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Friday 11th October, 2019
Hi
Overflowing with blooms and divine fragrance and so much more to come.
It was awesome to catch up with Allan, Jerram and Rory who help with all the advisory and IT side of Wairere. Allan had time to spend overlooking all of the various roles and how they are being undertaken and was able to offer on the spot tips, hints and shortcuts to get more from our systems,he also had plenty to take back to Aussie in the form of a list of projects. Then there is Jerram who has already upgraded our server and sorted the initial teething issues and Rory who keeps us sweet with the bank.
One project that I have Allan working on is a new email format that will allow more than just having thumbnail size pics. At the moment, when I want to show larger pics, I post on Facebook as this allows more detail to be seen... and that leads into the start of what I have in mind for this weeks topic, pics of which I will post on facebook
...Rootstocks!
I know that I have written previously on these and we all know that Roses are grafted on Rosa Multiflora which is a thornless species of rose. In case you have forgotten, the Rosa Multiflora is grown as a crop, harvested, bandsawn into appropriate lengths for either, rose bushes, standards or the really tall 1.8 m standards. Now this is the important point, those rose stocks are blinded, meaning some poor soul has taken a knife and cut out every bud so that the stock doesn't grow... I know that Horticulture has some boring jobs but this would have to be up there with the worst of them! Just a quick plug here for the roses currently in stock, this years would have to be the best range of standards that we have ever had and they are looking gorgeous and just on the verge of being in flower.
But wait there is more to this... all named varieties of trees or plants have to be produced by either cutting or some form of grafting. For instance ornamental flowering cherries are grafted onto a rootstock, often at different heights for different situations, as are maples. Now I was out looking at a Prunus Superba (Tui tree) that I have in the garden at home which has now finished flowering but, hello, there is a branch there in full flower!!! Just the one branch which, you will by now have guessed, is in fact growing direct from the rootstock... It's so important to remove all rootstock growth (that which comes from below the graft) as in many cases, when I look around at gardens and the like, the rootstock will take over the plant that you desire.
I was wandering around the pond this morning and spotted a couple of maples with the same scenario happening and mentioned it to Simone that the growths must be removed as otherwise my beautiful weeping maples will be compromised.
Just thought that I would mention this as its quite common and will definitely, in many cases, destroy your desirable plant or tree. If you catch it early you can usually just rub off any growth that occurs from below the graft of any plant which helps reduce the amount of damage done.
Maples
Get Planting while its warm and wet
OMG Thursday was so warm! some 21 degrees I believe. When it's suddenly so warm its almost too much as it seems so hot while really it's because its been coolish till now and we just have to acclimatise... Add this damp wet Friday to the mix and you have a recipe for rapid growth which makes for perfect planting weather. We have even had to start irrigating the nursery on the odd days because all the plants are in pots making that rapid growth...
I have managed to grab a range of wetland grasses for the garden and so the guys are busy planting them while the ground is nice and moist. Thinking of great planting conditions Labour Day is looming (28th Oct) and that is the traditional time for planting your summer veg garden.
I know that Cathie has been busy organising to have the first of the seasons Kumara slips in and these are due just before Labour weekend. We will primarily just be getting these in for orders as they need planting as soon as possible once they arrive... so to that end, if you are planning on planting this easy to grow crop then backorder yours online now and remember that prompt pick up is wise.
Generally you would plant Kumaras on a mound at around 40 to 50 cm apart, pushing the rooted slip in with you fingers so that it forms a U in the soil... You need to keep the slips moist until they strike in the soil.
I have heard of growing these under polythene mulch like the commercial stawb growers do or equally in the soil. Firm the ground with you feet and then heap soil on top to create the mound, Plant the slips and when they grow and hit the firm soil underneath it will help with the formation of the tubers.
Kumara Beauregard Orange has a rich orange flesh and is the sweetest of the 3 varieties. Try in a caramelised roast vege salad. Great for kids. Perennial
Kumara Owairaka Red is the most recognised kumara in NZ with a distinctive red skin, a creamy white firm textured flesh. Slice with skin on and bake with red onions. Perennial
Kumara Tokatoka Gold The Tokatoka Gold is indigenous to the Kaipara, named after the iconic Tokatoka Peak rising out of the otherwise flat landscape. Tokatoka Gold have a golden skin and a soft golden flesh. Tokatoka golds are best roasted as they tend to have a very soft flesh or try in a creamy, chicken curry. Perennial
Spuds... still main crops to go into the ground and there is still a good range to be had, check the all out here
Swift is the one to go for a quick crop and still time toi get them and ready for Christmas
Rocket another quick one for you grow your own punters
Agria is one that we all know Main Crop. A top 'spud' with large oval tubers, creamy skin and yellow flesh. Suitable for boiling, mashing, baking and makes the best chips. A high yielding floury potato that keeps well. Matures in approximately 90-100 days. A top potato for the true potato lover.
