2278 days ago

My NEW strawberry-growing operation. =D

Sharon from Te Atatu South

A 163-litre plastic storage container bought from the Warehouse for $35, THEN I drilled holes in the base with a compass point for drainage so they don't get waterlogged, THEN half-filled it with three 30L bags of strawberry potting mix, then I took the strawberries out of their pots and put them in, fed (with liquid feed AND solid, longer-lasting fertiliser granules!!!) and watered them well, using the existing straw from the pots as mulch, and the tall sides of the container will afford them some protection from the wind (strawberries do not like the wind, it seems!), while if it gets too bad I have the clip-on lid leaning against the galvanised steel raised vege garden bed beside it, and BOTH the container and lid are transparent so the strawberry plants can get as much light as they want (strawberries NEED plenty of sun to grow fruit!), and they are in a sunny spot (although not on an overcast day like today!). =D HOPEFULLY I should have more luck with growing the strawberries!!!!!!!! =P The HEALTHY plants are the ones I just bought, the unfortunate brown ones are the ones that got damaged by the wind, and the little wee short ones with a green leaf or two (one or two have flowers, and one has a berry forming!) are Claire Tran's plants. =D I am doing the best I can to learn from her and others how to grow them (mine keep dying!), so any input as to what I'm doing wrong/what to do would be appreciated. =D Thanks. =D

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More messages from your neighbours
10 minutes ago

Amazingly quiet night in Green Bay

Markus from Green Bay

All the Best for the New Year! The last few years they started banging days earlier already, but this year it was amazingly quiet. Now either people suddenly got smart and care about animals and the environment (which I don’t believe for a second) or it’s the clearest sign of the Cost of Living Crisis we are in. I’m just glad I can make a damn fine bread for under a dollar.

10 hours ago

The Summer Kiwi Quiz is back by popular demand

Summer Kiwi Quiz - 2026

Grab a copy of your local Stuff newspaper between 1 Jan - 28 Jan and participate in the Summer Kiwi Quiz! Test your knowledge, answer the daily New Zealand based questions, and find out how well you know our beautiful country!

Each correct answer will get you one entry into the draw to WIN 1 of 5 Ooni Karu 2 Portable Pizza Oven bundles, valued at $1024! Each bundle includes: an Ooni Karu 2 Multi-Fuel Portable Pizza Oven, Ooni Karu 2 Carry Cover, Ooni 12" Perforated Peel, Ooni Digital Infrared Thermometer and an Ooni Cookbook: Cooking with Ooni. The more answers you enter correctly, the higher your chance of winning. For more information and to submit your answers, click here

The Team at Stuff
Enter Here

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3 days ago

Poll: Do you set New Year’s resolutions?

The Team from Neighbourly.co.nz

🎉 2026 is almost here!

We’re curious ... how do you welcome it?
Do you set resolutions, follow special traditions, or just go with the flow?

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Do you set New Year’s resolutions?
  • 10.1% Yes! New Year, New Me
    10.1% Complete
  • 19.5% Yes - but I rarely stick to them
    19.5% Complete
  • 70.4% Nah - not for me
    70.4% Complete
867 votes