Sustainability is at the heart of the design of our store with locally made fixtures that use sustainable timber, solar panels which provide the entirety of the store’s daytime energy, irrigation systems that incorporate water reuse and new plastic recycling initiatives.
With a carefully curated range of seasonal plants, inspirational display zones, a potting up area and plant experts on hand to help you every step of the way, Kings Plant Barn Stonefields is everything you love about Kings, plus so much more.
Our new concept store is changing the landscape of garden centres with a number of ground-breaking and interactive features that are a must-see!86 Lunn Ave, Stonefields
Kings in the Community ................ 12 Hear the buzz about UoA's Bee Sanctuary and how lucky we are to bee involved!
In Harmony with Hydrangeas ...... 16 Established or a new favourite, here's what you need to know
Avoiding Hangry Plants ................ 22 A quick guide to the ins and outs of the diverse world of fertilisers
Escape to the Tropics ..................... 24 Bring paradise to your backyard with our wide range of tropical plants
In the Heat of Summer .................. 32 Keep your garden looking lush when the sun just won't quit
Growing Chillies ............................. 36 Dare to try something new and intense this summer? Here's your guide to growing your own chillies
Cocktail Gardens ........................... 40 Grow everything you need to make the perfect cocktails this summer
Summer Cocktails .......................... 42 And you can't have a cocktail garden without cocktails. Here's our favourites!
What's Happening ........................... 4 Catch up on all things Kings and what's trending instore this summer
Gardeners’ Mail ................................ 6 Celebrating your garden success stories
Plant Doctor ...................................... 8 Your questions, our expert advice
What We’re Loving .......................... 14 Some of our top summer plants
Indoor Plants ................................... 18 Tips and styling advice for the summer season
Passionate Plant People ............... 28 Meet Delwyn and catch a glimpse of her Eclectic Garden of Eden
Garden To Plate Recipes ............... 44 Summer favourites with MiNDFOOD INSEASON.
Little Growers Corner .................... 48 Upcoming events this summer, and DIY seed bombs!
Summer Checklists ........................ 50 What to plant and tend to this summer
After a bit of a wet spring, we’re all feeling ready and excited for the warmth of summer. Our veggie gardens will start rewarding us with summer harvests, the bulbs we planted in spring will burst into flower, and our indoor plants will show off newly unfurled leaves. All the hard work over the last few months will start paying off, and the same is true for Kings.
Our new Stonefields store has been open for a few months now, and we are loving the wonderful feedback we’re getting from old and new customers. Our solar panels are connected and generating the entirety of our daytime energy, it’s remarkable seeing how much energy we’re conserving each day via the screen that is on display at the entrance of the store. It’s just one of the many new sustainability initiatives
that make Stonefields so special. Speaking of sustainability, after many months of planning, we’ve also now launched our soft plastics recycling scheme at all our Kings stores, adding to our already successful Swap-a-Pot stations and label recycling services. Our partnership with Future Post will help bring our vision of a greener tomorrow to life, as they recycle all our soft plastic into premium, BioGrocertified fenceposts used in a variety of agricultural industries. Plus, their posts have a life expectancy of 50+ years!
We’ve also been very busy in the community, announcing our official partnership with The Cancer Society Auckland with a stunning Swing into Spring activation in support of Daffodil Day. Together we raised over $7k to go towards cancer care for patients and their whānau, education
and awareness programmes, and life-saving cancer research. We also formalised our partnership with the University of Auckland’s Bee Sanctuary, and in this issue of scoop you can read all about our recent visit to their inner-city pollinator paradise and meet the young team of environmentalists behind the project. You’ll also read about some of our favourite summer plants like hydrangeas and chillies, a tour of one of our very own team members gardens, and some delicious recipes featuring seasonal summer fruit and veggies, thanks to our friends at MiNDFOOD INSEASON. So, sit back, sip on a cocktail, and grow well with this issue of summer scoop.
Happy gardening!
With our new brand rolling out across the business, we are also taking the opportunity to refresh some of our packaging, and launch some exciting new products. Our new 100% weed-free Kings Garden Mix is specially designed for superior plant growth in all areas of the garden.
Birdies Garden Beds make growing your own veggies accessible no matter the size of your garden. They are easy to set up and can be customised in multiple different shapes to fit into any outdoor space.
We are so excited to introduce a new benefit for our Garden Club members -
A $10 Birthday voucher to spend instore or online during your birthday week!
Update your date of birth instore, or on our website so you don’t miss out on your birthday freebie!
The moment that all houseplant collectors have been eagerly awaiting is here! Thai Constellation monsteras are now available in all of our stores. These highly soughtafter beauties are popular for their cream variegation which resembles a starry night, or a constellation.
Our bright, vibrant range of Moobee planters are exclusive to Kings and designed, cut and sewn in Moobee's North Shore studio. The planters come in a range of sizes to give your indoor plants a pop of colour, using upcycled plywood offcuts to give structure to the organic shapes. Better yet, all the designs are printed with sustainable pigments, keeping nasties out of the process, away from your plants and the planet. Our Moobee planters are currently available at Kings Stonefields, Remuera, and Henderson.
Our new partnership with Future Post means that we can offer our customers a soft plastic recycling solution for our mixes, compost and fertiliser bags purchased instore. Future Post is an innovative, sustainable solution that enables Kings and our customers to work together to “close the loop” with recycling by creating a premium product made from 100% recycled products.
My husband and I have always enjoyed gardening. He has a good veggie garden that keeps us going with our seasonal favourites. I love to plant a lot of colour in between our native plants. We bring in grandchildren to pick out plants to plant in pots as this has become a fun thing for them to do and see the end result.
I’ve been a Kings shopper for about 30 years now, buying trees, shrubs, plants, bulbs, herbs etc for the 4 homes I’ve owned during that period. 90% have been new purchases, and 10% have been cuttings taken with me. One of my biggest hobbies, is turning a somewhat blank canvas into a picturesque haven. I also am an excellent bricklayer around all gardens, for easy mowing and tidy trims. I have no secrets to successfully growing specimens, other than keeping everything wet, especially during the summer months, weed matting where possible, replenishing areas with new compost, and trimming plants so they thicken up. There are so many exciting things happening around the garden right now, and in another couple of weeks, many other perennials and shrubs. My “Rosebow” (not rainbow) is on the side white fence. It’s one I’ve trained in a half circle like a rainbow out of my Compassion rose, which is just starting to flower now. It’s quite clever I think and you will like it.
- Debbie, Auckland
I have a small backyard and I love gardening in my garden. I always have green veggies in my garden and look after it as much as I can. I work at a childcare centre with little kids, and I have also started a garden there. Sometimes I have too many vegetables, so I share them with my family and friends. I like pumpkins, spinach, cucumber, lady finger, chilli, and tomatoes as they grow nicely. I give my veggie garden fresh compost and plenty of water but not too much. My vegetables are in a sunny area, planted using compost soil and according to their needs - this is my main gardening idea.
- Mina, Auckland
Our lemon tree is not healthy - the leaves are bumpy, curling, and yellowing. The fruit also has white spots/bumps on it.
- Thanks, Cindy
Your citrus is suffering from a fungal condition called citrus verrucosis, also known as citrus scab. The fruit is still edible, and while this disease doesn’t cause major problems it should still be treated as it negatively affects the health and vigour of the tree, making trees more susceptible to other problems. Spray with Grosafe FreeFlo Copper Fruit and Vegies before and after blossom fall. Mix the Grosafe FreeFlo Copper with Grosafe Eco Spread and water. This product helps the spray droplets to spread out and stick to the leaf, giving a better result.
