Spring Scoop

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Spring Scoop Plant DOCTOR Easy pest solutions

tasty TREATS

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BEES IN NEW ZEALAND

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LOVELY LAVENDER

Easy to grow and delightfully scented

INDOOR PLANTS

Repotting and spring care

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Contents Spring 2019

IN THE GARDEN 6

Your Spring Garden

Care tips, top picks and gardening checklist

Growing the best seasonal colour including edible and cut flowers

18 Organic Growing

Gardeners’ Mail

Celebrating your garden success stories

Your questions, our expert advice

20 Garden to Plate

Better for us and the environment

Using harvestable ingredients this spring

22 Indoor Plants

26 Bring on the Bees

5

16 Plant Doctor

10 Flower Garden

EVERY ISSUE

Learn about NZ’s most common bees and how to protect them

Tips for spring care

29 Kids Corner

DIY recycled flower pots

30 Events at Kings

Upcoming events for the whole family!

Connect with us /kingsplantbarn

@kingsplantbarnnz

www. kings.co.nz

WIN Send us your stories and be in to

a Kings $50 Voucher

Every published story wins, so send us your gardening success stories!

Post: PO BOX 31002, Milford, 0741 email: info@kings.co.nz or message us on Facebook or Instagram

Gardeners’ Mail Celebrating gardeners and their success stories

A FEATHERY VISITOR I went along to one of the Little Grower events Kings held in the winter school holidays. I took my granddaughter in store to create a pinecone bird feeder – something that I used to create as a child! After a nibble at the café we went home and hung up the pinecone, only to have a hungry visitor (a little silvereye) appear and gorge himself on the seeds and peanut butter! We wanted to share this photo with you and hope to come back in for the next school holiday events.

- Ann, Henderson

STRAWBERRY HANGING BASKETS After coming along to the strawberry hanging basket event at the Remuera store, our kids got totally inspired – and now we have three hanging baskets and a whole veggie patch full of strawberry plants.

They’re loving looking after them and watching shoots grow, and we’re loving all the extra time they’re spending in the garden!

- Courtney, Mt Eden

INDOOR PLANT FANATIC I can’t help it, I am obsessed with indoor plants!

It all started three years ago when my flatmate started bragging about his plant collection. He started telling me about these interesting large tropicalleaved plants and I looked them up on Google. Big mistake! I instantly fell in love with all the different plants and before I knew it, I had no more room on my dresser and bedside table as they were all taken up by indoor plants.

I am now always on the lookout for the newest and harder to find plants, and to my amazement I found out a little secret. I have been buying indoor plants from Kings and one day asked about some rarer varieties. Surprisingly they said they could get them in and created an order for me! The next month I had a handful of new plants and a big grin on my face. I’m happy to wait for the harder to get things. I just wanted to say thank you!

- Natasha, Waitakere

5

Your

Spring Garden Spring has sprung! The birds are making nests, the bees are out foraging for food and the blossoms are bursting from their buds. This is the most important time to start establishing your veggie garden.

Veggies & Fruit Veggies Planning your veggie garden ahead of time ensures you have enough space for all your desired edibles.

The best way to start a veggie garden in spring is to use seedlings, that you have either grown yourself, or bought as seedling punnets in store.

Add compost to tired beds, or use Organic Veggie Mix for added nutrients to encourage fast root establishment. Start planting seedlings from early September, plant in rows with at least 20cm’s apart. Larger veggies like tomatoes, eggplants and pumpkins will need more room, or around 45cm+ apart. Water well and add some Quash Slug and Snail Pellets around your leafy greens for added protection. Don’t forget to label them with label markers.

Basil, Tomato, Eggplants, Pumpkin and Melon seedlings will thrive when planted in early to mid-October

Fruit It’s still a great time to plant Strawberries in September and October. Plant them in Tui Strawberry Mix, leaving the crowns (the middle of the plant) above soil, and put down straw to help keep developing fruit off the moist soil to prevent rot.

Looking for an early fruiting variety ready in time for Christmas? Try the Royal and Camio Real types, or for a later harvest with huge fruit, try the Pajaro and Camarosa varieties.

Berry canes such as Blackberries, Raspberries and Loganberries are now in store. Plant coupled in a half wine barrel, or in a raised garden strip with a trellis or wire for cane training.

Passionfruit will arrive in store in September. Get in quick to get your favourite varieties such as black beauty.

Shrubs

Flowers & Perennials

Shrubs

Annuals

Bulbs

Add some scintillating scents to your garden by planting Gardenia. They’re a beautiful addition, best planted in part shade and in rich free-draining soil.

There are loads of great annuals that are out in bloom from early spring to summer including Snapdragons, Asters, Alyssum, Petunias, Dahlias, Salvia, Zinnias and Verbenas.

In spring you can still plant Dahlia, Gladioli and Begonia Tubers. Plant in free-draining soil about 5cm deep with the top of the tubers slightly buried, water gently and walk away! In summer remember to water plentifully.

Roses Get them in by mid spring to ensure they get settled before summer.

Plant in full sun and mix in Sheep Pellets and feed with Kings Slow Release Rose Food.

