Congratulations to everyone who participated in the 2019 Edible Garden Awards. The CHS partnered with the CCC to presented these awards at a special ceremony on Thursday 7 March at the Woolston Working Mens Club Those who gained special recognition include: Nancy Meherne – Best Yield shared with Clare Taylor Joy Burt – Best Tomatoes Hayley … Read More
A selection of gardens from the Summer Awards. Congratulations to all the hard-working gardeners who participated! [one_third] Ruske Cup (Premium Garden) Brian & Janet Lovelock (image below) 32 Applefield Court, Northwood. H.M.Taylor Cup (Novice) 1st Allan & Margaret Shears 49 Richmond Avenue, Halswell 2nd Brian McSeveny 15 Seddon Street, Beckenham 3rd Mr & Mrs B … Read More
We are now in Summer with plenty of hot weather and the usual periods of wind and little rain, all of which puts stress on plants and gives us the problem of keeping them growing and healthy.
Most of the berry fruits are finishing and the stone fruits are reaching their main production now, then to follow is the pip fruit.
The fruit crops that we are harvesting now are the results of the cultivation that we gave them over the last Winter and Spring so if the results are not up to expectations then review what was done to identify what needs to be done to improve the next crop.
Although winter is still a long way off we do need to be prepared. Spring bulbs will soon be in the garden centres but it is still too soon to plant most of them so choose the best quality bulbs and keep them until the time is right in the Autumn.
Most of the tasks around the garden at this time of the year is what I call maintenance gardening; weeding, watering, pest and disease control and of course, harvesting.
Five Season Herb Plectranthus (Coleus) ambionicus – family lamiaceae (mint) A member of the well known, ornamental Coleus, widely grown as a decorative garden plant for its attractive variegated red leaves. Cream bordered This plant is becoming popular and sought after. There have recently been several enquiries about it. There are two varieties now available … Read More
We are now in Summer with plenty of hot weather and the usual periods of wind and little rain, all of which puts stress on plants and gives us the problem of keeping them growing and healthy.
Most of the berry fruits are finishing and the stone fruits are reaching their main production now, then to follow is the pip fruit.
The fruit crops that we are harvesting now are the results of the cultivation that we gave them over the last Winter and Spring so if the results are not up to expectations then review what was done to identify what needs to be done to improve the next crop.
Although winter is still a long way off we do need to be prepared. Spring bulbs will soon be in the garden centres but it is still too soon to plant most of them so choose the best quality bulbs and keep them until the time is right in the Autumn.
Most of the tasks around the garden at this time of the year is what I call maintenance gardening; weeding, watering, pest and disease control and of course, harvesting.
from Canterbury Herb Society [one_half] Basil is good for tomato fly Borage is good for tomatoes & attracts bees. Calendula tomatoes and attracts bees Camomile cabbage and onions Caraway peas Chervil radishes Dill cabbage Fennel green aphid Garlic silver blight, aphid, codlin moth Horseradish potatoes Hyssop cabbage-butterfy, grapes [/one_half] [one_half_last] Marjoram tomatoes, cucumbers Nasturtim woolly … Read More
For the last meeting of the year Elaine Alexander attended as the guest speaker. She demonstrated how to create some wonderful centre-pieces for the Christmas table, incorporating fruit and vegetables.
Common names –Sweet Briar, Eglantine Rose The species is native to Europe, Western Asia and South America. It is a deciduous, thorny, woody, hardy shrub. It is branched from the ground to 3 – 4 metres and does well in arid conditions. It was brought to New Zealand early on as a deciduous ornamental for its … Read More
ROSEMARY Rosmarinus officinalis “There’s rosemary, that’s for remembrance” – Shakespeare, (Hamlet) This had to be the herb for the 50th Anniversary of the Canterbury Herb Society. Native to the Mediterranean and Asia, the Latin name Rosmarinus translates as “dew of the sea” due not only to its native habitat but the dew like blossoms seen at a … Read More
December is the real start of Summer and after a very changeable Spring we look forward to a more settled and warmer time. Overall Spring has been a good growing season and as a result there has been a good set of both stone and pip. Because of this there is a need to thin out the developing fruit so that the size and quality of the crop is achieved.
The planting of Summer annuals needs to be completed and with the possibility of water restrictions mulching in as much of the garden areas as possible should be done to help retain soil moisture.