Can you help me with my olives? Planted them in March and they have been doing well until now. They are beginning to develop yellow leaves that fall off easily. Peacock spot might be there too. They were planted with good drainage holes, scoria, and lining so I don’t think drainage should be the problem. Is there a product you can recommend? Thank you in advance for your help!
-Thanks, Sarah
I would agree with you regarding peacock spot. With olives, it is important to keep them well fertilised and pruned to reduce canopy moisture retention.
To treat this disease, it is important to spray each year as a preventative measure rather than a cure. Spray with a copper spray such as Grosafe FreeFlo Copper. The best time to spray is when new growth is emerging in spring and autumn.
I have a couple of fruit trees suffering from some type of bug. I am not much of a green thumb, but I enjoy my mandarins and Grapefruit and would appreciate your help.
- Paul
The bug that is affecting your trees is called borer and is a big problem in many gardens and species of plants, including citrus. To treat early damage of borer, spray KiwiCare Borer Injector Spray into any small holes that you can see. The borer can also be killed by running a guitar string or a fine wire into the holes. Repeat if you notice fresh frass (a sawdust like substance on the branches). Prevention is always better than cure, so each time you prune or break a branch make sure that you are sealing the wounds with pruning paste, as the borer enters the wood through fresh wounds.
Got a plant problem you need help with? Our Plant Doctor is now offering personal consultations at your home from as little as $80. For all home consultation enquiries, email plantdoctor@kings.co.nz
The Plant Doctor is in the house!
GroVentive® Garden isanew,twoway systemicinsecticide,with ahighlevelof safetytobees.UsingGroVentive® Garden willcontroland preventre-infestationof chewingand suckinginsectson ornamentals,potplantsandroses, protectingyourplantsforupto4-6weeks.
GroVentive® Garden controls: aphids, leafhoppers,mealybugs, mites,psyllids, scale,thrips,spittlebugsandwhitefly.
BioNeem® isanorganic certified insecticideregisteredforuse onallfruit andvegetablecrops,citrusand ornamentalstocontrolchewingand suckinginsects.BioNeem® hasantifeedingandrepellentproperties.
BioNeem® controls: aphids,leafminers, mealybugs,mites,scale,thripsand whitefly.
EnSpray99® controls: aphids,mealybugs,mites,scalethripsandpowderymildew ingrapes.
GroVentive® Garden is the foundation spray and we recommend using this forthe initialtreatmentearlyintheseason to protect against insect infestation.Monitorpest pressure andrepeatagain3-4weekslaterandupto3to4spraysduringthegrowing seasonifinsectpressureispersistent. For enhanced performance and efficacy we stronglyencourageusingitwith GrosafeEcoSpread®
Forallediblecropsandornamentals,apply BioNeem® whenthepestsare firstseen andreapply1-2weekslaterifnecessary.Apply EnSpray 99® every3-4weeksto protectyourediblecropsandornamentals. BothBioNeem® and EnSpray 99® are contactsprayssogoodcoverageisessential. EcoSpread® enhancestheperformance oftheseinsecticides,as well as havinga 30 minute rainfastness afterspraying.
Summer flowers add a splash of colour to any garden setting, and also help get the garden buzzing with bees. Here are some of our favourite pollinator-friendly plants that brighten our gardens and taste great for our pollinating friends!
Bee sure to leave a clean saucer of water near your summer flowers for bees to visit. Putting flat rocks in the saucer makes it easier for the bees to land and drink safely!
At Kings, we’re proud to support community groups who are on a mission to make their neighborhoods greener.
So, when we heard about The Sustainable Future Collective (SFC), a group of University of Auckland students working together to promote sustainability, we knew we wanted to be involved.
SFC believes in promoting sustainability in a way that is nonjudgmental and accessible to all. They bring a fresh, contemporary perspective towards the key issues
affecting their generation, and take sustainability actions into their own hands.
Since the beginning of 2022, Kings have been supporting the SFC group with their Bee Sanctuary. The garden is a steep, narrow abandoned site, situated next to the Law faculty building on Federal Street in the central city of Auckland.
Formed in July of 2018, the sanctuary was created with the intention to provide much-needed habitat on campus for Auckland city’s hungry pollinators.
The Bee Sanctuary team educate students with on-site workshops about the essential role pollinators play in ecosystems, our society and as a planet! These workshops
have included several plantings, a seed bomb workshop, an insect hotel workshop, a seed saving workshop with For the Love of Bees, and collaborated with SFC’s ‘Free things for your flat’ event, providing flowering plants to students so they can create pollinator habitats in their own gardens.
Kings have supported the University of Auckland’s Bee Sanctuary with product donations, planting advice, and were recently invited to meet the team behind the community garden and see the inner-city gem that is surrounded by towering concrete buildings. Inside was a hive of activity with an inspiring group of students, committed to growing a habitat which can sustain a healthy insect population and provide a space for students to come and learn about a range of ecological processes through gardening. From learning about soil, seeds, pollinator plants, insect habitats, to composting and growing food, they hope that these initiatives will spark students interest in the rich possibilities of the outside world, and the role they can play as an integral part of this interconnected ecological system.
Five years ago, the group were given permission to use the site, and immediately got to work to bring their vision to life. To begin with there were huge mountains of abandoned rubbish and landfill, a jungle of established weeds and one large viburnum tree already buzzing with bees.
The site was cleared and tidied and over the last five years the team have planted native phormium tenax (flax), hoheria populnea (lacebark) and other bee magnets such as lavender, borage, heliotrope and antirrhinum (snapdragon). Kings most recent donation was used to plant up some newly created garden beds made from recycled fruit crates.
The group of students hold regular working bees- at the last one they created new raised beds, tables and chairs using old crates and recycled pallets.
They face many challenges at this inner-city site, such as minimal
maintenance over the summer months while the students are on their breaks as well as no access to a water source onsite, meaning all water for new plantings must be carried into the garden by hand.
The team are excited about their plans to develop the garden further, and we are thrilled that Kings will be a key partner to help them achieve their vision. They are now working on a partnership with the Compost Collective to become a hub for compost collection and production.
We came away from our visit feeling incredibly proud of these students, who are working together with a commitment to protecting our natural environment. The way they are using the space to not only create a habitat to feed the bees and other pollinators, but to also educate and inspire other students, is a huge credit to their drive and passion for the greater good of our planet. With this incredible group of young people leading the way, our countries future is looking bright (and green)!
Warm weather and new growth. It’s such an exciting time to be amongst all the new arrivals in our stores as the sun comes out of hiding. Here are some of our favourites!
A beautiful tropical plant with richly fragrant flowers throughout summer, frangipani are perfect for any tropical garden. Did you know that many of the frangipani we stock at Kings are unique? This is because they are grown from seed so the colour of the flowers is not known until they bloom.
Nothing tastes sweeter than citrus fruit picked from your own garden. As well as producing masses of fruit, citrus are also sought after for their attractive foliage and highly scented flowers. Suited to almost any garden style, citrus consistently prove their versatility. We love how many different varieties of citrus there are available, especially coming into summer.
Bananas are easy and fun to grow, rewarding us with delectable fruit, as well as adding a tropical feel to the garden. Banana plants grow well in a full sun position, and are droughttolerant and disease resistant once established. They are self-fertile and can produce bunches of tasty fruit of up to 20kg! What’s not to love!
Caladiums outperform almost all other indoor plants when it comes to colour. The large foliage draws the eye, with a somewhat hand-painted look. Caladiums are available in an array of striking colours, ranging from greens to white, as well as pinks and reds. They grow well in warm positions with high humidity – the perfect plant for your bathroom! KingsPlantBarnNZ
Delicious raspberries are a staple in every summer garden. Create your own raspberry patch in part shade and rich soil, and with just a little care, you’ll be enjoying sweet, juicy harvests right through summer. We love how easy raspberries are to grow – perfect for beginners and more seasoned gardeners!