Perennials This year we have a huge range of bold and delightful perennial plants including Nemesias, Lavenders, Petunias, Calibrachoa, Fuchsias, Verbena, Osteospermums and Geraniums.

Hydrangeas Arriving in stores from September, Hydrangea produce huge impressive blooms that appear from November to January. Plant these in dabbled afternoon shade and water well over summer.

7

Your

Spring Checklist Tend Veggie Garden

Flower Garden

Lawns

Prepare new beds and improve your soil by forking the current soil and adding Kings Compost, Kings Sheep Pellets and Nature’s Organic Fertiliser.

Deadhead Pansies, Viola, Cyclamen, small border Dahlias, and any other flowering shrubs, perennials, or annuals with flowers that are past their best.

Cut back perennials that have finished flowering. Cut back perennials that have finished flowering to the nearest outward facing bud to encourage new growth.

Sow grass seed now to create new lawns or repair existing ones. When fertilising recently sown lawn, be careful to use a fertiliser that won’t damage the new grass seedlings, such as Burnet’s Ezy Start.

Protect newly planted seedlings from slugs and snails with Quash. Keep on top of any weeds emerging in newly planted beds. Regularly remove laterals from your tomato plants and feed them with Kings Tomato Food. Water well as the spring heat starts to rise as we race towards summer.

For roses, start feeding with a slow release fertilizer and mulch well to help suppress weeds and lock moisture in around the roots for longer.

Fruit Trees Keep newly planted fruit trees well fed and watered as it starts to get drier.

Water plants deeply every 1-2 weeks.

Mulch with More Than Mulch to reduce your watering needs. Keep an eye out for Codling Moth and Guava Moth.

They both lay their eggs on young fruit, which then hatch out, burrow and spoil your fruit. Monitor numbers with indicator traps found in store.

Indoor Plants Start monitoring your watering as the temperatures rise. Now is a good time to start propagating from cuttings again, but make sure to keep these out of direct sunlight. Start feeding your indoor plants from late September and repot any rootbound plants.

PLANT SPRING VEGGIES FERTILISE PLANTS WATER AND MULCH

Essentials for all your Spring needs

Kings Tomato Food

Quash

Weed ‘n’ Feed

Feed your tomatoes regularly throughout spring and summer to ensure a delicious crop this year.

Don’t plant out your spring garden in vain. Make sure you protect your tender plants from slugs and snails with this pet and child-friendly product.

The easy way to feed your existing lawn while killing off any broadleaf weeds. Just attach to your hose, point and spray.

Living Earth More than Mulch Mulch around your trees, shrubs and woody perennials to help suppress weeds and keep the soil moist.

Our top

Picks this Spring This spring we want to celebrate our most popular plants that we as gardeners just love. From the notoriously comforting aroma of Lavender, stunning display of Petunia flowers to the rich smell of fresh Tomatoes and the divine scent of Roses, get ready to fill your garden with the sensational colour of spring.

Lavender

Petunias

Roses

Delightfully scented, calming, and great for bees. Lavender is easy to grow, looks great in the garden and is sure to produce a profusion of delightful blooms over an extended season.

Gorgeous, prolific and hardy, Petunias are one of the classics when it comes to flower gardening. Easy to grow and look after, Petunias can be grown as an annual (Kings Potted Colour) or a perennial (Kings Colour Your Garden) which both start blooming from early spring to the end of autumn.

Nowadays, the sheer number of scents and colours available is dizzying, but while variety is great, sometimes making a choice about which Roses you’d like to grow can be difficult.

Easy to look after, lavender is very drought tolerant, meaning once they have become established, they can take the hot summer sun. And, given how often lavender turns up in soaps, shampoos and other grooming products, it is possibly appropriate that the name derives from the Latin word ‘to wash’ (Lavare).

If you were after an early flowering lavender, check out our gorgeous ‘Bee Brilliant’ lavender variety instore. The Bee Brilliants start flowering in early September and go right through until mid-summer. They have a compact growing habit, and deep purple blooms with delicate ‘wings’ on top.

Fabulous in the garden, in troughs, hanging baskets and patio pots and the flowers come in an array of colours.

Happy in full sun and free-draining soil, Petunias bloom more often when deadheaded and fed well with a liquid feed. Try using of Organic Garden Booster.

Our brand new Supertunies are now instore which come in a huge array of colours including pinks, purples, whites, yellows, reds and multicolour mixes.

After a Rose that looks superb as a cut flower? Try the Hybrid Tea variety which display long stems with single flowers.

Or perhaps a David Austin Rose, which are old fashioned English Roses with many incredible fragrances and prolonged flowering habits.

There are also the impressive climbing roses, compact Bush Roses and beautiful Multi-Petalled Floribundas. Roses flower between late September to February, are happy in full sunlight and planted in loam soil with additional mulch.

Matthews roses are now back instore after five years of anticipation, these roses are unique and special breeds not before available in Auckland.

9

Grow Your Own Cut Flowers Planning a wedding soon or wanting to bring the outside in? Here are some suggestions on flowers to start growing now for Roses or Bouquets in late summer.

