VEGETABLE GARDENER'S DIARY - DECEMBER

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Enjoy the festive season by harvesting and using fresh crops from the garden. Sprigs of mint brighten up salads, drinks and, of course, new potatoes, which will be ready for Christmas if they were planted in early spring.

Remember that water is the lifeline of the vegetable garden in summer. Plants are best watered in the morning or early evening, not during the searing heat of the day. Water deeply every few days rather than a little every day, as this encourages plants to develop a deeper root system that will help anchor them more securely in the soil.

With the onset of warmer weather, weeds spring up everywhere. Remove them as soon as you spot them, and never allow them to seed as if you do they will pop up again in a few months. Also keep an eye out for slugs, snails, caterpillars, aphids and whitefly, and deal with them as soon as you see them.

SPECIAL ATTENTION

• Capsicums, chillis and eggplants - can all be grown in containers. Best planted before Christmas to ensure a larger harvest in autumn.
• Cucumbers - plant out now. Provide a support system to keep the cucumbers off the soil.
• Potatoes - harvest the first new season potatoes.
• Tomatoes - this is the last month to plant tomatoes. Garden centres do not stock plants after Christmas. Remove laterals from plants as they appear.
• Herbs - cut back any leggy spring herbs to ensure another flush of growth for summer picking.

SOW

• Beans, beetroot, capsicums, carrots, celery, courgettes, cucumbers, eggplants, leeks, lettuces, mesclun, mizuna, parsnips, radishes, rocket, silver beet, spinach, sweetcorn, tomatoes, chervil.

PLANT

• Beans, beetroot, capsicums, chillies, courgettes, cucumbers, eggplants, mizuna, silver beet, spinach, sweetcorn, tomatoes, basil, coriander, parsley, rosemary, sage, thyme.
• Plant fresh summer herbs like basil, chives, parsley and thyme in Tui Herb Mix. Plant in containers next to your back door so they are easily accessible.
• Add Debco Saturaid to dry soils to help them hold onto more moisture.

FERTILISE

• Sprinkle Tui Vegetable Food on the soil at planting time and around crops once a month in gardens with poor, dry soils. Alternatively, apply Seasolplant tonic once a month to give plants a boost and kickstart for the season.

PROTECT

• Lay Tui Quash slug & snail control to control these pests, and spray aphids and whitefly with Tui Insect Control for Fruit & Veges when they reappear once the weather warms.
• Dust brassicas with derris dust to combat white butterfly caterpillars.
• Mildew may begin to appear on courgettes and cucumbers; spray plants with Tui Disease Control for Fruit & Veges to control it.

HARVEST

• Asparagus, broad beans, beetroot, broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflowers, lettuces, mizuna, rocket, silver beet, spinach, spring onions.

Walnut Salad

This brilliant salad has everything going for it – it’s crisp, crunchy, juicy and melting all in one mouthful. I discovered the idea in a little hole-in-the-wall restaurant in Fethiye in Southern Turkey, and now I make it whenever I can get my hands on fresh walnuts.

Annabel Langbein Media

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Prep time:

15 mins

Serves:

8

• 2 cups fresh walnut pieces
• 1 large spring onion, finely chopped
• 2 tomatoes, cored and finely diced (discard seeds if tomatoes are very juicy)
• 1 small-to-medium cucumber, very finely diced
• 1 green pepper, very finely diced
• ½ cup coarsely chopped parsley leaves
• ½ cup coarsely chopped mint leaves
• 2 tbsp boutique extra virgin olive oil
• 3 tbsp pomegranate molasses
• salt and ground black pepper, to taste

Mix all ingredients together in a bowl. Serve within 3-4 hours.

Tips

Walnuts, like other nuts, keep fresh for months in their shells, but become rancid quickly once shelled. Store shelled nuts in the fridge or freezer and smell-check for freshness before use.

Planting Time !!

A big thank you to all the Eco-Warriors who came down and helped prepare our garden beds today. It was great to add to our already growing edible garden!

AVOCADOS WITH TOMATOES AND BALSAMIC DRESSING

Prep time: 10 mins
Serves: 4

Ingredients

• 2 just-ripe avocados
• 8 cherry tomatoes
• Balsamic Dressing:
• 3 tbsp olive oil
• 1 tbsp balsamic vinegar
• 1 tsp dijon mustard
• ½ tsp sugar
• salt and ground black pepper, to taste

Method         

• To make Balsamic Dressing shake together all ingredients in a small jar.
• When you are ready to eat, halve the avocados and remove the stones.
• Quarter the cherry tomatoes.
• Pile into the avocado cavities, drizzle with Balsamic Dressing and serve.

