Springtime in the garden

Organicgardener and author Kath Irvine. Photo/Supplied

Spring is here and it’s timetohead into the veggie garden.

Organicgardener and author, Kath Irvine, who isbased in Horowhenua, shares some tips.

Spring is all about greens– broccoli shoots for Africa (so useful, aren’t they?),cabbages, leeks,celery and leafy greensgalore.

Leafy greens are the best.Not as glamourous asa tomatoor trendy asa kohlrabi, but they’re theeasiestveggietogrow and jamming with nourishment.

Let theones youlove to eatflower andgo toseed. They’llresow themselves everywhere - free seedlings. There’s nothingcooler than a forest of useful leafy greens turning up right when you need them, without lifting a finger. No matter what happenstoyour health orenergyor out in the world– you’ll have nourishing greens availablefor every meal.

Stirfries, sammies and salads are much more flavoursome andexciting witha bunch of 12 or so different greens. • Spunky ones like cavalo nero, fennel or russianred kale. • Spicy ones like land cress, mizuna orrocket. • Creamy ones like miners lettuce bok choy or komatsuna. • Crisp ones like littlegem lettuce or gai lan. • Bitter endive, dandelion or chicory for inner mojoand liver support. • Pretty ones like chard,coriander or Italian parsley. • Nourishing chickweed, lovely lemony sorrell, refreshing mint and fragrant dill.

Grow them incontainers or along the outside, picking edge forease of harvest. They’ll happilygrow with herbs, flowers,roses or under fruit trees, as well in the veggiepatch.

Keep the biggest,outside leaves picked offto keep them growingstrongly. Use the nice ones for dinner and theratty old onesfor chop and drop mulch orfor compost.

Spring brings such an upbeatenergy, it’s hard nottorush headlong into planting tomatoes and pumpkins andother summery crops. But slow down– just enoughtoallow timetofeel where your soil isatfirst.Slide your hand in uptoyour knuckles (or further if you can). Soil that’s toocoldfor summer crops, feels…well,cold,a bit clammy and heavytoo. Once it’s sittingat18– 20 degrees, meaning it’s readytoreceive pumpkins,tomatoes, beans etc - it feelswarm, and light and like youwant tolay your cheek on it. Soil thermometers are a cheaptool.

Align your crop choices withtemperature (both soil and air) and your plants willrace away withstrong growth. So satisfying.

If unsure, double check the idealtemps online.

Here’s what I can plant in myLevin garden. Adapt it to suit yourconditions.

Direct sowcarrots,radish, parsnip, rocket, mizuna, dill.

Tray sowceleriac, salads,silverbeet, perpetual beet,parsley, kale, broccoli, cabbage, peas, snowpeas,chives, spring onions,red onions, brown onions, shallots.

Direct or tray sow Beetroot,spinach, saladings, bok choy, broadbeans and coriander. If it’s cold and wetatyours – tray sow these. If it’s warming up already, direct sow.

Plant outcelery,broccoli,cabbage, bok choy, kale, silverbeet,parsley, onions, spring onions, potatoes, peas.

Companion flowers: direct,or tray sow, or plant as many as youcan cram in. Calendula, cornflower, poppy, nasturtium, borage, sweet pea, snapdragon, aquilegia, viola,wallflower, larkspur, hollyhock. In the Greenhouse (or undercover): Tray sowtomato, chilli, pepper, aubergine, zucchini, cucumber, melon, squash, pumpkin, dwarf beans, climbing beans. Set up a heat pad or whatever you have,tocreate18-20 degree soil. Plant out salads,zucchini, cucumber, dwarf beans, climbing beans, soya beans,basil, marigold,tomatoes, chillies, aubergines and peppers. Begin yourkumara shoots.

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