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Post by ivyplus on Sept 8, 2007 8:14:29 GMT 12
Now that folks, is the classic "Swiss Way"... Nothing goes to waste, even the bitter frost bitten salat, LOL! I was amazed when over in Switzerland I saw farmers out with the scythe cutting every last blade of grass in the paddock where the big machinery didn't reach... I can recall my grandmother,who had property at Beachlands (east Auckland). She used to scythe the long grass between her fruit trees. She fed the cut grass between her feet and when finished there was these long rows of stacked hay. My job was to remove this and spread it around her garden as mulch. She was on tank water so watering the garden was out of the question. I tried to use her scythe but just could not get the hang of it. I can still remember the long oval shaped stone she used to sharpen it with.LOL. I tried to use a scythe myself and couldn't use it. Hopefully this "trade" doesn't get lost.
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Post by ivyplus on Sept 13, 2007 10:21:12 GMT 12
Have sewed some more beet root the other day. They are easy to grow and I want to make some juice out of them. A while back a friend of our gave us beet root/apple juice. This was sooooo good. I want to grow heaps of it this year.
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Post by ivyplus on Sept 16, 2007 10:13:54 GMT 12
This morning I read in a gardening magazine that the Aspidistra doesn't flower. I don't really agree with that. Our Aspidistra is flowering at the moment. The flowers are growing out of the ground and can't be seen very well. I tried to take a photo. The arrows show where the flower is.
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Post by meandog on Sept 16, 2007 10:21:05 GMT 12
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Post by ivyplus on Sept 16, 2007 10:46:09 GMT 12
Thanks for that Meandog. It seems to be a plant which is not yet fully discovered.
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Post by mamamia on Sept 16, 2007 11:46:34 GMT 12
Thanks for that Meandog. It seems to be a plant which is not yet fully discovered. And yet the Aspidistra was always in the hallways and foyers of the old homes back in the 20's and 30's. I always liked the name - Aspidistra
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Post by meandog on Sept 16, 2007 11:53:44 GMT 12
Thanks for that Meandog. It seems to be a plant which is not yet fully discovered. And yet the Aspidistra was always in the hallways and foyers of the old homes back in the 20's and 30's. I always liked the name - Aspidistra Isn't there a song about that?
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Post by ivyplus on Sept 17, 2007 20:36:54 GMT 12
A friend of mine gave me some broccholi seeds and not long ago she asked me how they did turn out. I said to her they are not as good as the ones she gave me last time. They have heaps of small flower heads and not one big one. She said these are seeds which produce many small ones and you cut them as you need them. Here is a picture:
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Post by ivyplus on Sept 17, 2007 21:00:39 GMT 12
Rooting HormoneA friend of mine has given our fruit trees a spring cut. He said to me that I could grow the prune cuttings by dipping them in rooting hormone. I told him that I haven't got any rooting hormone. He said I could wrap some fresh willow twigs around the prune cuttings and leave them for a while in some water. I tried this and it worked. 22.8. He has cut the trees and I have wrapped the willows around the prune cuttings and put them into some water. 3.9. Removed the willow and stuck the prune cuttings into damp ground; I kept the ground damp with the water the cuttings were standing in. 17.9. The prune cuttings clearly start to sprout.
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Post by ivyplus on Sept 17, 2007 21:43:26 GMT 12
Growing GarlicLast year I started growing them quite early. In April I bought some organic garlic at the market and devided the bulbs. Each single one I pressed into the ground about 50mm deep and 100mm distance 300mm between rows. I covered them lightly. In September they were about 15cm tall. I got some fresh cow manure and mixed it with saw dust and sprinkled this over the whole bed. The garlic grew really well. On a dry summers day (Middle of January) I picked the garlic and dried it. The dried garlic was then plaited and hung in the kitchen till it is used. This year I used my own garlic seed and it works well.
