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Great Gardening Newsletters
I can hardly believe that next Wednesday spring will have officially sprung! It feels like only a few weeks ago that the summer sun left us and the rain and cold began. Time has flown and the spring and summer gardens are about to come into their own. Its an exciting time in the garden this month, we have new season veggies coming in store weekly, seeds need to be sown for summer harvests, bulbs are out and showing their pretty faces, and the beautiful Kowhai trees are coming into flower. August has been a great month for me, after several years together and a beautiful daughter, my lovely boyfriend proposed! And while you read this I will be seeing the sights of China for a few days! When I get back I am going to get stuck into soil prep and seedling sowing - and maybe a touch of wedding planning! I will keep you posted over the coming months on how I am going. So enjoy September, and Fathers Day, which is this weekend, and the coming warmer weather(hopefully!). We have several new release plants and seedlings in store this month and details are below, this is all very exciting! Make sure you check out our fantastic competition this month, its a gift that will give for years to come for the lucky winner. Veggie Garden Top Tips... ~ Its time to plant asparagus crowns, beetroot, broccoli, cabbage, capsicum, carrots, cauliflower, melons, onions, parsnip, peas, radish, shallots, silverbeet, spinach and zucchini.  ~ Sow tomato seeds if you have not started already. We have many varieties in our seed range. Come in and check out the selection. Use seed raising mix and plant in trays, or individual Jiffy Pots, which are made from peat and are able to be planted straight into the garden when the seedlings are the right size – and the weather warm enough! ~ To have tip top condition in your veggie garden this summer, pick up Kings Sheep Pellets, Dolomite Lime, Kings Organic Compost and Kings General Garden Fertiliser. Dig into your garden as needed. Lime and General Garden Fertiliser have directions for application on the packs. ~ This month I have suggestions of unique and interesting veggies to grow. These are all available over the coming months at Kings and might be something new for you to try this year! • Purplette Onions, sweet like a red onion and small like a shallot. Delicious and great eaten raw in summer salads. • Celeriac, a tasty root veggie with the taste of celery and has many uses. Mashed with potatoes or kumera,  grated or sliced and eaten raw in salads, roasted with the skin on then peeled to serve, or in soups and stews. A versatile veggie that can be used to get a tasty celery flavour.• Purple Haze carrots! These have amazing looking purple exteriors and taste so much sweeter than an  orange carrot. You may have seen them in farmers markets lately as the word is spreading about their flavour. Grow from either seedlings or packet seeds.• Kings Seeds ‘Chilli Pepper Cayenne Blend’. I love the colours these chillies go! They are a highly ornamental chilli and also edible, maturing to red, yellow, purple or orange! Why just grow red chillies when you can grow funky coloured ones! Fruit Garden Top Tips... ~ Enjoy the beauty of the spring blossoms that will be appearing on your stone fruit trees. My new dwarf nectarine is in full flower and my peach and apricot are sprouting new leaf buds and flowers. I am hoping to get a few fruit this year – if I am lucky! ~ Summer berries; there is nothing tastier and easier to grow. I am putting in my first raspberry plants this  year and will be looking forward to enjoying the fruit this summer. Choose from the traditional red coloured fruit, with ‘Raspberry Aspiring’, or try something a little different with the yellow/golden fruiting ‘Raspberry Ivory’. Yellow raspberries are a variation of red ones and have all the same characteristics. Ivory has its main crop from February to March, but does fruit from December to April.~ Plant a passionfruit vine now and you may get summer fruit this year! Passionfruit need good drainage and fertile soil, they are gross feeders, so remember to liquid feed regularly. A handful of sheep pellets, blood and bone or Kings General Garden Fertiliser dug in the hole when planting is also a top idea. Regularly feed with Kings Citrus Fertiliser from now until autumn. ~ Cape Gooseberries are an excellent choice for growing in pots or as a border plant. They fruit from  December to May (approx) and produce an abundance of small yellow fruit that have a tasty tang to them. Eat the fruit fresh, or use in jams, pies, on pavlovas or in fruit salads. They like a warm, sunny and well-drained spot and remember to keep watered over summer – especially if you choose to grow in pots.Flower Garden Top Tips...  ~ Clivias are a fantastic addition to a shady spot in your garden. The glossy foliage and their bright coloured flowers ranging from deep orange, through to red and even a pale yellow. Clivias make an eye-catching display when mass planted. Clivias can also be used in pots, as long as you keep them out of bright sun as this can change the colour of the leaves to a sickly yellow.  ~ Add a splash of blue and plant Chatham Island Forget-me-nots. Their pretty blue flowers that rise above the ground from the large and textured leaves make for an interesting ground level plant. They prefer a shady spot with good quality soil, plenty of organic matter and regular watering. As they are from the Chatham Islands and grow on the coast there, they can handle mild salty winds and are ideal for semi shaded beach gardens. ~ For an excellent foliage plant that is low growing and ideal for edging and borders, choose Heucheras. Great for shaded and damp areas, Heucheras will add colour and texture. Available in a huge range of colours, from deep burgundy, apricot shades to pale moss green. Another use is mass planting under trees in garden beds. Pictured is a mix of Heucheras. ~ Gladioli are in store now! These are available in a fantastic range of colours and are a must for anyone wanting a bright show in their flower garden. Remember when planting Gladioli, pop in a bamboo stake to support the flower stem and use bulb food in the hole.  ~ There have been no new Fuchsia varieties imported into New Zealand from 15 years, in fact only 3 other times in the last 25 years has there been any. Well this is all about to change! We have over 100 new varieties coming in over the coming months. These fuchsias have new colours - dark blackish pruples and great whites, pinks and blues too! Rohees New Millennium is a winner to look for as is Breevis Cleone, pictured, which has saucer shaped flowers for something very different. The first delivery will be arriving in the first weeks of September! Be in quick to check these beauties out!~ Another newbie to keep your eyes peeled for is the new range of Sweet Peas which are available in our super punnets. These are the Hammett Sweet Peas from New Zealand, from well known plant breeder Keith Hammett, and are always highly sought after. The new varieties available are 'Almost Black', 'Blue Shift', 'Vaudeville', 'Burlesque', 'Wild Swan' and my favourite of the bunch - 'Little Red Riding Hood'. If you are a Sweet Pea fan you will love these, especially the striking looking 'Almost Black'!.
Trees, Shrubs and Lawns
Top Tips...
~ Prune any shrubs that have finished flowering now. This will encourage new healthy spring growth. This includes Hibiscus. Take them back by up to a third to promote healthy and superior flowering.
 ~ Kowhai trees will be coming into flower this month and what a sight they are. Their yellow bell shaped flowers are a magnet for nectar loving birds. According to legend, the Maori knew it was time to plant potatoes when the Kowhais came into flower! Kowhai are not fussy on soil or climate, and can be grown in most areas. It is one of the few New Zealand native trees that loose its leaves in winter. Plant a beautiful native today and encourage the birds into your garden.~ Existing lawns can be fertilised, treated for moss and broadleaved weeds can be sprayed. Prickle weeds need spraying for now to avoid the nasty prickles in summer. Use Yates Prickle Weed Killer. Fertilise with Osmocote Lawn Builder for lush green, thick lawns. ~ For any ornamental shrubs, this is the time to prune. Shape as desired before the spring growth starts. This includes any topiary or sculpted hedges.  ~ Have you had Griselinias curl up and die over summer and autumn? This is due to a fungus called Phytophora. This attacks the root system of plants and kills them off. It has been especially noticeable this year. You can treat the plant at the first signs of brown leaves or sick looking plants with a product called ‘Aliette’ or ‘NO Root Rot’ that we stock. It’s a simple mix-and-water solution that can stop the fungus from taking hold and help cure at early affected stages. If you have a hedge with one sick plant, its best to treat the while lot. If your plants have died from Phytophora, then now is a great time to buy new ones and plant them. Do spray the soil and add new compost when planting your new plants.. Pots, Indoor Plants and Irrigation Top Tips... ~ With spring and then summer around the corner, now is a great time to think about your summer watering – and how to get the best use of water and the least time standing there with a hose! We have great starter irrigation packs, a great place to start for a basic system. You can then add to the system as needed. If you feel unsure about how to go about this task, draw a simple plan of your veggie garden, plus any other areas that you may want to water and bring it in store for advice. We can help you plan a system that suits your needs.  ~ Fresh herbs are essential for great flavours in your cooking. Plant herbs in containers, either indoors or outside. Most herbs grow well in pots, especially basil, coriander, chives, parsley, sage, or mint. Thyme is a woody herb that survives over winter outdoors so choose a sunny spot to place the thyme pot. Herbs in pots are ideal as they are always closer to the house – ready for harvesting with ease. Plant your potted herbs in Tui Herb Mix, the ideal growing medium for herbs, light and free draining, and rich in nitrogen which promotes green leafy growth and continuous harvesting! Pick up a pack today for only $7.99 for a 10L bag. ~ Fathers Day will be upon us this month, the 5th September for those that need to be reminded! Give dad a gift that he can use in the garden, a beautiful indoor plant or start his summer veggie gardening with an irrigation kit. If your father/husband/grandfather loves gardening, we are the perfect place to find that special gift. Our friendly staff will be happy to assist in any way, and there is always the ever popular gift vouchers for those dads that can be hard to buy for! Hot … ~ Remember our weekend talk this Saturday and Sunday, 10 am at all stores. This weekends topic is 'Starting your own veggie garden'. Click here for more info! ~ Fathers Day! Spoil dad this year. Remember our fantastic cafes that are open all weekend, shopping and coffee or lunch, the perfect mix! ~ Many seasoned gardeners use Jiffy compressed peat pellets to propagate their seeds. These are very simple to use, yet extremely effective. Just add water to the peat pellet and watch them expand. Once expanded, place seeds in the centre and wait for them to grow. Peat pellets help retain water and when the seedlings are ready for transplanting they can be planted straight in to the ground avoiding any transplantation shock. This means that seedlings don’t need time to adjust to their new growing environment and will produce fruit much sooner than a plant that has been transplanted from another container. Jiffy’s revamped range includes a new Giant Jiffy Peat Pellet as well as Jiffy pellets supplied in ready to use cover propagators.
Not …  ~ Blunt tools! It’s a mission to get anything done properly if your spade, secateurs, or pruning saw and loppers are not sharp! Get your tools sharpened now! Click here to see our branches that offer this service. It’s cheap and makes gardening that much easier! ~ Kathryn in our office is delighted that her Dendrobium Orchids, pictured, are flowering, and they are looking fantastic, although she is not such a fan of the dreaded snails that are having a feast! Snails are everywhere at the moment, so remember your snail bait when you are in store next time. For households with kids and pets, choose Quash for a safer alternative. We also sell these beautiful orchids in store! ~ Rain rain go away - come again another day! I have had enough of you for now thanks! Come visit us again later in the year, occasionally, maybe.... Giveaways… Enter the draw to win a complementary Design Your Own Garden course at The Garden Design School. These courses are held in central Auckland, one morning a week, and run for 8 weeks. On this course, you will be guided through the process of developing your own garden design by an award-winning landscape designer. The course has a value of $500, with the value of the plan you will prepare somewhere between $1500 and $3000, depending on the scope of the project. Conditions: • Entries close 30 September 2010 • Course date subject to availability • Course is held in central Auckland • Cost of getting to and from classes must be covered by winner. • There will be some course costs involved