Also known as the Port Wine Magnolia, this small tree is popular for its glossy green foliage and stunning flowers. The creamy yellow and burgundy blooms cover the entire tree, and have a beautiful fragrance which can be enjoyed throughout the spring and summer months!
With their giant clusters of petite blooms in white, pinks, purples and even blues, hydrangeas are a classic flowering shrub that never go out of style.
If you live in a villa in one of Auckland’s central suburbs, chances are that you have at least one old-fashioned hydrangea bush in your garden. Many of these established beauties are decades old and will have provided thousands of stunning blooms to those who’ve lived there before you – a blooming beautiful legacy if you ask us!
As well as looking gorgeous in the garden, hydrangea blooms make a statement in cut flower bouquets and can also be used in dried arrangements. If you’re thinking that hydrangeas might be the perfect addition to your garden, read on for our top landscaping and care tips.
Whether they’re planted en masse or placed in key positions in your garden, when hydrangeas are in
an instant wow factor into your landscape.
they will
While hydrangeas are a classic plant and ideal for country-style gardens, they can also be stunning in contemporary landscaping schemes. Hydrangeas prefer being planted in the ground however some
will also thrive in pots - and a few types can even live indoors! Here at Kings, some of our favourites include:
Ayesha
∙
If you have established hydrangeas in your garden, the great news is that you don’t need to do a lot to keep them looking gorgeous, year after year. Here are our top tips to help you grow well:
When adding hydrangeas to your garden, consider that they will lose their leaves and flowers in winter. With this in mind, make sure you put them in a spot that can stand to be a little bare over the colder months.
∙ To keep established hydrangeas thriving over summer, simply water them deeply two to three times every week, avoiding getting the leaves wet.
∙
When your hydrangeas have lost their leaves in winter, trim back to a healthy-looking bud to ensure another stunning season when they next flower.
∙
Feed your hydrangeas Kings Fast Food Liquid Fertiliser or Kings Rose Food between early spring and early autumn to give them a boost.
∙
If you have old-fashioned blue or pink flowering hydrangeas in your garden, tweaking the acidity of the soil will enhance the colour of your blooms. Use aluminium sulphate to deepen blue hues, or dolomite lime to intensify pinks.
How to keep established hydrangeas looking heavenly:
Whether you're a recent indoor plant parent or your collection is…. shall we say ‘extensive’… summer truly is your time to flourish! The sun is beaming in, and nothing beats the smug satisfaction of seeing new leaves sprouting from your beloved plant babies.
With warmer weather comes time spent chilling at home, impromptu parties, and brand-new interior design trends. It’s the perfect time to assess the styling of your living décor and welcome a few new varieties to their forever home. In our summer indoor plant guide, we talk styling, the perfect plant for you, and our care tips for the warmer months.
If ‘hard to kill’ is on your shopping list, then these extremely easy-care plants are for you.
Perfect for beginners and busy plant parents alike, both of these house plants tolerate a bit of neglect so it will take a bit of work to knock these ones over. Plus, they grow well in low light levels, what’s not to love? The added bonus is that they are beautiful too – some plants really do have it all.
To really make your plants sing you’ll need to think about placement, texture and your pot selection. Read on for our handy décor tips:
Plants look best styled in groups. More is more! Choose the perfect corner, piece of furniture, or shelf… just make sure the light is right.
Play with texture by choosing leaf combinations that look great together in their own unique way. For example, we love the long smooth upright leaves of a sansevieria paired with the tiny leaves of a callisia bubbles which tumble in droves down the pot – just gorgeous!
Trailing plants are beautiful and can add a new dimension to your interior décor. Work those long, luscious leaves to full effect with a display of hanging pots. Just don’t forget to water them!
Before filling your space with our stunning indoor plant range, we suggest reading ahead to find the perfect plant match for your home (and your plant confidence). Sometimes you just need a plant that practically takes care of itself. We get it! No judgement here.
This carefree indoor plant tolerates neglect extremely well. If you’ve had no success with houseplants (other than plastic ones) give the snake plant a try.
Perfect for modern, sculptural homes.
Prefers bright light but will also tolerate low light conditions. Allow the soil to dry out between watering.
Known as an ‘eternity plant’ due to its long life, this houseplant tolerates low light and neglect. It is slow growing, so get a large plant if you want it to fill a big space.
Great for a simple, natural aesthetic or monochromatic home.
Low to bright light. Allow the soil to dry between watering.
These guys are still easy-care, but are a bit more mindful of their conditions. Just be sure to give them the right environment and they will thrive.
Incredibly easy-care, but keep them out of direct sunlight. Peace lilies look great and help remove toxins and oxygenate the air.
Looks fantastic with crisp white walls and warm wood accents.
Grows well in bright indirect light, though will tolerate darker conditions. Keep soil moist and feed monthly with Kings House Plant Liquid Food.
Easy-care, tough, and gorgeous. Keep in an area out of direct sunlight. Great for removing toxins and oxygenating the air.
Great for the colour lovers. A pop of red anyone?
Prefers bright, indirect light. Rarely needs repotting. Unlike most plants, they do best when pot bound. Keep soil moist and feed monthly to improve flowering.
Looking for a bit more of a challenge? Or do you just have enough time on your hands to give your house plants the utmost care? This plant baby needs a little more loving.
This delightful fern produces a mass of delicate, soft foliage on slightly trailing stems. These guys LOVE a drink so be sure to be generous with their watering schedule.
These look great in a terracotta pot or woven basket for a 70’s boho vibe.
Medium to bright indirect light. Water regularly and don’t let them dry out. Feed monthly with a half-strength mix of Kings House Plant Liquid Food.
Plants love a good feed. It makes perfect sense that as living organisms, they need hydration from water and nutrients from food (or fertiliser) to help them grow. But fertiliser can be confusing… with so many options to choose from, feeding your plants can feel harder than cooking for your entire extended family. At least your loved ones
It helps to think of your plants like a busy sun-powered production line. The right ingredients are needed to produce new shoots, leaves, flowers, fruits, or vegetables. Once the key nutrients run out, the production line grinds to a halt. Your plant may still look healthy, but it won’t be bursting forth with new growth and reaching its full potential.
Plants need the most nutrients when they are actively growing, flowering, and producing seed, fruits or vegetables - often in the warmer seasons.
A well-nourished, healthy, and wellwatered garden will also help to keep pests and diseases at bay.
Don’t get overzealous – just like humans, it is possible to overfeed your plants. In fact, using too much fertiliser or using too many types at once can be worse than using none at all.
‘Fertiliser burn’ refers to plants that look dried out and unhealthy after being exposed to high doses of plant feed.
Avoid issues by following instructions on fertiliser packets and remember that most mixes will include a fertiliser, so newly planted plants won't need the seasonal top up that others will.
Organic fertilisers are made from plant, mineral or animal materials. Examples include blood and bone, seaweed, worm castings or manure. These fertilisers bring beneficial microorganisms to your soil, increase water retention, and ensure chemical-free fruits and veggies. Note that organic fertilisers will need more time to break down into your soil and may not work fast enough to supply nutrition to a plant that needs it now.
Man-made fertilisers are inorganic compounds of specific chemicals. Examples include superphosphate and urea. Man-made fertilisers can offer fast relief for plants that need nutrients now.
will tell you when they’ve had enough!
Now that you know a bit more about plant food, let’s take a look at some of the options on the fertiliser menu.
