Tag: vegetables

Sow seeds for fruits and flowers before 6th June

Sow seeds for fruits and flowers before 6th June

It’s time to sow seeds for fruits and flowers this week until the full moon on Saturday 6th June 2020.

Especially good days include Monday 1st June through to Thursday 4th June 2020 [here in New Zealand] – if you have a warm place!

Here in New Zealand, the weather is cool/cold. Less day-light round the shortest day means the ground is also cool. This is a time to plan more and sow less until the ground warms up. Or sow under shelter, such as a hot-house or tunnel-house.

The ground is cold and seed sowing really only gives results in hot-houses, tunnel-houses, conservatories, or inside somewhere light. A heat-pad [often sold at pet stores to keep pets warm] gives bottom heat needed by some seeds to germinate.

 

May you and your garden flourish
Heather

PS

For more ideas about what to sow and when in NZ, have a look at  http://gardenate.com

 

PPS

For more about planting by the  moon phases,

If you like experiments about when to plant for best results, a great one is to plant the same seeds in rows right beside each other [so all other conditions are identical], and label the rows with the date of planting. Then sow seeds from 1 packet at weekly intervals, each week in a new row.

This way you can see how the recommendations for best/worst seed sowing outcomes from moon-planting guides work for you. Maybe they do, and maybe they don’t.

I enjoy experimenting with such ideas – and if only I can rescue the rows from the snails and black-birds, I might even get some results to share!

Here’s a post I wrote about planting by the moon phases if you like more information and reflections on it.

Moon planting guides remind me to plant SOMETHING [even just sprouts on the window-sill], plan a little, and help me have a continuous supply!

—

Leafy greens time after 23rd May

Leafy greens time after 23rd May

Leafy greens love cooler weather.

A-n-d snails and slugs love tender greens!

We surround seedlings with a protective barrier where possible. These ones have been reused over and over so I am happy with them. We also use an assortment of cut-down plastic containers to surround seedlings.

20171021_120356

 

Endive, miners lettuce [not really a lettuce], gotu kola, parsley, rocket, chervil, coriander, lettuce, etc. There are so many varieties we can enjoy. The ground is getting very cool for successful germination now so I hope your previous plantings are doing well.

 

Soil temperature: too cold  and seeds take ages to start to grow.

Try an experiment some time and go out at mid-afternoon and put your hand flat onto soil in full sun and notice how cold/hot it is. Now feel soil in a shaded place. Then choose where best to sow/plant for your crops. If at all until Spring.

Best times for planting seeds of greens?

After the new moon on Saturday 23rd May 2020 is the best week to plant for lush leafy greens.

The best days are Monday 25th through to Wednesday 27th 2020. 

 

May you and your garden flourish
Heather

PS

For more ideas about what to sow and when in NZ, have a look at  http://gardenate.com

 

PPS

For more about planting by the  moon phases,

If you like experiments about when to plant for best results, a great one is to plant the same seeds in rows right beside each other [so all other conditions are identical], and label the rows with the date of planting. Then sow seeds from 1 packet at weekly intervals, each week in a new row.

This way you can see how the recommendations for best/worst seed sowing outcomes from moon-planting guides work for you. Maybe they do, and maybe they don’t.

I enjoy experimenting with such ideas – and if only I can rescue the rows from the snails and black-birds, I might even get some results to share!

Here’s a post I wrote about planting by the moon phases if you like more information and reflections on it.

Moon planting guides remind me to plant SOMETHING, plan a little, and help me have a continuous supply!

—

Take time out from sowing seeds until after the 23rd May

Take time out from sowing seeds until after the 23rd May

Take time out from sowing seeds until after the dark of the moon on Saturday 23rd May 2020. As the moon nears its smallest visible ‘dark of the moon’ phase, this time is associated with spindly, weak growth – wait a week or so.

Do other things instead.

  • Big ‘clean-up’ time still? Build a new compost bin – to take lots of annual plants which die and are ready to be composted. [and deciduous leaves add great carbon store to the compost so we collect the fallen leaves from these street trees too]
  • renovate garden beds ready for their next plantings in spring.
  • read up on this next season and seed types to plant for success – they all have their favorite times.
  • learn more about the optimum conditions to grow GREAT crops of your favorite veg or fruit
  • Plan your next seed sowing, your garden layout, or crop rotation to minimize pest and diseases.
  • Save seeds of your best plants 

May you and your garden flourish
Heather

PS

For more ideas about what to sow and when in NZ, have a look at http://gardenate.com

PPS:

For more about planting by the  moon phases,

If you like experiments about when to plant for best results, a great one is to plant the same seeds in rows right beside each other [so all other conditions are identical], and label the rows with the date of planting. Then sow seeds from 1 packet at weekly intervals, each week in a new row.

This way you can see how the recommendations for best/worst seed sowing outcomes from moon-planting guides work for you. Maybe they do, and maybe they don’t.

I enjoy experimenting with such ideas – and if only I can rescue the rows from the snails and black-birds, I might even get some results to share!

