South Waikato NZ

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Comment by WIC Garden Project on October 15, 2012 at 3:18pm

Does anyone know if there is a tool library or tool bank operating in the Tokoroa area? 

 

Comment by WIC Garden Project on June 24, 2012 at 11:26am

The annual NZ Tree Crops Association Waikato Branch Tree Sale is on the 7th July this year - a great place to pick up some more unusual trees, shrubs and plants for your garden, or to sell some of your own excess seedlings if you're prepared to travel into Hamilton.  For more info see the Ooooby events page

Comment by Nigel Thomson on May 3, 2012 at 7:08pm

Nooooooo, don't say no sub-tropicals in Putaruru, I grew up swiping figs from the grandparents neighbours tree in Hamilton, and my parents have a healthy one in Morrinsville, I might just have to light the fire and burn some green wood to hurry this global warming along.

 

Been a weird year alright the last two days frosts have finished everything off,

All my never fail crops failed this year

Tomatos, pumpkin, marrows (got 4 instead 40 ish) , raspberries (thousands again but they went mouldy on the bush and were infested with some small beetle)

 

and all the crops i never have success with went better than expected, cucumbers (absolutly innundated threw about 40% away as they got just too big)

Comment by Jude on May 2, 2012 at 7:25pm

Yep, sounds sweet alright :). I'd be interested in leasing, but I guess for me its more about pollination for the orchard than about getting honey. You could have it all

Comment by Daniel Martin on May 2, 2012 at 7:18pm

Robyn Wolfe has asked me if I can put a hive in at the Tokoroa community garden, I am still planning to do that as well.

Comment by Daniel Martin on May 2, 2012 at 7:17pm

Apart from a few books and lots of reading on the internet and a veil/jacket it has'nt cost me alot (oh and the registration of your apiary) I got my bees given to me from a swarm, I made my own hives. I did make a split and bought a new queen for $20. It can be as complicated as you like or very simple. I spend about and hour a week on my 2 hives and now it is winter you just have to make sure they have enough feed to see them through or feed them sugar syrup for a few months until spring comes around. I simplified it a bit there.

As I get more bees and hive stocks going I plan to lease my hives out to home owners in the Tirau, Putaruru and Tokoroa areas to have in their gardens -and they will have a 50% share of the honey harvest . Sounds pretty sweet aye!!

Comment by Jude on May 2, 2012 at 6:55pm

I'm kinda interested in a hive for the orchard, but a bit wary as I hear from some people that it's very technical and time-consuming with everything having to be done 'just so'. Any comments Daniel?

Comment by Roxy Hart on May 2, 2012 at 6:48pm

Hi guys,  What a summer ahye :) Tomatoes struggled a bit this year, still lots of fruit tho. Only got two or three fruit each from my aubergine plants but thats better than none. Got some peas, brocolli, cabbage, cavelo nero, cauli, tatsoi, spinach, kale, silverbeet that have been in for 2 months and another lot thats been in for 1 month planted some more seedling today and sowed some more seeds also these will be the last for the year. Broad bean are up and going well. Have still got summer radishes, diakon, carrots, beets and sweeds in the garden from late summer. Harvested a few kg of potatoes, pumpkin, squash, onions and garlic for the winter. im just waiting for a good frost so i can hoe into yams, yacon and kale :)

Im keen on a bee hive :) Im organizing my orchard so that i can start a hive come spring, but i do not have a face book. will check it out on trade me tho :)

Comment by Daniel Martin on May 2, 2012 at 6:29pm

Not such a good garden this year - well it wasnt too bad but I got distracted with honey bees and making bee hives and the garden has got away on me a bit, didnt get set up for winter all that well.  The ducks and chickens keep getting in to the vege garden and nibbling away at the borage, which it something I had a lot of!

Any of you South Waikato members looking for a beautiful hive for your garden check out my Trademe add Beehive (Warre style with frames).

Or look me up on - http://www.facebook.com/#!/DansarBees

 

No subtropicals in Putaruru - event the tee tomato gets killed in the frosts

Comment by Jude on May 2, 2012 at 6:17pm

Hi, I've got crops of salad greens still going strong (various lettuces, mizuna, rocket, etc), still gots lots of fresh beans coming on, pumpkins are all harvested. The various brassicas survived the late summer white cabbage butterfly and are now well past the seedling stage, and I've been sowing a range of seeds for winter - beetroot, carrot, leeks, spring onions, broadbeans, etc. Will be setting out garlic in a week or so.

Chooks have just started laying :)

I'm new to the Waikato, so keen to hear about your experiences with those crops that need a decent length of summer heat, like the capsicums and eggplants.

Do you grow any subtropical fruits here too?

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