A d v i ce . Id e a s .

I n sp i ra t i on

Anita’s Garden
Volume 2, Issue 40 24 April 2020

Useful Links Editorial

Webpage
 Spinach Merlo Nero
Blog Welcome to the fortieth issue of my
newsletter Anita’s Garden for 2020.  Endive Misticanza di Scarole
Newsletter back issues
I hope you have all had a good week  Lamb’s Lettuce Verte di Cam-
Facebook and are staying safe during lockdown. brai
Instagram Italian Seeds Pronto/Franchi I will be following up on how these
Twitter Seeds varieties fare in my newsletter, blog
and on social media.
Linkedin To start this week’s column, I have
some fantastic news to share from Spring Bulbs
Pinterest Italian Seeds Pronto, who distribute
Franchi Seeds in New Zealand. Zlata, Given that most mail order companies
a lovely yellow radish, is back in stock will be wading through a backlog of
on the online store! I grew this varie- orders placed during lockdown, now is
Contact me a good time to get your spring bulb
ty a number of years ago and was in-
credibly impressed with the size and order sorted if you haven’t already
 Feedback done so.
sweetness of the radish. My mother
 Newsletter input who is not such a fan of radish, which
I recently announced a collaboration
(tips, recipes, gar- she usually finds bitter, could not stop
with Bulbs Direct, who have quickly
den photos etc) raving about it. Unfortunately, it
become New Zealand’s leading mail
wasn’t available after that season but
order bulb supplier. I have gotten to
 To be added to my I am very excited about it being back
know Kayne and the team over the
mailing list in stock and available to other gar-
years and have always been impressed
deners in New Zealand.
anitakundu.nz@gmail.com with the quality of their bulbs and the
Speaking of Franchi, I am delighted efficiency of their service. Many popu-
to announce that I am growing the lar varieties will have already sold out
following varieties in our garden this (a lesson for next year!), but a good
Inside this issue: winter: selection remains on their website. If
you live in a temperate zone you may
 Rocket Coltivata find that tulips and hyacinths benefit
from a chilling period in the fridge and
Po t t eri n g ar o u n d 2  Broccoli Romanesco there is still enough time to do this.
Anita’s Garden Just make sure you don’t have your
 Broccoli Calabrese
fruit and veggies in there as they can
 Lettuce Quattro Stagioni release a gas which prevents the bulbs
Top 5 gardening tasks 2 (Mesclun) from flowering. Otherwise if you can’t
for the week do this, you can pop an ethylene sachet
 Black Tuscan Kale in the paper bag to prevent this from
happening. I am trying them for the
Tips for growing spring 2  Onion Tropea Rosso Lunga first time this year and will be able to
bulbs
report back on how successful they
 Onion Tropea Rosso Tonda were, judging by the quality of my
 Onion Rossa Lunga di Firenze blooms.
How to grow rocket 3
Have a great weekend.
 Spinach Matador
Anita Kundu
PAGE 2
Pottering around Anita’s Garden
Here is a selection of photos from
around Anita’s Garden for you to
enjoy.
The rose Absolutely Fabulous.
This rose has been in the garden
for three years now and has done
incredibly well, as with all my oth-
er yellow roses.
Top 5 gardening tasks for the week
1. Plant rocket
You can still sow rocket. This sea-
son I’m growing Coltivata (see
above). I highly recommend this
variety, having grown it in previ-
ous seasons.
2. Sow peas
It’s still not too late to sow peas
and sweet peas in the garden, but
don’t leave it any longer otherwise
Tips for growing spring bulbs
In last week’s column, I covered
growing ranunculus. This week, I
thought I would provide some gen-
eral tips for growing spring bulbs.
 Choose the site well. Bulbs
need a sunny, free-draining
site.
 Bulbs can be grown in con-
tainers or in the ground
AN IT A’S G AR D E N
My rocket seedlings. This season I
am growing the variety Coltivata
from Franchi Seeds, which is dis-
tributed by Italian Seeds Pronto in
New Zealand. This variety grows
well in the ground or in containers,
as I have done. Simply scatter
seeds direct and cover lightly.
Keep moist to aid germination. If
you haven’t already done so it’s not
too late to sow some now!
you’ll have to wait until spring
when the ground becomes warmer
3. Plant spring bulbs
You can start planting spring
bulbs, now that the ground is a bit
cooler. If you live in a warm cli-
mate, leave planting hyacinths
and tulips until May
4. Tidy up the summer
garden
 If planting bulbs in the
ground, work in compost
and sheep pellets to enrich
the soil
 If planting bulbs in contain-
ers, use a quality container
mix. At this time of the
year, it is not necessary to
look for one which contains
water storage crystals
V O LU M E 2 , ISSU E 4 0
Our rose Just Joey. We planted
this rose back in 2013 in memory
of my father. It was given to us by
my Aunty Joan, who lives across
the road from us. She has one in
her garden and I have always ad-
mired it, and she thought it was
appropriate because everyone
called my father Joe. This rose
has a lovely scent and is one of my
favourites in our garden.
If you haven’t already done so, fin-
ish tidying up the summer garden
so your space is ready for planting
winter veggies and flowers.
5. Plant pansies
Pansies look great planted in con-
tainer and bring so much joy over
the winter months. This season, I
have a lovely selection from Eg-
mont Seeds in our hanging plant-
ers (see last week’s column).
 For best results, purchase
only healthy, firm bulbs.
Bulbs Direct has a great
range and ships directly to
your door.
 Liquid feed bulbs weekly
 Once bulbs have finished
flowering, leave the foliage
to die down naturally before
dividing/lifting bulbs
 V O LU M E 2 , ISSU E 4 0 AN IT A’S G AR D E N PAGE 3

