Tag: vegetables

Below-ground crops after 17th June; and celebrate the solstice

Below-ground crops after 17th June; and celebrate the solstice

Plant garlic now!

It’s getting late to put in any seeds as the ground is getting colder so germination is slow. Then the seeds are likely to be eaten rather than grow for us. Or just sit and shiver and do nothing. If you really want to sow seeds, find a warm place. Instead, plant bulbs [including garlic] instead! And other onion-family bulbs such as leeks, chives, garlic chives, onions, etc.

If you have a warm, sunny spot, recommended best days for sowing seeds to grow great root crops are

Tuesday 18th June to Thursday morning 20th, then again on Sunday 23rd to Tueasday morning 25th June 2019. 

Often planting charts talk generally of sowing these seeds during the week after the full moon – which will be on Monday 17th June 2019.

 

Garlic

Garlic can be planted from now with good results. We’ll prepare some areas and start putting the crop in from now onward until the shortest day.

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]

–   –  –  –  –  –  –  –

Solstice!

Friday 21st June 2019 at 11:55 pm – just before midnight. 

The shortest day, and the longest night.

Such an important turning point in the cycle of the year – when we are at the minimum day length [or maximum depending on which hemisphere of our wonderful planet we are in].

A-n-d for us in the southern hemisphere, from now onward, each day has a little bit more light. Woo hoo!

After the shortest day it is so nice to find more and more light coming back to warm and nourish our gardens and us. When there is not enough hours of sunlight, plants can’t create what they need to grow. So they sit. Light is so important to them.

Now, even though the ground is cold, it is time to look towards the new season and work out what to plant where in spring. Planning time rather than ‘doing’ time still – and can’t it be hard to wait! I so want to see new growth and the promise of lush, vibrant gardens again.

 

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 seeds for fruits and flowers before 17th June

Sow seeds for fruits and flowers before 17th June

It’s time to sow seeds for fruits and flowers this week until the full moon on Monday 17th June 2019.

Especially good days include Tuesday 11th June through to Saturday 15th June 2019 [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 3rd June

Leafy greens time after 3rd June

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 Monday 3rd June 2019 is the best week to plant for lush leafy greens.

The best days are Wednesday 5th and Thursday 6th 2019. 

 

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 3rd June

Take time out from sowing seeds until after the 3rd June

Take time out from sowing seeds until after the dark of the moon on Monday 3rd June 2019. 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 19th May

Sow below-ground crops after 19th May

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

Wednesday 22nd May to Thursday 23rd May 2019. 

Often planting charts talk generally of sowing these seeds during the week after the full moon – which will be on Sunday 19th May 2019.

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 19th May

Fruits, seeds and flowers before 19th May

Autumn here 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

Wednesday 15th – Saturday 18th May 2019.

Before the full moon on Sunday 19th May 2019.

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.

 

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:

Choko fruit

Bottom row – delicious!

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 5th May

Plant leafy greens after 5th May

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 created havoc last year. 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 Sunday 5th May 2019 is the best week to plant for lush leafy greens.

The best days are Monday 6th, then again on Thursday 9th and Friday 10th 2019. 

 

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!

—