Calla Lilies Beautiful trumpeted flowers which come in a range of colours including soft peachpink, white, sun-yellow, velvet purple and deep purples that look almost black!

Spring

Flower Gardening Spring Colour Flowers Now is the perfect time to start creating a gorgeous flower garden you can be proud of. Here are some suggestions for flowers to plant this spring.

Salvia Also known as sage, this is a popular bee-friendly plant that flowers from spring to autumn.

Available in whites, blues, purples and red.

Delphinium Babys Breath Aka Gypsophila, flowering in late summer.

This flower can be used in almost any flower arrangement. Sweet small flowers of pink or white, they are also easy to plant and maintain.

An extremely popular cottage garden plant, this old fashion flower bursts with an abundance of clustering blooms.

Aster Daisy-like flowers that colour the garden in summer and autumn. Asters attract butterflies and bees, perfect if you wish to get more pollination happening in your garden and are happy in full to partial sunlight.

Hydrangea Available instore now, Hydrangeas bloom from November to March and are very happy in dappled light. Remember to use aluminium sulphate for enhanced Blue Hydrangeas and Lime and Dolomite for Pink Hydrangeas!

Alyssum Always sought after, what’s not to love about this bunching ground cover with prolific tiny white flowers? Used as border planting and in hanging baskets, these annuals flower from spring to late summer.

Edible Flowers Edible flowers are always a treat to grow. Normally fast growing, these flowers can be used in a variety of cakes, salads or impressive garnishing.

Viola Usually mistaken for pansies, viola have smaller leaves and up to three times as many flowers.

Happy in part shade, viola are both beautiful and edible.

Spring Flower Essentials We have a great range of plants and products to kickstart your spring garden.

Nasturtium Perfect when confined to a garden pot, Nasturtiums flowers and leaves are edible. Used by cafes and restaurants, this plant produces flowers for a prolonged period from spring to autumn.

Lavender This versatile plant is extremely easy to grow, beloved by bees and edible! Use the flowers in teas, biscuits and chocolate.

Marigold Known to help deter pest insects such as white fly in the garden, Marigold petals (and even whole flowers) can be used in salads and has a taste similar to saffron.

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Urban Orchard Spring is the season gardeners always eagerly await.

Now is the best time to plant your woody vines and tropical fruit trees. Here are our three top fruit planting picks for spring.

Blueberries

Tamarillo

Passionfruit

Becoming increasingly sought after and popular in New Zealand gardens, blueberries do not need a lot of space and are happy in our Auckland climate.

Also known as ‘Tree Tomatoes’, Tamarillo are a deliciously tart fruit that are low in calories and a good source of vitamin A, E, C and B6. When planting a Tamarillo, find a position with free-draining soil that gets full (6hr+) sunlight. The young plants will need protection from strong winds and frosts for the first couple of years.

This beautiful, tasty and tangy fruit is easy to grow with the right preparation.

Like most fruiting plants, passionfruit vines need to be in free-draining soil in a fully sunlit area. Heavy sandy loams or slightly acidic soil (5.5 – 7.5) is preferred.

Blueberries enjoy sunny positions, in free-draining soil rich in organic matter that is slightly acidic. If you are planting in the garden, mix in Kings Compost and Sheep Pellets into your existing soil, then layer with Peat or Tui Strawberry Mix. For container planting, plant using Garden Mix. Most of the blueberries that are available in Auckland are known as ‘Rabbiteyes’ that fruit from January to April, and are also more drought tolerant. Make sure you get two different varieties of blueberry so they can easily cross-pollinate.

Add nutrients to the soil by feeding your blueberries with Kings Blueberry food or, as an organic option, feed with Organic Garden Booster. And remember to cover your blueberries with bird netting, or else those hungry birds will get to your delicious harvest before you!

Tamarillos need plenty of water throughout summer, water deeply once a week and mulch well. Feed with Kings citrus and fruit tree fertiliser once in spring and again at the end of summer.

Keeping your fruit tree healthy will heavily reduce the chances of getting pest insects such as aphid and white fly.

The fruit forms on new spring growth, so make sure to cut your plant back hard in winter to maximise your fruit harvest. Cut the top off your tamarillo after it reaches 1 meter to encourage branching, making it easier to harvest the fruit.

Make sure that you have a trellis or place for your passion vines to grow along.

The most popular passionfruit is the deep purple skinned fruit called ‘Black Beauty’. Being Self-fertile, you will only need one vine to get fruit which is harvestable from March to June. There is also the Yellow or Golden passionfruit with much smaller, sweeter fruit. Lastly there is the Red Panama which has very large, sweet tasting deep red fruit.

Passion vines can grow at least eight meters each year, so finding a good space for it to spread out is ideal.

Make sure there is good airflow around the passionfruit, as high humidity levels can cause complications and disease.

Water roots well and feed well in Spring and Autumn.

Tasty

Tomatoes Want to try your hand at growing tomatoes this year?

With a bit of gardening knowhow you will be ready to plant and grow your own delicious red fruit this season!

Tips

Make sure your tomato is upright, keeping the tomatoes off the ground will mean less chance of rot and insect damage. Do this by using one to two stakes and soft cloth to hold the plant in place. Keeping your tomatoes in a sheltered position out of the wind is a good idea in case of strong winds that may snap the plant or blow away your ripening fruit!