Rua another popular main crop to get in right now Main Crop. The reliable 'Rua' is probably NZ's most popular potato. Can be planted quite late in the season to ensure you have a supply of potatoes to store for winter consumption. Matures 100-120 days after planting. White skin and white flesh, large oval tubers. Good all rounder.
Asparagus European Male Bundles of 10 ...Yummy Asparagus packed full of vitamins and a very welcome early spring vegetable. Easy to grow but they do need a dedicated sunny spot with good drainage to mature and multiply. Plant crowns in trenches that have been back filled with mulch or compost. Perennial. Last call to get these in the ground and what better time than now so that they just take off.. You will have to buy your spears this year but hopefully next year you will be cutting a few of your own and even more in year three.
Alstroemerias are here at last and I have to say Ang got a heap in, lots of varieties and colours. Alstroemerias are solid producers of colour in the garden bed from spring and a good diverse planting will often carry flowering right through to early autumn. The colour range is phenomenal and these hardy plants are low maintenance easy care as long as they have good sun and drainage. A couple of new ones to the list are Replay and Rio, a gorgeous combination of purple and yellow.
Viburnum Opulus Sterile or Snow ball tree are just coming up to flower with those gorgeous white snowball like flowers. Forms an open, graceful shrub with green leaves that have good autumn colour. Easy to grow and a firm favourite for good reason.
There is another species though called Viburnum Macrocephalum and I think that this is my favourite as it has masses of creamy white snowball like flowers as well that open from green buds in early summer. The dark leathery summer foliage has red and yellow autumn tones prior to leaf fall. Happy in sun or part shade and hardy to most conditions except hot dry wind. Lovely background shrub. Deciduous.
Gypsophylla is a much loved perennial with florists because of the sprays of double white fragrant flowers held above the foliage on wiry stems. Likes the sun and good drainage but pick your spot wisely as it doesn't enjoy being moved. Gyp likes an alkaline soil so Calcium and magnesium help keep the pH high and a side dressing of a little Lime wouldn't hurt either.
Gorgeous Clivias. If you need a plant for that dry shady spot then look no further than these gorgeous Clivias. Stunning strapy foliage that always looks amazing, a bonus of rich bright flowers that last well and to top it off they are followed by bright red berries. I love them mass planted where the sun don't shine.
Gypsophylla Clivia
Hey it's the last weekend of the school hols, if you are over the play parks, bring them out here to see some beauty and enjoy the fragrance that they can find on their journey around our gardens and nursery.
I have been sent an invite to my cousins annual charity run being the Running of the Balls which is all about men's causes. For information on the latest event please go on our facebook events page.
Have the best weekend
Cheers
Lloyd, Tony and the Wairere Team
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2019 Newsletters...
Heatwave or just summer (2nd February, 2019)
Harvest time, fruits and veges (8th February, 2019)
Valentines 2019 (15th February, 2019)
Peonies (22nd February, 2019)
Autumn is official (1st March, 2019)
Get harvesting pears (8th March, 2019)
Natures planting time (15th March, 2019)
Peonies Just Arrived (22nd March, 2019)
Azaleas (29th March, 2019)
Aza Ley aa (5th April, 2019)
Broad Beans Peas and Garlic (12th April, 2019)
Easter Brief (18th April, 2019)
Roses abound (26th April, 2019)
Autumn flourish (3rd May, 2019)
Growing spectrum 1 (10th May, 2019)
Proteaceae (17th May, 2019)
Icing sugar bush (24th May, 2019)
Queens birthday (31st May, 2019)
Cathie's turn (7th June, 2019)
Blooming good (14th June, 2019)
Somerfield (21st June, 2019)
Tutti fruity 2 (28th June, 2019)
Power Outage (16th July, 2019)
AWOL (19th July, 2019)
Winter flowering (26th July, 2019)
Quick date pud (2nd August, 2019)
Team update (9th August, 2019)
Bees are humming (15th August, 2019)
History never repeats (23rd August, 2019)
Podocarpus nivalis (30th August, 2019)
Trade day (6th September, 2019)
Pretties and Fluffies (13th September, 2019)
Oranges and Lemons (20th September, 2019)
Lots to ramble about (27th September, 2019)
Fancy clematis (5th October, 2019)
..... Wet Friday
Pitto Wrinkle Blue (18th October, 2019)
Rhubarb (25th October, 2019)
Baby Bunnies (1st November, 2019)
Fruitier than usual (8th November, 2019)
Chilli (15th November, 2019)
Picea or Pinus ? (22nd November, 2019)
pressies (29th November, 2019)
Pink or Blue (6th December, 2019)
The real Black Friday (12th December, 2019)
merry Xmas (20th December, 2019)
Wairere Nursery
826 Gordonton Road, R D 1, Hamilton 3281 Ph: (07) 824 3430 Email: