I have heard that there is going to be a countrywide shortage of potatoes this summer. Have you got yours in? It is not too late to sow another crop if you live in a warm area of the country. I have covered all my potatoes and tomatoes with a fine netting to attempt to keep the psylllid bug from destroying my crop. My garden looks like a huge white shroud but it seems to be working. My crops are looking the healthiest they have for years. Remember if you have your crops covered to occasionally uncover them for a time so that the pollinators can gain access to turn your flowers into produce for you.
Plants to plant now include capsicum, kumara, lettuce, French beans, climbing beans, okra, soy beans, brassicas, pumpkins, cucumber, melons and corn.
The urban orchard
Many of your trees may have a heavy crop developing. Codling moth is around this month and left to run riot they will burrow into your precious fruit and leave a black tunnel which you only discover when you bite into it. I paint the trucks of my apple and pear trees with a solution of Diatomaceous Earth and water. Mix this up to a thick slurry and add some washing up liquid to help it stick. With an old paintbrush, paint the truck and main branches. What this does is covers the moths as they walk up the trunks to lay eggs. Alas you do need to reapply after rain!
Grapevines are growing like triffids. It is important to let the sunshine reach the developing fruit. Cut off the leafy growth beyond the point where there are bundles of young grapes developing. If you have lots of fruit then be strong and thin, you will have a much better crop in the end.
If any of your berry crops are going mouldy on the fruit this is probably Botrytis. Spray the affected parts with a mild white vinegar, soap and water spray. Another trick is to place some powdered sulphur dust in an old pantyhose and shake it over the affected parts. Do this on a calm, sunny day.
Backyard beekeeping
One of the many reasons why I prefer keeping my bees in a top bar hive is that this type of hive is very cheap to make. With the more conventional Langstroth (box) hive you can easily get caught up into a cycle of having to buy many expensive parts, feeders, excluders, honey extractors, frames, entrance reducers and more. All my hives I make myself and I am no expert carpenter nor do I have any expensive tools or machinery.
The top bar hive was developed for developing countries as it is very low-tech and cheap to build. I make my top bar hives out of any untreated recycled wood I can find. Often this means wooden pallets. The only tools I use are a cordless drill and a skill saw. I do borrow a friend's table saw to cut the top bars as this is the only part that requires any precision. I can rattle up a hive in around half a day.
I have to admit there is something very satisfying when you see happy bees streaming in and out of a hive you have made yourself. By making the hive yourself out of recycled wood you are creating a very sustainable beehive.
If you search online you will find many downloadable overseas instructions on how to make a top bar hive. I also have an online video course on how I make top bar hives which I have over the years modified for NZ conditions and bees. Check out greenurbanliving
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