Varieties

Care

Harvesting

Heirlooms

Tomato plants need a lot of energy to produce fruit, mostly sourced from the sun. Make sure they are planted in full sun in soil that has good drainage.

When planting in a pot or trough, use Kings Container Mix, otherwise use Tui Organic Veggie Mix for the garden.

Tomatoes will start to produce fruit that can be harvested in late summer to late autumn. You can tell when tomatoes are ripe when you gently twist the fruit and it falls easily into your hand. Is it red but being stubborn?

Give it a week and try again, the fruit will come off once it is ready.

Heirloom tomatoes are an open pollinated, non-hybridised variety, many of which have been kept around by enthusiasts and breeders. They are often disease resistant and are as interesting as they are tasty. While many people use the label Heirloom to describe plants that have been around for a long time, others use the term to describe any large Open Pollinated, non-hybridised variety. The most popular Heirloom Tomatoes are Black Krim, Brandywine and Bloody Butcher.

Cherry Cherry tomatoes are easy to grow and produce an abundance of small, round fruit packed with sweet flavour.

These are popular as they are easily used in salads, kids lunch boxes and can be eaten straight off the vine.

The tumbling varieties are bred to be grown in small pots on the deck or balcony making it even easier to grow your own. Our top varieties include: Sweet 100, Black Cherries, Red Robin, Red and Yellow Tumblers.

If your tomato plant is in a pot it will need to be watered once every day.

Make sure it has enough room for the roots to grow into, otherwise you will need to replant it soon.

Water once a day to once every two days depending on your gardens soil. Water around the bottom of the plant only, as watering the leaves can cause diseases like powdery mildew.

Tomatoes are also big feeders and will need fertiliser at least once every two weeks. Feed with a potassium rich liquid fertiliser such as Kings Tomato Food.

Remember, feeding your tomato now will mean more fruit for you later!

‘Paste’ Tomatoes Thick textured tomatoes with an elongated ‘plum’ shape, these tomatoes are perfect when being used in soups, sauces and pastes as they need less cooking time and thicken up easier in the pot.

Choose either the Roma or San Marzano types in store.

15

Ask the

Plant Doctor Giving you expert advice to your seasonal gardening woes

Contact your local

Plant Doctor Look out for the red shirts instore or send us your plant questions online.

www.plantdoctor.co.nz

Hi, I have an indoor plant that looks too big for it’s pot.

When can I replant it and can I start feeding it now?

MANU, SILVERDALE

I have these annoying tiny white moth-type things that are hanging around my lettuces. What are they and how do I get rid of them?

LISA, MT. ALBERT

Hi Manu, Spring is the best time to repot your houseplants.

This is the time of year where your house plants are starting to growing again. Some plants, like the Moth Orchids, Hoyas and Anthuriums, are happy being rootbound and only occasionally need to be repotted.

While other plants such as Peace Lilies, Calathea and Succulents will need to be planted into a larger pot. To replant, take the plant gently out of the pot (cut off any roots that have come through the bottom drainage holes), and break up the soil and roots so that the majority of the roots don’t continue to wind around themselves. Find a larger pot and use Kings potting mix. Always make sure the top of the plant’s roots are in line or slightly under the rim of the pot.

Water well and wait a couple of weeks for the plant to settle in before starting to feed, either with Kings Slow Release Houseplant Food, or a Liquid Fertiliser.

Hi Lisa, These are called White Fly. They are small sap sucking insects that lay their eggs underneath leaves and are commonly found on citrus, garden vegetables and dry plants in spring and summer.

To prevent Whitefly, make sure to water and feed your plants well during the hot months as they are attracted to weakened plants.

To treat, spray any edibles with Nature’s Way Citrus, Veggie and Ornamental spray. This is an organic spray suitable for veggies and edibles.

Alternatively, Spray Organic Bugtrol on Citrus and larger shrubs or trees.

Follow up spraying may be required in some circumstances, and always spray in the evening to avoid affecting beneficial insects.

Hi, I have a few cucumber plants that have been growing well in my garden this October, but have just noticed this strange white looking powder on the tops of their leaves. What is this and how do I treat it?

KAREN, GLENFIELD Hi Karen, This is called powdery mildew. This presents itself as a distinct white powdery film that covers plant’s leaves and is commonly found on garden veggies and perennials, such as Cucumbers, Pumpkins, Zucchini, Pansies and Dahlias, especially towards the end of their growing season.

To prevent this from happening in the garden, avoid overhead watering and if possible, water in the morning.

To treat, spray affected plants with FreeFlo Sulphur, an effective organic solution suitable for edibles and ornamentals. Treat only when necessary or earlier in the season, as some powdery mildew is inevitable towards the end of the growing season.

17

Organic Growing Organic growing is something that many people aspire to do. It’s better for us, better for the environment, and better for beneficial insects.

Yet there is a common misconception that growing organically requires a lot of time and energy. And although outbreaks of woody invasive weeds can still be a bother to tackle, the trick with organic gardening is to pre-emptively solve such problems, and work with the ecological systems within our gardens to ensure that our plants stay healthy and pest free.

