Gardening A-Z
Pak choi
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Pak choy, bok choy or pak choi. There are plenty of different names used for Chinese cabbage. But whatever you like to call it, pak choi is a staple every vege garden needs. These stalky greens contain antioxidants and vitamins C and A and, more importantly, taste fantastic in stir-frys!
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Spring is on the way! Warmer weather will be here before we know it and salads will begin to replace winter’s comfort food.
So this month’s article will focus on growing, and making a delicious Thai style salad using pak choi, onions and carrots. All three vegetables are easy to plant and maintain – perfect for those with little time but who enjoy eating homegrown food.
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Pansies
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Once the domain of retired folk and pre-schoolers, crafts are officially cool again. Knitting, screen printing and cake decorating are now popular pastimes for a vast range of people. To get your own creative juices flowing, head out into your garden – the humble pansy is perfect for a variety of crafty projects.
Pansies are popular bedding plants because they’re easy to grow and add great bursts of colour to winter gardens, says Awapuni gardening guru, Tod Palenski.
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I’ve said it before, but hanging baskets really are the garden for anyone.
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If your garden doesn’t get a lot of sun, there’s no need to forego colour, variety and interest. Just choose plants that thrive in the shade.
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Romance is back. As the new spring/summer season heralds the return of pretty, vintage florals in both fashion and interiors, gardens are set to get the shabby-chic treatment too, with romantic spring flowers taking centre stage.
“Gardening trends often mirror what’s happening in the fashion world,” says Awapuni gardening guru Tod Palenski. “And this spring we’ll see a return of more traditional flowers, like your grandmother may have had.”
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There is not enough sunlight...
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Parsley
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I’ve said it before, but hanging baskets really are the garden for anyone.
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Parsnips
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Last season I put parsnips in at the same time as the carrots but they are very small. How do I get them to a bigger size?
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Passion vine hopper
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The rinds of citrus fruit contain citrus oil. Its sweet smell is harmless to people and pets but repels many insects. Because some plants are sensitive to citrus oil, be sure to test first.
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Peace lily
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I have been thinking about moving my peace lily to a bigger pot, is this a good idea?
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What should I use to fertilise my peace lily?
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Peas
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I’m going to be completely honest, there are some vegetables that I often wonder if it’s worth the effort to grow them. Peas are one of these. For less than $3 you can buy a kg of frozen peas from the supermarket.
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Perennials
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I live by the sea and am not particularly fond of natives, can you tell me what I could plant in the way of annuals and perennials? My garden is in full sun, has a clay soil and gets quite dry.
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The Oscars, the BAFTAs and the Emmys might be months away, but you can bet the stars, or at least their stylists, are already working out what to wear on the big day, and that diets and personal trainers are, even now, being dusted off.
It’s no secret that a lot of hard work goes into looking good on that red carpet!
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Pests
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We live at Riversdale on the Wairarapa Coast and many of our trees seem to be defoliated by a nasty brown beetle which lives in the ground.
At night they emerge and climb up the trees and devour the leaves in some cases leaving just bare branches. Is there a cost-effective solution?
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I was just wondering if you have any special tips on how to get rid of slugs in the lawn, our lawn is a mess.
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Try spraying the plants with a brew of Neem oil and fish-based liquid fertiliser.
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If your leaves look dull and are stippled with white dots then you most likely have spider mites. They love nice, warm, still spots so are usually found on plants, particularly rhodoendrons and roses, next to the house or under the eves.
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The cause of this problem is most likely caterpillars.
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In the winter stockpile all those wood fire ashes into clean paper sacs. Sprinkle them around the border of your garden or around individual plants. Reapply after rain.
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Aphids leave rose leaves looking curled, distorted and yellow. To rid your plant of aphids simply hose them off with a strong stream of water and spray the plant with Neem, an organic oil sold at Awapuni Nurseries.
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Grass grubs leave small holes in the grass which look like a pencil has been stabbed into the grass.
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This sounds like white butterfly, white fly or leaf hoppers.
Simply hose them off with a strong stream of water and spray the plant with Neem, an organic oil sold at Awapuni Nurseries.
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This is a great recipe for repelling White fly...
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The rinds of citrus fruit contain citrus oil. Its sweet smell is harmless to people and pets but repels many insects. Because some plants are sensitive to citrus oil, be sure to test first...
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Buxus Psyllid is a pest that deforms the new growth in box hedging, often in spring.
