Nursery news
The nursery is now empty. My aim was to achieve this by the end of August, and we would have just about done this if it had not been for the latest Covid lockdown. I will let you know when I have done the final tally on plants taken by people. We will need a working bee to tidy the place up before the first lot of seedlings is due to arrive some time next month. I will let those on the working bee mailing list know in due course. I hope we will have a bit more variety to offer next season. So far we have got some hebe cuttings underway (thank you Cindy), some donated kahikatea seedlings potted up (thank you Tricia), and I’ve sown some ake ake seed as well.
I have some spare cabbage tree (ti kouka) and flax seed sitting in the fridge at present and some spare pots too if anyone would like to have a go at growing some themselves.
Plants available
The following is the text of an email I recently received from a fellow traveller. Some of you may know Ollie as a DoC person, and others as a musician:
I work for Hokianga Harbor Care and the first year of our project is nearly completed and we are busy finishing off this season’s tree planting projects restoring freshwater ecosystems in the south Hokianga.
The impact of COVID has meant a delay on our operations but on a positive note this season we have produced a healthy surplus of Manuka and we have around 40,000 seedlings in 0.1L T50 trays available for sale at the following rates:
5000 or more @ 50c ea.
1000-5000 @ 60c ea.
1000 or less @ 70c ea.
Note that this price does not include transport, however let us know and we could work something out.
We also have a smaller number of Karamu, Harakeke, and Ti Kouka available at a rate of 80c ea in 0.5L T28 trays.
Please get in touch and let us know if you or anyone you know are interested in ordering some of our trees for general tree planting purposes. To reduce our waste we would appreciate the return of empty trays so they can be reused.
Note: If the planting contributes to freshwater improvement in the south Hokianga there please let me know as it may be included in our project outcomes for which supply of plants is free!
Nga mihi
Oliver Knox
Project Coordinator
Hokianga Harbor Care Inc
0274896093
These are really good prices, and an outfit worthy of support, but something to bear in mind is the seed source. With our stock I try to ensure as much as practically possible that the seed our plants come from is sourced locally. I think that local genetics is best suited to local growing conditions. But the Hokianga is West Coast so use your own judgement.
After planting care
For those of you who have received plants from us this year, I recommend that you make a time in your calendar to release those plants starting some time in the second half of October. You can do this mechanically, first trample the surrounding vegetation down then chop it with a spade so it forms a mulch, or alternatively if the vegetation is predominantly kikuyu then Gallant (active ingredient Haloxyfop) may be your saviour. It is specifically a grass killer, so will not damage broadleaf plants. Staking the plants so you can find where they are is a good idea too. A good place for bundles of bamboo stakes is Primehort at Kaiwaka.
Stay safe and healthy in the meantime.
Mark VincentSecretaryOtamatea HarbourCare