One of my Dutch irises - a white one - is out today. π Also, two more new additions to my garden. π
Photo 1: My white Dutch iris, the first one open this season. π
Photo 2: My two newest additions to my garden - two blueberry plants of two different varieties, both of the Rabbiteye type. It's a small bush, which grows to 1m x 1.5m at the largest - so is the easiest to keep in a tub/barrel, like I have them both in here. π
Photo 3: Blueberry Tasty Blue variety - of the Rabbiteye type. π
Photo 4: Blueberry Blue Dawn variety - also of the Rabbiteye type. π Rabbiteye type plants ARE self-fertile, but you will need at least two different varieties of the Rabbiteye type to cross-pollinate and increase crop yield and fruit size, so I've bought two compatible types from Mitre 10. Check the labels on the plants when choosing which varieties to buy, so that you know which varieties will go with which. Plant them at least 1.5 metres apart if planting them in the ground, as this is how big these plants will grow, and position them no further than 20 metres apart, so that the bees can find them and share the pollen between them so that they will cross-pollinate.
Blueberries like acidic soil to grow in (so that they will produce fruit), so that's why you're best to plant them in tubs or wooden (or other material) barrels like I have (that, and they're awesomest to plant that way!!! π). I put Tui compost in the bottom, Tui strawberry mix/potting mix at the top, mixed with Hauraki Gold peat moss and sheep pellets. I watered it in well with Yates Thrive liquid seaweed citrus food & Seasol seaweed solution, diluted with water in a watering can. Blueberry plants take a while to fruit, so by the third year, when they get big enough, you should have fruit. π
What's your favourite recipe for courgettes?
Kia ora neighbours. If you've got a family recipe for courgettes, we'd love to see it and maybe publish it in our magazine. Send your recipe to mailbox@nzgardener.co.nz, and if we use it in the mag, you will receive a free copy of our January 2025 issue.
Live Q&A: Garden maintenance with Crewcut
This Wednesday, we are having another Neighbourly Q&A session. This time with John Bracewell from Crewcut.
John Bracewell, former Black Caps coach turned Franchisee Development Manager and currently the face of Crewcutβs #Movember campaign, knows a thing or two about keeping the grass looking sharpβwhether itβs on a cricket pitch or in your backyard!
As a seasoned Crewcut franchisee, John is excited to answer your lawn and gardening questions. After years of perfecting the greens on the field, he's ready to share tips on how to knock your garden out of the park. Let's just say heβs as passionate about lush lawns as he is about a good game of cricket!
John is happy to answer questions about lawn mowing, tree/hedge trimming, tidying your garden, ride on mowing, you name it! He'll be online on Wednesday, 27th of November to answer them all.
Share your question below now β¬οΈ
Calling All Puzzle Masters! Can You Solve This?
When John was six years old he hammered a nail into his favorite tree to mark his height.
Ten years later at age sixteen, John returned to see how much higher the nail was.
If the tree grew by five centimetres each year, how much higher would the nail be?
Do you think you know the answer to our daily riddle? Don't spoil it for your neighbours! Simply 'Like' this post and we'll post the answer in the comments below at 2pm.
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Head here and hover on the Following button on the top right of the page (and it will show Unfollow) and then click it. If it is giving you the option to Follow, then you've successfully unfollowed the Riddles page.
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