Ask Wellington: spring gardening?
Sometimes we at the Wellingtonista must admit that even we, strange though it may seem, do not know everything about our fine city (and in this case, its climatic peculiarities). So periodically we must call upon the mighty and erudite collective wisdom of our readers to fill in the gaps.
Many of you may have noticed the arrival of springtime, if only to observe the marginally warmer temperatures, a sustained breeziness, and an increased rate of sneezing experienced between your front doors and that of your air-conditioned workplaces. But not all of you fall into this category, and it is of you in particular we are enquiring today.
You see, some in the Wellingtonista (and again, this may be a little shocking) live in the suburbs. And some of us actually have areas of flat ground reserved for the growing of things that can be eaten (it is true that some apartment-dwellers have a couple of terracotta pots on their balconies for the same purpose - the following may apply to them too), called "vegetable gardens".
And so the question we have for you today is: What should we be planting in our "vegetable gardens" right now?
We suspect that potatoes are good at the moment. But we wonder: what else is good, assuming that it's both legal and tasty? If we were to get planting this coming week, what's best?
Answers, please, dear readers.
Hmmm, silver beet, now there's a thing. I presume spinach would also be suitable. And beans. That's a good idea. Butter beans... yum.
If I recall, spinach goes to seed very quickly once it gets warm, so I'd get going now before summer comes on.
It's a bit too early to sow beans, but not too late to sow peas (esp. sno or sugar snap peas). Also direct sow mesclun, lettuce, spinach, parsley, coriander, and brassicas. Keep the soil damp and watch out for drying winds this time of year. Start tomato, pepper, eggplant, basil, and chili seeds indoors in a warm spot, but don't consider planting out till well after Labour weekend (or just continue growing indoors).
We're currently harvesting artichokes, lettuce, chives, coriander, and chervil. Coming on are broadbeans and sno peas. All planted out last autumn, or are self sown after letting the previous crop go to seed.
For inspiration, get hold of the Kings Seeds, eco-seeds, and Koanga Institute catalogues. eco-seeds is Wellington-based too.
Hope that helps,
Judi in Ngaio
Peas are good... if I could get the kids to eat them. Still, WE like them, even if THEY don't.
Looks like I need a trip to the garden centre today. Thanks!
The spinach has germinated, the basil needs some encouragement, the capsicum seeds are dormant. Put the lettuce, rocket, etc on to germinate today. Ta for the comments above. Helpful!
No need to grow veges. Just pinch the silver beet that the Council's been growing on Lambton Quay.
Thanks Judi! seems like everything is slow starting at the moment with the soil still being cold. Does anyone know which Wellington beaches have sea-kale beet growing?
yeah chard or silver beet but growing wild on the coast which apparently gives it a sea salt taste even after its been washed and cooked
I have so much silver beet, can you freeze them
Personally, I have dwarf beans in - I don't think that's too optimistic - and some salad greens of various kinds. You could definitely do silverbeet or any brassicas. I've got capsicums in pots in a very sheltered location on concrete, and I have high hopes of them, but I'll be waiting a while for tomatoes etc.
I have self-sown parsley everywhere on this Hataitai slope (thanks Italians and Greeks!) so no need for that, but I'm thinking about getting basil started now.
Tomatoes and peppers need high temperatures to get going and there's no advantage to having them out early unless they're somewhere with a very warm microclimate. I'm thinking at least a month before it's worthwhile, whereas last year in Auckland I had seedlings on the back step already at this time.
But my recent vegetable experience is from the Waikato north, so I'm ready to be corrected about what can be achieved down here.
If you take the DomPost on a Saturday, Hannah Zwartz' gardening column in the "Indulgence" liftout covers whatever's timely for the week.