vegetable gardening courses and workshops, edible gardening tips and seasonal recipes for home-grown produce..
Real peppermint tea, tarragon eggs, rosemary foccacia, rocket pesto, minted rhubarb sorbet and lavender shortbread. You can easily grow most of the herbs you'll need to make these and many more delicious culinary delights. Come to the edible herb workshop next Wednesday evening to get recipes, growing tips and enthusiasm. Sample some of the results … [Read more...]
Sow some carrot seeds in a polystyrene crate by your kitchen door this weekend and you too can have carrots by Christmas. You can take home seeds with which to fill it from a Spring seed sowing session. Stock up on the best chocolate yet from Whittaker's. And it is pink. Purple sprouting broccoli is just ready for picking. Even better than … [Read more...]
Some plants prefer to start life directly in the soil. Others are happy to be moved from being sown in pots. There are benefits and risks for both approaches. I start some beans and corn in pots over heat in September or October. When I transplant them into the garden, I plant them in a grid at about 30cm spacing in both directions. I sow some bean … [Read more...]
Cabbages, cauliflowers, kale, broccoli and other brassicas can be demolished in Summer by cabbage white butterfly caterpillars. You can opt to grow them only in the cooler months to avoid this problem. Or you can use a Dipel spray which is suitable for Certified Organic produce. This spray is effective if you are diligent in applying it but you … [Read more...]
Even if you think you can sow seeds successfully, coming to a workshop makes sure you actually get it done. I provide all the equipment and give you a whole range of seeds to choose from that you otherwise wouldn't try. You also get an easy system that sets you up for a full edible garden the whole summer. $29 per person for a 90 minute practical … [Read more...]
There's still plenty of time to plant potatoes in Wellington. If you're transforming a patch of lawn into vegetable garden, potatoes are an ideal way to start. Even if you've only got a bed 1.2 meters square, it's still worth growing your own potaotes. Here's my article on potato growing from Wellington's FishHead magazine. I'll demonstrate potato … [Read more...]
Pesto is usually made from basil and pinenuts but in spring when there are lemons and coriander about, I make this version. Mix it through mashed potato, spread it on a lamb steak before you wrap it in proscuitto and roast for about 20 minutes, use a tablespoon of it as a topping for a piece of fish or in pasta sauce. I spread it on sandwiches and … [Read more...]
The apple and pear trees are in full blossom. It's time to sow seeds both inside and out. Beans, carrots, leeks, onions, lettuce, beetroot, turnips, radishes, fennel, herbs, silverbeet, spinach, zucchini, squash and cucumbers can all go in now. Or you can buy some seedlings at the garden centre or supermarket. Once they go out they'll need … [Read more...]
Momma duck knows it's spring - here she is out yesterday with her eight new ducklings (one of whom was camera shy). She's a beautiful Cayuga. Dad is, well, who knows? We had a beautiful afternoon on Sunday for the fresh food garden course and a fabulous group of people sharing ideas in the sunshine. If you feel a bit overwhelmed or underinspired … [Read more...]
Potatoes are the perfect crop to grow in an area where you've just started a garden. Maybe you've reclaimed an area of lawn or have developed a bed that has been neglected. Potatoes are tolerant of heavy, acid soil and don't need much care between planting and harvesting. If you mulch them well it will keep down the weeds and keep them moist. It's … [Read more...]
Get your winter fix of Kitchen Garden workshops at HANDMADE 2013
Plan your summer edible garden
Totally Totes
Spring workshops will start in October 2013 and will all be held at The Kitchen Garden in Ohariu Valley Wellington from 6-7.30pm. $29 per person. Get a group of six together and I'll tailor a workshop on a date and topic to suit you.
Planning your summer edible garden develop a plan to make the most of your garden time, space and energy.
Herbalicious growing and enjoying edible herbs for flavour and freshness from your garden to your plate.
Sow your winter edible garden to get your edible garden seeds sown for winter.
Composting for beginners
or for you if your composting isn't working well.
Soil Magic learn techniques to improve your soil and make your gardening easier - mulching, green manure, compost, aeration, double digging, soil testing and much, much more.
