Edible Gardens

‘Magical’ bush-garden wins people’s choice award at Ellerslie

simon — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 05:59:06 +0000

The Earth Sharing Life Garden was voted people’s choice at the Ellerslie Flower Show.

Visitors to the Ellerslie International Flower Show have embraced a garden with an emotional environmental message in picking this year’s People’s Choice award. The Earth Sharing Life Garden, created by Julie Moore from Plantet Earth is a darkened bush-garden lit with special effects and accompanied by the beating heart of a giant, revolving world. It also features waterfalls, glow worm caves and a shipwreck. Moore spent nine months creating the masterpiece, which calls for environmental action and is situated inside the new Visique Starlight Marquee.

“Our take is that earth and mankind can nurture each other and provide for each other, but we all need to be conscious of our choices and how they will impact on our environment,” said Moore. The garden also won the Supreme Award for Lighting, an important element in all the marquee gardens as they are completely blacked out with hundreds of metres of black silk. Judges’ convenor Jan Woodhouse described the garden as a ”magical, multi-media experience with a variety of lighting effects and lovely detailing with ambience”.

Moore said visitors had commented that they enjoyed the clever use of sound and light, and the surprising ceramic seed pods by Tim Holman that burst into life.

- NZ HERALD STAFF

Home and Garden – How to grow your own Edible Garden

simon — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 04:04:26 +0000

With the arrival of the edible phenomenon already in full swing over the last year, the continued popularity of the ‘Edible Gardens’ has not been affected by the decline in sales over the last few months

In fact, it is just the opposite. Garden centres nationwide have reported record sales and ‘sold out’ signs on some lines are now appearing. Magazines that contain the latest stories or recipes on this phenomenon are also selling fast.

There are even cooking classes available now on how to grow your own food supply and harvest and cook it.

From Garden to Table or from Paddock to Plate take your pick, it’s exciting and just keeps getting better.

Traditionally when times become tough, people stay home and improve their own piece of paradise. So for the first time in many peoples’ lives they have got a buzz from tilling their very own plot of land.

Along with traditional lines there are also other edibles appearing on the market. Fruit trees have inched their way back but in different ways. Espaliering, a thing of the past? Not any more. Apples, pears or even figs are making a comeback in this form and their fruit isn’t compromised either.

If you have the insight and knowledge the Pear Belle du Jumet, a French Pear which is self pollinating or Apple Montys Surprise, the Anti Cancer Apple on a dwarf and disease resistant root stock are flavour of the month.

And the famous anti everything Goiji Berry, has now well and truly revealed itself in the market place. Blueberries gaining a reputation for reversing bad memory loss and high in anti oxidants, are selling well and everyone wants a Meyer Lemon!

With unusual plants never grown here before and starting to appear on the market like the lowly peanut, tumeric, chick peas and various edible gingers, tropical pink guavas and cold hardy bananas. Growing now like never before has a purpose and most keen Kiwis want a slice of this action!

Seeing this huge potential in the edible market appearing and being inspired by it herself, landscape designer Jules Moore of Plantetearth Ltd, started working with clients who were also challenged to the calling.

She calls it a ‘taste of things to come’ and believes this exciting trend is here to stay.

By putting her design skills into practice and expanding her plant pallet of edibles in her own nursery, Jules has been enjoying working with clients who like herself, want to add the sustainability aspect and dual purpose planting to their design.

Designing tastefully within a smaller amount of land compels us to think differently and to make every plant count.

So why not join the trend and plant something that not only looks good but tastes good too.

Home and Garden Article - 2009 Spring Edition

Tamarillo

voice — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 08:30:37 +0000

Tamarillos require sun but need a constant supply of water during the summer months . They are also shallow rooted and being that they have a soft wood they would need a resonable sheltered area or courtyard to grow in. Its Fruit are delicious, area high source of vitamin C and can be eaten raw or cooked .Keep height to 2m high to make harvesting easier. Protect from frosts.

Angelino Plum

voice — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 08:28:42 +0000

A huge round purple plum with a very sweet yellow flesh. Delicious when eaten fresh. Versatile plum for cooking in pies , jams and sauces. Ripens mid March. Pollinates with Santa Rosa,and Black Amber .A great source of vitamin C ,A , B2 Potassium and Dietary fibre . Plant in a sunny well drained position and enjoy.

Bay Tree

voice — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 08:26:25 +0000

Laurus nobilis grows in the full sun and suits most soil types. It is best to reduce its height by shaping it into a hedge or topiary as it can grow into a very large tree . It is extremely hardy and successfully grows right on the coast! Bayleaves are a vital ingredient used to flavour sauces, soups, stews and even desserts. Its therapeutic uses include: stimulates appetite , Promotes digestion, relieves colic and flatulence .Externally it is great to boost hair growth !!