Here’s a post I wrote about planting by the moon phases if you like more information and reflections on it.

Moon planting guides remind me to plant SOMETHING, plan a little, and help me have a continuous supply!

 —

Sow below-ground crops after 7th May

Sow below-ground crops after 7th May

Recommended best days for sowing seeds to grow great root crops are

Monday 11th and Tuesday 12th May 2020. 

Often planting charts talk generally of sowing these seeds during the week after the full moon – which will be on Thursday 7th May 2020.

Here in south Auckland the ground is moist. I think it’s late to put seeds in, but hey, it could be worth a try! Maybe a plastic cover for warmth and protection?

Carrots, beetroot, daikons, radish, parsnip, etc?

Instead, it’s time to plant bulbs of garlic, onions, shallots and seedlings of leeks and friends. [Allium group, or onion family, of plants]

Garlic

Garlic can be planted  now until the shortest day with good results. We plant into prepared areas – well supplied with compost and rock dust.

Some years we’ve had great success with this crop – to read how we grew great garlic, go here.

20161207_171407

We’ll choose the biggest bulbs, with the biggest cloves to replant first. The bigger the seed clove, the bigger the food store for the new seedling so it has the best start to grow big and strong.

Then we’ll save the large cloves from smaller bulbs to also plant. [And eat the smaller cloves]

May you and your garden flourish
Heather

 

PS

For more ideas about what to sow and when in NZ, have a look at Tui Planting calendar or at http://gardenate.com    [although I disagree with some of the recommendations as Auckland really is more temperate than sub-tropical we have found]

 

PPS

For more about planting by the  moon phases,

If you like experiments about when to plant for best results, a great one is to plant the same seeds in rows right beside each other [so all other conditions are identical], and label the rows with the date of planting. Then sow seeds from 1 packet at weekly intervals, each week in a new row.

This way you can see how the recommendations for best/worst seed sowing outcomes from moon-planting guides work for you. Maybe they do, and maybe they don’t.

I enjoy experimenting with such ideas – and if only I can rescue the rows from the snails and black-birds, I might even get some results to share!

Here’s a post I wrote about planting by the moon phases if you like more information and reflections on it.

Moon planting guides remind me to plant SOMETHING, plan a little, and help me have a continuous supply!

—

Fruits, seeds and flowers before 7th May

Fruits, seeds and flowers before 7th May

Autumn in Auckland, New Zealand can be such a lovely time.

It’s late in the season to sow seeds, but if you want to try for optimum growth of fruits, seeds and flowers this week, best to try on

Tuesday 5th – morning of Thursday 7th May 2020.

Before the full moon on Thursday 7th May 2020.

Down-under, here in New Zealand, days are short so there is less sunlight to support good growth.

The ground is still warmish.

  • Peas. Maybe it’s time to plant peas again now – they like it cooler so will crop in the cooler season.  Plant the seeds 3x diameter of the seed to keep them down where the soil will be moister than near the surface where they could still dry out.
  • Broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, Brussel-sprouts, kale, etc – seedlings rather than seeds probably would be better now. So we get a crop before these slow-growing plants bolt to seed as weather warms up in spring.
  • Flowers – check requirements. Maybe we can still plant flowers which will over-winter – different types to spring planting. Sweet peas! Love them.

20171031_092328

This week the moon is growing towards full and the days listed are when many aspects line up to give optimum good germination for strong seedlings. Worth a try I think.

 

and a note to remind everyone about a problem fruiting plant now:

Choko: a ‘fruit’ we use as a vegetable is in season now – and the look-alike noxious pest Moth Plant is also fruiting now!

To know which you have, here’s a post I wrote to help show the differences – Chokos are delicious, especially when small! Enjoy.

Top row – Noxious moth plant:

Choko fruit

Bottom row – delicious choko!

Here’s the post I wrote to help show the differences so you can enjoy chokos!

 

May you and your garden flourish
Heather

PS

For more ideas about what to sow and when in NZ, have a look at  http://gardenate.com

PPS

For more about planting by the  moon phases,

If you like experiments about when to plant for best results, a great one is to plant the same seeds in rows right beside each other [so all other conditions are identical], and label the rows with the date of planting. Then sow seeds from 1 packet at weekly intervals, each week in a new row.

This way you can see how the recommendations for best/worst seed sowing outcomes from moon-planting guides work for you. Maybe they do, and maybe they don’t.

I enjoy experimenting with such ideas – and if only I can rescue the rows from the snails and black-birds, I might even get some results to share!

Here’s a post I wrote about planting by the moon phases if you like more information and reflections on it.

Moon planting guides remind me to plant SOMETHING, plan a little, and help me have a continuous supply!

—

Plant leafy greens after 23rd April

Plant leafy greens after 23rd April

Leafy greens love cooler weather.

Endive, miners lettuce [not really a lettuce], gotu kola, parsley, rocket, chervil, coriander, lettuce, etc. There are so many varieties we can plant now.