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Buxus Psyllid is a pest that deforms the new growth in box hedging, often in spring. It also affects many Pittosporum varieties.
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Petunias
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Keen to add some pizzazz to your garden this summer? Or just want to pretty up your porch or deck a little? Why not try planting petunias.
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Learning which plants to grow together can greatly increase your success in the garden, whether you want to cut down on spraying or watering, attract bees or scare off the neighbour’s cat.
Awapuni gardening guru, Tod Palenski, says companion planting – the idea that certain plants can benefit others when planted next to, or close to one another - has been around for centuries and could be the making of your garden.
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Stonewash denim, formica tables and knitting groups - all signs of decades past? Wrong. These remnants of a time gone by have returned from the dead and now they’re making a comeback!
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For a quick shot of colour in your garden you can’t go past petunias. Pink, red, blue and more – you can even get duo colour petunias. Not sure how to choose? Try a mixed bundle and wait for the surprise when they start to flower.
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Polyanthus
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Everyone loves to get flowers. But more often than not, they’re dead and gone within a few days.
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Got a lemon, lime, tamarillo, or any tree in a pot for that matter? Why not add some pizazz to it by planting polyanthus? Polyanthus are great for adding some colour and texture to pots. They don’t grow very high, and are tight, low and compact plants - which also makes them perfect for hanging baskets or garden borders.
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Instead of swinging by the service station for a decaying bouquet this mother’s day, make your mum a living flower arrangement that she can enjoy all winter long. After all, it’s the thought that counts.
“Indoor pots look great and are more cost effective than buying cut flowers,” says Awapuni gardening guru, Tod Palenski.
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Poppies
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Awapuni Nurseries’ shirley poppies will add the splash of colour your garden has been longing for this winter. Plus, you can easily transfer that colour into your home as they make the perfect cut flower.
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If you got your hands on the Sweet Williams I recommended last month, you might well be seeking out a trusty companion.
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Portulacas
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Stonewash denim, formica tables and knitting groups - all signs of decades past? Wrong. These remnants of a time gone by have returned from the dead and now they’re making a comeback!
So this month we’re going to jump on the return of the ‘kitch’ and ‘retro’ bandwagon and plant some of nana’s favourites – marigolds, petunias and portulacas.
These flowers love a sunny, well drained area in the garden. But more importantly, they don’t need shelter so they’re ideal for hanging baskets (another flashback in time) or for planting along garden paths.
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Possums
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Try spraying the plants with a brew of Neem oil and fish-based liquid fertiliser.
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Potatoes
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I have tried potato growing in an old compost bin but last year it didn't do well. There are shoots in there this year though. Should I empty the bin and start again or just leave them to grow in the top of the bin?
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We’re all guilty of over-indulging at Christmas, whether it’s alcohol, food or spoiling the kids with mountains of presents.
But by getting the kids involved in growing their own vegetables for Christmas dinner you might just get them looking forward to something other than presents - and eating something other than sweets.
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Po-tay-to, po-tahh-to – however you say it, now’s the time to plant one of New Zealand’s favourite vege. So get outdoors and gear up for spuds this summer.
You can start by purchasing seed potatoes from your local garden centre. Seed potatoes look like any other spud (but smaller!) and can be bought in various flavours and quantities.
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Pots
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February is the month when parents all over the country breathe a collective sigh of relief - the kids are back at school.
The endless summer holidays of trying to keep the kids entertained and away from the TV and computer are over.
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Our Traditional Value Pots and Tubs Mix contains a selection of popular flowers to brighten up your pots, tubs and hanging baskets.
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Powdery mildew
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These are the signs of rust or powdery mildew. They love the water and as a result often occur during humid and wet weather.
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Primulas
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Pot purple primulas for pretty patios. Now there’s a tongue twister for you. Actually planting primulas isn’t that complicated. And, don’t worry if purple or lavender’s not your thing they come in a range of colours.
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Instead of swinging by the service station for a decaying bouquet this mother’s day, make your mum a living flower arrangement that she can enjoy all winter long. After all, it’s the thought that counts.
“Indoor pots look great and are more cost effective than buying cut flowers,” says Awapuni gardening guru, Tod Palenski.
“They’re easy to grow from many of the seedlings you would normally plant outdoors.”
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Pumpkin
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I have successfully grown some beautiful pumpkins this year. But I don’t know when to harvest them. Can I cook them straight away? If not, what is the best way to store them?
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