Starting with Healthy Soil Healthy soil is actually a vibrant eco-system. In healthy garden soil it can offer up as many as 1 billion beneficial bacteria in a single teaspoon of soil, along with thousands of protozoa and yards of fungal strands.

The benefits of having a rich and varied ecosystem beneath your feet are massive.

Beneficial fungi often form symbiotic relationships with your plants.

Improving your soil

In exchange for sugars, fungi will help provide moisture.

Some will even help protect plants from a variety of diseases. Worms also add much needed nutrients to the soil as well, which in turn helps improve soil structure. Good soil structure provides nutrients which is easier for plants to absorb, and better drainage that helps avoiding root rot problems.

For more organic tips and suggestions, ask our friendly staff instore!

Add lots of Organic Matter

Start a Worm Farm

Adding compost and sheep pellets to your soil adds nutrients and humus providing more food for your plants and the beneficial microbes nestled throughout your soil.

Worm farms are a great way to process your food scraps and turn them into highly nutritious substances full of beneficial microbes, perfect for adding a bit of life to your soil.

Add decomposed worm matter (Vermicompost, or worm castings) when planting new trees and shrubs, or to old garden beds that need that breath of new life.

18 18

What About Spraying?

We have all heard about how harmful certain spays can be for us, the environment and beneficial insects, so how can we protect our plants against certain insects, diseases and weeds, and still be organic?

Pest Insects Some insects can be trickier to get rid of than others. The best way to deal with pests is to prevent them in the first place.

Try planting a sacrificial crop to encourage pest insects to eat alternative plants, or plant beneficial insect plants your, while covering your desired crop with Bug netting. This is an easy organic way to protect plants in your garden without using any chemicals. Predator insects are also very helpful in the garden. They are attracted to specific plants that give them cover and vantage points to prey on pest insects. Plant Hyssop, Borage, Echinacea, Oregano, Thyme, Roses, Phacelia Yarrow and Sage to attract insects such as ladybirds, praying mantis, spiders and hoverflies.

Spraying for pest insects can be safe and organic as long as precautions are taken.

Many plants outside with aphids, white fly and euginia psyllids can be sprayed with Organic Bugtrol or NEEM Oil. Use Bactur for caterpillars and Nature’s Way Veggie, Citrus and Ornamental spray for mites, scale and mealybug. For certain insects indoors you can use either DEEM or Debug. Always spray in the evening, and never spray on bee-friendly plants when they are out in flower.

Weeds can be managed by prevention, physical or spray methods.

Maintain control over your garden by picking out new weeds before they too big, saving you time and money in the long run. Try using Niwashi tools, traditionally created with Japanese steel to make weeding easy, and will last you a lifetime. When weeding, dig up the roots to eradicate unwanted plants.

If you are wanting to suppress weeds, think twice about weed mat as this tends to dry out the soil underneath.

Instead use a spread of mulch to suppress weeds and help keep the ground moist.

Some weeds can also be removed with organic weed killers. Try Kiwicare’s Weed Weapon Nature Power, an Organic Herbicide that uses fatty acids to kill the tops of weeds and weakens root systems.

Protect Plants with Fungus

Compost on Site

Keep the Soil Moist

Aquaticus Organic Garden Booster contains a beneficial Trichoderma, a fungus that lives around plant roots in the soil, helps protect from soil borne diseases and stimulates root growth.

Add compost to your soil when adding plants to your garden. Either use Kings Organic Compost, or your decomposed matter from your own compost, 1:2 compost to soil ratio.

Compost will help condition your soil and encourage the growth of your plants roots and micro-organisms in the area.

Mulch and water your garden beds regularly through summer to, ensuring that your plants and beneficial microbes in your soil thrive.

Another product Rootmate also contains Trichoderma and can be used to help prevent and protect plants such as Griselinias, Buxus and Avocadoes from root rot (Phytophthoras).

And Weeds?

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Garden to Plate Try one of our tasty new spring recipes

Rhubarb Infused Gin Pink gin has become extremely trendy lately. Why not add a twist to your own infused brew. Here is a recipe to make your own tasty pink gin at home!

Ingredients

Recipe

200g Rhubarb, sliced into 1cm pieces Rind of half a lemon, pith removed 250g Sugar 700ml Gin

1. Place sliced rhubarb, lemon peel and sugar into a 1L glass jar. Ensuring the lid is on tightly, shake vigorously and leave to stand for 2-3 days, or until rhubarb has softened and partly liquefied.

2. Pour in the gin, replace the lid tightly, and give another good shake.

Leave to infuse in a cool, dark place for 4-6 weeks (the longer you leave it, the better it gets!), shaking now and then to speed up the process.

3. When the taste is to your liking, strain the mixture and pour into a glass bottle. Serve with your favourite good quality tonic water and a wedge of fresh lemon.

Serve

4

(as a sid

es

de)

Banana Oat Porridge Bread Do you love an incredibly easy recipe that will wow your guests? Have some loose, leftover nuts and seeds in the pantry you want to use up? Then why not create a Banana Oat “Porridge Bread”.

