Gardening

Winter reserves and preserves are still holding up for many, but Diana Noonan says if we are to eat through the lean months of spring and into summer, now is the time to prepare

It looks like a fruit from another world, brown and knobbly and forked like a twig. The Chinese have long known of its restorative power on the liver and used it as an antidote for alcohol. But best of all it belies its looks and tastes just like it sounds – sweet and tasty with the slightly chewy consistency of a raisin.

When disaster strikes, the basics of food and shelter become challenging. Meghan Read hears from Arohanui Lawrence about how her spray-free community garden demonstrates the strength of local food resilience.

With autumn settling into winter, what better advice than turning to the sun and letting the shadows fall behind you could gardeners take? Especially those who have lost so much in recent weather events. Wherever you are in the country, make the most of the little heat that still lingers, by trapping it in cunning ways

It is the ultimate fertiliser for your garden. It is free, only needs a bucket of water, removes greenhouse gases, fixes nitrogen, and enriches your soil. Sheryn Dean describes a simple and sustainable biofertiliser.

March and April are such surprising and exciting months in the garden. Just when it seems the world is winding down and our edible beds are readying themselves for sleep, a whole new season of opportunity presents itself. That’s because, apart from a few of the coldest spots in the country (and even then, there is potential for growing undercover or indoors), nature never sleeps. So while autumn is very much the season for harvesting and storing, it’s also a time to be out with the fork, the seeds and the seedlings – and to start growing all over again! 

Mid to late summer in the garden is a hectic time. All the edibles are coming ready at once, the weeds are running to seed, and you really need that summer break you planned back in September! But don’t fret – we’ve got your back, with some fail-proof plans to keep the garden ship-shape and super- productive!

Most māra around the country are now in full swing, and keen gardeners are keeping up with succession sowings and plantings. While that’s wise, it also behoves us, as sustainable growers, to look for new ways to make the most from every plant we already have in the māra. Through meticulous maintenance and careful coaxing, we can all hope to increase production from our allotted growing space, while at the same time, reducing waste. 

Enough with the spick and span, says Sara Mertens. Instead, go a little bit wild and take advantage of the smorgasbord of nutrition our gardens have to offer, especially from those plants with reputations for being weeds.

Nothing announces the start of spring more than the bright yellow blossom of te kōwhai! Kōwhai blooms also signal the beginning of some seriously hard mahi in the māra as we strive to give our seeds and seedlings the best, and earliest possible, start in life.

Vagabond Vege is a market garden in Te Hūpēnui/Greytown, started by four friends, Lise, Elle, Sheldon, and Saskia.

Get the kids outside and into the garden with these fun activities.