Rising vegetable and fruit prices can be given the heave-ho this month because it’s perfect for planting out edibles.
Begin now and by Christmas gardeners can be eating (early cropping) spuds, picking their first strawberries, and pulling carrots and radishes for healthy salads. Vegetables that grow even faster include lettuces, rocket, herbs such as dill and coriander, plus the stir fry staples like pak choi and bok choy.
For inspiration check out the new set of raised garden beds constructed from wooden sleepers in the glasshouse at Central Landscape Supplies Avondale. Jarrod and his team are keen growers, regularly tending the beds and team members take produce home for meals.
The beds are filled with organic certified Veggie Mix from Living Earth which is weed-free and contains organic fertilisers. Seedlings are planted and a layer of pea straw is mulched around them to keep the moisture in and the seedlings snug.
Renovating garden beds ready for the new planting season is a great way to add back goodies used by previous crops. Top up with Garden or Veggie Mix, stir in Aquaticus soil conditioner (ground mussel shell) and add a few handfuls of Morganics organic fertiliser. Through the growing season the Avondale team like to keep on top of plant nourishment by liquid feeding with Aquaticus Garden Booster.
Eradicating snails and slugs is mission critical when growing food – drop some beer in a small jar and tilt it level with the soil surface – they crawl in and drown. Or, once it’s dark, turn on your phone torch and go out and pick them off your prized vegetables – it’s your food, not theirs.
For getting the vege garden started, Avondale Central Landscapes is open seven days for great growing advice, booking deliveries, or borrowing a free trailer.
CENTRAL LANDSCAPES AVONDALE, 419 Rosebank Road, T: 09 828 5533, facebook: @CLSAvondale, www.centrallandscapes.co.nz/collections/organic-gardening
#ponsonbynews #iloveponsonby #ponsonby #auckland #aucklandshippestrip #onlyponsonby #ponsonbyroad #Greylynn #freemansbay #westmere #ponsonby #hernebay #stmarysbay #archhill #coxsbay #westernsprings #centrallanscapes #veggiegarden #vegetablegarden