Spring Scoop 2021 by Kings Plant Barn

FREE ISSUE

SPRING SCOOP 2021

Sensational

SPRING RECIPES

Make the most of spring with Lynda Hallinan

Organic

GARDENING

Everything you need to succeed

Passionate

PLANT PEOPLE

Take a look at how our terrariums are crafted

Bee FRIENDLY

Bringing bees to your garden

Know your TOMATOES

Planting tips & top varieties

Drying FLOWERS All you need to know

contents the gardeners mail could go accross these spreads to make room for little growers activity?

we help you

OW N

NURSER

AD VIC

E AND PLA

N RA

GROW WELL

TO AN G R OW G UAR

At Kings, we love helping our plants and our customers grow. Whether you’re a beginner or a pro, we make things easy every step of the way. With our exclusive range of top quality plants grown with care in our own nurseries, expert advice from our team of plant specialists plus ongoing support from our Plant Doctors when you need it, and a Sure To Grow Guarantee to back every plant, we’re here to help you grow well.

kings.co.nz

0800 PLANTS

CONTENTS SPRING 2021

FEATURES

EVERY ISSUE

14 Starting a Veggie Garden

Gardeners’ Mail

Celebrating your garden success stories

Spring Checklists

What to plant and tend to this spring

20 Growing Organically

Growing your own organic veggies through healthy soil and safe sprays

23 Flowers for Drying

Our top varieties and tips for creating your own stunning bouquets

34 Bring on the Bees

Protecting and increasing bee numbers through planting

38 Growing Roses

Our top varieties and planting tips

30 Indoor Plants

Tips for spring care

32 Passionate Plant People

Take a peek at how our terrariums are crafted instore

37 Kids Corner

Bee-feeding crafts for your little growers

42 Garden to Plate Recipes

Spring favourites with Lynda Hallinan

46 Plant Doctor

Your questions, our expert advice

New Ze a l

2021 ★ rs • ★ de

2021 • Vo te

Our top varieties and care tips

★

16 Growing Tomatoes

★

A beginner's guide for all you need to know to start your own veggie garden

★

Garden Centres

GARDENERS’ MAIL

CELEBRATING YOUR SUCCESS

THE SUCCULENT FOREST I first discovered the self-propagating nature of succulents 15+ years ago, as a teenager observing my mother’s Echeveria. Reconnecting with nature in my own garden during the first lockdown, I discovered clumps of succulents from the previous owner dotted around my garden. Some of these had restricted growth. Some of these plants are now the size of cabbages. My friends call it a ‘succulent forest’, and I have shared plants with friends who were keen to grow their own. My garden once belonged to an elderly member of the local garden club; I would like to think I have done her proud. 4

-Karen Cheng, Auckland

BEE-UTIFUL THANKS Thank you for the vouchers that you gave to the Honey Puffs team for Bee Week. Our teacher Ms. Holmes won them from the competition on Facebook. She has given them to our school and we might buy citrus trees for our school community orchard. We are a small three class rural school and the vouchers are a big thing for us. Ms. Holmes loves gardening and we have put in a sensory garden with five sections, one for each sense. Thank you from all the children at Kuranui Primary School.

-June Tilah, Age 7

FLOWERS IN SMALL SPACES Due to having no garden space, I have converted our outdoor patio into a floral potted oasis filled with colourful annuals, roses and lavender, which the bees love! I started this space earlier this year, and being new to gardening have found the staff at Kings extremely helpful, always happy to take the time to answer any questions I may have. One staff member even ordered in a specific colour palette of poppies that I was after. These have been a favourite this season, and I have enjoyed bringing them indoors, as well as cut flowers for our vases.

-Danielle Melhop, Auckland

WIN Send us your stories and be in to

a Kings $50 Voucher

Every published story wins, so send us your gardening success stories! Post: PO BOX 31002, Milford, 0741 Email: info@kings.co.nz or message us on Facebook or Instagram 5

YOUR

SPRING GARDEN

SEPTEMBER TO-DO LIST Spring is finally here! September is one of the most exciting months for gardeners, with new life emerging and plenty to doto get the most out of the months ahead.

Veggies

Fruit

Flowers

Sow carrot and parsnip seeds 

Plant deciduous fruit trees now 

Take out any finished winter 

directly into weed-free beds. Sow tomato, zucchini, cucumber, basil, eggplant, chilli, and capsicum seeds into seedling trays indoors in a north-facing window.

Plant grafted tomato and basil 

plants in a warm, sheltered spot, or move pots out of the wind until mid-spring.

Plant potato seeds once they have  ‘chitted’, or sprouted at least 15cm-long shoots.

This is the perfect time to grow 

those berries you have always wanted! Plant strawberries now for a Christmas harvest or blueberry bushes for berries year after year.

Plant melon seeds in trays now for  vigorous plants come October.

Keep on top of weeds as spring 

Feed any potted fruit trees with 

Improve your soil by forking in 

Prune feijoa and passionfruit vines 

starts heating up; these will be harder to tackle even by next month.

Kings Natures Organic Fertiliser, Kings Sheep Pellets, and Kings Organic Compost.

including peaches, plums, nectarines, apples, and pears, as well as citrus in the ground, or plant dwarf versions in large pots.

Aquaticus Organic Garden Booster as they start to produce new foliage. now to encourage new growth.

annuals, refresh your pot with Kings Container Mix and replant spring annuals such as snapdragons, petunias, and marigolds.

Lavender is drought tolerant, 

hardy to frosts, fast-growing, fragrant and feeds bees. Plant in a position that gets full sun, either in the ground with Living Earth Garden Mix or in pots with Tui Pot Power.

Deadhead winter annuals for an 

extended flowering season, and feed flowering plants with Kings Fast Food if you haven’t already.

Sow flower seeds such as alyssum,  Californian poppies, petunia, marigold, cosmos, gazania, begonia, and wallflowers.

September Essentials

Trees and shrubs

Indoor plants

Plant roses in a sunny position 

Like most plants in spring, indoor 

with free-draining soil. They are best planted in the ground rather than pots, where they tend to dry out too quickly. Feed with Kings Rose Slow-Release Fertiliser now.

Hydrangeas are one of Auckland’s  favourite classic shrubs, and will never go out of fashion. Plants will be arriving in stores soon. Plant while they are still small so they can become established and reward you with stunning flowers come summer.

Mulch around fruit trees, shrubs, 

and hedging if you haven’t already. Hedges especially need help to retain moisture in the soil as the weather warms.

 You can find gardenia, choisya,

mandevilla, clematis, and fuchsia instore.

Lawn Sow grass seed now to create new  lawns or repair patchy, damaged ones.

Fertilise any established lawns 

with Weed ‘n’ Feed. Be careful fertilising if your lawn is new, as many fertilisers are too strong and can burn new grass.

As the weather warms, mow your  lawn on a high setting and slowly cut the grass shorter as we get into late spring.

plants are waking up. Take note of how fast water is being absorbed and adjust your watering accordingly.

Snip off old, browning leaves that 

may have appeared during winter.

If your plants are leaning towards 

Aquaticus Organic Garden Booster Feed all your seedlings, trees, shrubs, and flowers with this organic fertiliser, which contains trace elements and Trichoderma to help combat root rot and dieback. From $14.99

the sun, rotate them to encourage them to grow straighter.

General tasks Once you have planted out 

veggies and flower punnets, return the plastic (roughly rinsed) to one of our store’s swap-a-pot bins for reuse/recycling.

Repair or erect trellises and 

netting for climbers to grow up in the following seasons, such as peas, beans, pumpkins, cucumbers, and even melons.

If you are just starting out on your  gardening journey, look into getting a green bin for your excess green waste if you don’t have a compost bin.

Living Earth Garden Mix A quality mix perfect for perennials, shrubs, trees and ornamentals. Mix in with your original soil or use on its own. Best used in the ground instead of pots. $14.99 | 3 for $42

Replace worn-out gardening tools  and gloves for the growing season.

Deadhead daffodils and tulips 

once flowering has finished, as otherwise, they will use unnecessary energy in seed development.