 Hi, Welcome to your November Great Gardening Newsletter! Hopefully you have been enjoying the good weather days by getting your garden planted and ready for summer eating and beautiful visual displays! With December getting closer and Christmas too, it is a good time to think of things you can grow and give as presents, potted up plants, hanging baskets or veggie and herb pots. Get these stared now so that they will look their best when it comes to Christmas day. We also have an excellent prize for you to win this month, something that will no doubt become a helpful and much used part of your gardening, read on to find out more... Veggie GardenTop Tips...With the hotter weather here now, its time to water water water your veggie garden to make sure that you help it to grow at its best!~ Beans love to have a warm climate, now is ideal to get them out into your garden! Choose either bush beans – like Butter beans or Top Crop, or if you have some type of frame, you can opt for the climbing type, like Shiny Fardenlosa, or the ever popular Scarlett Runner (Scarlet Runners can but cut back just above ground level at the end of the season and they will grow again next year). We have willow tepees that you can use, or you could try a tripod made up of garden stakes or maybe over a wire fence if you have one. (picture a) ~ By now you will probably have at least a few tomato plants in your garden, but think of the coming months and keep planting a few plants every week or so, which will give you a longer harvest period. I am going to try and plant 2 – 4 plants each fortnight to make my tomatoes last as long as possible this year, I am always so disappointed when the season finishes! Remember your basil plants for in between the tomatoes! ~ For those that like to spice things up a bit, we have a great variety of Chillies for you! My Tabasco Chilli plant that I grew last year was so hot that they had you running for the milk when eaten fresh, so I popped them all in a paper bag and dried them and we are still eating them now, but the fire has lessened! This year, maybe try a different coloured Chilli, like the “Hungarian Yellow Wax”, which produces long yellow fruit, or try the interesting shaped “Chilli Habanero Red” from Kings Seeds, or Anaheim (picture b). Chilli plants like a very warm position and grow well when given a liquid feed regularly. They grow very well in pots, just keep the kids away…. ~ If you haven’t tried growing Sweet Corn before, make this its year. It's a really easy veggie to grow and you can plant it wherever you have some spare room, at the end of a garden or a wide space along a wall. Sweet corn does best if it is grown crowded together in 2 or 3 shorter rows as it helps pollination. Sweet Corn likes rich fertile soil, dig in some Kings Compost and Kings Sheep Pellets before planting. Remember to keep it well watered during summer so the cobs become as juicy as possible. A good space saving tip is to grow climbing beans up the corn, a free growing frame and good companion planting, this sounds interesting so I am going to give it a go! (picture c) ~ If you have some unused space in your garden grown one of the wandering vine type veges, choose from pumpkins, cucumbers or melons. These plants do take a bit of space due to their creeping growing nature, but can be strung up on a fence or along the side of a garden. One cucumber plant, (picture d), can give you 15 – 25 cucumbers, and pumpkin and melon plants will give you several fruits per plant. Pumpkin seeds can be planted in the side of your compost heap and will happily grow there in the fertile goodies that you are making (picture e). Again, these plants need regular watering through the summer months. ~ Other veges to plant this month include Asian greens (perfect for the impatient gardener as they mature so fast!) lettuce, mesclun types, beetroot, spinach, melons, zucchini, shallots and capsicum. a
 b c d e Fruit GardenTop Tips...~ With strawberries about to start fruiting, remember some Satur-Aid to help keep them from drying out in summer in the mix, or you could try some crystal rain, a granular product you mix with the soil that swells when watered, slow releasing the water to the pots. A sprinkle of strawberry food when the fruit is forming will help to get you the juiciest berries. Remember to cover with bird netting to keep those pesky birds away, come in and get some today. ~ Your citrus trees will be needing some attention this month. After petal fall of the blossoms, a Copper spray is useful to help prevent Verrucosis – a bumpy, warty/scaly looking fungal disease on the skin of the fruit, pictured below in photo a. It affects Lemons, lemonades and some kinds of limes. Verrucosis does not affect the fruit its self but is not so nice looking. Your peach trees can get a dose of copper too once the fruit has set, to help prevent