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Spring is in the air!

By Tony Murrell and Helen Jackson

With Spring in the air and a glimpse of magic time ahead we will explore the best about spring in New Zealand. From flora to fauna. Tony's best advice for the months ahead, what to start preparing for food-wise and for establishing a new garden from scratch.

Helen has been cooking with lemons, lemon curd, lemon tart and deliciously sticky lemon slice. Let's talk lemon recipes and your favourite uses for this fabulous winter/spring fruit.

We will be discussing soil biology with Cherryle Prew from Soil Food Web International.

We as home gardeners need to understand more about our soil and optimise what already exists in it. So how do we do that?

Fionna Hill is in at 9.30am with the low-down on microgreen and why we should be eating and growing them - no matter how small our garden is!

We will discuss the different requirements of plants from our soil and how we can best achieve a beautiful garden by optimising the soil biology.

How best can we utilise our specialty fertilisers?

Steamed pork buns are common at Yum Cha, but Helen has perfected her own recipe which she is happy to share.

PLUS: "We'll have some fantastic prizes and giveaways and as always looking forward to your calls.

Christchurch listeners will definitely want to listen to this, this weekend we will have all the information about sediment usage and what to do about contaminated ground around your place. I caught up this week with our great mates at “Tui Garden” and together we have come up with a solution for growing food while Christchurch cleans up. Safe and healthy ways to grow food after the disaster. Listen in from 6am because we have some giveaways especially for our Christchurch listeners that will surely keep you growing!"

Cheers,
Tony & Helen

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432654

By Helen

Hi Anne, please send me the address details to hjackson@radoworks.co.nz and we will get planters sent out.
helen

By Anne Tubman

I would like to win Haxnicks Patio Planters for my friend Sarah in Kaiapoi who has lost her home. They are a family of four with a overseas student living with them. Sarah is cancer sufferer who is facing her own challenges. Sarah's parents also from Kaiapoi have lost their home as well. With my own daughter living in Kaiapoi (fortunately no damage to her home and myself working in Kaiapoi it is heartbreaking to see the damage to the homes and gardens.

I am sure Sarah and her family would be very appreciative to get the Haxnicks Patio Planters.

Thank you for your consideration

Anne Tubman

By Helen

Hi Angie,
The fruit sticks that I am thinking of have more of a soft sweet biscuit dough mixture around them than a pastry. I will ask our listeners and think more on it.
Helen

By Tony & Helen

Hi Carolyn if you are listening could you let us know the look you are trying to create - alpine? native? subtropical? or working in with the natural landscape?
hopefully you are listening to us discuss this on air.

By angie

Hi, you might have heard of fruit stix, they are tubes of thickened fruit dried a little and encased in a pastry of sorts, this pastry seems to have little butter and is soft rather than crunchy, they are popular for school lunches, anyway I want to make something similar for my grandies for school. can you help me?? thanx

By Carolyn Hunt (Mrs)

Hi, I live in the Wairarapa on lime stone country. I have always wanted a water feature in my garden. I have now made up my mind where to put said feature and have removed the plants mainly flaxes. The water will come from the house roof and a lime stone spring. Lime stone rocks will be my main building material. What plants will be best suited? Are there any rule of thumb to follow?. Etc, etc. Your ideas and help would be greatly appreciated.
Cheers Carolyn

PS I live in the country so have plenty of room.