Seed Range Now is the time to plant from seed. Choose your favourite veggies, flowers, and natives from our selection instore or online. From $2.99

OCTOBER TO-DO LIST We are well into spring now, and it’s time to start seriously

thinking about your summer veggies and flowers. So get them in before the month’s end and keep on top of those weeds!

Silverbeet

Hellebores

Veggies

Fruit

Flowers

If you have any empty garden 

Feed any established fruit trees in 

Petunia, lobelia, and alyssum are 

Plant out rhubarb in a sunny spot 

For taller annual colour, plant out 

Plant out tasty strawberries for a 

Long-lasting perennials such as 

beds, fork in Kings Organic Compost and Natures Organic Fertiliser.

Continue to protect seedlings 

from slugs and snails with Tui Quash, which is safe around both children and pets.

A full range of seedlings is 

available instore, including tomatoes, chillies, basil, beans, and eggplants.

There is still plenty of time to sow 

summer seeds. Make sure to follow the spacing suggestions on the back of seed packets and use fresh seeds instead of ones that have been stored for more than three years.

Don’t forget to label your seeds  and seedlings. This will come in handy when harvesting so you know what worked and what needs more care next year.

Strawberry plants

the ground with Kings Citrus and Fruit Tree Fertiliser. For citrus in pots, use Kings Slow-Release Citrus Food.

in your garden with Kings Organic Compost and sheep pellets. summer harvest. Plant blueberries in soil mixed with Kings Organic Compost or in large pots. Plant with different varieties in the same garden for cross-pollination.

Get new passionfruit vines in the 

garden from October onwards. Choose a sunny, north-facing spot with free-draining soil.

perfect for tall pots and hanging baskets, as their brightly coloured flowers will cascade down in late spring and summer. snapdragons, marigolds, and gazanias.

lavender, geraniums, nemesia, and calibrachoa will be great in the garden, along sidewalks, or in containers.

Deadhead any spent flowers. 

Feed with Yates Thrive Flower and Fruit Food to encourage stronger plants and blooms.

Plant out any melon seedlings 

now once the threat of frost and cold temperatures has passed.

Plant coriander in part shade to protect from the afternoon sun and stop the plants from ‘bolting’ or ‘going to seed'

October Essentials

Trees and shrubs

Indoor plants

Plant roses in parts of the garden 

As new growth continues, you can 

that get more than six hours of sunlight a day with a mix of either Living Earth Garden Mix or Kings Organic Compost.

With more varieties to choose 

from now, it’s the perfect time to get those hydrangeas in. They enjoy dappled shade but can withstand being on the south side of fences and houses.

Mulch shrubs such as roses, 

daphne, camellias, vireyas, gardenias, and pieris with Living Earth More Than Mulch, and feed with Aquaticus Organic Garden Booster once a month.

Lawn Use Weed ‘n’ Feed to fertilise your  lawn and kill off broad-leaf weeds.

Any tougher weeds will need to 

be spot sprayed. To find out which weedkiller is most suitable, ask one of our staff members instore.

Sow grass seed in patchy areas. 

begin to make cuttings and propagate indoor plants again.

Start fertilising with Kings House  Plant Food, or for larger, more established indoor plants, Kings House Plant Slow-Release Food.

Kings Organic Compost Add to the soil in the garden to supplement nutrients and to help improve soil structure in poorer and more compact soils. $6.99 | 4 for $25

More frequent watering will be 

required – most indoor plants only need watering when their soil becomes dry but keep fittonia, ferns, and carnivorous plants moist.

General tasks Physically weed veggie beds 

where possible. Use a Garden Kneeler Pad to help protect and cushion your knees.

Regularly remove laterals from 

your tomatoes and stake them well with sturdy bamboo stakes.

Kings Slow-Release Citrus Food Feeds plants for up to three months and is specially formulated for citrus. Promotes healthy foliage and fruit growth. 700g $14.99

Consider planting companion 

plants around your veggies and shrubs to prevent several pests.

Use Living Earth More Than Lawn Mix for successful germination.

Natures Organic Fertiliser An organic fertiliser that contains over 70 essential vitamins, minerals, and natural growth hormones. When used on edibles, it helps to sweeten fruit and condition poor soils. 5kg $22.99

NOVEMBER TO-DO LIST Summer is creeping closer, and veggie growing should be in full swing!

Keep plants regularly watered, even if it’s with used water from the sink.

Veggies

Fruit

Flowers

 Stagger your planting to help

Passionfruit are a must for any 

 Dianthus, dahlias, salvias, zinnias,

spread out your harvest. (This means planting half of the crop you want now and the other half two or three weeks later.)

 Plant beans, tomatoes, chillies,

capsicums, eggplant, courgettes, cucumber, and kumara shoots now.

 Plant out a herb garden in pots if you are tight on space. Mint is perfect in containers as it can sometimes get out of hand in gardens.

 Water, weed, and feed with Kings Fast Food. Tomato plants can be fed with Kings Tomato Food instead.

 Mulch veggie beds with pea straw to retain moisture in the soil.

garden! Choose a sunny, warm area (best against a fence) to plant the vine. As they grow, occasionally prune back to offer a good amount of airflow around the leaves to prevent bacterial infections due to high humidity around the foliage.

If you are short on space, you can  grow dwarf citrus in medium to large pots, as they only grow 1.5 to 2 metres tall.

If there are water restrictions in 

place, water your fruit trees with greywater if you have used eco-friendly soap.

Harvest and enjoy delicious 

strawberries – make sure to freeze some for summer smoothies too.

snapdragons, and verbenas are available for pots and gardens.

 Plant out summer bulbs as they become available instore.

 When planting into pots, use

Kings Container Mix, or Tui Pot Power.

Trees and shrubs Most of our roses will be in flower 

now! If you weren’t sure what variety or colour you wanted, now is the perfect time to smell and choose your favourites.

Vining plants that are covered in 

blooms will be available instore, including star jasmine, mandevilla, and bougainvillea.

Add a touch of the tropics to your 

garden with hibiscus, arriving in stores at the end of the month, for stunning summer blooms.

Lawn Water your lawn regularly, either 

Zucchini flowers are edible. They are best deep fried – just make sure you leave some flowers to fruit too.

November Essentials

with tank water or greywater from the house if water restrictions apply.

Late spring is the last chance to 

get a good lawn germinating before the heat of summer packs in.

It’s important to keep grass low 

Peastraw & Lucerne

around plants and mulch around trees to help suppress any weeds.

Apply a layer around your plants to help suppress weeds, add organic matter, and to help prevent the soil from drying out. From $11.99

General tasks Apply a little bulb food around 

any finishing spring flowers and to any summer bulbs that might just be starting to sprout.

Plant bee attractants around the 

Indoor plants

 Mid- to late spring is a great time to start repotting all your indoor plants. Double-check what sort of mix each species needs before buying. For more information, read our indoor plant article on page 30. Make sure your room has enough  humidity for any tropical plants. Humidity levels are best kept around 60–70%. If you have less, put rocks in the bottom of your saucers before filling them with water; otherwise, look into a humidifier and run this on a timer for up to three hours a day.

Cut back any spent flowers. With  moth orchids, snip back just above the first or second node.

bottom of fruit trees and next to veggie gardens, including comfrey, borage, cosmos, lavender, and salvia.

Clean out bird baths as 

temperatures rise; birds will be eager to use clean water.

Kings Tomato Food Keep tomato plants well fed to ensure you get a good crop. Kings Tomato Food is specially formulated for feeding tomatoes, peppers, chillies, eggplants, and courgettes. 900g $7.99

Healthy leaf litter can be used for 

mulch under large trees. This also offers birds a place to forage for insects.

Tui Pot Power This premium mixture is ideal for special and delicate potted plants. Pot Power is great for hanging baskets and containers of all kinds. 10L $12.99

OUR TOP

SPRING PLANTS

Fill your outdoor areas with our top selling edibles and flowers perfect for pots and garden beds and suitable to plant throughout the season.