[NB – not heat-lovers like basil though, and gotu kola needs a sheltered spot to start to root and will grow when weather warms up in late Spring]]

This is a good time to plant a new lot of lettuce and other greens to provide lovely leaves for many months now the weather is cooler as the days are shorter. And it’s too cold for the caterpillars hopefully by now.

Caterpillars in autumn seem to love leafy green lettuces here. Green looper caterpillars can create havoc. They don’t seem to like the endive or other greens nearly as much as succulent, juicy lettuce. Keep a close eye on your tender crops and if the ends of leaves look like they are being removed, check under-sides of all leaves for a caterpillar [small or large!]

 

Soil temperature

If the soil is too cold, seeds take ages to start to grow. Then they rot or are eaten by beasties. Find a warm spot to sow seeds.

Try an experiment some time and go out at mid-afternoon and put your hand flat onto soil in full sun and notice how cold/hot it is. Now feel soil in a shaded place. Then choose where best to sow/plant for your crops.

Best times for planting seeds of greens?

After the new moon on Thursday 23rd April is the best week to plant for lush leafy greens.

The best days are Friday 24th – Saturday 25th, then again on Tuesday 28th through to the mornig of Thursday 30th 2020. 

 

May you and your garden flourish
Heather

PS

For more ideas about what to sow and when in NZ, have a look at  http://gardenate.com

 

PPS

For more about planting by the  moon phases,

If you like experiments about when to plant for best results, a great one is to plant the same seeds in rows right beside each other [so all other conditions are identical], and label the rows with the date of planting. Then sow seeds from 1 packet at weekly intervals, each week in a new row.

This way you can see how the recommendations for best/worst seed sowing outcomes from moon-planting guides work for you. Maybe they do, and maybe they don’t.

I enjoy experimenting with such ideas – and if only I can rescue the rows from the snails and black-birds, I might even get some results to share!

Here’s a post I wrote about planting by the moon phases if you like more information and reflections on it.

Moon planting guides remind me to plant SOMETHING, plan a little, and help me have a continuous supply!

—

Take time out from sowing seeds until after the 23rd April

Take time out from sowing seeds until after the 23rd April

Take time out from sowing seeds from Wednesday 15th April until after the dark of the moon on Thursday 23rd April 2020.

As the moon nears its smallest visible ‘dark of the moon’ phase, this time is associated with spindly, weak growth – wait a week or so.

Do other things instead.

Such as enjoy the stunning autumn colours of trees, flowers and seeds in the garden.

And it’s Easter time – Good Friday is 10th April, Easter Sunday is 12th April, Easter Monday 13th April 2020.

Stunning display by Gingko street tree
Swan plant with seed capsules
Fatsia japonica in flower
Stunning display by Gingko street tree
Swan plant with seed capsules
Fatsia japonica in flower
Stunning display by Gingko street tree
Swan plant with seed capsules
Fatsia japonica in flower

Autumn is such a lovely month for flowers and color. Trees changing from green to gold, red and brown. Then shedding leaves onto the ground.

Gingko 20170601

For some of us, this is a gift of mulch/compost for the garden, nourishing plants we grow.

For some people, it’s a problem, creating mess, blocked drains and slippery paths.

So, if you are an avid gardener, consider leaves as a resource falling from our trees to the ground. Especially from our beautiful street trees which provide shade in summer and light in winter. It would be great if the leaves were used rather than taken away as waste by the council street sweeper.

And if your neighbors see the leaves as a problem, maybe you can relieve them of their problem to create a wonderful benefit in your garden. This is a great time to

  • Have a big ‘clean-up’ time! Build a new compost bin – this is a time when lots of annual plants die and are ready to be composted – a great mix with the carbon from leaves fallen to the ground and some grass clippings or manure.
  • Renovate garden beds ready for their next plantings and give them a covering of leaves over some compost and other nutrients. Stops weeds growing and soil washing away in heavy rain as well as giving the worms and other soil life protection from the cold winter weather.
  • Make some lovely leaf mold for great potting mixes in spring from the fallen leaves.
  • A-n-d  save seeds from your best plants when the seeds are fully formed and brown/black or otherwise matured so they will keep well.

 

Happy autumn gardening everyone!

May you and your garden flourish
Heather

PS

For more ideas about what to sow and when in NZ, have a look at Tui Planting calendar or at http://gardenate.com    [although I disagree with some of the recommendations as Auckland really is more temperate than sub-tropical we have found]

PPS:   

For more about planting by the  moon phases,

If you like experiments about when to plant for best results, a great one is to plant the same seeds in rows right beside each other [so all other conditions are identical], and label the rows with the date of planting. Then sow seeds from 1 packet at weekly intervals, each week in a new row.

This way you can see how the recommendations for best/worst seed sowing outcomes from moon-planting guides work for you. Maybe they do, and maybe they don’t.

I enjoy experimenting with such ideas – and if only I can rescue the rows from the snails and black-birds, I might even get some results to share!

Here’s a post I wrote about planting by the moon phases if you like more information and reflections on it.

Moon planting guides remind me to plant SOMETHING, plan a little, and help me have a continuous supply!

 —