This time of the year the glasshouse at Struan Farm kicks things up a notch, although I will say it's had a busier winter than normal in 2020. I was concerned about the prospect of food shortages due to COVID, along with most everyone else, and went a bit crazy growing winter veggies.
I'm glad I did. We enjoyed eating all those fresh veggies, and so I will do it all over again next year after having learnt how to deal with the dreaded white butterfly.
But right now the tomato seeds have germinated (Cherokee Purple, Big Red Heirloom, Black Cherry, Black Oxheart, Super Steakhouse, Vintage Brandywine, and "Chef's Choice"), along with Italian Parsley Gigante, Black Coral Zucchini, and Pumpkin Musquee de Provence. The Queensland Blue and Jarrahdale pumpkins haven't broken ground just yet, nor have the Big Chieftain Butternut or Wild Fire Chiles.
In terms of flowers the zinnias, snapdragons, marigolds, coreopsis and some of the straw flowers have broken ground. It's still too early and cold to think about starting basil.
Hurry up and wait, that's what we gardeners do. And hum or whistle Mozart and Beethoven to keep everyone happy.
I always grow spares in case seeds decide not to germinate, or plants decide not to grow. Those things happen. Surplus plants will go to the Piopio Community Fruit & Veg Stand and Maara Kai Roopu- Maniapoto, "MKR" Garden in Te Kuiti, which has opened this year to grow food for local food banks.
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