rhubarb is a "gross" feeder, but have i over done it!
natcat2104,
Sep 30, 2:55am
My vege garden was a disaster last year but. I am more prepared this year. It's too cold here still to put much in the ground so have got seeds ready to sow in pots this weekend and put under some glass (a neighbour gave me some old window glass that was going to the dump, I gave him some homebaked goodies). My best friend is bringing me some seedlings (via a friend of hers), and some horse manure and worm liquid (from her own property) on the weekend and in exchange I'm giving her some baking and some pickle. I like this bartering idea!
stevee6,
Sep 30, 3:12am
Whiskey - if the trough is bottomless then your rhubarb will do fine as they have a really big root run and so need space. But the food sounds perfect and with good watering your rhubarb ought to be luscious.
whiskey13,
Sep 30, 6:49am
Thanks stevee I can't wait til i can start picking it. I don't care if everthing else in my garden dies but my rhubarb and strawberries. Am gonna attempt to grow peanuts this year but i have no idea how/where to start(I've gotten as far as buying raw peanuts from Bin Inn)
stevee6,
Sep 30, 4:35pm
Yep, I'm trying peanuts this year too. I'm getting peanuts in the shell from the organic shop and will just put them in the ground and see what happens(sandy soil which I understand they like). What about growing your own salad veges too - mesclun is honestly the easiest crop on this planet - a pot, some mix and a light sprinkling of the seed on top(don't bury it). Then water and ignore. Start cutting the microgreens in a fortnight!
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