LILA'S  O R G A N I C   K I T C H E N    G A R D E N                                     SUSTAINABLE    EARTH    LIVING.   New Plymouth, Taranaki, New Zealand.© 2007 
                         
                         

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 MY GARDEN CALENDAR   Beans [broad] Annual Plant in Autumn      
December 2008 photos   Plant your broad beans from April to May as the cooler weather hits, make sure the holes are at least 8cm deep, and and 8 cm apart, a well composted and well fed soil will ensure a good crop, for normal, not dwarf, make sure you protect from wind with bamboo staking, or tie up, if you don't plant the seeds deep enough you will find plants falling over easily, Pick in early spring when the pods are well formed, a good spot for broad beans would be against a fence for wind protection in full sun if possible. A Kiwi favorite  
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A-Z LIST OF VEGETABLES AND HERBS, WHEN AND HOW TO GROW THEM.    
   
                           
  Beans [dwarf] Annual                   plant in spring/summer  
What is  permaculture exactly - and why is it important?   What a delightful little tasty, honey of a veggie for the garden, easy to grow, easy to pick, beautiful taste, dwarf French beans to be grown in well fed composted soil, holes to be 5cm deep and each plant at least 5cm apart, don't sow seeds all at once stagger them if possible, these dwarf beans do not like to dry out in summer so keep water up to them, if the weather is still a bit cold seeds will take over a week to germinate, maybe 2 however if the weather is really warm seeds can germinate in 5 days, fantastic little addition to the garden. [no staking necessary]  
   
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    Beans [runner]    Annual/perennial       Plant in Spring/Summer  
    There are both Annual and Perennial Runner beans of which a popular kiwi garden perennial is the Scarlet Runner, once planted you have for years, however there are many forms of wonderful annual runner beans so I grow a collection of them, you need excellent support for runner beans, as you can see in the image I have wire net fencing for mine, apart from your perennial scarlet runners, all sowing by seed should be staggered  or you end up with zillions at once, a good method is sowing monthly 5cm deep 10cm apart, this is where your gardening notebook comes in handy, it only has to be a 50cent warehouse exercise book but if you record your dates then every year you have a better understanding of your needs for the family. Beans are hardy but like moisture and well composted soil, be careful you don't dig out your scarlet runner perennials over winter as they disappear completely from above the ground...points to remember...good staking, good watering, lots of sun and good organic composted soil  and off you go...pick frequently for new flushes, the more you pick the more will grow.      
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
         
         
                             
    Beetroot Annual Plant spring summer  
    Beetroot tops are just as good if not better than the bulb, plant successive seedings 2cm deep in the soil if it is warm enough or in punnets in a protected warmer area e.g. on top of fridge in good light in early spring, then plant out.  The baby beet leaves are  great in salads, beet will grow in almost any soil, even neglected, but good composted ground ensures large healthy beets, start picking baby beets early so the others have room to grow.  Either plant in rounds or in drill rows, if you want to keep producing small little leaves for salad, then just cut the tops of the beets and let them shoot again, .Late summer crop will produce well if not left too late to plant, I suggest do not seed after March.      
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
         
         
                     
         

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website created by  Lila Smith ©  DECEMBER 2007   New Plymouth,  Taranaki New Zealand