Flowering Bulbs – March Plant of the Month
Many thanks to Portstone Garden Centre for this update. CHS Members enjoy a 15% discount at Portstone Garden Centre www.portstone.co.nz Plant of the Month – Bulbs Flowering bulbs bring brilliant colours to your garden from late Winter through to Summer. At Portstone, we offer a fantastic selection, including anemones, freesias, ranunculi, hyacinths, scillas, muscari, … Read More
Laurus nobilis – The Bay Tree – February Plant of the Month
Many thanks to Portstone Garden Centre for this update. CHS Members enjoy a 15% discount at Portstone Garden Centre www.portstone.co.nz Plant of the Month Every garden deserves a Bay Tree – the rewards are many. Bay was the ceremonial laurel the ancient Greeks and Romans who bestowed wreaths of bay as crowns for accomplished … Read More
Hydrangea – Plant of the Month
Many thanks to Portstone Garden Centre for this update. CHS Members enjoy a 15% discount at Portstone Garden Centre www.portstone.co.nz Plant of the Month Hydrangeas are beautiful, low-maintenance plants that thrive when given the right conditions. They grow best in rich, well-draining soil that is slightly acidic. You can enhance soil quality by adding … Read More
Life in the Garden with Alan Jolliffe
March Gardening Update Canterbury Gardens in Autumn March is ideal for harvesting fruit and vegetables. Surplus produce is common, and freezing remains the most popular preservation method—it’s quick, easy, and cost-effective. Clean, blanch, cool, dry, and pack vegetables into freezer bags before freezing. Bottling fruit and beetroot, while more time-consuming, adds colour to your pantry … Read More
Monthly Gardening Tips & Tasks – February 2025
February Gardening Update Canterbury Gardens in Summer The weather over the Christmas period was not very summer-like. Below-average temperatures, dull, cloudy days, and double the usual rainfall made gardening quite a challenge. The silver lining for me was the excellent crops of raspberries, strawberries, and blackcurrants. Tomatoes have been slow to ripen, and my stone … Read More
Tips for your Summertime Orchard
Site Plan Creating a site plan for your fruit tree orchard is essential for effective management. A straightforward layout that indicates the location and type of each tree—such as apple, peach, pear, and plum—provides a clear reference for future care.The next step is to track harvest times and annotate this information on your plan. This … Read More