TOMATO GROWING GUIDE

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In sandwiches or salads, roasted or plucked straight from the vine – tomatoes take pride of place in every Kiwi’s garden over the summer months, no matter how you choose to enjoy yours. Plant in your garden beds, pots and containers and you’ll be harvesting a bumper crop of homegrown tomatoes this summer!

PREPARE

• Once the cold weather has passed, and the soils have warmed up its time to plant tomatoes. Labour weekend is known as the traditional tomato planting time but tomato seedlings are usually available in garden centres from August.
• Choose a variety that suits how you like to enjoy your tomatoes.
• The better the soil, the better your plants will grow. If you are starting with an existing garden bed dig in organic matter like sheep pellets and Tui Compost to your soil. Then you can add a layer of Tui Tomato Mix, specifically formulated with extra potassium to encourage a plentiful harvest of big juicy fruit. When planting several tomatoes at once, it is just as easy to add a layer of Tui Tomato Mix to the whole area before planting.
• It’s best practice not to plant your tomatoes in the same spot as last season, or in the same spot as potatoes were planted as diseases can remain in the soil and affect your new crop. If planting in pots and containers use Tui Tomato Mix.

PLANT

• If you’re growing from seed rather than seedlings, you’ll need to get started about a month earlier to give your seeds time to grow. The best times to plant are early in the morning or late in the day, so the plantsaren’t exposed to the hot sun straight away.
• Always water plants well before and after planting.
• Stake your tomatoes when planting to provide support and avoid damaging the roots later on.
• As your tomatoes grow, remove the laterals to encourage bigger and better fruit. Laterals are the shoots that grow out from the side of the stem.

Directions for planting in garden beds:

• Choose a sunny position.
• Fill a bucket with water and add two capfuls of Seasol, a seaweed based plant tonic which promotes strong root growth and reduces transplant shock.
• Soak seedlings in the bucket of Seasol, ensuring the container is fully submerged. Wait for the bubbles to stop before removing from the bucket.
• Dig a hole, approximately twice the size of the root ball of your plant.
• Partly fill the hole with Tui Tomato Mix.
• Gently loosen the root ball of your plant and position the plant in the centre of the hole.
• Fill in with Tui Tomato Mix.
• Press soil gently around the base of the plant.
• Water your plant well.

Directions for planting in pots and containers:

• Fill a bucket with water and add two capfuls of Seasol, a seaweed based plant tonic which promotes strong root growth and reduces transplant shock.
• Soak seedlings in the bucket of Seasol, ensuring the container is fully submerged. Wait for the bubbles to stop before removing from the bucket.
• Partly fill your container with Tui Tomato Mix.
• Gently loosen the root ball of your plant and position the plant in the centre of the container.
• Fill your container with Tui Tomato Mix up to 3cm from the top.
• Tap the container gently on the ground to settle the mix.
• Press soil gently around the base of the plant.
• Water your plant well.

NOURISH

• Feed your plants and they will feed you. Plants use nutrients from the soil as they grow, so replenishing the nutrients ensures your plants grow to their full potential. For tomatoes planted in garden beds feed every four weeks during key growth periods of spring and summer.
• Tui Tomato Food is a blend of nitrogen, phosphorus and a generous amount of potassium formulated to promote the growth and fruiting potential of all types of tomatoes. For tomatoes in pots and containers use Tui NovaTec Premium fertiliser.
• Well watered, well nourished tomatoes will have a better chance of keeping insect pests and diseases at bay.

PROTECT

• The weather, weeds, pest insects and diseases can all impact on the success of your garden. Protect your plants from the elements with layers of Tui Pea Straw Mulch, to help keep their roots moist in the warmer months, to keep fruit off the soil and to help keep your garden weed free.
• Be vigilant and stop unwanted insects and diseases from ruining your plants. The Tui Plant Protection range will help you put a stop to any problems that arise. Aphids, whitefly, scale and two-spotted mite, are common insects which effect tomatoes, and can be controlled with Tui Insect Control for Fruit & Veges. Treat powdery mildew on tomatoes withTui Disease Control for Fruit & Veges.
• Also, birds love juicy tomatoes – put up netting to protect yours.

Gardening Guide - September

The soil is warming up and the sun is staying around longer. Everything is now coming to life for spring. This is a busy time for gardeners who will be sowing, planting and fertilising their edible gardens.

SPECIAL ATTENTION

• Prepare the soil, giving all areas a good digging over. Fertilise and remove any winter weeds.
• Mound-up earth around asparagus spears.
• Prepare pumpkin and squash areas. Apply Tui Compost and Tui Super Sheep Pellets into deep holes and fill with extra soil to make fertile trenches for the curcubits to grow in.