The main difference between a granular fertiliser and a liquid fertiliser is how much time it will take your plants to absorb nutrients, and how frequently you need to feed them.
Liquid fertilisers are a great quick fix, like a Berocca boost for your plants, but will require regular application during the growing season. Granular fertilisers are little pockets of nutrients for your plants, providing nutrients for months at a time, activated every time you water your plants. You can use both a granular and liquid fertiliser at the same time, but we’d recommend chatting to one of our Plant Doctors for feeding advice tailored to your specific plants and growing conditions so you don't give your plants more than they need.
When it comes to recommending the right products for your plants, our online Plant Doctor, Tracey, is here to help. Here’s her top 5 recommendations of fertilisers ideal for first time plant feeders:
A well-balanced liquid fertiliser which can be used for all indoor and outdoor plants. Perfect for container and pot plants but also a great allrounder for any garden plants.
An organic fish-based liquid fertiliser that provides an immediate boost. Suitable for all plant types, particularly edibles. Dilute with water and add to your soil once a month during the growing season.
Novatec is a great all-round slowrelease granular fertiliser which will feed your plants for up to four months at a time. Perfect for using directly in the garden or applying to plants growing in containers.
Specially formulated granular feed to improve the taste, colour and size of your fruit. Only suitable for application in garden beds (not pots) and an excellent nutrient boost when added at time of planting. Keep applying to the base of established fruit trees once a month throughout spring, summer and autumn.
Pellets don’t need to be used as regularly as granular or liquid fertilisers, but are especially important at the time of planting as they improve the health of the soil. Kings Sheep Pellets are an organic source of nutrients for all plants including flowers, edibles, trees, and shrubs. Sheep pellets are easy to apply by mixing directly into the soil or sprinkling around plants every three to four months.
If you need advice on what fertiliser to choose for your plants, ask one of our plant experts instore today. Like a good fertiliser, we’re always here to help you grow well.
...without leaving home. Dreaming of a trip to the tropics, but can’t quite justify spending thousands on a few days in the sun? We’ve got you covered! Our team has created the perfect planting plan to deliver a lush tropical paradise, right in your back garden – so you can feel like you’re living in Fiji all year round.
The phrase ‘tropical paradise’ is synonymous with vibrant splashes of colour. That means, the first order of business when planning your home-grown tropical paradise has to be brightly flowering plants. Here are some of our tropical favourites:
Probably the most famous tropical plant variety in the world, hibiscus will give you dozens of large, colourful blooms each year. From vibrant reds to bright yellows and pale pinks, hibiscus are stunning in bloom, especially when planted en masse.
Named for their crane-like deep purple and orange flowers, bird of paradise is a statement plant that works well as a focal point among other tropical species.
Is there anything better than closing your eyes, breathing deeply and enjoying the sweet scent of tropical flowers?
Star jasmine and gardenia are two fantastic planting options that will deliver a heavy hit of fragrance as soon as you set foot outside.
Gardenia can tolerate light shade, so try growing them in pots on your patio or by your front door.
Star jasmine will grow well in full sun, rewarding you with masses of fragrant flowers throughout summer.
Often called a ‘tropical rhododendron’ vireyas will give you multiple bursts of colourful blooms annually, meaning you can enjoy a tropical vibe all year round.
A vining plant with red, pink, or white flowers, mandevilla provides a stunning display when trained across fences and up columns or posts. It can also be grown in pots to provide vertical pops of colour throughout your tropical garden.
One of the best things about holidaying in the tropics has to be all of the incredible fresh fruit on offer – from fragrant passionfruit pulp spooned over your yoghurt at breakfast, to fresh slices of pineapple in your afternoon pina colada… yum!
Here in Auckland, we’re lucky that our sub-tropical climate provides a great environment for many plant species that are typically found in the islands. Some of the best options for planting in summer are:
If you’ve ever holidayed in Rarotonga, you’ll know that passionfruit grows everywhere on the island… And trust us, you haven’t lived until you’ve eaten the pulp of a just-ripe passionfruit, plucked from the vine in your garden. Only available in late spring and summer, if you dream of having passionfruit at arm's reach, now is the best time to plant.
There’s something quite special about having a cool spot to escape to on a hot, humid day. Including a selection of palms in your tropical garden will allow you to create a shady oasis, while also achieving depth within your landscaping design.
Palms also offer the advantage of height which can especially be handy if you’re overlooked by neighbours in some areas.
If you have clay soil in your garden that’s driving you bananas, the answer might actually be… bananas! Bananas are perfectly suited to water-logged clay ground and, if sheltered from harsh wind, are incredibly resilient. Try our Misi Luki variety and you’ll be harvesting dozens of lady finger bananas each spring – the perfect fresh, tropical snack.
A fruit that tastes like vanilla custard crossed with a fruit salad? We’re not pulling your leg… Cherimoya is rarely seen at the supermarket because it needs to be eaten soon after it’s harvested but, luckily, it’s easy to grow in Auckland gardens. As well as making a perfect guilt-free after-dinner sweet treat, it’s also amazing in cocktails (try mixing equal parts cherimoya juice, gin and ginger beer, along with a squeeze of lime)!
A few of our favourite palms that grow especially well in Auckland's climate are:
Aotearoa’s only native palm, the slow-growing Nikau will eventually reach around 10 metres high. Its fruit is favoured by kereru meaning that, if you’re lucky, you’ll create an oasis for one of our most beautiful native birds.
Growing up to 12 metres high, King Palms have broad, 2.5-3 metre fronds that offer lush shade and plenty of privacy.
Kentia Palm Don’t be fooled by their slender stems – Kentia Palms can grow as high as 15 metres! As well as being a great option for tropical gardens, they also thrive indoors.
Creating your beautiful backyard on a budget? Here’s how to bring your design to life and create the perfect tropical display.
Create a mix of lush foliage at different heights When designing to a tropical theme, imagine you’re designing a jungle. To achieve this effect, you’ll need a variety of lush, leafy plants that grow in and around one another, at differing heights.
Ideally, you’ll have tall canopy plants (think bamboo, palms or ferns), statement focal plants (bird of paradise is a perfect choice here), mid-sized filler plants (like hibiscus, tractor seat, and canna lilies), and then a mix of groundcovers (try bromeliads or mondo grass). Finally, introduce a couple of vines to complete the look – some of our favourites are star jasmine and bougainvillea.
Plant strategically Your tropical theme might be designed to look like beautiful chaos, but having a structure planned before you start is vital to achieving the desired effect.
An old landscapers’ trick is to plant in odd-numbered groupings (three, five, seven, nine), and you should always start by placing the largest structural plants first before working your way down to the smallest plants.
Place everything before you start planting and have a good look at the design from a variety of angles to ensure that nothing needs tweaking before you get busy with your spade.
Add wow factor with water and light
When you think tropical paradise, chances are that you picture somewhere near water. Bring this element into your design with a beautiful bird bath, waterfall or small pond. Another fantastic way to add wow factor is with beautiful lights – there are plenty of cost-effective choices, for example, solar-powered festival lights and bamboo torches.
Plan ahead to keep your garden looking amazing Worried about how you’ll keep your tropical paradise looking lush? One of the most important things to think about is keeping your plants hydrated. To do so, make sure you are generous with your mulching and run a dripping hose through your garden beds regularly (or invest in a timed irrigation system).
Ready to create your backyard tropical paradise?