Lavender Drought-tolerant, wonderfully scented and loved by bees, lavender is easy to grow even in the Auckland heat and will produce lasting blooms over the spring and summer period. Plant in full sun in free-draining soil, and trim dead flowers when they have finished in autumn. Major Also known as Lavender stoechas or 'bunny ears', Major is one of the most popular lavenders in New Zealand. This particular flower has bracts or 'wings' on the top of the buds. Grows to 60cm x 60cm.

Dentata Known as 'French lavender', Dentata has small 'toothed' leaves and grows up to 1m x 1m, making it perfect for a garden border or small hedge with a long flowering season. Bee Brilliant An early flowering variety of 'Major', this has a prolific flowering habit with deep purple flowers appearing from early spring to late summer. Grows to 50cm x 50cm. Great for pots. The Princess Famed for vivid colour with deep pink 'bunny ear' flowers and a very long flowering time from mid-spring to mid-autumn. Grows to 70cm x 70cm.

Blueberries

Passionfruit

When choosing blueberries, it’s important to buy two different varieties to ensure cross-pollination for high-yielding future crops. They can be planted in a large container with Kings Container Mix and sheep pellets, or in the garden with a generous amount of sheep pellets and Kings Organic Compost mixed into the soil. They love full sun and being fed with Kings Blueberry Food. Ask a staff member for more information about the varieties instore.

Passionfruit vines are available for planting in both spring and summer. They are happiest against a warm, north-facing wall in a raised garden bed. Black Beauty is the most popular variety. It grows rapidly and fruits prolifically (making them perfect for beginners), and has some of the smallest fruits. If you have a particularly warm, sheltered spot, ask about the Panama varieties that come into stores in summer.

Dianthus

Basil

Gorgeous plants grown as both hardy annuals and perennials; dianthus can be accompanied by a spicy scent and are also called ‘sweet William’. They are perfect as garden borders, planted in pots, or hanging baskets. Water well in summer.

An extremely versatile herb that is delicious on pizzas, in pesto and even in cocktails. Sow seeds indoors in early September, or buy plants later in the month. Plant in a free-draining mix and water once a day to every second day as the weather heats up.

Pinch back the tips to encourage bushing, and save the seed after they flower to grow again the following year.

A BEGINNER'S GUIDE TO

STARTING A VEGGIE GARDEN Many of us aspire to grow our own produce, but don’t know where to start. Here are some of the most common questions we get from our customers (and the answers!).

WHAT TO GROW, WHEN? Not all vegetables will grow all year round. Crops such as tomatoes, eggplants, capsicums, chillies, pumpkins, corn, and melons only grow from spring to autumn outside, and most plants are annuals meaning their lifespan is within one year. Read the back of the seed packets for information on how and when to grow them. Any vegetable seedlings in our garden centres are seasonal and can be planted when available. If you need more help, ask a team member instore.

Where can I grow veggies? Most vegetables need full sun to grow well. If they are grown in the shade they may become spindly, reaching for the sun, and fail to find the energy required to grow large enough to be edible. You can grow veggies in a dug-in veggie patch, a raised bed, in Vegepods, or in large pots and containers. Always ensure your plants will have enough room for their roots before you start planting.

How do I make a veggie garden? If you do not have a designated veggie patch yet, making your own can be very rewarding. A raised bed is great, as it means you will have drainage, know what sort of soil you are planting into, and you don’t need to bend down as much to tend it, depending on the height. Look for a space that isn’t near any trees, as tree roots will eventually invade the nutritious soil, making it harder to plant. You can create a raised bed out of untreated wood, brick, cement blocks – or buy flatpack ones. The soil that is used is very important.

We recommend using a weed-free base to get started. Add in Living Earth Organic Veggie Mix, along with compost. Potting mix will dry out too fast, and make sure Kings Organic Compost is used sparingly – too much compost can burn seedling roots. Mix in sheep pellets or Natures Organic Fertiliser for an additional organic boost. What do I need to do to make sure the veggies grow well? Regular watering and using the right fertiliser is very important for all crops. Watering in the mornings around the roots is best. Watering the foliage will not only fail to provide necessary moisture to the main part of the plant, but it can also cause humidity problems, which can lead to diseases. Watering earlier in the morning means the plants have time to absorb the majority of the moisture before it evaporates throughout the day. Liquid fertiliser is absorbed more quickly by plants, though does require more energy to disperse than slow-release food. Research the plants you are growing, as some (like tomatoes and potatoes) are heavy feeders and need nutrients up to twice a month. How can I keep insects and birds away from my crops? Prevention is always better than treatment. Cover green salad crops with bug netting. Weakened plants are tastier to pest insects so make sure they are well looked after. Some veggie or fruiting plants need to be pollinated by bugs so instead of netting, look out for early signs of insect damage, and use organic sprays where possible, such as organic Bugtrol. You can still cover plants such as strawberries with bird netting – bees will still be able to pollinate their flowers.

Finally, remember that failure is experience! It’s disheartening when you buy or grow your first plants and they don’t produce well or die. However, this in the long run makes you a better gardener. No one starts off at an expert level and failure is inevitable; it means you learn what to do differently next time to avoid making the same mistakes. Find out the reason why a plant may have failed by bringing a sample or photos of your plant instore for a staff member to diagnose. They can tell you what happened, why, and how to prevent it. Armed with the right information, you can go on to be successful in your veggie garden journey.

For more organic tips and suggestions, ask our friendly team.

GROWING

TOMATOES There is nothing like beautiful homegrown tomatoes. Tomato plants are an annual meaning they will only last a year, but they are fast growing, and have bushy foliage, a lovely fragrance as well as delicious fruit. Here's everything you need to know about growing tomatoes.

SEEDS, SEEDLINGS, OR ESTABLISHED PLANTS?

Sowing seeds Because Auckland is warmer for an extended season, you can start sowing your tomato seed in mid-to-late August. Use Tui Seed Raising Mix, plant your seeds about 5cm apart, and gently spray the soil with water. Keep the seeds in a warm, dark place until they germinate, then move them to a north-facing window or sunny position when they start sprouting, making sure that the soil is slightly moist at all times. Once the plant has two to three pairs of larger, ‘true’ tomato leaves, plant out into larger pots or in the garden when temperatures have risen in early spring.

Growing from seedlings If you want to get your tomato plants established quicker, you can plant tomato seedlings instead of sowing seeds. Seedlings are more expensive than seeds, but are still much cheaper than the larger established plants, and you can feel confident in their fast growth. Seedlings come in punnets of six, and we recommend getting the super punnets as these are slightly more mature than the value seedlings, and their roots don’t get tangled with each other.

Buying established plants These mature plants have stronger stems, multiple leaves and some can be found with flowers or fruit later in the season. They start to arrive in stores from mid-September and there are plenty of varieties to choose from. The advantage of buying mature plants is that they are generally faster growing; their roots will establish quickly and they’ll produce fruit faster. Grafted tomatoes will grow larger than your average tomato, having the capacity to be able to hold much more fruit. Tumbling tomatoes are smaller plants perfect for pots on the deck or in hanging baskets, and are almost ready for picking when they arrive instore.

PLANTING Firstly, your plant will need to be in a position where it gets full sun, meaning at least six hours of full sunlight a day. Make sure your plants are out of harsh windy places, but still get a good amount of airflow. If you are planting into the ground, rotate your crops each year, making sure you don’t plant them in the same place you had Solanum plants (tomatoes, potatoes and eggplants) the year before; this will lower the chances of getting blight or other diseases that stay in the soil. Tomato vines can get top-heavy, so they should be staked, held up by string, or tied to a trellis. Companion plant tomatoes with basil plants, as this is said to improve the taste of tomatoes, as well as the vigour of the plants. It helps repels some insects as well.

In the garden Make sure your garden soil is full of nutrients. If you didn’t use compost crops over the winter period, you can dig some Kings Organic Compost into the soil. You will need to dig a hole twice as deep and twice as wide as the pot your plant came in. Add a handful of Nature’s Organic Fertiliser or a cup of sheep pellets, and a mixture of Kings Organic Compost and top soil. Backfill the rest of the hole around the plant, making sure you don’t cover the stalk with soil. Firm the soil and water deeply. Space plants at least a metre apart.

