The message works! Our request last month for a trimming person has been answered.
We are overjoyed to have a “lawn mowing “Maestro!” who has volunteered to keep our pathways clear. Nga mihi nui!
This comes at a perfect time as we are well into planting and subdividing our rich compost that has been rotting and roasting all Winter. Come along and see the results for yourself.
We are relatively self -sufficient when it comes to plant stock, as several gardeners are “seed-raisers” and as any seed raiser knows you almost always seed far more than you need. However, we do order in some plants and invariably our supplier of choice is Awapuni Nurseries…their plants are aways of a high quality and always include a few extra’s (they generally say 9 plants, but usually its 12). You can order them on- line and they are delivered within a few days.
As we planted cover crops or filled our planters with pea straw the soil beneath is looking very healthy. A good turn over and a handful of blood and bone into each planting hole, provides a good start for spring plants coupled with a good sprinkling of compost. As we are not attending to the plants on a daily basis, we net everything. We are happy enough for the birds to help themselves to a few sprigs of Pea straw, but not the whole plant! The netting also serves some purpose as a “frost cover’ as we still have the dreaded heavy frosts taking their toll. We also find that a light covering of manuka branches also provides great frost protection and they eventually rot into the soil.
Several planters of brassica’s are now underway; and we have a teepee of peas that are looking promising. Broad beans are well under way, and we will be adding to them this week , as they are a Larder favourite. We will also get purple and green beans on the go this week and begin cutting and slashing the top crops that have protected our Pumpkin patch through the winter. This area always needs plenty of compost, pooh and pea straw before plants or seeds go in.
Remember if you have excess seedlings we will provide them with a home and take good care of them! Drop them off at 51 Oxford Street and we will nurture them well and return them to the Larder at the Medical Centre when they have grown up.