You’ll find all of the plants in this article at your local Kings Plant Barn, along with helpful advice from our team of plant experts. For more tips and inspiration, visit kings.co.nz
Meet Delwyn, our customer service superstar at Kings Plant Barn Henderson, who gave us a tour of her beautiful garden at her home in Muriwai – a true reflection of her personality, creativity, and passion for nature and plants.
says Delwyn, who has worked for Kings on and off for the past 10 years. Her garden is a masterpiece of creativity, with almost every type of plant imaginable flourishing in pockets of her Muriwai property. “I didn’t really have a vision for the garden when we bought the property 7 years ago, it was a blank canvas, so I just kept buying plants I liked and popped them in where I thought they’d look good”. Every single plant seems perfectly placed, thanks to the hours Delwyn spends reading and learning about each plant before planting it. The result is a unique, spectacular landscape that is not just a beauty to look at, but also home to birds, bees, butterflies, and even a few pesky pukekos.
From the Grevillea Gateway, to the Perennial Paradise, every pocket of the garden has a different style, reflective of Delwyn’s bubbly personality, and her partner Chris’s passion for one of a kind upcycled garden art. Chris’s creativity was unleashed during lockdown when he
started making mosaics. Every piece of art in the garden tells a story, and almost everything has been crafted by Chris. One of our favourites was the surfboard bench seat which Chris lovingly started making only months after they moved in. Mastered out of everything from scrap metal, to broken mirrors and pot pieces, each unique sculpture feels like it could be on display in a museum.
You can’t help but feel inspired from the moment you walk in, the garden bursting with colour, the sweet smell of roses, and rows of grevillea lining the fence line. “They’re just so easy to care for”, said Delwyn, when asked where her love of grevilleas came from, “And the Tuis love them almost as much as we do”. There’s almost every type of grevillea planted, with varieties such as Honey Gem, Moonlight, Green and Cream, Ignite, Eureka, Bonnie Prince Charlie and Canberra Gem. “I choose plants for their names too, not just how they look. My favourite roses have musical inspired names, like Trumpeter and Rock 'n' Roll, in honour of Chris who is a talented musician. So, there’s a little bit of both of us in the garden.” And with roses in full bloom in November, Delwyn couldn’t resist adding a few more to her collection – Blackberry Nip, Deep Secret, Absolutely Fabulous, and Wild Cat have recently been planted.
“It’s quite hard not coming home with a new plant each day I go to work...”
As you walk past the “Dragon Garden” named after the dracaena draco that towers over all the cacti and succulents covering the rocky base, Delwyn has various sized pots and pockets filled with experimental plantings of contrasting colours you can’t help but be drawn to. Tubers and bulbs bursting with new life, courgettes ready for picking, the stunning dahlia mystic and of course the newest variety of hydrangea –Tuxedo Red – which she simply had to have when it arrived for the first time in Kings stores a few months ago.
The perfectly manicured lawn is lined with an edible orchard of almost every fruit imaginable. Limes, lemons, blood oranges, apples, peaches, blueberries, figs, orangequat, raspberries, guavas, nectarines, and perfect plum trees laden with fruit, which Delwyn says has taken almost seven years to produce.
Delwyn loves nothing more than picking fruit and veggies from the garden with her 4-year-old granddaughter Milla. In the raised vegetable garden, you’ll find seasonal potatoes, sugar snap peas, carrots, beetroot and tomatoes. Her healthy harvests are thanks to the regular watering, nutrient rich soil and liquid feeding with potash every two weeks.
“After 5 years with no signs of plums, I decided to add a pollinator to give it a boost. I planted a billington, and finally we have plums!”
Delwyn credits the health of her plants to her fanatical attention to ensuring the soil is healthy. “We dig in Kings Compost with the existing soil when planting anything into the ground. We also put a thick layer of cardboard under the mulch to restrict weed growth and fertilise in spring and summer to replace any lost nutrients.”
Delwyn had no idea she'd love gardening as much as she did. She spent most of her working life in an office. It wasn’t until one day a flyer arrived in the letterbox promoting a horticultural course in Kumeu when she decided it was time for a change. As part of the course, Delwyn volunteered at Kings Plant Barn in Porana Road, and was quickly hired on a permanent basis at the Silverdale store as a buyer for perennials, herbs and succulents. “Kings was an amazing learning ground for me, I was surrounded by so many passionate people who were willing to share their knowledge with me."
You’d think Delwyn had been a gardener her entire life seeing how well cared for all the plants were, but in fact it was only 10 years ago when she discovered her passion for gardening when they reluctantly did up the garden at their Glenfield home to get it looking good before going on the market. “I was amazed at how easy it was to make the space look beautiful and wished we’d got stuck in earlier so we could’ve enjoyed it."
“There’s still so much to learn. I’m probably the local libraries most regular visitor. Each week I get out multiple gardening, craft and cooking books and get lost in the pages learning about different ways to grow plants, and all the things you can do with them. What I love the most about working for Kings (other than shopping for new plants while I’m at work), is sharing my experiences with our customers. Every garden is different, and every gardener needs to learn their own way, but if I can help someone try something new by sharing what’s worked in my own garden, I come home with a smile on my face.”
“I find it so peaceful and therapeutic being in the garden. It really centers me and connects me to nature, even when I’m just weeding"
Planting is a bit like building, you need a good foundation to build your garden, and the foundation of any garden is the soil. Most of Auckland’s soil is clay and needs a little work before planting, especially to give your plants the best conditions to absorb water effectively in the drier months. When planting your summer garden, introduce organic matter such as Kings Organic Compost, Kings Sheep Pellets, leaf mould and mix in some ClayBreaker Gypsum. Introduce the organic matter by mixing it all in, don’t just apply it on top. This will encourage worms into the area and provide well-conditioned soil that can retain moisture for longer. Healthy soil means healthy plants!
Summer is here and while the prospect of long, hot days at the beach is cause for celebration, we know that many Aucklanders’ battle to keep their gardens looking good through the dry months. The good news is that it is possible to create a garden that requires little effort during the heat of summer, and we’ve put together some of our top tips to help you get started.
When it comes to surviving the summer heat, your plant selections will be a major factor in your success. Here are some of our top tips for choosing the best plants that not only look good, but can also tolerate dry, hot conditions well.
Create height and structure with natives
Built for Aoteara’s unique climate, native plants will often thrive throughout the extremities of our seasons. If you’re planting in the Auckland region, try using phormium (flax), or cordyline (cabbage trees) in areas where you want height. If you’re looking for a statement shrub, hebe, pseudopanax, coprosmas and manuka are our top hardy picks. Native grasses like carex and astelia also look great and will withstand dry conditions once established.
Choose plants from countries where long, hot days are the norm
Plants from regions like the Mediterranean, Australia and Africa often require much less water to thrive (though don’t skimp on the hydration in the first two years while they’re getting established). If you’re looking for inspiration think olive trees, albizia, jacaranda, and bay trees. African plants such as protea and leucadendron are fantastic dry tolerant shrubs, as well as Australian grevilleas and leptospermum. These plants are more readily available in winter months, so if you’re planning your garden now, leave room for these exotic stunners.
It is possible to have a flowering garden in the hotter months without a giant watering bill. Plant lavender, statice, salvias and daisies for a pretty cottage garden look, or fill hanging baskets with chrysanthemum, calendula, gazanias, nasturtium, and dichondra silver falls. Fill gaps in your garden with groundcover options like portulaca, sedum, and ice plants. Hardy gardens don’t have to be boring… there are plenty of bright and bold plants available that won’t require hours of care.
Add some edibles
There are also plenty of herbs and fruiting plants that enjoy full sun and can withstand our hot summer days. Dry herbs such as sage, rosemary, thyme and oregano are some of our favourites. Tough fruiting plants include natal plums,
Flax Olive
When it comes to taste and flavour, nothing beats the vibrant colour (and heat!) of chillies. These small plants pack a punch when it comes to spice, but they’re mild-mannered when it comes to their required growing conditions. With a few pointers from our experts, you’ll be able to spice up your life (and palate) with a homegrown crop of chillies this summer.
