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Gardening in New Zealand

Advice to new-New Zealanders...

18 years ago

...I am an avid gardener here in Georgia but am a little worried about keeping it up when I move to the north island next month.

I'll be living in Dargaville, a climate very different from the one I am used to here.

Does anyon e have any tips?

From the zones and weather to local flora and fauna...

Anything!

Gardening is my passion and my darling Kiwi fella is being a dear and building me a grande greenhouse...

...but what to put in it!?!

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Comments (4)

vetivert8
18 years ago
Dargaville is in the 'sub-tropical' and can get a lot of heavy rain. Summer is often humid but not desperately so.

IMO a big challenge for a northern gardener is weed control; plants those of us further south find kept in reasonable check by cooler winter temperatures live the life of Riley in the north. Wild ginger, smilax, watsonia - all rampant weeds.

Think about growing macadamias and citrus, mountain pawpaw, and bananas. Check out the various heritage plants available in your area, too. And consider using plants such as Clivia and Hibiscus and Tecomanthe out in the garden directly.

If the soil in your area is volcanic in origin - be sure to either wear gloves or use barrier cream to prevent skin cracks.

Expect some fruit and veg varieties to be prone to botrytis and other minor plagues earlier than you'd like.

Glasshouse: hmm. Any ambitions to export orchid flowers to Japan?
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jekyll
18 years ago
If you are moving from a colder area where winter cold checks everything - you will be really excited by how fast things grow. Then you will realise that this goes double for the weeds and despair! Some of the familiar cool-climate plants will probably be hard to grow. However they grow some fantastic plants in Northland.

I've never lived and gardened in Northland but grew up in Auckland which is similar.

From Dargaville, it isn't far to get to the native forest with the giant kauri (Agathis australis) trees. I recommend a visit - they are fantastic. Not that you will be growing kauri in your greenhouse. But yes, orchids do well. So do many ferns.

Also, you won't be too far from Koanga Gardens. They are a big organic garden and sell heirloom seed varieties, mainly vegetables.

I'll try and think of some other favourites from the north.

Here is a link that might be useful: Koanga Gardens
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mosschops
18 years ago
Hello! I've just spent my first year here from the UK. We're in Waipu so we'll practically be neighbours!

I'm enjoying all the fruit etc... but the main difference is the SPEED at which things grow! That and the flipping possums eating last year's veggie patch over night (grrrr).

good luck!

Steph
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vetivert8
18 years ago
Steph
May we recommend the acquisition of a couple of Timms traps for the possums? Off with their heads. And, if you're in a Tb free zone - into the deep freeze for dog tucker, or under the orange trees for fertiliser. Do you grow macadamias in Waipu? Or just head over to Kerikeri for a treat?
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