Garden Overview
Our Mission
- Develop a garden that all enjoy – people, birds, bees and the positive ecosystem
- Help feed ourselves with nutrient-rich foods and reduce the food-miles
- Learn about what grows and works best for us
- Help educate others in our community
- Share any extra produce with neighbours
- Maybe … sell select produce direct to the public
How We Got Started
On moving in, before the grass had officially been sewn we pre-ordered 12 raised garden beds. Plopped them down and started filling them with veggie-mix and compost – and we just got started.
We had already collected quite a few specimens and were keen on getting the basic’s planted – fruit trees take time to produce.
The back fence seemed like a great spot for espalier fanned fruit trees, and we have slowly added more varieties in to fill in the gaps.
Our Garden
Our property is a 650 square meter section – giving us less than 470 square meters of dirt, some of which will need to be paths.
What is the soil like here?
Based on what we noticed in other areas that had been subdivided locally, the developers scrapped off all the mature farm soil, poured over a variety of stone and soil layers and finally added on a topsoil layer. Therefore making the growing conditions harder to understand than the soil type maps for the region.
Also, seeing how the land was structured, makes growing direct in the topsoil quite difficult as the sub-soil layer is not as deep as we had hoped. We do however have a great base of options for different growing spaces and here is what we have planted already …
Herbs
Mint
We have 4 different kinds of mint growing in one area, great in drinks and teas.
Sage
Red and green leaf sage grows well on the part-shade back of the house.
Parsley
We allow parsley to grow all around our yard, but there is a dedicated area.
Thyme
Grown in a raised bed with the bay tree, this thyme is great in stews and stir-frys.
Specimens & Berries
Fig Tree
Grown from a cutting in 2020. Not yet planted into its’ final position.
Feijoa
Apollo, was purchased and planted in 2017. Mistakenly started as an espalier now pruned to a bush.
Saffron Crocus
25 bulbs planted close to the surface in 2015, we now have over 120 bulbs.
Raspberry
Waiua, was purchased and planted in 2016. Currently growing in its’ own raised bed.
Blueberry
Reka, was purchased and planted in 2017. A very good crop of dusty blueberries.
Tea Tree
Manuka, was purchased and planted in 2018. Currently growing as a bush in the front yard.
Chilean Guava
New Zealand Cranberry (Myrtus Ugni), planted in 2018.
Bay Tree
Transplanted when we moved in 2015, currently in a raised garden pot.
Stone Fruit
Almond
Garden Prince Dwarf, was purchased and planted in 2017. Harvests in February (apparently).
Peach
Golden Queen, started life as a nectarine in 2012 which died as part of transfer shock in 2015, and the rootstock took over. The fruit is amazing!
Avocado
Grown from seed, we’re waiting 50 years to see if it fruits. Watch this space!
Cherry
Compact Stella, purchased in 2012 and transferred in 2016. Fantastic cropper lives in its own bird-free cage.
Greengage Plum
Grown from seed, it flowered, and it has spikes but no fruit has set as yet. Watch this space!
Peach
Port Wine, grown from seed in 2019. Grown as a fan espalier.
Plumcot
Spring Satin, purchased and planted in 2019. Grown as a horizontal espalier on the back fence.
Apricot
Grown from seed in 2019, donated to our garden by another family member. Wait and see if it fruits.
Peach
Bonanza Dwarf, purchased and planted in 2012 and later transferred in Oct 2015. Super cropper, delicious fruit.
Peach
Golden Queen. Started life as a nectarine which sadly died, and the rootstock took over. Grown as a horizontal espalier on the back fence.
Pip Fruit Trees
Quince
Van Deman, purchased and planted in 2016. Grown as a horizontal espalier on the back fence. Extremely good cropper!
Apple
Grown from seed in 2018, it is approximately 60cm tall and we will see if it fruits in time. Grown in the open, in full sunlight.
Pear
Red was purchased in 2018, is growing well, a bit slower growth than its neighbouring apples. Grown as a horizontal espalier on the back fence.
Apple
Grown from seed in 2019, it is approximately 12cm tall and we will see if it fruits in time. Grown in the open, in part shade.
Apple
Purchased in 2017, it fruits well most years. Grown as a horizontal espalier on the back fence.
Pear
Gold, was purchased in 2018, is growing well. Grown as a horizontal espalier on the back fence.
Citrus
Lime
Kaffir, was purchased in 2017, has steadily cropped and makes a lovely lime drink.
Orange
Was purchased in 2017, has steadily cropped and makes a lovely drink.
Lemon
Myers was purchased in 2016, is growing slowly have had small fruits.
Orange
Blood was purchased in 2018, is growing well and putting on a lot of leaves. Budding nicely, lovely flowers.
Kumquat
Meiwa was purchased in 2017, is growing slowly have had small fruits.
Mandarin
Miho purchased and planted in 2017, is growing well and becoming established.