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Post by ivyplus on Sept 17, 2007 21:48:13 GMT 12
Plaiting GarlicI take two small garlics and tie them together with some strong thread. Then I find two same sized (slightly bigger than the first two) and tie them between the two first ones a little bit higher than the last ones. Take always two (slightly larger ones) and put them between the two before. That way it gives a nice plait. At the end you tie a knot in the thread to hang the plait up. The four last garlics can be smaller ones.
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Post by meandog on Sept 18, 2007 6:52:44 GMT 12
Your fruit cuttings may or may not be much good, particularly if the parent tree has been grafted onto rootstock. But hey thats great that willow does the trick as I have always used rooting hormone. There is 3 grades that I know of 'softwood' 'medium wood' & hard wood'. Garlic is one thing that I have had a total failure at growing, but for the amount I use its just as easy to buy it. But I only buy the NZ garlic as the asian stuff is cheaper and useless.
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Post by ivyplus on Sept 18, 2007 7:36:02 GMT 12
Your fruit cuttings may or may not be much good, particularly if the parent tree has been grafted onto rootstock. But hey thats great that willow does the trick as I have always used rooting hormone. There is 3 grades that I know of 'softwood' 'medium wood' & hard wood'. Garlic is one thing that I have had a total failure at growing, but for the amount I use its just as easy to buy it. But I only buy the NZ garlic as the asian stuff is cheaper and useless. Yes you are right. The cuttings wont be the same tree as the original tree. The friend who did the pruning has an organic nursery close to Nelson. He gives lessons at the Polytec. I bought this prune tree at his nursery and he told me if I grow the cuttings they will have the same fruit as the orignal tree but the tree will grow larger. The prune is grafted onto a small growing tree. I don't mind having large trees we have enough room to grow a few. I want to dehydrate the future prunes. I went to one of his Polytec courses and I have learnt to grow garlic there. They need to get a frost to grow well. He said plant them realy early. About April and if they start to flower before you harvest them cut off the flowers and the strength will go into the bulbs. If I would be you I would even try to freeze the garlic a little bit before planting. It might help. Or you could plant them in pots with some ground and put them a few nights in the freezer till they start coming up. If I have any questions about gardening I ask him. He knows so much about organic gardening and I think he enjoys helping out with advice.
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Post by ivyplus on Sept 19, 2007 8:37:22 GMT 12
Last year I have planted some Lilly of the Valley in the garden. It is a very old fashioned plant and I love it. Yesterday I was searching for them and I couldn't find them. I wonder if they totally die of during winter. I have planted them on four different places. Mainly under trees a bit darker places.
Hope they will appear soon.
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Post by meandog on Sept 19, 2007 8:54:37 GMT 12
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Post by ivyplus on Sept 19, 2007 9:00:17 GMT 12
Thanks for that Meandog. Aren't they lovely? It sais on Wikipedia: These send up numerous stems each spring. So I will wait for the stems!! Hope they spread because I planted them under trees where they could stay for ever.
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Post by snooka on Sept 19, 2007 15:22:16 GMT 12
Garden update.. Already to go, just need the consistent warm weather now.. Here we still have a chance of a frost or 3.. Weeded, bean rack up in a new position and Tomatoe stakes in.. I guess I need less this year... To the right is another small garden with a frame.. Thats for a Supertom Tomatoe plant.. Between the Frame you can see some more rocks... There is another garden there.. Not done yet..
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Post by OasisNZ on Sept 19, 2007 15:50:13 GMT 12
Looking good Snooka...
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Post by meandog on Sept 19, 2007 16:35:42 GMT 12
;D Like to come and knock my garden into shape, you may need a couple of months of spare time. LMAO. ;D ;D
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Post by mamamia on Sept 19, 2007 18:26:47 GMT 12
Thanks for that Meandog. Aren't they lovely? It sais on Wikipedia: These send up numerous stems each spring. So I will wait for the stems!! Hope they spread because I planted them under trees where they could stay for ever. I guess I am too late for this year, but I would love to plant some Lily of the Valley next year, reminds me of when I was a kid, I loved them.
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