The Star: December 27, 2018

More documents

Recommendations

Info

18 Thursday December 27 2018 Latest Christchurch news at www.star.kiwi GardeningEditorial supplied by The Star www.gardener.kiwi Tips for planting and harvesting January can be a busy time in the vegetable patch. Rachel Vogan gives a few tips on when to water, plant and – what we’ve all been waiting for – harvest NUMEROUS CROPS will be actively growing and producing a hearty harvest this month. To keep them flourishing, keep an eye out for pests and diseases. As soon as you spot something, deal with it – turning your back on it will not remedy the problem. Keep the fluids up in your garden, whether it be with water, worm tea or liquid fertiliser. Deep watering is ideal and only required every second or third day in good soils. In poor, dry or dusty soils, it may be required to water on a daily basis. If crops seem to be looking a little flat, with foliage turning yellow and growth is slow, it is more than likely the soil is lacking in nutrients. Remedy this with an application of vegetable fertiliser, liquid manure or seaweed tonics. Tips for harvesting •Harvest or pick as close to eating as possible. By doing this you are ensuring the best possible flavour and the ultimate amount of nutrition. •Harvest at the beginning or end of the day, when the temperatures are cooler. •Allow crops to fully ripen on the plant before harvesting, especially crops like tomatoes, beans, peas and eggplants. •If you have an abundance or excess amount of produce, share it around, offer it to neighbours, friends, family or the team at work. 1. Beetroot This superhero of a crop is a good one to plant or sow now. Prepare the ground in advance so it is loose and friable – essentially crumb-like. If other crops have been in the soil previously this season, add in some more gutsy compost or manure to give the soil a boost and to help it hold on to moisture. Space seedlings about a hand span apart and, when sowing seeds, keep the row wellwatered as this will speed up the germination process (the seed coat is quite hard). Harvest can begin as soon they look big enough to eat. Baby beets are sweeter and, if left in the ground to fully mature, intensify in flavour. Be generous when planting or sowing so you have plenty of menu options. 2. Courgettes and scallopini New courgettes and scallopini can be sown and planted out now. These crops need a bit of room to move, so best to provide them with 1 sq m in the garden. Seeds germinate in a fortnight and are ready to plant out within a month or so. Seedlings should still be in the shops. While they grow happily in a container, they need a big one to support the big meaty foliage and have enough root room. $ 12EA EVERY DAY Mandevillea Colourwave Assorted. #9418468010690 ANY2 FOR $ 12 Super 12 Flower Packs Assorted varieties. #9419708643616 BUY 2 GET A 3RD FREE McGregor's Seeds and Lawn Seeds A. Coriander Herb Seeds #9414061060629 $3.50EA B. Carrot Vegetable Seeds #9414061055670 $3.50EA Lowest or equally priced item of the 3 will be free. A B Mature plant pictured. Blooming bargains in store this weekend BUY 1 GET 1 HALF PRICE Kiwi Garden, Westminster or Just Garden Sprayers A. Kiwi Garden Pressure Sprayer 5L #9400007077714 $12EA Lowest or equally priced item of the 2 will be half price. A Kiwi Garden Solar String Light White 100 LED #9400988134055 $12EA BUY 1 GET 1 HALF PRICE Kiwi Garden and Living & Co. Solar String Lights Lowest or equally priced item of the 2 will be half price. A. Kiwi Garden Hanging Basket 40cm #9401056258154 $15EA BUY 1 GET 1 HALF PRICE Coconut Planters & Coconut Liners Lowest or equally priced item of the 2 will be half price. BUY 1 GET 1 FREE #9400007206213 $15EA Westminster Non-Woven Black Weedmat 20m x 1m MONEY-BACK GUARANTEE OPEN UNTIL AT LEAST 8PM DOWNLOAD THE APP CLICK & COLLECT TWLWK22GDNA. Valid until Tuesday 01/01/18. South Island stores only. Some deals may extend. While stocks last. All offers not in conjunction with any other offers. All deals exclude As Seen on TV products unless otherwise stated. Apparel offers exclude Schooltex. Range, colour and designs may vary between stores, including online. If unavailable, most deals can be ordered in store (freight fees may apply). Trade quantities not supplied. Money-Back Guarantee: So you can buy in confidence, we offer a full 12 months money-back guarantee with proof of purchase. The product must be in re-saleable condition unless faulty or defective. Exceptions: Products covered by warranty, hygiene products (e.g. underwear, earrings) and products protected by copyright infringement (CDs, DVDs, Blu-ray & Gaming). Accessories not included. Assembly required. See in store for details. Branded Import items are genuine branded products and carry our famous Money-Back Guarantee. Customer Support: For any queries relating to Branded Imports, Insurance or product availability please contact your local store, 0800 Red Shed (0800 733 743), or go to thewarehouse.co.nz. ^Mosgiel open until 6pm. *Products not available at Alexandra, Atrium (Auckland), Barrington, Birkenhead, Clendon, Dunedin, Glenfield, Hamilton, Johnsonville, Kaikohe, Lower Hutt, Milford, Mosgiel, Newmarket, New Lynn, Richmond, Rolleston, St Lukes, Tauranga, Tokoroa, Tory St (Wellington) or Whakatane stores. Dry Gardening products are not available at Atrium (Auckland), Barrington, Tokoroa or Tory St (Wellington) stores. Not all Dry Gardening products in this mailer will be available at Clendon, Glenfield, Hamilton, Johnsonville, Kaikohe, Kaitaia, Milford, Mosgiel, Newmarket, Queenstown, Richmond, Rolleston, St Lukes or Whakatane stores. Available in most stores, or order in store or online.
