Ruud Kleinpaste: Planting before the dry season sets in

Saturday Morning with Jack Tame

It’s already getting dry in Canterbury, and I still need to do a lot of planting in order to save us from starvation.

Juuls has planted Christmas spuds. Seed potatoes: “chitted” (meaning the “eyes” have started to run out) and the plants are doing well – shooting up in their large tubs on the deck. Every week or so we carefully add some soil on top of the stuff that’s already there, so that the main stem will produce more and more potatoes.

This is Julie’s “spud race” for the spring challenge at her work.

Potato fertiliser always has a bit more “P” (Phosphate) in it to encourage root growth and tuber growth. Jersey Bennes and such early varieties are probably the best to use before Christmas.

Potato-Tomato Psyllid

I don’t want to play Russian Roulette with this pest: it damages potatoes and tomatoes, so I prefer to keep potatoes well away from my tomato tunnelhouse.

It’s called Biosecurity!

Tomatoes

Should have been sown now in seed-raising mix and transplanted outside when the frost danger is over; in the tunnelhouse I don’t have that problem, so can bang them in as soon as they are 20cm tall with good roots.

I’ve got my favourite line up: Tigerella, Sweet 100, Black Krim, Artisan Blush, etc, plus some new stuff I uplifted from the Kings Seed Catalogue.

Initially feed them with general fertiliser and start using tomato/Rose fertiliser when flowers develop the new fruit – Seaweed Tea (Wet&Forget)

Broad beans are another must in our garden – I was lucky to have them survive the winter and self-seeded in the coldest months of the year

The related French beans need to be sown too – do a row every month or so, so keep the supply coming during summer and into autumn!

If you’ve never tried growing Witlof (endive) try sowing it now.

During spring and summer, you grow the root system sturdy and large. In late autumn harvest the roots and bury them in a tub with sandy soil in a dark spot (under the house). The roots will sprout these white and delicious chicons which taste wonderful and bitter; recipes everywhere! Even the French like them.

I usually keep up with my lettuce (COS!) and spring onions but will need to plonk in the peas and beans ASAP before the summer sun creates havoc.

These crops have a habit to grow in just about any soil condition. As long as they have good light and are not kept too dry.

Liquid fertiliser seems to be the best way to keep ’em happy, and when I chuck Seafood Soup and Seaweed Tea on them they shoot up with vapour trails

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