SOW

• September is a busy month for seed sowing and planting. Stay on top of things by using your diary to note when seeds are planted.
• Sow a few lettuce seeds every couple of weeks for a continuous supply.
• Plant seeds for basil, bergamot, borage, chamomile, chives, coriander, dill, parsley and thyme.
• Plant more early potatoes now in a different row.
• Sow artichokes, asparagus, broad beans, broccoli, brussel sprouts, cabbage, capsicum, carrot, cauliflower, celeriac, celery, eggplants, Florence fennel, garlic, leek, onions, parsley, parsnip, peas, silver beet, spinach, tomatoes and turnip.
• Towards the end of the month, if you live in a warmer climate, make a sowing of French, butter and runner beans.

TRANSPLANT

• Plant out cabbage, cauliflower and silver beet from early sowings.
• Early sown tomato seeds grown under glass can be transplanted and hardened off now.
• Make sure to protect seedlings from cold and unpredictable weather. Keep seedlings in containers to be quickly moved if bad weather approaches.
• Take root cuttings of rhubarb now.  Rhubarb likes to be divided up to go on producing more plants.  Use well-established plants and plant these deep in the ground. Water well through the summer.

PROTECT

• Check around the plants for the pupae of whitefly or other bugs. If you find evidence of these pests, hose down the plants first and then apply neem oil and garlic spray.

FERTILISE

• Apply liquid fertilisers to leafy plants as the spring growth comes through. Not too much though, as the plants are still busy utilising the food stores from winter.

HARVEST

• September is still early for main crops but if planted well there is always something to harvest.
• Asparagus spears are starting to appear. Keep picking these to keep the crop coming on.
• Beetroot, broad beans, broccoli, cabbages, kale, leeks, parsnips, silver beet and turnips are all ready this month.
• Pick mizuna leaves that were grown through July and August.

Growing Microgreens!

Quick, easy and super tasty, microgreens are crops that the whole family can grow and enjoy without leaving the comfort of indoors. Plant a range of salad crops, herbs and Asian greens and watch mouthfuls of fresh healthy microgreens come up in a matter of days! Here's a step by step guide as seen on the Tui Garden Project on Annabel Langbein's show Through the Seasons.

Shopping list: Annabel Langbein Microgreen Goodness Seed Mix, Tui Seed Raising Mix, Seasol , a wooden tray and weed mat (optional).

DIRECTIONS FOR GROWING MICROGREENS:

1. Good options to include when growing microgreens are radish, beetroot, peas, rocket, cress, mizuna, basil and bok choy. Try the Annabel Langbein Microgreen Goodness Seed Mix, which includes beetroot, cress, radish and rocket.
2. Select a container – a wooden box or seed raising tray at least 10cm deep will work well, and line with a piece of weed mat to help keep the soil in the container.
3. Fill your container with Tui Seed Raising Mix, a light, free draining mix specially blended to provide ideal conditions for germinating seeds and seedling establishment.
4. Pat the Tui Seed Raising Mix down lightly in the container to compact it to create a smooth base.
5. Lightly water the mix in the container.
6. Sprinkle seeds generously over the top of the Tui Seed Raising Mix. Planting densely ensures a mass of greens.
7. Gently press seeds down using your hands.
8. Cover seeds with a thin layer of Tui Seed Raising Mix.
9. Water well after planting and each day to keep moist and ensure healthy growth.

Vegetable Gardeners Diary - August

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Many keen gardeners will be tempted to get out into their vegetable patch. In cold areas, however, it's still best to wait until the soils warm up and the worst of the frosts have finished.

Working or digging wet soil does it more damage then good. Once the soil becomes compacted, it is very hard for air and water to move through it, which limits root growth and reduces the ability of plants to establish themselves. In areas where the soil isn't too boggy, blend in compost and Tui Super Sheep Pellets in preparation for the upcoming growing season. Dig in cover crops such as mustard and lupin seed. These plants will rot down in a matter of weeks, adding nutrients and organic matter to the soil.

SPECIAL ATTENTION

• Broad beans - stake or support plants as they grow.
• Lettuces - early-season lettuces and other salad crops can be planted under poly tunnels or protective cloches. Slugs and snails find the seedlings very tasty, so lay Tui Quash slug & snail control to deter them.
• Potatoes - begin sprouting seed potatoes. Remember that most potato crops take about three months to mature, so need to be in the ground in September for a Christmas harvest. Always choose certified seed potatoes. These are specifically selected to thrive in the home garden and guaranteed to be free of viruses and pests that affect potatoes.