MAINTENANCE

HARVESTING

Kings Liquid Tomato Food 500mL $11.99

Feeding and watering Tomatoes are heavy feeders and once they have established themselves (four weeks or so after planting) you can start feeding them once every two weeks with Kings Liquid Tomato Food. Feed until the last fruit have been harvested in autumn. Only water around the roots, avoiding the leaves. This will mean your plant gets the maximum amount of water, and it will stop the leaves burning from magnified water in the summer heat. It will also help prevent future foliage diseases.

Tomatoes are generally ready to eat when they have turned red (or orange or yellow) on the vine. Harvest green tomato varieties when the tomato is just starting to show a hint of colour at the base of the fruit. You can leave these out on the bench for a couple more days from harvest before eating. Red, orange, and yellow tomatoes can also be harvested when they have reached their full size but are still green, because tomatoes produce a gas that starts to emit once they have reached this size and they will continue to ripen even after they have been harvested from the plant. Leave a small stalk on the fruit, and leave the fruit out in a sunny window to help them ripen. Store with the stalk attached. If you have a surplus of tomatoes, freeze them to enjoy year round.

Tui Tomato Mix 30L $17.99

Pruning To help channel energy into fruit and flower production rather than into extra foliage, you will need to remove side shoots or ‘lateral’ branches. These are found sprouting at any angle between the main stem and an already-formed branch. 18

In a greenhouse The advantage to having a greenhouse is that you can stop insects from attacking your ripening tomatoes, and it’s easy to tie them to the roof using string, so they don’t need staking. Plus if you are growing from seed, you can start planting out your seedlings earlier than you would in an outside garden. However, you will need to make sure there is enough airflow to prevent fungal disease. Remember to rotate your crop, but if you can’t, each year you should take the top 50cm of old soil out and replace it with Tui Veggie Mix.

In a pot Use either Kings Container Mix or Tui Tomato Mix, as these have water crystals that will retain moisture for longer, as well as slow-release fertiliser to help feed your plants. Make sure you choose a large container for your tomato plants – at least 40L for a mature plant, as tomato roots need a good amount of space. Make sure your pot has drainage holes in the bottom, and if possible keep a saucer under the pot so the plant can absorb any excess water in the summer months. Pots will need watering every day in hot weather.

Tui Vegetable Mix $16.99 | 2 for $32

TOP VARIETIES Tomatoes come in a range of colours and sizes, with different tastes and culinary uses. Here are our top picks for this spring.

Beefsteak Named for its large, fleshy fruit, the beefsteak tomato is perfect for slicing and using in sandwiches and burgers. Give it a good 1.5m width to grow.

Sweet 100 These small, sweet cherry tomatoes are perfect for salads, kids’ lunches and eating right off the vine. They produce an abundance of fruit (this is where the ‘100’ comes from) from late spring through to late autumn.

Tumbler Tumblers come in a range of red, orange and yellow fruit that are almost as sweet as the Sweet 100. They are perfect for small gardens and patios, and happy in smaller containers and hanging baskets.

Money Maker Your classic medium-sized tomato with juicy fruit. This is a prolific cropper and perfect for using in salads and in fresh dishes. The plant has good resistance to disease.

Roma Perfect for soups and pastes, Roma tomatoes are oblong-shaped. The fruit ripens all at once, rather than throughout the season. They have good disease resistance and have less acid that many other tomatoes, though contrary to popular belief are not technically low acid tomatoes.

Grosse Lisse Medium to large, sweet-tasting fruit, these are perfect for cooking and using in preserves. Being an heirloom variety, the Grosse Lisse seeds are true to their parent plant and can be collected year after year.

GROWING

ORGANICALLY Growing organically is something that many gardeners aspire to do. It is better for us and for the environment, and many of these good gardening practices can be passed on to friends and family for healthier, cleaner produce enjoyed by many. Yet sadly, many of us are short on time and are unsure of what to do.

HEALTHY SOIL All too often, we forget about how healthy garden soil really is. It’s a vibrant ecosystem, and in healthy garden soil there can be as many as one billion beneficial bacteria in a single teaspoon, along with thousands of protozoa and metres of fungal strands. The benefits of having a rich and varied ecosystem in the garden

Kings Blood and Bone From $10.99

Aquaticus Organic Garden Booster 500mL from $14.99 Egmont Rootmate 100g $14.99 Tui Worm Farm $139.99

are massive. Beneficial fungi often form symbiotic relationships with your plants. In exchange for sugars, fungi will help provide minerals and moisture, while some will even help protect plants from various diseases and pest attacks. This sort of ecosystem is also harder to disrupt. There are balances in place that make it harder for soil diseases to

establish. Soil structure is also greatly improved. An array of compounds that help bind the soil are created by various living organisms. There is more for worms to eat and move around in, which opens up spaces, aerating the soil. This helps improve the drought resistance of your plants, as the soil can hold more moisture.

How do you improve your soil? Add lots of organic matter. Adding Kings Organic Compost and Kings Sheep Pellets to your soil adds nutrients and humus, providing more food for your plants and the beneficial microbes nestled in your soil. Worm farms Worm farms are a great way to process your food scraps and turn them into a highly nutritious substance full of beneficial microbes, and perfect for adding a bit of life to your soil. Dilute vermicast (worm farm) liquid at a ratio of 1:10, and use to feed veggies, fruit trees and other important plants. Use the vermicast solids when preparing your garden beds. Add a small layer after weeding and preparing beds, then lightly fork in.

Protect plants with Trichoderma Aquaticus Organic Garden Booster contains beneficial Trichoderma, a fungus that colonises around plant roots in the soil and helps protect from soil-borne diseases as well as stimulating root growth. Egmont Rootmate also contains Trichoderma and can be used to help prevent and protect plants such as griselinia, buxus, and avocado from root rot (phytophthoras) and other problems. Use Egmont Plantmate as a drench for already established plants, and Egmont Rootmate when planting new plants.

Compost on site Add fresh compost straight from your compost bin (or use Kings Organic Compost), which will be full of beneficial microbes. If you have space, place your compost bin on your garden beds so that the nutrients and benefits leach out into the bed. Keep the soil moist Mulch and water your garden beds regularly through the summer to ensure that your plants and the beneficial microbes in your soil thrive. If there are water restrictions, reuse water from the sink, shower, bath, or even the washing machine – making sure you use eco-friendly soap. ...continued on next page

Living Earth More than Mulch 40L $13.99 Kings Organic Compost $6.99 or 4 for $25 Kings Sheep Pellets 5kg $15.99 Tui Worm Tower $44.99

21 21

ORGANIC GARDEN MAINTENANCE Pest insects Prevention is key to a healthy organic garden. Water your plants well throughout spring and summer and mulch around woody perennials, trees, shrubs, and hedges. Start feeding now in spring, right through to mid-autumn. Veggies can be protected by birds and insects with bug netting. Once installed, you can have safe organic veggies for every season – just make sure to peg it down to the ground in case of strong winds. Planting a sacrificial crop will encourage pest insects to eat them instead of your desired plants. It is also a good idea to introduce beneficial insect plants around these crops or generally dotted around your garden to encourage predator insects.

For more organic tips and suggestions, ask our friendly team.

Plant hyssop, borage, echinacea, oregano, thyme, roses, phacelia yarrow and sage to attract ladybirds, praying mantises, spiders, and hoverflies.

Spraying for pest insects can be safe and organic as long as precautions are taken. Many plants outside with aphids, white fly, and eugenia psyllids can be treated with Bugtrol or Bioneem, organic oil sprays that only affect pest insects when sprayed directly on them. For certain insects indoors you can use either DEEM or Debug, and edibles both indoors and out can be sprayed with Nature’s Way Vegie, Citrus and Ornamental Spray, and Derris Dust. Always spray in the evening, and never spray on bee-friendly plants when they are in flower.

