Planning
Winter planting
15 May 2008 20:15
It's that time of year again; I'm planning for winter
and spring.
The broad bean and pea seeds arrived yesterday, the bulb orders went in over the weekend, and there are punnets of lettuce, rocket and onions waiting for a chance to get planted. Another silverbeet glut is only a few weeks away :)
This year the picture is added to by the chooks who are moulting and looking decidedly autumnal. They seem completely cheerful as the hoon around looking raggedy (particularly the girl who lost all her tail feathers in one go) and retain their passion for sunflower seeds and puha.
The real challenge is working out the planting plan for the mound by the pond with the nectarine. The plants need to handle clay, but won't drown as it's a mound, need to be beautiful year round as they're next to the pond, but I still want seasonal variation.
I'm thinking about a spinossima rose as I think the hips are gorgeous, but pink flowers will need some thought :)
In other rose news the Souvenir de la Malmaison growing around the compost is still growing madly; it should be gorgeous next spring, and the Graham Thomas is also holding out against winter.
The broad bean and pea seeds arrived yesterday, the bulb orders went in over the weekend, and there are punnets of lettuce, rocket and onions waiting for a chance to get planted. Another silverbeet glut is only a few weeks away :)
This year the picture is added to by the chooks who are moulting and looking decidedly autumnal. They seem completely cheerful as the hoon around looking raggedy (particularly the girl who lost all her tail feathers in one go) and retain their passion for sunflower seeds and puha.
The real challenge is working out the planting plan for the mound by the pond with the nectarine. The plants need to handle clay, but won't drown as it's a mound, need to be beautiful year round as they're next to the pond, but I still want seasonal variation.
I'm thinking about a spinossima rose as I think the hips are gorgeous, but pink flowers will need some thought :)
In other rose news the Souvenir de la Malmaison growing around the compost is still growing madly; it should be gorgeous next spring, and the Graham Thomas is also holding out against winter.
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Deciding on Plants
17 April 2007 20:56
Waimea Nurseries emailed today to finalise the order,
they want to send it sooner rather than later so that
it doesn’t get tied up when they start despatching
their winter orders to garden centres. They’ve made a
couple of stock changes; including substituting a
earlier season blueberry, and I just added two
boysenberries now they’ve got the variety details.
There are a couple of fruit spots left in the garden; the windy spot at the front, the gap near the lemon, the other maybe lemon, and whether I can fit a second tree in the chookery.
There are a couple of fruit spots left in the garden; the windy spot at the front, the gap near the lemon, the other maybe lemon, and whether I can fit a second tree in the chookery.
Books and Berries
13 April 2007 13:50
There are two problems with reading gardening books;
firstly they inspire covetousness — they’re full of
such exciting and beautiful plants. By 7am this
morning I had decided that monkshood would be perfect
along the bank outside the front door.
Secondly, and even less helpfully, they contradict each other. When I’m planning a 3m hedge of raspberries it would be useful to be sure whether they should be planted 60cm or 1-1.5m apart. I’m currently going with the majority (60cm) and think the other was probably inspired by blackberries or the width between the rows.
Which brings me to my realisation about berries; by spring my garden will contain:
And the first five are already out there growing away.
Secondly, and even less helpfully, they contradict each other. When I’m planning a 3m hedge of raspberries it would be useful to be sure whether they should be planted 60cm or 1-1.5m apart. I’m currently going with the majority (60cm) and think the other was probably inspired by blackberries or the width between the rows.
Which brings me to my realisation about berries; by spring my garden will contain:
- Black currants
- Gooseberries
- Alpine strawberries
- Elderberries
- Grapes
- Raspberries
- Boysenberries
- Blueberries
- Orangeberries
And the first five are already out there growing away.
Planning the Chookery
11 April 2007 21:47
J says it has to be called a Chookery, and I agree :)
I’ve picked the chooks (Welsumers), ordered the henhouse and started deciding on the plants. So far I’ve decided on a Pomegranate inside, Hyacinth Beans, Raspberries and Boysenberries growing outside. Of course there’ll be some greens, yet to be sorted.
Thinking about the henhouse has been surprisingly fun — I’m looking forward to the painting and the hammering and the chaos :) Guttering is a bit beyond me at the moment, but I’m sure I’ll get there.
I’ve picked the chooks (Welsumers), ordered the henhouse and started deciding on the plants. So far I’ve decided on a Pomegranate inside, Hyacinth Beans, Raspberries and Boysenberries growing outside. Of course there’ll be some greens, yet to be sorted.
Thinking about the henhouse has been surprisingly fun — I’m looking forward to the painting and the hammering and the chaos :) Guttering is a bit beyond me at the moment, but I’m sure I’ll get there.
Gold and Magenta
10 April 2007 20:33
I’m beginning to feel that the yellow and purple
border along the path is nearly under control, the
roses and bulbs have been ordered. Almost all the
other plants have been ordered or tracked down.
The big struggle has been with how tightly I define purple and how many plants described as “purple” seem pink to me. Only two roses have made it in (Rose Marie Viaud and Cardinal de Richelieu) and lavender and irises will will carry the rest of the burden of purple.
Gold was easy, but a spread through the season will be a challenge, as well as a some roses there will be daffodils early, daylilies, dyer’s chamomile. Hopefully some variegated and lime foliage will also balance the colours and hold the intensity through the year.
The big struggle has been with how tightly I define purple and how many plants described as “purple” seem pink to me. Only two roses have made it in (Rose Marie Viaud and Cardinal de Richelieu) and lavender and irises will will carry the rest of the burden of purple.
Gold was easy, but a spread through the season will be a challenge, as well as a some roses there will be daffodils early, daylilies, dyer’s chamomile. Hopefully some variegated and lime foliage will also balance the colours and hold the intensity through the year.