|
|
|
 Hi *|FNAME|*,
The shortest day of the year is fast approaching, so it is garlic planting time! Traditionally garlic is planted on the shortest day of the year and harvested on the longest day. Read on to find out more.
After the popularity of Rachel Vogan's last article about keeping chickens in your garden, we have the next installment on this topic for you in this edition, as well as a delicious recipe for pear and almond tarts.
|
|
|
Flower Gardener's Diary – Winter
 Add layers of Tui Mulch & Feed to garden beds; this will keep areas tidy, weed-free and add valuable organic matter to the soil.
- Spray any plants with fungal problems with Tui Eco-Fungicide.
- Fertilise garden beds ready for new season's planting by adding in compost, sheep pellets and Novatec fertiliser. Cultivate to blend and water well before and after planting.
- Spray trees and shrubs with Tui Eco-Pest to control scale, aphids and mites.
- Deadhead (trim off dead flowers with secateurs or scissors) to encourage new foliage and flowers.
- Encourage longer blooming of winter flowers by liquid feeding with Powerfeed.
Read on for the full winter flower gardening diary.
|
|
|
In Focus: Garlic Planting Time
Garlic is traditionally planted on the shortest day, but can be planted any time between June and August. It is one of the easiest and no fuss crops you can grow. It takes up hardly any room (width wise above the soil) and once you plant it requires little care other than moist soil. Garlic is a perfect companion plant for roses - plant it under your rose plants to control greenfly.
Top Tips
 Plant: June to August.
- Plant in a sunny position, in well drained soil. Prepare soil by adding a good layer of Tui Organic Compost and then blend in Tui Vegetable Food.
- Buy whole bulbs from the garden centre, like you would from the supermarket.
- Garlic in supermarkets is often not ideal to plant in the garden as it has been treated to stop it sprouting away in the supermarket, particularly if it's been imported from China.
- Break up each bulb into cloves (little segments) and plant 5cms under the ground. It is these segments which you plant, not the whole bulb.
- Water well and apply Tui Blood and Bone or liquid fertiliser through the season to encourage larger cloves.
Read the full garlic grow guide for step by step instructions.
Nutritional Information: Garlic Throughout the ages garlic has been used medicinally. In recent years studies have been undertaken which show garlic does indeed have antibiotic and anti-viral properties. In one study garlic was shown to be effective in overcoming 14 different types of bacterial infections in the nose and throat.
Read more |
 |
RECIPE:
Pear and almond tarts |
 Pears are readily available in the supermarket at present and this recipe from Helen Jackson's kitchen is sure to be a crowd-pleasing way to use them!
Ingredients
60g butter
1/4 cup (60g) caster sugar
1 egg
70g ground almonds
2 teaspoons flour
4 sheets (750g) butter puff pastry
3 pears, firm but ripe
Glaze
1/4 cup (60g) caster sugar
1/4 cup cold water
Read on for the full recipe
|
|
|
|
|
Garden Question of the week:
 Could you please tell me the best ways of preventing the carrots from getting the little black tunnels in them? Thank you – Leone
Carrot rust fly causes the little black tunnels in carrots. Planting green crops such as mustard in autumn will help keep the larvae at bay. Putting a barrier up such as a shade cloth can prevent the flies laying the eggs, or use a Haxnicks micromesh tunnel as this allows air to circulate but is fine enough to stop the flies. Planting onions with your carrots is also said to deter the carrot fly.
Leone wins a 1.5kg of Tui Novatec Premium. |
|
Feeding your chickens – Rachel Vogan
 Chickens are such easy and fun animals to keep. They are social creatures that enjoy open spaces, plenty to eat and a good source of fresh water.
Depending on where you live will govern how many chickens and or roosters you are able to keep. Once under way, get yourself into a regular feeding pattern with your chooks, with a blend of fresh and pre-made food such as Tui Gourmet Chicken Mix to provide them with a tasty varied diet. Tui Gourmet Chicken Mix is a balance blend of seeds and grains that your chickens will love. Chickens also enjoy feeding on pasture, vegetables and fruit so ensure you offer a mixture of these to your daily feed.
Read more |
|
COMING UP IN THE NEXT NEWSLETTER WE TALK ABOUT ROSES.
We would love to see pictures of your gardens - remember you can post them on the Tui Garden Products Facebook page. You can also post questions, get great tips and find out about exclusive member giveaways here!
Happy Gardening from Katie Karrot and the Tui Team!
Remember if this email does not display correctly when you open it go to the very top of this newsletter where it says "If you are having trouble viewing this email, click here" and click on the link. |
|
|