Weeds Weeds can be managed by prevention, organic spray methods, or by physical efforts. If you are looking at having trees or shrubs in your garden, don’t use weed mat, as this tends to dry out the soil underneath. Instead use a thin spread of compost and then a layer of mulch without letting these touch the stems and trunks of plants. This will suppress most of the weeds. Keep a handle on weeds in your veggie garden by pulling out a few weeds every few days to keep on top of them – otherwise, you will need to spend a whole day taking them out! Try using Japanese Niwashi tools or a grubber to remove weeds, making sure you get the roots as well as the leaves. Some weeds can be removed with organic weed killers. Try Nature’s Way Weedkiller, an organic herbicide that uses fatty acids to kill the tops of weeds and weaken the root system underneath. Small-space organic gardening If you don’t have enough room for a compost bin or worm farm, try using a bokashi bin. This is like a mini compost bin under your sink that doesn’t smell. By using ‘Bokashi Zing Compost’ in your bin, the leftovers will decompose four times as fast, and you can use the liquid to feed your plants!

Nature’s Way Vegie, Citrus and Ornamental Spray 750mL $18.99 Nature's Way Derris Dust 500g $13.99 Maze Compost Bokashi 500mL $12.99 Aquaticus Bugtrol From $19.99

GROWING

FLOWERS FOR DRYING Dried flowers last for years in a beautiful, delicate bouquet. These bouquets are easy to create and are coming back in fashion, especially for those who want to have plants inside but aren’t confident about looking after indoor plants. You can preserve those special flowers given as a gift, or perhaps make your wedding bouquet last for much longer than just a few days! 23

TOP VARIETIES There are a huge variety of cut-and-dry flowers to choose from that you can either grow from seed or plant established plants from our stores. Here are our top picks to use in dried-flower arrangements.

Hydrangeas Hydrangeas are a perennial, meaning the plant will last year after year. They bloom over the summer period and die back in the winter. They are happy in either full sun or part-shade and come in a range of colours. Hydrangeas can be dried in a vase of water, which may sound counterintuitive, but this allows them to desiccate slowly and helps hold their colour and shape. The water drying process will take about 2-3 weeks.

Gypsophilia Also known as ‘baby’s breath’, this plant is best grown in a sunny or partly shaded part of the garden. Now considered a slightly retro flower, gypsophila are sought after for their dainty white flowers in beautiful ‘sprays’, especially in wedding floral arrangements. An easy flower to dry, simply bunch together, hang upside down in a dark, warm, well ventilated space and check after 5 days.

Strawflowers An easy flower to grow from seed. Sow in warm weather in a sunny spot with well-draining soil. They don’t need rich soil to grow and are drought-tolerant once established. These are perfect for flower-growing beginners and are part of the “everlasting” family as they retain their vibrant colours for years after drying. When picking for drying, it’s best to cut the flowers before the yellow centre of the flower is visible.

Roses Single stem (or ‘hybrid tea’) roses are best for floral arrangements. Plant in the garden with full sun. Roses need maintenance during the winter, including a good hard trim that encourages healthy new growth and blooms through summer. When picking roses for drying, cut them when they are still tightly closed. Best dried using air drying by hanging upside down in a warm, ventilated room for 2 weeks.

Statice Another flower that grows well in any sunny spot in the garden and once established offers bright colour in the garden with minimal care. Very easy to grow from seed in mid-spring when temperatures are warm. This long-lasting annual has a sturdy stem and compact, colorful blooms which are a great filler for a dried bouquet.

Protea Not only are protea easy to grow, and drought-tolerant once established, the flowers are also renowned for their stunning, exotic appearance in bouquets and wreaths. After removing the leaves from the stems of several protea flowers, hang them upside down using twine for two-three weeks until they've dried completely.

Keep dried flowers out of direct sunlight, otherwise the colours will fade quickly.

HOW TO DRY FLOWERS Air-drying is the simplest way to preserve flowers and requires very little effort. Instructions

Aftercare

Try spraying your dried flower displays lightly with unscented hairspray to help keep their shape. If you are putting your dried flower arrangement on display, be sure to keep out of direct sunlight.

Pick your blooms at their flowering peak – on a sunny afternoon, once any dew has evaporated, or around noon, when the flowers are open (unless drying roses).

2. Strip them of their leaves and gather into bunches, wrapping them with elastic bands, or tightly bind with cotton string. 3. Hang these bunches upside down in a dark, dry area with good airflow (this could be a shed or garage) for two to three weeks. Remember that spring can be humid. Attach them to a long horizontal pole or even an old clothes horse. 4. Be careful when unwrapping the bunches, as these flowers will be much more fragile than fresh ones.

Pressed Flower Art You can also display dried flowers that have been in a flower press. If you cannot find a press, you can press the flowers between two heavy books. For pressed flowers, use smaller, daintier flowers such as pansies, daisies, borage, singlepetalled roses, or even fern fronds. Always have them between a couple of pieces of paper, so they are easy to remove once dried and don’t damage the books. Leave for a few weeks before removing flowers. 25

KINGS

GARDEN CAFE Our garden cafes are the perfect place to catch up with a friend, bring the family for a treat, or refuel your plant shopping. With a delicious seasonal menu, great coffee, kid friendly spaces and outdoor areas set amongst the beautiful greenery of plants, Kings Garden Cafes offer a welcoming space that everyone will love.

F I N D O U T M O R E A B O U T Y O U R L O C A L K INGS GARDEN C AFÉ AT W W W. K INGS. C O . NZ/ C AFE

PASSIONATE PL ANT PEOPLE

THE ART OF

TERRARIUMS

This spring, we met with Vicki, our talented terrarium landscaper here at Kings Takanini. Vicki lovingly creates each and every terrarium that we sell at Kings, and shares how she mastered the art of making terrariums. 27

Before joining the Kings team, Vicki had a small retail business selling gardening accessories and gifts, with a focus on garden art. She has always been creative and is a self-taught artist who loves painting ‘en plein air’ (the art of painting outdoors). Studying New Zealand landscapes while painting on canvas has given her an amazing eye for spatial design.

To Vicki, every terrarium is a new piece of art. Her understanding of contrast, colour harmony, texture and flow, all help her to passionately create miniature gardens for customers to enjoy in their own homes. She thoroughly enjoys experimenting with different combinations of plants, stones, moss, and bits of wood. “It is therapeutic to create these unique little worlds that can spark imagination and memories”. Vicki loves ‘wet’ or tropical terrariums which need to be constantly moist. She shares how the soft moss evokes childhood memories of family holidays in the Minginui Forest. She also enjoys using fittonia as the star of the show.

She says, “they brighten up any terrarium with their intense colours and interesting variegated or veined leaves”. Her second go-to would be beach-themed terrariums. Gorgeous flowering succulents are complimented with sand art, shells, driftwood, and sea-glass to make beautiful décor items for homes with a seaside vibe. At Christmas you’ll find our shelves styled with Vicki’s stunning seasonal terrariums. Festive versions from years past have featured long cylindrical vases, eye-catching black

and white layered sands, and specks of gold and silver. Her advice to customers? Always consider where the terrarium will be placed in the house before buying one. For a warm, sunlit room that gets plenty of light, choose an open, dry terrarium with succulents and cacti, which are easy care. If you are after something a little more tropical and can handle a bit more maintenance, then choose a wet or ‘closed’ terrarium with lush indoor plants and moss. Just be sure to keep these ones out of direct sunlight.

VICKI’S TOP TIPS •

Always make sure you choose plants that like the same conditions. Putting plants that prefer being dry next to moisture loving ones will make it difficult to keep them all alive at once!

•

Dry terrariums can include cacti and succulents.

•

Wet terrariums can include ferns, fittonias, syngoniums and peperomias.

•

Using an odd number of plants works best i.e., 3 or 5. Vary plant shapes and leaf textures to add interest, i.e., round, cylindrical, conical and variegated, shiny, and fluffy.

•

Think about colour harmony. All greens are not created equal. When choosing a plant with a blue/green leaf your design will work better if all the plants have a blue bias.