Being wheat free and refined sugar free, this is one of our best recipes to date!

Ingredients

Recipe

3 Medium sized, ripe bananas 2 Eggs 500g Greek yoghurt 380g (4 cups) rolled oats 150g Mixed chopped nuts and/or seeds (your choice, we used walnuts and pumpkin seeds) 100g Coconut sugar 50ml Milk 2 Tsp Baking soda 2 Tbsp Cinnamon Large pinch of salt

1. Preheat oven to 180 degrees Celsius and line a large loaf tin with baking paper.

2. In a large bowl, roughly mash two of the bananas with a fork (save the third one for the garnish). Add eggs and whisk generously.

3. Add all other ingredients in no particular order and mix well. Mixture should be rather sticky and wet - add another splash of milk if it looks too dry.

4. Scoop mixture into prepared loaf tin and smooth out the top. Garnish with reserved sliced banana and a sprinkle of oats. Bake for around 50-60mins or until a skewer comes out clean.

5. Once cool, slice into thick slices and serve with lots of salted butter.

This loaf also freezes well – just remember to slice it before you freeze it.

Roasted Cauliflower and Dates with Whipped Tahini Yoghurt Ingredients

Recipe

1 Medium head cauliflower, chopped into florets 12 Fresh Medjool dates 1 Tbsp sumac Olive oil

1. Preheat oven on fan grill to 220 degrees Celsius and line an oven tray with baking paper. Arrange cauliflower florets evenly around the tray, making sure there is about a 1cm gap between each piece (depending on the size of your cauliflower, you will most likely need to complete this step in 2 batches).

Dressing 100g Thick greek yoghurt 1.5 Tbsp tahini 1 Tbsp honey 1 Large lemon, juice and zest 1 Tsp crushed garlic To Garnish Handful of roasted almonds, roughly chopped Handful of flat leaf parsley Pomegranate seeds

2. Drizzle with olive oil, season well with sea salt and dust liberally with the sumac.

Roast the cauliflower under the grill for about 12 minutes for each batch, watching carefully – you want to remove from the oven as soon as the edges of the cauliflower reach a nice caramel colour.

3. Keeping the oven on, remove the pits from the dates and use your hands to rip into rough quarters. Spread evenly on a new lined oven tray and place under the grill for about 5 minutes until the surface of the dates are slightly caramelised.

Remove from oven and set aside with the cauliflower to cool.

4. To make the tahini yoghurt, combine all dressing ingredients in a medium sized bowl, season with salt and pepper, and whisk vigorously until completely smooth.

5. To assemble, spread the tahini yoghurt evenly around a large serving platter.

Top with the warm cauliflower, dates, and sprinkle over roasted almonds, pomegranate seeds and chopped parsley.

21

Indoor Plants Caring for your indoor plant family in spring As the temperatures rise your indoor leafy plants will start to stir back to life, sending out new growth and needing extra attention.

Follow our basic care tips for healthy, lush houseplants this season.

Watering

Light

Feed

Watering can start to become a regular affair once more! By the start of October you will want to start watching your plants more regularly as they will start to get thirsty. Make sure your plants are directly planted in a pot with drainage holes and tip out any extra water that gathers in the saucer or cover pot.

The sun is returning, so too is the temperature and quickness in new growth. Make sure that as the sun changes its course across the sky that your houseplants too are moved to suit the light, and are well away from the harshness of the sun’s rays – otherwise you may get a very sad, sunburnt plant!

As your indoor plants start growing, they will need to be fed. If your indoor plants go without feed for too long, they can resort to taking nutrients from older leaves that will yellow and slowly die back.

For small or medium plants use a liquid fertiliser such as Kiwicare’s Gro-Sure Houseplant Droplet Feeder, or for woody and larger indoor plants, feed with Kings Slow Release Houseplant Food.

Extra Tips While many indoor plants will need to be repotted every two to three years, certain plants enjoy being rootbound. Moth Orchids, Anthuriums and Hoyas will produce flowers when grown in tight spaces. If you do need to repot them, choose the closest pot size up to replant in.

Kiwicare houseplant range Shop online or instore for all your houseplant needs.

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Top 4:

our most sought after indoor plants this season

The popularity of indoor plants has exploded over the last couple of years around the world, and in New Zealand. With a majority of collectors now having acquired many of the plants available in garden centres, there is more demand than ever before for more uncommon varieties.

#1

Alocasia Sarian Also known as the indoor ‘Elephant ear’ plant, this Alocasia was only released in New Zealand in late August. Growing up to two metres in height, this is a perfect plant for an empty corner of the room and looks stunning with its deep green leaves that are soft to the touch, and almost stark-white veins. This Alocasia is happiest when kept in a warm, humid settings.

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#2

Philodendron Birkin This is a new variety of Philodendron that just hit the New Zealand market this year. Sought after for its lush, pin-striped leaves with gorgeous colours of soft greens and creamy white variegation. The Birkin enjoys high humidity levels and warm sunlit rooms.

#3 Philodendron Brasil Also released in August, the Philodendron Brasil is a fast-growing trailing plant similar to the Philodendron ‘Golden’, but instead has a single solid yellow stripe down the centre of the leaves instead of speckling. It’s easy to look after, and is happiest in indirect sunlit rooms.