Chillies are an essential ingredient for a variety of cuisines. From Mexican to Indian recipes, adjusting the level of heat is as simple as using a little or less to suit your tastebuds. Dried, fresh or frozen, you have plenty of options when it comes to harvest time.
Chilli lovers also sing their praises when it comes to wellbeing. They’re suggested to be a bumper source of vitamins (including C, B6 and A) and the phytochemical capsaicinoids. Understandably though, less is definitely more and they should only be eaten in small quantities.
Mild or maximum heat? Your guide to choosing chillies. From mild to firecracker hot, there is plenty of variety when it comes to choosing your perfect chilli plant. The hotness of any given chilli can vary widely. The growing conditions, and how ripe the chilli is when picked, will also impact its fiery flavour.
Follow our guide to make your perfect pick.
Chillies have a soft spot among the Kings team for being reliable, rewarding growers. Choose from varieties that start with the perfectly petite, to the eye-wateringly spicy. Their visually pleasing foliage also make them a winner. Chillies also thrive in pots, making them ideal for kitchen gardens or small spaces.
Unsure which plant is right for you? Check out our heat ratings below.
Bell Pepper mild Banana Pepper mild-med Jalapeño med
Hungarian Wax Pepper med Manzano hot Tabasco hot Cayenne hot Rocoto hot Habanero very hot
Bhut Jolokia very very hot
Trinidad Scorpion very very very hot Carolina Reaper very very very very hot
Chillies are best grown in full sun in a spot with free-draining soil.
When planting in the ground, make sure to plant your chillies in a different spot to where you previously grew tomatoes, potatoes, or eggplantsrotating your crops helps to reduce the risk of disease.
To plant in the ground, prepare the soil by weeding, forking and then mixing in compost and sheep pellets. Most varieties will need at least 30cm between each plant (and some will require even more space).
When planting in a pot, use Kings Container Mix. For best results, allow them plenty of room to grow by using a pot no smaller than 20L.
Chillies are low maintenance when it comes to care.
Water the plant regularly, keeping the soil moist, but not wet. Where possible, avoid wetting the foliage.
For bumper growth, we recommend feeding them regularly with Kings Tomato Food. Prefer an organic option? Try Aquaticus Organic Garden Booster.
When it comes to successfully drying your chilli harvest, start by choosing fruit that is very ripe and free of cuts or blemishes.
Once picked, preparation is key:
∙ Cut lengthwise and discard seeds.
∙ If you live in a dry, warm environment, hang them from a string outside or in a sunny spot inside.
∙ Alternatively, place chillies on an oven tray and bake for six to eight hours at 80°C.
∙ Store your delicious dried chillies in an airtight jar – and enjoy!
If you opt for drying them naturally, take care to avoid humidity. Otherwise, you may find your chillies become unsightly with mould. If that should occur, immediately dispose of them.
Unsurprisingly, most chilli varieties available in New Zealand are grown as an annual. If you want to try growing one that is more likely to last through winter, try Rocoto or Manzano. These two varieties are members of the capsicum Pubescens family. This means they can withstand much colder temperatures than their spicy relatives. (Although, do keep in mind that they won’t survive frost). Along with tasting delicious, they can grow to an impressive height – adding a statement feature to your veggie patch.
If recent times has taught us anything, it's the value of resourcefulness, looking after our health and having a home that feels like a haven. So if you are looking for an easier way to sustainably grow your own vegetables and herbs at home here are some tips!
If you don’t have much space in your garden or only have paved areas, a container garden like the Vegepod is a perfect way to add some beautiful greenery, herbs, or veges into your outdoor space. Even if you do have a large green space, a container garden can be one of the best ways to plant herbs and vegetables – or even flowers, without having to dig up your yard. Just make sure you position the garden in a sunny spot as plants need light to grow!
Having a raised garden bed up off the ground saves your back and knees from the strain of gardening at ground level. If you want the luxury of waist height gardening with no bending over, the Vegepod stands are ideal.
When you lift your garden off the ground, it makes it harder for crawling critters to reach your plants. However, the best way to stop pests is to cover your produce to keep out the cats, birds and bugs. This also eliminates
the need for sprays, giving you wholesome, organic harvests. Covers can also create a microclimate (a bit like a greenhouse) so early planting is totally okay and the strict rules of planting seasons don’t have to be followed as carefully. This is great if you are a beginner gardener and aren’t really sure when to plant what, or if you simply want more out of your growing seasons.
Many of us are unsure of how much we need to water our vegetable patch or forget to water completely when life gets busy or you go away on holiday! Vegepods have an in-built self- watering system, so you won’t accidentally water too much or too little. With irrigation from above and the wicking system below, your plants
will be perfectly watered all year round. There are also drainage and overflow holes to prevent flooding of the soil.
If you want the flexibility to move your vegetable patch around, maybe to follow the sun, or you are limited on space or you change your mind where you want it, then the Vegepod wheel trolleys are very handy. Vegepods can be moved, replaced, or shifted to another location without any hassle. This mobility is great for evolving gardens and gardeners who are renting or planning to move house one day!
A delicious, crisp, refreshing cocktail truly is one of life’s little luxuries. Evoke those tropical holiday vibes by planting a cocktail garden at home. You’ll be sipping the night away in no time…. without paying those *gulp* cocktail bar prices.
Whipping up a quick drink with your home-grown ingredients is sure to impress your party guests. In true kiwi style, we like to pretend we ‘haven’t done much’ prior to any event, even though we’ve secretly spent hours cleaning and menu planning. Now you’ll be able to walk the garden, and muddle, shake and stir your way to the perfect cocktails. All with the cool, casual attitude of someone who hasn’t been planning it for days. Perfect!
Choosing what to plant in your cocktail garden is half the fun. ‘Designing a garden’ is just a posh concept for choosing what YOU would love to grow and where it will thrive. Which edible ingredients make your tastebuds tingle? Which plants feature in all your favourite drinks?
We have all bought fresh herbs from the supermarket only for them to instantly dry up like they’ve slipped into the air fryer OR turn into a mushy mess in the blink of an eye.
But don’t let that put you off. Growing herbs is easy once you have the right mix of full sun and well-draining soil. Pinching out grow tips will help your herbs to bush out (and make you feel like a pro). Basil and mint need a generous amount of water and a little more shade in the hot summer sun, but established rosemary and sage are happy sunning themselves in hotter, drier areas.
Mint: Essential in G&Ts, Mojito, Mint Collins and Mint Julep.
Rosemary: Use in Rosemary Old Fashioned and Lemon & Rosemary Bourbon Sour.
Basil: Create a Gin Basil Smash, Basil Margaritas, and Cucumber, Basil and Lime Gimlet.
Tangy, tart and oh-so refreshing on a warm summer evening. Versatile citrus is always one of our first recommendations for any edible (or drinkable) garden. Dwarf varieties can even be planted in pots, of at least 50L, meaning a cocktail garden is possible even in the smallest of spaces. Take note that potted citrus also love a good drink, and will need consistent watering and regular feeding over summer.
Lemons: The base of the Lemon Drop, Lemon Mojito and Kentucky Lemonade.
Oranges: Plant for cocktails including Orange Crush, Mimosa, Screwdriver.
Limes: Think Margarita, Mai Thai, Cosmopolitan and Lime Sours.
Well actually, just regular fruit, mixed with liquid deliciousness and served in a fancy glass!