fungal diseases they may have. With the peaches, a 14 day repeat spray will be needed too throughout summer. This can help stop peach leaf curl which is shown in picture b. ~ Plant some peanuts now and be picking nuts this summer! These cute little bushes are the perfect addition for a kids garden, and a real treat being able to see where their peanuts come from! ~ All fruiting trees will benefit from another fertiliser application in the Nov/Dec period. We have Kings Citrus and Fruit Tree Granular fertiliser, or for the acid loving blueberries there is Osmocote, which is a good slow release choice. Remember when using fertiliser to deep-water plants before application and also after as well to get maximum benefit. a  b  Peanut plantsTrees, Shrubs and LawnsTop Tips...~ Roses are this months ‘Plant of the Month’ and for good reason, they do well in pots and tubs as well as in the garden, as long as you don’t let them dry out. Roses need to have their dead flowers removed (called deadheading) to help them produce more flowers. For the best re-flowering you need to cut back to an outward facing leaftet with 5 leaves on it, as this is where the plants best new growth will come from. Don’t let them make rose hips as that takes energy away from the bush forming new flowers. Our pictured rose is 'Sexy Rexy'. Read more about Roses HERE ~ Now is a good time to trim hedges, fast growing ones like your Pittosporums, Loniceria (honeysuckle hedging), Eugenias and the weeping Lilly Pilly’s will benefit from it. ~ For a stunning display of flowers plant a border of Canna Lilies. These blooms come in a range of colours with different coloured foliage. They love sun and well-drained soil. Cannas are a real modern interior flower. ~ Its the perfect time to plant some of the beautiful “Star Jasmine”. This delicious scented delight will grow as a ground cover or as a climber. It can handle being a bit dry, and grows successfully in a shady spot. It is a truly versatile plant. Perfect near any outdoor entertaining area to perfume your calm summer nights. ~ Add some structure to your garden with one of the many Cordyline varieties. They come in large and smaller types. We have the new Cordyline Renegade which has stunning glossy black leaves and scented flowers in spring and summer and the ever popular Red Fountain, both suitable for pots or for planting as edging or in rows. There are also the taller growing Cabbage Trees, Midnight Star, Red Star and Green Goddess are all beautiful. With so many available there is bound to be one ideal for you. These plants are as tough as anything and can withstand all kinds of conditions, including salt, so are good for if you are near a beach.    Flower GardenTop Tips...~ Alstoemerias are one of my favourite flowers and with good reason too. Not only are they a real stunner in the garden, but when cut for a vase last for weeks and weeks! You can’t go wrong planting some of these. They love sun and good well drained soil, need to be kept watered and fed in the hotter months and should bloom all spring and summer for you. When winter comes your Alstroemerias will go into hibernation! So make sure you mark their spot so you don’t accidentally dig them up. (picture a)~ Little children (and adults too) love butterflies and what better way to attract them to your plot than having several swan plants! Swan plants are easy to care for although when the caterpillars hatch they will get munched fast! Pick up 2 – 3 plants to keep your caterpillars fed and cover one with fine netting to give it the chance to grow larger without getting demolished by the very hungry caterpillars!! ~ Hot and dry spots in your garden can sometimes be hard to plant, choose a plant that will grow well in these areas, like Petunias, Agapanthus, Gazanias, Day Lilies and Convolvulus, Cape Daisy, pictured below, and Tropical Impatiens. ~ Christmas lilies are a stunning bloom and a beautiful plant to get scent into your garden. They also make great gifts, plant them in a glazed pot and you will have a gift that lasts for years. I pinched a tub of them off my mum a few years ago and they always flower so spectacularly, sorry mum, you wont be getting those back! These are coming in through the month. Pictured below, make sure you have some of these perfect white lilies! ~ Geraniums are the ultimate hot spot flower. These plants can withstand a lack of water and all day sun like nothing else. In a multitude of colours they are the ideal plant for a hot garden.    Pots, Indoor Plants and Irrigation
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