•

When trying to get a natural look for ground formation, slope the soil slightly. Put the big stones down first, then add the small ones. The small ones will fill the gaps and cover the bottom edge of the bigger stones making it look as if they have always been there. Use different coloured stone paths and repeating colours or shapes for your eye to follow around your terrarium adding movement and rhythm.

•

The last tip is to run a little bit of water around the inside edge of the glass on completion to water your plants and wash any soil residue left on the glass down to the soil level. Just make sure you don’t overdo it!

REPOTTING

INDOOR PLANTS Spring is an exciting time for indoor plants – a time of new growth. It’s also the best time to repot your indoor plants. Whether you have a brand-new plant that you want to plant into a new pot, need to replenish your existing plant with new soil, or your favourite plant has outgrown its old pot, repotting your indoor plant is something that will need doing once every few years. Here’s everything you need to know to make the move easy.

DOES IT NEED REPOTTING? The best way to tell if your plant needs to be repotted is to check if the plant roots are growing through the drainage holes at the bottom of your planter. Other signs may be that the roots are pushing the plant up out of the planter, your plant is growing slower than normal or it dries out more quickly than usual after watering. Newly bought plants don’t usually need to be repotted unless they are

going to a pot around the same size. Some indoor plants will have tags on them recommending you wait to repot them as they have delicate root structures. Others enjoy being tight in pots (like moth orchids, anthuriums and peace lilies) with their roots touching the sides. If the pot is too big, the plants could struggle to produce blooms until they get bigger.

Rootbound is when the plant’s roots have grown to fill the pot; there is more root in the pot than soil.

STEP BY STEP 1. Prepare your new pot

2. Remove plant from pot

3. Add your plant and soil

Ensure your new pot is larger, or the same size, as the current pot your plant is in. When upsizing your pot, increase by up to 5cm in size- but not any larger. If there's too much new soil then the plant's roots may struggle to take up all the water. Add a layer of potting mix to the bottom of your new pot for your plant's roots to grow in. Use a free-draining mix such as Kings House Plant Mix.

If you are repotting a plant that has become rootbound, or is in a large, heavy pot, you can loosen the roots with a flush of water to wash away the outer soil. You will need to untangle and trim back any very long roots that were rootbound. If you are repotting a new plant, gently squeeze the plastic pot so the soil loosens, turn the pot upside down with one hand secured around the top of the soil, and gently pull the pot away from the soil and plant.

Gauge how deep to place your plant by how it will sit in the pot. You want to have about 3–4cm of space between the top lip of the pot and the soil, otherwise water will run off the soil before it can soak in. Fill in the new mix around your plant, only up to where it was sitting before – above the roots but below where leaves are growing out of the stem(s). Always deeply water after planting. Wait at least a month until feeding with a liquid food.

Kings Orchid Mix

Kings House Plant Mix

Living Earth Potting Mix

This is specially formulated for orchids of all types. Replant moth orchids, cymbidiums, and even cattleya into the mix.

Kings House Plant Mix has been specially formulated for indoor plants. It also contains slow-release fertiliser that will last up to six months.

Potting mixes are dry, free-draining mixes and are great as a general soil mix for indoor plants. A great organic and peat-free alternative.

30L $12.99

10L $12.99

40L $17.99

SPRING INDOOR PLANT CARE TIPS With the days now lengthening, your indoor plants will be looking to shoot out new growth for the season. To make the most of the longer days and warming temperatures, you should adjust your care to help your plants thrive and look their best in your home.

WATERING As the temperatures heat up again, your plants will start to absorb water quicker, and any excess water will evaporate from the soil and saucers. Break those habits of watering every ‘X’ amount of days, and instead regulate watering by either using a moisture meter or sticking your finger into the soil to see if it is damp. This will be more beneficial to the health of your plants in the long run.

POSITION Indirect light is best for most indoor plants. If you have a vining plant, put it on a bookshelf, on top of the fridge or a tall cabinet and let its lush leaves cascade down. Some plants, like the string of pearls, are happy in direct morning sun, and others, like cacti and Venus flytraps, can withstand full sun in a north-facing window.

FERTILISING Spring and summer mean regular fertilising can resume! For fast absorption, use liquid fertiliser such as Kings House Plant Food once every four to six weeks. For a slower release over a long time, use Kings Slow-Release Indoor Plant Food once every spring and again in summer.

Indoor Plant Essentials Kings Slow Release House Plant Food 700g $17.99 Kings House Plant Liquid Food 500mL $12.99 pH & Moisture Combination Meter $16.99

BRING NATURE IN WITH OUR

STUNNING RANGE

of indoor plants

BRING ON THE

BEES

Loss of habitat is affecting all bees across New Zealand including our native species. Help increase their numbers by offering a stable food source throughout the year.

The New Zealand Honey Bee While honey bees are being threatened overseas from nasty causes like Colony Collapse Disorder, New Zealand bees are still being effected by varroa mites and unregulated use of harmful chemicals have had a big part to play in our own dwindling numbers. Hives Honey bees in New Zealand live in hives and are bred for honey and pollination. These hives have a Queen bee who lays the hives eggs, drones which are male bees who mate with queen bees, and worker bees which are female bees. The worker bees do all the jobs in the colony, including collecting pollen, nectar, creating honey and raising the bee larvae (or brood).

Many people are eager to keep bees, but this can also cause a problem in urban areas as these areas can become saturated with too many bees and not enough food for their hive. The best way to combat this is to plant bee-friendly plants in your garden.

Foraging Honey bees forage for food up to three kilometres from their hive and are well known to help pollinate many plants in the garden that create veggies and fruit for humans to eat. There are also many different types of non-fruiting plants that can be planted for bees to help feed them. Some of these include asters, salvias, thyme, rosemary, lavender, magnolias, mint, camellias, clover, dandelion, gorse and our own native pohutakawa.

September is Bee Aware Month in NZ- an annual event dedicated to helping Kiwis learn how to improve bee health.

Bumble Bees in New Zealand Large, round and furry, bumble bees are often the bee that capture our hearts the most. With four bumble bee species imported into New Zealand in the 1800’s to help pollinate red clover, they have since adapted and now pollinate a large variety of plants across the country. A single bumble bee can accomplish up to 50 times the amount of work that of a honey bee. Nesting Bumble bees live in nests of up to 100 bees in a colony. Though they do not produce honey farmed by humans, bumble bees do have a Queen that will live for one year. This Queen first hibernates underground in winter by herself, before emerging in spring to feed and search for a suitable nesting site. Once this Queen has found a nest she is happy with, she will lay her first lot of eggs who help look after and feed the growing colony. In summer the Queen continues to grow her colony, along with producing males and new Queen bees. These males mate with the new Queens, before the colony dies off and the new Queens hibernate for winter to carry on the cycle for the next year.

Foraging Bumble bees can forage for food for up to 1.5 kilometres from their nest and are able to collect food from sources that may be closed to other bees. An example of this is the snapdragon – with it’s heavy lid – can only be pollinated by larger, stronger bees, as they are able to push past the ‘trap’ door. There is also the tomato flower, where the pollen is difficult to dislodge for smaller bees, the bumble bee will vigorously buzz around the flower, dislodging the pollen for easy collection. This technique is known as ‘buzz pollination’.

Encouraging bees & pollinators

Bees play an extremely important part in New Zealand’s environment by pollinating plants which in turn create seeds, (for both native and introduced species) so they can carry on their lifecycle and create a new generation of seedlings. Mass planting groups of pollinatorfriendly plants with a minimum of five different species will ensure that bees, butterflies and moths are fed, and help the distribution of pollen. You don’t need a big space to do your part, and even flower pots offer a great way of adding more variety and colour to your home as well.

Planting for Bees Native bees do not produce honey or live in hives. Instead, they live in small nests in soil or plant matter Hebe Native to New Zealand, comes in a variety of colours, fantastic for low hedging and a favourite for bees and butterflies.

Puawhānanga Also known as Clematis paniculata, this is a native species that flowers between August and November. It’s great for bees.

