When is the right time to harvest? Picking too early or too late can result in underdeveloped or overly ripe fruit. Check out the information below to help you determine when your fruit is ready to be picked. Signs of Ripeness Colour Apples, pears, nectarines – full colour has developed for the variety. Peaches, plums, apricots … Read More
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 Acers, commonly known as Japanese Maples are a fantastic addition to any garden for their beauty, versatility, and low maintenance requirements. One of their main attractions is the stunning foliage, … Read More
Spring Gardening Tips in Canterbury As I write, the rain is falling – much-needed to give Spring a proper top-up of moisture in the soil before the demands of Summer arrive. Labour Weekend is the traditional time when the soil and daytime temperatures are warm enough to plant and sow all the plants that need … Read More
Spring Gardening Tips in Canterbury This Spring is following a typical weather pattern with warm westerlies and brief cold southerlies, which have not yet provided enough rain to meet the annual average. The cold North-Easterlies typical of Christchurch Spring have not been prevalent so far, which may indicate a milder season. Now is the time … Read More
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 Who likes nothing better than to pick and taste their home-grown tomatoes? Full of flavour and so many varieties to choose from. From cherry tomatoes to beef steak; from … Read More
Outside In By Sean A Pritchard $75, Hardback (limited stock so get in quick!) In his debut book, garden designer Sean A Pritchard shows you how to plan a garden so that every month of the year there’s something to bring indoors and display in an engaging way. From the cheery joy of early … Read More
Why Women Grow By Alice Vincent $28 Paperback | $39.99 Hardback Women have always gardened, but our stories have been buried with our work. Alice Vincent is on a quest to change that: to understand what encourages women to go out, work the soil, plant seeds and nurture them, even when so many other responsibilities … Read More
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 Purchase certified seed potatoes. They will be free of disease and viruses and more reliable. Pre-sprouting (chitting) seed potatoes is not essential but provides stronger growth. Spread the seed … Read More
Spring Gardening Tips in Canterbury Has Spring arrived? It certainly seems so, with some of my fruit trees already in bloom (perhaps a bit early for some), daffodils in full flower, and the grass growing steadily. All the signs point to an early start to Spring, but as we know, the weather is fickle and … Read More
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 If you enjoy asparagus and are lucky enough to have the space in your garden, then why not try a bed of this herbaceous perennial. Once established, the crowns … Read More