How to grow rocket

Rocket can still be sown in April
and will grow steadily over the
winter, providing you with leaves
for salads in winter and spring.
Growing rocket from seed
Rocket is incredibly easy to grow
from seed. I find it’s best to sow
seeds directly where you want to
grow them, whether in the ground
or in a container. Keep moist to
aid germination.
5. Rocket grows very well in Ideas for using rocket
containers. Choose a sunny
Rocket can be used in many differ-
site. Fill your containers
ent ways. Here are some ideas.
with potting mix, not garden
soil. At this time of the  In salads
year, it is not necessary to
use a container mix which  On pizza
contains water storage crys-
tals.  Pesto
 If planting rocket in the  With pasta
ground, prepare the soil well
beforehand, mixing in lots of  On bruschetta

Recommended varieties compost, sheep pellets and  Risotto

general garden fertilizer.
I highly recommend the range of  Tarts
rocket offered by Franchi Seeds 7. Water plants regularly un-
(distributed by Italian Seeds Pron- less it rains. They need it,  Quiches
to). This season, I am growing the especially as temperatures
variety “Coltivata” in containers, in autumn can still be quite  Soups
which is pictured on page 2. I have warm.
 Hummus
grown this variety in the past with 8. For best results, liquid feed
great success. It can be grown in plants weekly with a soluble  Fritters
autumn or spring. Other varieties plant food or tonic such as
in the Franchi range are Coltivata Seasol  Frittata
Sel Ortolani, Rocket Selvatica,
Wild Rocket Selvatica and Selvati- 9. With rocket, you can simply  In sandwiches and wraps
ca a Foglia D'Ulivo harvest what you need, leav-
 On bagels
ing the rest of the plant to
Egmont Seeds also offer a fantastic grow. There is no need to
range of rocket. They have Rocket,  On flatbread
pull out the
Rocket Voyager (Wild Rocket) and entire plant.  On toast
Mesclun, which contains rocket. “Rocket can still be sown
10. Leaves are in April and will grow  With fish
Tips for growing rocket best harvest- steadily over the winter, and seafood (it’s
 Rocket can be sown in au- ed when they providing you with leaves delicious with
tumn or spring. It is best to are young for salads in winter and prawns!)
avoid the summer as it gets and tender. spring”
As the plant  S a l a d
very hot and rocket does not
grows the dressings
do well in warmer tempera-
tures leaves can become bitter
and difficult to digest.  In drinks (it goes well with
gin)
2. Rocket is best sown directly
where you wish to grow it, 10. As temperatures increase in
spring, you’ll find that your  Pancakes
whether in the ground or in
containers. It germinates rocket plants start running
 Muffins
very easily so there is no to seed. Have new seedlings
need to transplant seed- on hand to replace these  Scones
lings. plants.
 With haloumi cheese
3. To ensure that you have a 11. If you want to collect seeds
continuous supply of rocket, from your rocket plants,  With poached eggs
sow seeds in successive simply allow a plant to go to
seed and wait for the seeds  With terrine
rounds
to dry before harvesting
4. If you don’t want to raise them. Have a great weekend
plants from seed, you can
purchase seedlings. Happy gardening!