New Zealand Native Bees In New Zealand we have 27 endemic species of native bees that are only found here, plus one indigenous species that is found in both New Zealand and Australia, all which fall under the family categories of Lasioglossum, Leioproctus and Hylaeus. Many of these bees are black in colour and are much smaller than the honey or bumble bees, and are sometimes mistaken for small wasps. Unlike Honey bees, native bees do not produce honey or live in hives. Instead, they live in small nests in soil or plant matter and are considered non aggressive, only stinging when their lives are in immediate danger.

Echinacea Also known as coneflower, this perennial is a must-have for any pot or garden wanting to attract butterflies and bees.

Herbs There are a lot of herbs that will feed a wide range of pollinators. These include mint, rosemary, borage, and bee balm.

Pollinator blend Available in stores both as seeds and in the Kings herb section, this mix can be grown in pots for spring and summer. 36

Nesting

Foraging

These bees are solitary bees, meaning they tend to live in singular or small communal nests and look after their own brood. Female leioproctus bees tunnel into undisturbed soils and lay one egg, which they then feed and nurse themselves upon hatching. The lasioglossum bees are similar but share responsibilities and their nesting holes with several others. Unlike their cousins, the hylaeus family of bees tend to nest in ready made holes such as old beetle holes or hollow plant material. If possible, creating an insect hotel can be beneficial for these bees.

These bees tend to forage on native flowering plant species such as the pohutakawa, kakabeak, manuka, or native mistletoe but have become adapt to feeding on other introduced plants such as ragwort. Unlike the honey bee, New Zealand natives will only forage in a range of up to 100meters from their nests. This can be extremely problematic when their immediate food sources become depleted by land development. Unaffected by varroa mite and colony collapse, this is the biggest change that has affected our native bee population, and why it is extremely important to repopulate these areas with flowering bee-friendly native plants.

Little Growers

Kids corner

DIY Bee f riendly RECYCLED POTS

Help feed bees in your garden with recycled materials

How to make your recycled bee pot

Get your plastic milk container and wash it out thoroughly with hot water, turn it upside down and let it dry.

step 1

step 2

You will need: 1.5L/2L plastic milk container Kings Potting Mix Yates Bee Pasture Seed Mix Strong scissors Sharpie 1 popsicle stick

Get an adult to help you!

Next, carefully poke holes in the bottom of the halved container. Put your soil into this bottom half of the container, fill it 2/3 of the way up.

With the help of an adult, poke a hole in the side of the milk carton half way up the container, and cut the container in half.

step 3

Water well and put outside in the sun

Water every day in the morning, and watch your seeds grow!

step 5

step 6

‘bee pot ’

with the sharpie, and put in the soil

step 4

bee p

Take your popsicle stick and write

Lightly sprinkle seed mixture over the soil

Lightly sprinkle some of the seeds over the soil. Make sure you don’t use too much seed!

Bring the kids instore to get a

FREE TEMPORARY TATTOO and info sheet all about caring for Bees. These are now available instore, just ask at the checkout.

GROWING

ROSES

Beautiful, classic, timeless: roses can suit any style of garden and will produce blooms from spring to autumn. There are hundreds of varieties to choose from, and many different shapes, colours, and sizes.

OUR TOP VARIETIES We have hand-picked our top varieties for this year: our favourites and our best performers. Blackberry Nip Named after the liqueur and bred in New Zealand, the Blackberry Nip has a gorgeous deep purple, seductively scented bloom, with gorgeous, healthy, and diseaseresistant foliage.

Graham Thomas With golden, medium-sized blooms and a light tea fragrance, this David Austin rose is praised for both beauty and performance. Nice compact growth of 130cm x 130cm, and a fantastic repeat bloomer.

Iceberg Clusters of pure white blooms which just keep on flowering. Strong grower and disease resistant. An absolute classic and a New Zealand best seller as a standard rose.

Dublin Bay An utterly divine climbing rose with bright red floribunda blooms and a long-lasting bloom period that goes from mid-spring to late autumn, Dublin Bay is a must-have for anyone starting their rose journey.

Tranquillity Light-yellow coloured buds that open to pure-white flowers accompanied by a light apple like fragrance. This David Austin rose produces perfectly formed petals on delicate stems accompanied by light-green foliage.

Absolutely Fabulous An exceptional rose of butter gold, with an appealing old fashioned form, coupled with a strong liquorice fragrance. Absolutely Fabulous is a wonderfully healthy rose.

Rose Essentials

Kings Rose Food Make sure your roses are well fed in spring and summer while flowering with Kings Rose Food. From $7.99

POSITIONING AND PLANTING Positioning Roses require full sun (at least 6 hours a day) and prefer free-draining loamy soil rich in organic matter. Make sure that your chosen spot has a good amount of airflow as this will help reduce the risk of fungal diseases over the coming months.

Tui Rose & Shrub Mix Don’t forget to plant your roses with Tui Rose & Shrub Mix. This will help retain moisture, as well as feed your newly planted shrub for the first six months. 30L $17.99

Yates Rose Gun Keep on top of pests and diseases with Yates Rose Gun. This is effective against aphids, scale, and rose black spot. 40

750mL $16.99

Planting Roses are best planted in the ground. Dig a hole at least twice the height and width of the pot your rose comes in. In heavy clay soils, it can be worth digging a slightly bigger hole, and mounding the plant if drainage is an issue. Backfill with a mix of your original soil, Kings Organic Compost, and sheep pellets. In heavier soils, break up the edges of the hole with your shovel as you backfill to improve drainage and add a handful of Claybreaker Gypsum. Fill around your rose with the remaining mix, and make sure you press the soil down until it is firm. Water deeply, and fertilise using Kings Slow-Release Rose Food. Mulch to finish to help lock in moisture.

Care Regularly water your roses deeply in summer, leaving the hose on for 5 minutes once to twice a week (or if there are water restrictions, reuse water from the sink or bath). Avoid wetting the foliage. Deeply watering your plants is far more effective than giving a light watering every day. Only prune your rose back hard in June or July and regularly mulch your roses all year round. This will help keep moisture around the roots for longer. When deadheading (taking the dead flowers off the bush), make sure that you cut back to a major leaf – if you only cut the spent flowers off, the rose will look untidy and not flower as well in the future.

Sheep pellets provide nutrients and help the soil hold more moisture when it's dry

RECYCLING

FOR A GREENER FUTURE Over the last few years’, we’ve introduced many new initiatives to lessen our impact on the planet. Here are a few things you can do this Spring to help us on our journey towards a greener future.

Swap-a-pot recycling bins At each Kings store you’ll find a Swap-A-Pot bin for customers to discard or pick up used plastic pots and punnets. Rinse used plastic pots before dropping into the bin. Anyone looking to grow seedlings, cuttings or seeds or re-pot a plant into a bigger pot are welcome take as many pots as they need. Any unused pots are sorted and recycled into fence posts and raised garden beds.

Return your used plant labels to our collection boxes Attached to our pot recycle bin is a smaller wooden box with a #5 on it. Almost all plant tags (including the long tree labels) can be put into these boxes for recycling. They are compressed and sent to a factory in lower North Island who chip, process and use them in plastic mouldings used in the construction industry.

Recycle your Nespresso Pods Every Kings Plant Barn store has a Nespresso Pod collection point. All you need to do is bring in your used coffee capsules and place them in the bin. The coffee residue from the capsules is then collected and used for composting (which you can actually buy from some of our stores) and the aluminium is recycled and reused for other aluminium products.

There are plenty of other ways we can garden (and work) more sustainably. Follow us on Facebook and Instagram to stay up to date with our latest tips and exciting new initiatives.