SOW

Beans (dwarf, runner and butter, under glass or outside in frost-free areas only), broccoli, cabbages, carrots, cauliflowers, celery, chervil, lettuces, leeks, mesclun, mizuna, radishes, rocket, spinach, silverbeet.

PLANT

Beetroot, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflowers, celery, kale, mizuna, silverbeet, spinach, coriander, parsley, rosemary, sage, thyme.

PROTECT

Lay Tui Quash slug & snail control to control these pests and spray aphids andwhitefly with Tui Insect Control for Fruit & Veges as they start to reappear in warmer areas.

FERTILISE

Blend Tui Vegetable Food into garden beds prior to spring planting. Mix Tui Potato Food into garden beds before planting seed potatoes.

HARVEST

Brussels sprouts, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflower, celery, kale, leeks, winter lettuces, mizuna, parsnips, rocket, silverbeet, spinach.

Carrot Cake Muffins!

Again a big thank you to Kylie and Matt who worked with the Eco-warrior leaders today to make some very yummy carrot cake muffins!

Vegetable Gardeners Diary - July

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In warmer areas of the country, the first lots of vegetable seeds can be started under glass, but do not sow outside as the soil is probably still too cold and damp. In cooler areas, try growing a few leafy green crops such as spinach, silverbeet or kale in pots and containers close to home.

Damp soils and cool temperatures encourage mildew and damping-off problems, so in cooler parts of the country wait another month or two until conditions improve before sowing. Instead, use your spare time to sharpen and clean all your garden tools ready for use in spring. Stock up on garden shed essentials such as fertilisers, Tui Quash slug & snail control, string, stakes, seed trays and Tui Seed Raising Mix in preparation for seed sowing and transplanting.

SPECIAL ATTENTION

• Asparagus - lift and divide overcrowded asparagus beds and plant out new crowns.
• Broad beans -  stake or support plants as they grow.
• Potatoes - now is the time to start sprouting new season seed potatoes ready for planting in August or September. Always choose certified seed potatoes, such as Tui Certified Seed Potatoes, as these are specifically selected to thrive in the home garden and guaranteed to be free of viruses and pests that affect potatoes. Prepare potato beds ready for planting by digging over the soil to a depth of 30cm. Next, add plenty of compost or Tui Super Sheep Pellets. Blend in Tui Potato Food to soil prior to planting.
• Herbs - hardy herbs such as thyme, rosemary and bay tree can be planted in winter. Plant in Tui Herb Mix.

SOW

• Mesclun, mizuna, rocket, silverbeet, spinach, coriander.

PLANT

• Beetroot, broccoli, cabbages, cauliflowers, celery, garlic, kale, mizuna, shallots, silverbeet, spinach, coriander, parsley, rosemary, sage, thyme.

FERTILISE

• Blend Tui Vegetable Food into garden beds prior to planting garlic and shallots. Mix potato fertiliser into garden beds before planting seed potatoes.

PROTECT

• Lay Tui Quash slug & snail control stop these pests munching on your plants.

HARVEST

• Beetroot, Brussels sprouts, cabbages, celery, horseradish, kale, leeks, winter lettuces, mizuna, parsnips, yams.

Regional variation: remember that there will be differences between crop timings depending on where you live and the variety of vegetables grown. Always factor in climatic differences when sowing, planting and harvesting.

• Vegetable Gardener's Diary

Rhubarb Fizz

A huge thank you to Kylie & Matt who have been working with the Eco-Warriors over the past two weeks making some very yummy rhubarb fizz!

Gardeners Diary - May

This month in the fruit garden, the harvest period is coming to a close for pip and stone fruit and is just beginning for feijoas.

PICK

Feijoa, quince, apples, pears, rhubarb, passionfruit.

PLANT

Plant evergreen, frost-hardy fruits such as feijoa and Chilean guavas. See theTui Feijoa Growing Guide for more information.
Remember fruit requires a position in full sun. Shelter from prevailing winds is preferable.

TASKS

General

• Collect and compost any rotting fruit from under fruit trees.
• Check harvested fruit to make sure nothing is rotting, remove fruit as soon as its starts to decay.
• The rot can quickly spread throughout a whole harvest within a week or two.

Protect

• Aphids, whitefly and scale insects may be about, spray with Tui Insect Control for Fruit & Veges to control.

Weeds

• Keep orchards and the areas around fruit trees weed free.
• Only use weed sprays that are non-residual near fruit trees.

Mulch

• Add a layer of Tui Mulch & Feed around the base of fruit trees, to keep the soil warmer over the winter months and keep the area weed free.
• As the mulch rots down it adds nutrients to the soil as well.