Planting vegetable seeds in summer
Once the weather starts to cool off, small seedlings struggle to get along so if you plan to grow vegetables from seed it makes sense to get started now. Where the weather is already too cool, a simple cloche of plastic or glass will help these babies along. Always use a proper seed raising mix as ordinary potting mix is too coarse and contains some nutrients that can be detrimental to successful germination.
1. Use a block of wood to firm a 3-4 cm layer of seed raising mix into a seed tray.
2. Sprinkle seed evenly.
3. Cover with a fine layer of mix. very fine seed is best left uncovered.
4. Apply water via a fine nozzle spray to settle the seed into the mix.
5. Cover the tray with newspaper and, ideally, a piece of glass to retain moisture and keep seedlings warm.
6. Place the seed in a warm sheltered outdoor area, greenhouse or cloche.
7. Keep the mix evenly moist as you check each day for germination.
8. Remove glass and paper at the first sign of germination.
9. Seedlings are ready to be transplanted into larger containers once they have one to two sets of true leaves.
10. Transplant seedlings into the garden once they are strongly growing with ample roots.
- Denise Cleverley
The young Christchurch promotions model determined to walk again after tragically losing her legs in the February earthquake is still coping with the ongoing complications ... More
You need to know
Sign up for our newsletters and get the latest in gossip, beauty and food sent direct to your inbox... Sign up now
Over the Teacups
My four-year-old grandson was at the supermarket with his mother when he exclaimed, “You’re buying something, Mummy, auntie is buying something – I want to buy something!” Mum replied, “You have to be big, have a wife, have a job, then you can buy things.” He replied, “I have a wife – Maia,” meaning his four-year-old friend. Mum said, “What about a job?” Master Four replied, “My job is having a wife!”
Robyn, Whangarei
Water you want?
I was in the car and asking Master Three what he wanted for Christmas. He said he was going to ask Santa for a water pistol. “And Nanny,” he added, “I’m going to ask for some water for our paddling pool.” Now that could be interesting!
Julie, by email
Bee gone
Master Three had his first bee sting recently. The incident broke his heart, but after many cuddles he came right. Later he said, “I never want to see another bee again. I don’t like bees any more, I only like flies.”
Gaileen, by email
Fraud with worry
My daughter warned me that “old people are being taken for a ride,” and that I shouldn’t engage in conversation with phone sales people. To this, Master Five piped up, “Nana can’t go on that ride, she’s old.”
Joseph’s Nana, Hamilton
... More