Connect with us /kingsplantbarn

@kingsplantbarnnz

kings.co.nz 41

GARDEN

TO PLATE with Lynda Hallinan

Spring is a treat for all the senses, with cherry blossoms and colourful bulbs, fragrant freesias and fresh herbs bursting to life after winter. In my vegetable garden, spring tastes of sweet and juicy strawberries, rather skinny asparagus spears, and the first baby gourmet new season’s potatoes, steamed in their skins and drizzled with minty butter. 42

POTATOES WITH MINTY BUTTER My favourite potatoes for early crops of waxy baby spuds are ‘Rocket’ and ‘Swift’. Both varieties take as little as 70 days from spring planting and are suitable for growing in large containers. Unlike main crop varieties, these plants have compact tops that die down before they flower, so make a note of your planting date. Serve with minty butter, which can be stored in the fridge or freezer.

Ingredients 150g butter, at room temperature 1/2 cup mint 2 teaspoons balsamic vinegar 1 tablespoon brown sugar 1 teaspoon salt 1kg potatoes

Method Prepare potatoes by rinsing and gently wiping their skins clean then steam or boil, whole, in salted water until tender. Rinse mint, pat dry and strip the leaves off, discarding the stems. Finely chop mint by hand, or use a stick blender or food processor. Add butter and blend, then add vinegar, sugar and salt and mix well. Spoon into silicon ice cube trays, pressing down with the back of a spoon, and place in the freezer until firm enough to pop out of the moulds. Or, roll out a small length of plastic food wrap, shape butter into a log, cover with food wrap and chill until firm enough to slice into rounds.

STEAMED ASPARAGUS WITH CITRUS CARROT PUREE Homegrown asparagus is a treat, especially as stalks are more slender than store-bought bunches. Cut daily during the season. Now’s the perfect time to sow asparagus from seed if you haven’t already planted bare-root crowns.

Ingredients 1 bunch asparagus 2 large carrots 1 teaspoon crushed garlic 1/2 teaspoon wasabi juice and zest of 1 lemon 3 tablespoons olive oil or butter 1 teaspoon runny honey (optional)

Method Steam asparagus and set aside. Peel and chop carrots and simmer in salted water until tender. Drain and place in a food processor with the remaining ingredients. Puree until smooth, then season to taste with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Dollop onto a serving platter, top with steamed asparagus and garnish with finely chopped parsley, coriander or mint, or a sprinkle of edible calendula petals. 43

CHOCOLATE CUPCAKES WITH BUTTERCREAM & STRAWBERRY JAM DRIZZLE When my children’s school holds fundraising cake stalls, my friend Deanna Robinson’s famously moist chocolate cupcakes are always the first to sell out. This is her foolproof recipe. The batter can be doubled.

Cupcake Ingredients 1 cup sugar 1 cup flour 1/3 cup cocoa 1 teaspoon baking powder 1 teaspoon baking soda 1/2 teaspoon salt 1 egg 1/2 cup milk 1/4 cup rice bran oil 1 teaspoon vanilla essence 1/2 cup boiling water

Buttercream ingredients 100g butter, softened 2 cups icing sugar 1/4 cup cream 1 teaspoon vanilla essence 1-2 drops food colouring (optional)

Jam drizzle ingredients 3 tablespoons strawberry jam 2 tablespoons warm water 44

Cupcakes method Preheat your oven to 180 degrees C and line a 12 hole muffin tin with cupcake cases. Place all ingredients, except boiling water, in a mixing bowl and beat with an electric beater for 1-2 minutes until well combined. Add boiling water and fold in slowly with a spatula. The batter will be very runny, so transfer it to a pouring jug and three-quarters fill each cupcake case. Don’t overfill or the cakes will rise over the cases. Bake for 20-24 minutes.

Decorating method Beat butter, sugar and cream together for a few minutes, until the mixture is thick and pale. Stir in vanilla essence and food colouring, if using. Spoon icing into a piping bag and pipe a rose-shaped swirl on top each cupcake. Mix jam with warm water and strain through a sieve to remove any pips or berry flesh. Drizzle over the cupcakes and decorate with spring blossoms to serve.

SPEEDY STRAWBERRY JAM Strawberry jam is the first preserve of the new season and the fresher it is, the better it tastes. As all berries are low in pectin (the natural gelling agent that makes jams set), I always use jam-setting sugar to make my berry jams. This 5 minute jam packs a punch of flavour due to the reduced cooking time. Consume within 3 months.

Ingredients 1kg fresh strawberries 1kg Chelsea jam-setting sugar juice of 1 lemon, strained

Method Hull and quarter strawberries. Place in a medium pot with 1-2 tablespoons water (to stop the fruit sticking). Heat slowly over a low heat until the berries are juicy. Add sugar, stirring constantly until dissolved, then turn up the heat to high and bring to the boil. Boil for exactly 5 minutes. Take off the heat and stir in the lemon juice. Stand for 1-2 minutes, so the fruit is evenly distributed throughout the jam and doesn’t float to the top of each jar. Pour into jars and seal. Makes 5 x 250ml jars.

Follow @LyndaHallinanGardening on Facebook or order her preserving book, Foggydale Farm Jam Sessions, at www.foggydalefarm.co.nz

ASK THE

PLANT DOCTOR Giving you expert advice for your seasonal gardening woes

Dear Kings Plant Doctor, Something is eating the pea and lettuce seedlings in my garden. I have put slug and snail pellets around them, but they are still getting eaten. I have treated them for caterpillars, but they are still disappearing. What could this be? -Bill, Botany Hi Bill, Bird Netting 4x4m $12.99

If you have already checked for caterpillars (and see no small black droppings about), and there is no sign of rabbits, it could be birds. Small birds such as sparrows will gladly take a munch out of the tasty new shoots of peas and lettuce. All you need to do is cover your crop with bird netting, and they should be safe.

Hi Plant Doctor, I’ve been growing cucumber plants and they’ve been doing well, but the other day I noticed a strange white powder on the tops of the leaves. What is this and how do I treat it? -Fran, Glenfield

Kiwicare Super Sulphur 200g $17.99

Hi Fran, This is called powdery mildew – a white powdery film that covers a plant’s leaves and is commonly found on vegetables and perennials, such as cucumbers, pumpkins, zucchini, pansies, and dahlias, especially towards the end of their growing season. To prevent it, avoid overhead watering and if possible water in the morning so plants aren’t sitting wet overnight. To treat it, spray affected plants with Super Sulphur, an effective organic solution suitable for edibles and ornamentals. Treat only when necessary or earlier in the season, as some powdery mildew is inevitable towards the end of the growing season.

Hi Plant Doc, I have a peach tree that has curling leaves. I’m told this is normal by friends, but I’m worried it will affect the fruit. What is it, and what can I do to stop it? -Annemay, Northcote Hi Annemay, Leaf curl will affect stonefruit, including peaches, nectarines and plums, and is caused by a fungal disease. This fungus has spores that overwinter in fallen leaves, under bark and in crevices on the tree, and in early spring it starts to affect new leaf growth, causing them to curl and bubble. In severe cases, this will affect photosynthesis, the growth of the tree may be stunted, and leaves can brown, shrivel and drop. Prevent this by raking up all fallen leaves around the plant base and putting these in your green waste bin – not your compost. Use Liquid Copper and EnSpray 99 as a general clean-up spray mix in June, and then spray again with Liquid Copper as the buds swell before opening in late winter. If your leaf curl was terrible last year, you could also respray copper after the flowers have finished. Mulch, water and feed your affected trees well throughout the year. Improve airflow by pruning in winter and summer and make sure there is a sufficient amount of space between trees.

Yates Liquid Copper 200ml $19.99 Enspray 99 200ml $14.99

Ask the Kings Plant Doctor Got a plant problem you need help with? Visit www.plantdoctor.co.nz for free expert advice or look out for the red shirts instore.

JOIN TODAY to enjoy exclusive benefits

Member Benefits Exclusive offers & events

Be the first to know

Receive exclusive offers, members-only specials and event invites.

Early alerts for sales, new-season arrivals, plus the latest gardening news and trends.

Wonderful Wednesdays Get 10% off every Wednesday if you’re over 65 and hold a Super Gold Card.

plus

Earn loyalty points on everything* in store and online Redeem loyalty points for cash discounts.

$1 SPENT = 1 POINT | 300 POINTS = $10 DISCOUNT * Points not available on Gift Voucher purchases.