Blueberry ‘Swirl’ Exclusive for CHS Members Blueberries are considered a wonder food and are a fantastic addition to the garden, whether grown as a specimen plant in a container, or as a low hedge. New for 2014 and exclusive to Oderings is Blueberry ‘Swirl’. This delicious treat is a busy ‘rabbit eye’ type and is … Read More
My first day in shorts. It has been a marvelous spring. Things are earlier than usual. Don’t go putting in warm loving plants just yet. Put tomatoes in a warm corner, but not outside. It’s still too early. The nor’ easter is a most limiting wind. The NIWA weather outlook: September 2013 was characterised by much … Read More
Fruit Tree Pruning Demonstration 10am, Saturday 6 July [highlight type=”light”]FREE [/highlight] Up your skills with a FREE pruning demonstration by the experts from the CHS & Fruit Trees in Schools Project. Bring the family and enjoy a sausage sizzle. West Spreydon School, Lyttelton Street Contact the CHS for further details or cancellations: CHS tel: (03) … Read More
JUNE ALL ABOUT GARDENING With Michael Coulter Winters here. NIWA has said that what we got the last few weeks is basically what we’ll get all through June. May was cold. Hate winter. Hate cold. Overall, temperatures for winter 2013 (June – August) are very likely to be above average across the entire country. However, … Read More
MAY 2013 ALL ABOUT GARDENING With Alan Jolliffe Michael is away on chrysanthemum duties so I’m in the hot seat this month. The only reason I have a laptop with me is that I’ve left my papers at home. In your garden – autumn. ‘What a mess’ This is the time to think…….what did I like … Read More
Many of our members are establishing new gardens on old sites post-earthquake. This might pose some problems so look out for: Interference from surroundings such as established big trees over the fence that might take all the nutrients and moisture from the soil. You will need to compensate for this at least until your new … Read More
August – All About Gardening With Michael Coulter Michael opened with last night’s brilliant display of lightning and roaring thunder, followed by ‘golf-ball sized’ hailstones. ‘’I lost about 100 panes in my glasshouse’’ he said. Hailstones in some suburbs measured about 3cm in diameter. Metservice weather forecaster, Allister Gorman, said hailstones larger than 20 millimetres … Read More
Preserved lemons are an essential item for any kitchen cupboard. Hailing from Middle Eastern, North African and Mediterranean cuisines, you will find many uses for this intense burst of savoury citrus flavour from fish to salad dressings. If you do not already use it in your cooking, once you have a jar there is no … Read More