#4 Philodendron Micans Also known as the ‘Velvet leaved’ Philodendron, this trailing vine has dark green leaves that are velvety to the touch and shimmer in the light. Its young foliage starts off with a pinky-purple colour and darkens with age. This variety is sensitive to the cold, so make sure you keep it in a warm room and out of direct sunlight with moderate humidity levels.

Looking for the unusual?

After an uncommon houseplant and live in Auckland? Give your closest store a call on 0800 PLANTS to create an order, and we will let you know when we have one of these fantastic plants available for you!

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Bring on the

Bees

Loss of habitat is affecting all bees across New Zealand including our native species. Help increase their numbers by offering a stable food source throughout the year

The New Zealand Honey Bee While honey bees are being threatened overseas from nasty causes like Colony Collapse Disorder, New Zealand bees are still being effected by varroa mites and unregulated use of harmful chemicals have had a big part to play in our own dwindling numbers.

Hives

Bee Month September is New Zealand’s ‘Bee Awareness’ month.

We’re getting behind Bee month with instore events, competitions, articles and fun for the kids.

Check it out at kings.co.nz/ beemonth MORE FLOWERS = MORE BEES

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Honey bees in New Zealand live in hives and are bred for honey and pollination. These hives have a Queen bee who lays the hives eggs, drones which are male bees who mate with queen bees, and worker bees which are female bees. The worker bees do all the jobs in the colony, including collecting pollen, nectar, creating honey and raising the bee larvae (or brood).

Many people are eager to keep bees, but this can also cause a problem in urban areas as these areas can become saturated with too many bees and not enough food for their hive. The best way to combat this is to plant bee-friendly plants in your garden.

Foraging Honey bees are known to forage for food up to 3 kilometres from their hive and are well known to help pollinate many plants in the garden that create veggies and fruit for humans to eat. There are also many different types of non-fruiting plants that can be planted for bees to help feed them. Some of these include asters, salvias, thyme, rosemary, lavender, magnolias, mint, camellias, clover, dandelion, gorse and our own native pohutakawa.

Bees are crucial to human, animal and plant survival.

By pollinating flowers, bees continue plant life cycles, which helps feed humans and animals.

Bumble Bees in New Zealand Large, round and furry, bumble bees are often the bee that captures our hearts the most. With four bumble bee species that were imported into New Zealand in the 1800’s to help pollinate red clover, have since adapted and now pollinate a large variety of plants across the country. A single bumble bee can accomplish up to 50 times the amount of work that of a honey bee.

Nesting Bumble bees live in nests of up to 100 bees in a colony. Though they do not produce honey farmed by humans, bumble bees do have a Queen that will live for one year. This Queen first hibernates underground in winter by herself, before emerging in spring to feed and search for a suitable nesting site. Once this Queen has found a nest she is happy with, she will lay her first lot of eggs who help look after and feed the growing colony.

In summer the Queen continues to grow her colony, along with producing males and new Queen bees. These males mate with the new Queens, before the colony dies off and the new Queens hibernate for winter to carry on the cycle for the next year.

Foraging Bumble bees can forage for food for up to 1.5Km’s from their nest and are able to collect food from sources that may be closed to other bees. An example of this is the snapdragon – with it’s heavy lid – can only be pollinated by larger, stronger bees are able to push past the ‘trap’ door. There is also the tomato flower, where the pollen is difficult to dislodge for smaller bees, the bumble bee will vigorously buzz around the flower, dislodging the pollen for easy collection. This technique is known as ‘buzz pollination’.

Encouraging Bees and Pollinators Bees play an extremely important part in New Zealand’s environment by pollinating plants which in turn create seeds, (for both native and introduced species) so they can carry on their lifecycle and create a new generation of seedlings.

Mass planting groups of pollinator-friendly plants with a minimum of five different plants will ensure that bees, butterflies and moths are fed, and help the distribution of pollen. You don’t need a big space to do your part, and even flower pots offer a great way of adding more variety and colour to your home as well.

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Native bees do not produce honey or live in hives. Instead, they live in small nests in soil or plant matter

Planting for Bees Hebe Native to New Zealand, loves in a variety of colours, fantastic for low hedging and a favourite for bees and butterflies.

Puawananga Also known as Clematis Paniculata, this is a native species that flowers between August and November.

Echinacea Also known as a coneflower, this perennial is a must have for any pot or garden wanting to attract butterflies and bees.

Bee Pasture Mix Available in stores both as seeds and in the kings herb section, this mix can be grown in pots for spring and summer.

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New Zealand Native Bees

In New Zealand we have 27 endemic species of native bees that are only found here, plus one indigenous species that is found both in New Zealand and Australia, all which fall under the family categories of Lasioglossum, Leioproctus and Hylaeus.

Many of these bees are black in colour and are much smaller than the honey or bumble bees, and are sometimes mistaken for small wasps.

Unlike Honey bees, native bees do not produce honey or live in hives.

Instead, they live in small nests in soil or plant matter and are considered non aggressive, only stinging when their lives are in immediate danger.