$7.90 incl. GST The Star Latest Christchurch news at www.star.kiwi Thursday December 27 2018 19 your summer vegetables White mould and mildew can be a real problem at this time of year. Treat both with a baking soda and milk mixture or a spray registered to control it. Alternatively, leave it be – it rarely affects other plants and courgettes seem to keep cropping regardless of the disease. 3. Basil Basil is one of the best summer herbs and now is the perfect time to get more planted out to extend your harvesting season. Look to seedlings as germinating seed will take about a month, making you miss the warm months they love. The better the soil is, the better the results will be – blend in vegetable fertiliser before planting in the ground or in pots. While basil prefers a freedraining soil, it doesn’t like dry periods, especially when it is establishing itself. Pinch out the growing and flowering tips as the plants begin to mature and plant plenty – you can never have too much pesto. Look out for flavoursome Thai basil. It’s a hot little number that adds a real touch of the Orient to Thai and Indian dishes. You will find it in the herb aisle. oN sAle Now! TASTY: New courgettes can be sown and planted now. 4. Chilli and capsicum Now is the absolute last chance to get these in the ground. It’s too late to sow seeds. Plants will get cracking quickly as both chilli and capsicums thrive when the days are long and hot. They require all-day sun so find such a spot in the garden or an appropriate container site. When growing in pots, choose a good quality vegetable mix, and a pot at least 10 litres in capacity (think kitchen bucket). Strawberry or tomato food can be added as a side-dressing, as both trigger the flower growth you need. However, they are happy in a slightly acidic soil, it just needs to be warm. Good drainage is essential. If you are going away for a few days, do not be tempted to sit pots in saucers of water, they hate wet feet. 5. Red sorrel For something a little tangy and bright to add to your salad menu, consider growing red sorrel. It’s a low-growing perennial leafy green that has a slightly bitter flavour, not dissimilar to rocket. Seeds can be sown now, and plants will be available in the herb section of garden centres. It’s happy to grow in both sun or part shade and is shallow-rooted, which makes it a good option for tubs, planters and window boxes. A welcome and colourful addition to a mixed leaf salad, this often overlooked plant is worth planting for looks alone. 6. Spring onions One of the easiest crops to grow, spring onions are robust and reliable greens, which grow in even the smallest pocket of earth – be it in bucket, patio tub or garden. Seedlings are your best bet. Either plant the entire cell into one hole or separate out the individual seedlings and plant one by one. Aim to plant them a little deeper, rather than shallower, so they can anchor themselves into the ground. Allow three to four fingers’ distance between each plant. Look out for the red-stemmed variety, which looks fabulous and has a slightly sharper taste. 7. Frilly lettuce The hottest months of the year are conducive to summer salads and the best and toughest lettuces to plant now are frilly types and cos. Both can cope with intermittent watering (if you are away for a few days) and have a more robust growth habit than hearting lettuces. Best to hold off planting or sowing hearting lettuces until the soil cools down a smidge, in a month or two. The frilly and gem types of lettuce are great options for tubs and buckets and, as both are perpetual, you can harvest them leaf by leaf, which makes them ideal for the lunchtime wrap. Seeds can be sown in the ground or look for seedlings, of which there are plenty around. 8. Vietnamese mint This hardy perennial herb, salad green and condiment is a ripper to plant out now. Each leaf is packed with a spicy flavour that resembles a combination of coriander, chilli and kaffir lime leaf. Being evergreen just adds to its appeal and, even better, it is as tough as old boots, surviving on very little care and attention. Keep the foliage coming by planting in a sunny spot and apply a general garden fertiliser in spring and autumn. A regular haircut will keep a fresh supply of foliage. Portstone Garden Centre’s sale now on Open throughout the holidays including New Years Day Now only $35.80 Plus $5 P&H per copy AvAilAble from stAr mediA: Level One, 359 Lincoln Road Addington, Christchurch Phone 379 7100 25 % off Trees and Shrubs Roses and Climbers Veges and Bedding Glazed Pots and Urns Giftware Selected water features growing with you June 2018 | 100% Plants For winter wow Cool Choices For Colour & Contrast From swamp to sea views The journey begins with sarah the Gardener Snap it up Enter our annual Birdlife Photo Competition to win great prizes! clear the air Why groWing indoor PLAnTs is so good for you give it a grow from gArLic To chinese ArTichokes, We hAve your groWing TiPs covered the latest releases into the rose world + rose care through winter The magazine for gardeners who like to get their hands dirty SUBSCRIBE FROM $43. 50* *6 issues/6 months SUBSCRIPTIONS FREEPHONE 0800 77 77 10 WWW.GARDENER.KIWI 50 % off ornamental Deciduous trees Portstone GARDEN CENTRE 465 Ferry Rd • Phone 389-4352 www.portstone.co.nz OPEN 9am - 5pm 7 Days Plus many more specials in store *Conditions apply, finishes Jan 6th Helping Christchurch Grow facebook.com/
Page 1 and 2: Circulation 92,573 Thursday, Decemb
Page 3 and 4: The Star 3 News Local News Now Late
Page 5 and 6: The Star Latest Christchurch news a
Page 17: The Star Latest Christchurch news a

The Star: December 27, 2018

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?