Apricots

voice — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 08:24:08 +0000

Apricot Goldstrike has medium sized round fruit with slight red blushing which becomes very large when the tree is well thinned. The flesh is light orange firm and moderately juicey with lots of flavour.Cross Pollinate with Apricot Goldbar . Apricot Trevatt is an old favourite that ripens early in the season and is very popular and is self fertile. The fruit is also orange juicy and firm, with a good flavour. These Apricots are smallish trees in height and a great addition to a home owners garden in a slightly cooler area eg Kumeu Auckland.

Cherry ‘ Stella ‘

voice — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 08:22:22 +0000

Large sweet dark red prolific fruit hang from these trees from early to late summer . This variety is decidious, self fertile and reach 2.5m , exhibiting much dwarfer characteristics then other Cherries .They grow in Auckland with only a minimum of winter hours ( 200), and tolerate low rain falls during their flowering and fruiting season. Delicous and a must have for the home gardener.

Black Amber Plum

voice — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 08:19:57 +0000

Black Amber is a mid season fruiting Japanese plum. Black on the outside and golden on the inside . It is a high quality fruit that is juicy and very sweet , firm to pick and aromatic . It has an upright habit and is a heavy bearing plum. Great source in Vitamins C , A ,B2 ,Potassium and dietary fibre . Plant in a sunny well drained site .One of the best eating purple plums.

Black currants

voice — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 08:17:38 +0000

Attractive black glossy berries that are high in vitamin C, potassium and has anti oxidant properties 4x that of Blueberries. Tests also show that blackcurrant juice is extremely good for Arthritis and protection against Alzheimers disease. Plant in a sunny position, with regular feeding .Blackcurrants fruit on the young new canes of the previous seasons wood , in early summer. They refer a soil moiture holding soil. Reach 2m.

Passionfruit

voice — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 08:14:43 +0000

A perennial climber that if planted in a warm sheltered spot and well cared for with regular feeding during spring and summer will produce good crops of purple round fruit . Delicious eaten raw or in salads. High in vitamin C .Support the climbing vine and allow for at least 3m spread. Plant in full sun and well drained soil. Enjoy.

Red Currents

voice — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 08:11:49 +0000

Red Currents are a showy shrub when in leaf and berry during the summer months . They will grow to about 2m tall. Deciduous in winter. Their attractive bright red berries are extremely good for you and like the black current have many health giving properties (see black current) Plant in full sun with good drainage , it can also tolerate some shade.

Avocado Hass Furte’ Reed

voice — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 08:10:03 +0000

An evergreen tree. Plant (high) in welldrained soil in a sunny position and mulch around the roots. Protect from frosts and wind when young . Water well and feed in summer .Pick off the tree when hard and ripen inside .Hass types will tolerate to -1degrees C .Avocados are an energy packed super food and are very good for us. Planted closey together in 3 varieties these can cross pollinate producing hundreds of fruit at different times , prune to a height of 2m and keep short.

Boysenberry

voice — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 08:07:25 +0000

Aromatic purple berries are produced on this trailing vine. Small clusters of flowers appear in the spring which are then followed by deep maroon coloured sweet round juicy berries. All Berries are high in anti-oxidants and are very good for you. The Boysenberry is considered a cross between a Raspberry, Blackberry and Loganberry. Because of its rambling nature it is best supported during the fruiting stage as this makes harvesting easier as the berries are off the ground. Plant in full sun or part shade in a rich welldrained soil. Mulch well to retain moisture , and water well during dry periods. Protect from strong winds. After the plant has finished fruiting it can be cut back close to the ground to encourage new shoots to form which will bear fruit the following season.

Calville-blanc d ‘hiver Apple

voice — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 08:04:13 +0000

An Ancient French variety of Apple that has an unusually shaped exterior but a sort after interior. Valued by Pastry Chefs because of its cream coloured flesh with excellent flavour and keeps its shape when cooked. Said to be “Sweet and Sharp” This Tree is self fertile and disease resisant . Best grown in a warm spot.

Sweet Chestnut

voice — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 05:01:45 +0000

Castanea sativa ‘1005′ is a medium sized Sweet Chestnut along with Castanea sativa ‘ Lincoln ‘ that produces high quality nuts early to mid-season. Chestnuts are grown either for shade in a larger block of land or lifestyle block. They can look amazing in an avenue planting with their stunning candlelabra type flowers in late summer and then producing their nuts in the Autumn. These can be used in cooking or roasted. They require average soil conditions and good drainage but will tolerate poorer soils if they need to.