Nesting These bees are solitary bees, meaning they tend to live in singular or small communal nests and look after their own brood. Female leioproctus bees tunnel into undisturbed soils and lay one egg, which they then feed and nurse themselves upon hatching. The lasioglossum bees are similar but share responsibilities and their nesting holes with several others. Unlike their cousins, the hylaeus family of bees tend to nest in ready made holes such as old beetle holes or hollow plant material. If present, creating an insect hotel can be beneficial for these bees.

Foraging

These bees tend to forage on native flowering plant species such as the pohutakawa, kakabeak, manuka, or native misltoe but have become adapt to feeding on other introduced plants such as ragwort.

Unlike the honey bee, New Zealand natives will only forage in a range of up to 100meters from their nests. This can be extremely problematic when their immediate food sources become depleted by land development. Unaffected by varroa mite and colony collapse, this is the biggest change that has affected our native bee population, and why it is extremely important to repopulate these areas with flowering bee-friendly native plants.

Little Growers

Kids corner

DIY Bee friendly RECYCLED POTS

How to make your recycled bee pot Get your plastic milk container and wash it out thoroughly with hot water, turn it upside down and let it dry.

step 1

step 2

You will need: 1.5L/2L plastic milk container Potting mix Yates Bee pasture seed mix Strong scissors Sharpie 1 popsicle stick

Get an adult to help you!

Next, carefully poke holes in the bottom of the halved container. Put your soil into this bottom half of the container, fill it 2/3 of the way up.

With the help of an adult, poke a hole in the side of the milk carton half way up the container, and cut the container in half.

step 3

Water well and put outside in the sun

Fill the rest of the home-made pot up with soil to 3cm under the edge.

Water every day in the morning, and watch your seeds grow!

‘bee pot ’

with the sharpie, and put in the soil

pot

step 5

Take your popsicle stick and write

be e

step 6

Help feed bees in your garden with recycled materials

Lightly sprinkle seed mixture over the soil

step 4 Lightly sprinkle some of the seed mixture over the soil. Make sure you don’t use too much seed!

Bring the kids instore to get a

FREE TEMPORARY TATTOO and info sheet all about caring for Bees.

These are now available instore, just ask at the checkout.

Events

Upcoming events for all the family!

Herbs 101 10am, Saturday 8th September

Great Bee Hunt School Holidays 28th September - 13th October

All stores

All stores

Come instore and learn all you need to know about growing herbs both in your garden, on the balcony and even inside.

Bring the kids in store over the spring

PLUS all attendees will receive a discount voucher for Kings herbs on the day!

COST: FREE

bees hiding around in stores. Find them all and get a free pack of seeds and a temporary bee tattoo!

PLUS kids can add their own coloured September and get a free packet of bee-friendly seeds so they can help our bee population!

COST: FREE

Spring care 10:30am, Saturday 14th September

Growing Asian Veggies 10am, Sunday 10th November

All stores

All stores

your indoor plants will start needing more attention. Learn how to properly replant and feed your leafy friends.

Bored of the same old veggies each year and want to try something a little more exotic?

Come instore and learn about how to care for and harvest Asian vegetables.

PLUS get an indoor plant discount voucher for the day when attending!

PLUS get a FREE packet of Asian seeds when attending!

COST: FREE

COST: FREE

Creating a Bee Sanctuary 2.30pm, Sunday 22nd September

Patio Planters (Make & Take) Workshop EXCLUSIVE GARDEN CLUB EVENT 10am, Sunday 24th November

All stores

Come instore and learn about how to create a sustainable bee-friendly sanctuary in your backyard.

PLUS all attendees will get a discount voucher on all our organic products on the day!

COST: FREE

All stores

After a personalised early Christmas gift but not sure what to get? This is the event for you!

Make your own planted patio pot instore with our friendly staff and walk away with a gorgeous planter that is worth $40! Limited tickets. Ticket sales start 1st October.

COST: $25 for Garden Club Members

For more info on future events, visit

facebook.com/kingsplantbarn or kings.co.nz/events

GIVE A GREENER GIFT Introducing a new sustainable corporate gifting service. Give & Grow offers a range of stylish, beautifully packaged indoor plants, delivered directly to your recipients door with a personalised message.

Find out more at giveandgrow.co.nz Or for more information contact our sales team on 0800 568 057 31

Grow with

confidence EXPERT ADVICE

E TO GR EE

GU

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Our knowledgeable team is passionate about gardening.

They can help you find landscape inspiration, choose the right plants for your home, garden or patio and give you tips on care and maintenance so you can grow with confidence!

ANT

SURE TO GROW GUARANTEE We back all our plants with a full GUARANTEE. This means that if for some reason one of our plants fails to grow, we’ll replace it absolutely free.

PLANT DOCTOR If your plants aren’t feeling 100%, bring in a photo or sample and the Plant Doctor will prescribe a solution. Look for the red shirt instore or go online to plantdoctor.co.nz

STORES OPEN 7 DAYS MON - FRI 8:30AM - 5:00PM SAT - SUN 8:30AM - 6:00PM

kings.co.nz

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0800 PLANTS