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Hotter warmer wetter
By John Collier Ōmokoroa Community Gardens
The new year has brought resolutions galore, all thwarted by cyclones, clouds, rain and lack of sunshine and a challenging time for the volunteers As I write, it’s hot and sunny, but cyclones loom
This year the Christmas plums were all done before Christmas, and I’ve noticed the grapes are ripening earlier each year, and the winters are milder, with selfseeded tomatoes and sunflowers flourishing into July So, with climate change in mind, we are thinking about water, mulching, planting, and changing our crops
Regular readers will know my passion for the bean, and warmer days mean it’s possible to plant runner beans as late as March, with three months to maturity
Broad beans, garlic and fennel bulbs used to go in the ground in June (for the shortest day), but I’m suggesting planting earlier, after Easter, for the best results
My New Year’s resolutions are fivefold: 1 Gather and collect water; 2 Mulch mulch mulch with clippings, compost and anything you can put through the lawn mower to keep soil moisture 3
We are aiming for ‘low mow ’ at the gardens and thinking about the fuel needed to flatten the grass We are looking at reducing lawns and promoting trees, longer grass and biodiversity.
4 Plant more times a year (three bean crops) 5 Compost everything we don’t use
Finally, an interesting story from the UK where scientists have developed ‘Beans in Toast’ using broad bean flour to make a high protein bread!
Volunteers are welcome to the Gardens on Hamurana Road every Thursday and Saturday mornings
PHOTOS: Supplied
