Timing is everything! Plant crops out at the temperature they love, and away they zoom! Thing is – your timings are unique to your particular micro climate. Use mine as a stepping stone (not a bible!), until you work it out.
Lean on local gardeners – they are your best resource, as is just doing it! Try stuff out and watch what happens – happy plants show you that you nailed it. Focus on meeting the needs of the plant, that’s at the heart of it. In particular the temperatures they thrive in.
Keep planting a little something each week, to keep the food rolling in. If it’s hot for another few months, plant out more tomatoes, cucumbers, beans and courgettes. If its cooler – get going with carrots, leeks and broccoli for autumn. If you’re somewhere in between – hedge your bets with a bit of both!
Wishing you lots of delicious vegies for the table, and a happy, happy New Year.
Yours in the earth,
❤️ Kath
For me last summer, it was slugs. Hundreds of slugs!
Oh tricky! My 3 top slug tips are remove all the mulch for a while, beer traps and night missions with a head torch and a bucket of very salty water to throw them into… together these make a huge difference. Good luck!
Hi Kath,
Comfrey, I have proven that my fruit trees are doing better with it planted around the base.
I’ve brought some more plants from Kahikatea Nursery, they worked our fairly expensive when the $20 freight is added. I’m also attending to grow them from seed.
Could you please expand on the advice you’ve given about transplanting by dividing existing plants.
Wishing you a Happy Christmas a more settled New Year.
Kevin.
Hiy a Kevin, yes it does work out as expensive, but at least now you got your own supply and def worth it!
Dig up the roots by sliding a trowel in around the edges of the clump of foliage. Pull out the licorice like looking roots. Preferably in 10cm and longer bits.
Start your cuttings in pots if your soil is sandy or heavy. Plant out when sprouted and growing well. Plant direct into good/ free draining soils.
To plant root cuttings direct.
Plant root cuttings in a group of three at 20cm spacings, rather than as lonely singles (everyone does better in a community!) Make a shallow trench about 4cm deep and big enough to accommodate all three cuttings. Work a layer of compost into the original dirt and press the cutting in, laying it flat on it’s side. Cover thinly with compost, lay wet newspaper on top and mulch.
Pay special attention to the new plants for their first summer by keeping them weed free and moist. Splash some liquid feed on them when you feed your garden.
Steadily increase your comfrey by taking new root cuttings in spring, from 3 year old plus plants.
Happy christmas to you guys too 🙂
Hi Kath, I have flowering annuals and green manure on the go but what flowering perennials do you recommend to attract beneficial insects. Julie, vege gardener, Invercargill.
Hi Julie, The good news is there are many plants that do this job from natives to herbs to flowers. Here are my favourites https://www.ediblebackyard.co.nz/a-planting-plan-to-entice-the-beneficial-insects/
I’m not that much of an internet reader to be honest but your blogs really nice, keep it up! I’ll go ahead and bookmark your website to come back down the road.