Seeds of Sustainability Issue 4

Summer in the Garden: The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

This hasn't been your typical summer. Between the heatwaves and the sudden wintery downpours, the weather has been a bit of a rollercoaster! On the clear days, we’ve been racing to catch up on everything from fruit and veg to pruning and general plant health.

Before we dive in, a quick disclaimer: we are not experts. We’re sharing our novice approach to show you that if we can do this, anyone can. We’re giving it to you straight—the successes, the failures, and everything in between.

The Veggie Patch: Trial, Error, and a Bit of "Winging It"

Our original plan was to completely overhaul the garden beds last year, but time got away from us. Instead, we decided to just wing it and see how the soil performed.

Potatoes: After a pre-Christmas hailstorm decimated our first crop, we harvested a tiny amount in December and January. We’ve since replanted in the same spot (with a good layer of pea straw dug in), and this second round is actually flourishing better than the first!

The "Mutants" & Oversized Crops: Our corn is growing well, though we do have one "mutant" plant producing some very strange-looking cobs. We’ve also been overwhelmed by radishes; we let some go to seed to see if we can harvest our own next year. They are massive and likely a bit woody, but the chickens won't mind!

The Hothouse Win: This has been our biggest success. We have an abundance of tomatoes and have already harvested 10 large cucumbers from just two plants.

Serving Tip: If you’re looking for a way to use them up, try a fresh cucumber salad. Toss sliced cucumbers, tomatoes, and boiled eggs in a light mayo and lemon dressing, then finish it off by placing fresh avocado on top. It’s a summer favourite!

Orchard & Fruit Updates

The plums are all finished for the season. I tried drying them into "prune-style" halves this year instead of stewing them, but it was a bit hit-and-miss and didn't quite work out. I’ll try again next year. Sadly, no apricots survived the weird weather this year—a common theme around the neighbourhood. On the bright side, the apples are nearly ready!

Managing the Roses (and the Humidity)

While the rain has kept the fire risk low, it’s been tough on the roses. The constant flip-flopping between wet and dry has created high humidity—perfect conditions for Black Spot. I’m waiting for a dry spell to let the ground settle so I can get on top of it.

Our Organic Fungicide Recipe

If you want to avoid commercial sprays, try this DIY mix to change the pH on the leaf surface and stop fungus in its tracks:

1 Litre Water

1 tsp Baking Soda

A few drops of Liquid Dish Soap (This acts as a "sticker" so the mix stays on the waxy leaves).

Pro-Tips for Spraying:

The Sunburn Test: Only spray in the early morning or evening. The Canterbury sun can "cook" the leaves if they are wet with this solution during the heat of the day.

Hit the Underside: Fungus loves to hide on the bottom of the leaves.

Refresh after Rain: If a North-West arch brings a downpour, you'll need to reapply once the leaves dry.

Long-Term Prevention

Water the roots, not the leaves: Keep the foliage dry by using irrigation lines.

Airflow is everything: This winter, give your roses a "hard prune" to open up the centre of the bush.

Mulch: A fresh layer of pea straw acts as a barrier, preventing fungal spores in the soil from splashing back up onto the leaves when it rains.

Since it’s mid-February, a good clean up now will help your plants stay strong as they head toward dormancy. Happy gardening!