If you’re a sucker for a bit of natural sweetness add blackberries, raspberries, or strawberries to the mix. Can I hear a FROSÉ…
Have you ever thought of blending those excess tomatoes into a zingy Bloody Mary? Or using cucumber strips as a garnish? Yum!
While terrific taste is numero uno, another benefit to growing your own fruits and veggies is the ability to drink clean. You control what goes into your garden, and therefore into your mouth. No unknown sprays or preservatives here.
Blackberries & Raspberries: Complement any cocktail with fresh or frozen berries, also used in The Bramble, and Raspberry Snakebite.
Strawberries: Make delicious Frosé, Strawberry Daiquiris, and Kentucky Kiss.
Tomato: You can’t go past a Bloody
Recipes provided by MiNDFOOD INSEASON.
Our Pineapple Sunrise Mocktail is the perfect addition to any summer brunch. Makes 1.5L.
What you’ll need
∙ 1-2 tbsp grenadine
∙ Ice cubes
∙ 3 cups orange juice, chilled
∙ 3 cups pineapple juice, chilled
∙ Handful of mint leaves, to garnish
∙ Grilled pineapple slices, to serve
Place grenadine into the base of serving glasses or a large jug (the amount of grenadine is up to you, it depends on how much sunrise you want). Top with ice.
Combine the orange and pineapple juices. Pour over the ice, being careful not to disturb the sunrise. Garnish with mint and grilled pineapple slices.
If you’d like to change this from a mocktail to a cocktail, simply add a few shots of tequila to the orange and pineapple juice mixture before pouring over the ice.
Add a festive twist to your summer vodka cocktails. Add candy canes to the vodka and let dissolve, creating a sweet vodka perfect for any cocktail! Makes 2 cups.
What you’ll need
∙ 2 cups vodka
∙ 8 mini candy canes
∙ ¼ cup crushed candy canes
∙ Ice cubes
∙ Soda water or other mixer
∙ Mint leaves, to garnish
Place vodka into a glass container, add candy canes, then leave for two to three hours until candy canes dissolve. When ready to serve, shake or stir the mixture to blend. Dip the rims of 2 glasses into the crushed candy canes. Pour vodka into glasses, add ice and top up with soda water. Garnish with mint leaves and extra candy canes.
Embrace the flavours of summer with our refreshing Tropical Cocktail. Serves 4.
∙
1/2 cup Pimm’s
∙ 500ml chilled lemonade
∙ 1/2 cup passionfruit pulp
∙ Ice cubes
∙ Lemon and orange slices
∙ Small pineapple wedges and stems, to garnish
Combine Pimm’s with lemonade, then stir through passionfruit pulp.
Add lots of ice cubes, and lemon and orange slices to 4 tall glasses. Pour in drink mixture, then decorate tops of glasses with pineapple wedges and leaves, and citrus slices. Serve.
For more great seasonal recipes visit MiNDFOOD.com
Store leftover candy cane vodka in a cool dark place for up to 4 weeks.
Use secateurs to remove lemons from the tree, leaving a small amount of stem attached. Pulling or twisting fruit off the tree can damage the tree and the fruit.
Snow peas can be traced back to the Stone age. Millions of years later these crisp green pods continue to add flavour and texture to meals like this fresh pasta recipe. Serves 4.
What you’ll need ∙
400g capunti pasta
150g snow peas, trimmed, shredded
150g sugar snap peas, trimmed, halved lengthways
2 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil, plus extra to serve
1 red onion, thinly sliced
400g cherry tomatoes
2 large lemons, 2 tbsp juice and rind shredded
parmesan, finely grated, to serve
extra-virgin olive oil, to serve
Cook pasta in a large saucepan of boiling salted water as per packet instructions until just tender. Drain well and return to saucepan.
Place snow peas and sugar snap peas into a bowl. Cover with boiling water and stand for 1 minute or until just tender. Drain.
Heat oil in a large non-stick frying pan over medium heat. Add onion and cook for 3 minutes or until soft. Add tomatoes and cook for 3 minutes or until softened and heated through.
Add peas and lemon juice. Toss until well combined. Toss vegetable mixture through cooked pasta.
Season with salt and freshly ground black pepper. Top with parmesan. Serve drizzled with lemon rind and oil.
∙
A delicious dessert for the festive season. Serves 6.
1½ cups cream
∙ 6 tbsp caster sugar, plus extra to serve
∙
4 free-range egg yolks
∙ 500g mascarpone
∙
200g strawberries, hulled and sliced
∙ 500g packet sponge fingers
∙
½ cup strong espresso
∙ ¼ cup amaretto
∙
∙
150g blueberries
150g raspberries
Whip cream and 1 tablespoon of sugar until stiff. Separately, mix egg yolks with the rest of the sugar on highest speed of a handmixer until creamy, about 8 minutes. Add mascarpone in spoonfuls then stir in the cream.
Line 6 glass dishes or 1 large trifle bowl with half the strawberry slices. Then arrange half the sponge fingers on top.
Mix together espresso and amaretto and sprinkle half over biscuits. Spread
Leave the green husk on the strawberries when you wash them. This stops the fruit from absorbing too much water, which can affect the texture and flavour.
a layer of the cream mixture over top. Arrange last of the strawberries and half the blueberries over cream.
Add a second layer of sponge fingers, sprinkled with remaining espresso and amaretto mixture. Cover with a final layer of cream. Then top with fresh raspberries and remaining blueberries.
Dust with caster sugar. Leave to stand in the refrigerator for at least 1 hour before serving.
As the tomato season comes to a close make sure you celebrate your last bounty of the ripe red fruit with this delicious tart recipe. Serves 4.
∙ 1 sheet frozen butter puff pastry, just thawed ∙ 400g fresh ricotta ∙ 75g goat’s cheese ∙ ¼ cup finely grated parmesan ∙ 1 clove garlic, crushed ∙ 2 tbsp chopped parsley ∙ 3 tsp chopped French tarragon, plus extra for serving
∙
1 tbsp chopped dill ∙ 2 tbsp chopped chives ∙ 400g ripe heirloom tomatoes or tomato medley mix, halved or quartered ∙ 250g ripe grape or cherry tomatoes, halved ∙ 1 tbsp baby capers, drained ∙ 2 tbsp toasted pine nuts ∙ 1 tbsp white balsamic vinegar ∙ ¼ cup extra virgin olive oil
Once harvested, leave the green stem on your tomatoes until you are ready to use them, as they will continue to gain more flavour this way.
Preheat oven to 200ºC. Place pastry on a large, baking paper-lined oven tray.
Use a sharp knife to score a 2cm border around edge of pastry. Use a fork to pierce all over pastry inside the border.
Bake for 15 minutes or until golden. Press inside border gently with a tea towel occasionally to stop it rising.
In a medium bowl combine ricotta, goat’s cheese, parmesan, garlic and half the herbs. Season.
Spead ricotta mixture evenly over inside of pastry border. Return to oven for 10 minutes to warm through.
Combine tomatoes, capers, remaining herbs and pine nuts in a large bowl.
Season with salt, freshly ground black pepper and a pinch of sugar. Drizzle with balsamic and oil; toss gently to combine.
Top tart with tomato mixture. Sprinkle with extra tarragon to serve.
For more great seasonal recipes visit MiNDFOOD.com
Tip: If you are using fine seeds, mix in some sand to top up your half cup.
Roll mixture into small, firm balls. step 3
step 4
Put the balls in a sunny spot to dry.
step 2
Slowly mix in water, bit-by-bit with bare hands, until everything sticks together.
When finished, either give as gifts to friends and family, or use in your own garden by throwing them up in the air. Plants will grow wherever they land! step 5
Flowers Plant out hanging baskets with delightful ‘Kings Super 4 Packs’ and ‘Kings Colour Your Garden’. Go wild with colour or stick to a theme or hue. Beautiful! Annual chrysanthemums and feverfew will self-seed, add these to flower beds and enjoy them as they pop up each year. Secure your dahlia flowers with a bamboo stake and some soft tomato tie if their flower heads begin to get too heavy for their stalks.
Mulch your fruit trees well with Living Earth More Than Mulch. Sprinkle some Kings Slow-Release Citrus Food around the base of your potted fruit, including lemons, limes, mandarins, feijoas, figs and even olive trees. Plant two different varieties of blueberries on the same property for crosspollination and a bumper crop.
Tomato plants LOVE their food. Feed with a potassium-rich liquid feed every two weeks such as Kings Tomato Food. Get summer seedlings in the ground for a scrumptious late-summer harvest of lettuce, courgettes, cucumbers, squash and melons. Give your veggies a big drink in the mornings so they have time to soak up the moisture before the afternoon heat. Avoid wetting the foliage. Sheep pellets make the perfect organic snack. Dissolve a handful in water before pouring around your normal crops every three weeks.
It’s propagating season. Grow cuttings of your favourite indoor plants either in water or in a sandy or pumice-rich mix that is kept moist. Use Groconut to help accelerate root growth. Encourage new growth from hibernating nodes with cloning paste. Use on monsteras, philodendrons, hoyas, epipremnums and other vining and climbing plants. Your indoor plants need more water as temperatures rise. Test the soil’s moisture with your finger to see if it needs a deep drink or a light trickle. Venus fly traps and sundews will be available in stores now. Sundews are great for catching fungus gnats while venus flytraps can be helpful for flies!
Plant hydrangeas into partly shaded areas in your garden, under trees or on the south side of a fence or structure. Smell the roses. Our gorgeous rose varieties are out in full bloom in stores now. Pop in to take in the colours, and smells of your favourites. Perhaps one will go home with you? Design a tropical garden. Choose a semishaded spot for bromeliads, ferns, palms, ligularia, and gardenia.
General tasks Create fresh floral bouquets for Christmas. We love using hydrangea, dahlia, sweet William, lavender and lilies. Get those weeds before they seed and spread throughout the garden! Pull out small ones by hand, or spray with organic weed killer if they are still young.
Cloth Garden Tie Great for holding up tomatoes, dahlias and other top-heavy, plants. Perfect for delicate soft stems. 25m $3.99
Cloning Paste
Use on indoor trailing and climbing plants’ dormant nodes to encourage new stems to form, and promote bushing. 9g $33.99
Kings Liquid Tomato Food It’s also great for chillies, capsicum, eggplant, and other fruiting veggies. Liquid feed once every two to four weeks. 500mL $13.99
Grow well with these
Flowers Weed your flower beds. Feed florals with Kings Fast Food or go organic with Aquaticus Organic Garden Booster. Fill gaps in the garden or outdoor pots with petunias, gazanias, marigolds, and tropical impatiens. Get heat-resistant plants in the garden now. Try ice plants, kangaroo paws, portulaca pizzaz, and osteospermums.
Fruit Plant delicious subtropical fruit now, including feijoas, cherimoyas, pawpaws, and natal plums! Water blueberry plants deeply –they will drop fruit if they aren’t getting enough moisture. Collect rainwater or water from the shower if the season becomes increasingly dry. Trees that have been planted within twelve months still need deep watering.
Veggies
Squeeze in the last of your summer veggie planting with mature tomato plants, largegrade chillies, eggplants, and okra. Those hungry tomatoes will still need feeding with Kings Tomato Food, and other leafy greens will love Kings Fast Food. Cover your crops with Bug Netting for a spray-free option.
Continue to monitor watering –drooping leaves are a sure sign that your plant isn’t getting enough moisture. Always plant into pots with drainage holes. Rocks in the bottom of pots without drainage will cause problems later down the track. Prune back your ornamental tradescantia to encourage bushier new growth.
Trees and shrubs
Make sure that hedging is kept moist throughout summer. Pittosporums and griselinias are hardy but can succumb to dieback when thirsty and living in clay soil. Plant tropical hibiscus in your garden. Enjoy their summer blooms year after year. Eugenia suffering from bubbled and curled new leaves? Sounds like eugenia psyllids. Cut back most of the affected new growth and spray with GroVentive Garden.
General tasks Harvest your blueberries while feeding them with Kings Blueberry Food, or Aquaticus Organic Garden Booster. Blueberries like acidic soil, so be careful not to use lime around them. Mow your lawns once every ten days to two weeks. However, don’t mow them too low, as this can expose gaps and encourage weed seed to grow.
Deadhead spent flowers regularly to encourage new flowers.
Aquaticus Organic Garden Booster
Help your outdoor plants grow well with this all-purpose, organic fertiliser which helps combat root rot and dieback. 2L $32.99
GroVentive Garden
A two-way systemic spray that doesn’t affect bees. Perfect for dealing with sap-sucking insects, including mealybug, aphids, vinehoppers, scale and psyllids. 200mL $35.99
Kings Blueberry Food Sprinkle around the base of blueberries and water in well. Feed plants from when flowers start to bloom until harvest. 900g $8.99
Grow well with these
Continue to deadhead spent flower heads to encourage a long blooming season. Alstromeria, penstemons, gazanias, geraniums and petunias will be out in flower and look fantastic in pots or planted en masse against fences. Fertilise your summer flowering plants with Kings Liquid Fast Food. February is the month of
Flowers
Fruit Plant citrus plants such as lemons and limes in free-draining soil. Mix Kings Organic Compost with your original soil. If you have clay soil add Claybreaker Gypsum to the mix. Harvest late summer fruit as they ripen on the tree or pick slightly early and share them with friends and family. Once picked, give your trees a light prune. Plant passionfruit vines into fertilised soil in a sunny, warm and sheltered position. A raised garden is best. Remember that most feijoa varieties need two plants to pollinate fruit. If your neighbour has plants, then you will only need one!
Large-grade chillies are available in stores now. Go on, get a bit adventurous this month and find a different variety to grow! If needed, swap out spent herbs with fresh plants such as parsley, coriander, and chives. Check for caterpillars regularly, they might be camouflaged! Water around the roots each morning. Avoid watering veggie leaves as this encourages powdery mildew.
Use Kings Slow-Release House Plant Food on larger plants such as ficus, dracaena, and monstera. If your peace lilies are wilting faster than normal –it may be time to repot them into slightly larger pots. Continue to water regularly. To judge if a plant needs watering, lift the pot and assess how light it feels.
Trees and shrubs
Mulch well with Living Earth More Than Mulch and water deeply once a week. Plant mandevilla, frangipani, bird of paradise, and hibiscus in well-draining soil and in full sun. If you have clay soil, mix in Kings Organic Compost, creating a slight mound or raised bed for increased drainage for the plant’s roots.
Continue to deadhead spent flowers to encourage new growth faster. Use a pair of sharp secateurs. Use a grubber to easily take out mediumsized weeds in the garden, ensuring you get all the roots as well. If you don’t already compost –start now. If you have a smaller area, try a worm tower. Worms will dispose of your food and garden waste, as well as providing your garden with natural and organic nutrients with worm tea or composted matter.
ClayBreaker Gypsum
If you have hard, compact clay soil, add a handful into the bottom of your hole to help with drainage. from $19.99
Kings Organic Compost Mix into your original garden soil for organic nutrients, as well as helping to improve drainage. $6.99
Living Earth More Than Mulch Contains bark which creates a barrier between the sun and earth, keeping plants hydrated for longer. 40L $15.99
Grow well with these
