New Zealand Garden Swap Club

General Tips Main Page

Poppies

Poppy stems are full of sap, when their ends are cut, the sap drains out and the blooms become lifeless in almost no time. To preserve them for vase life, hold each cut stem over the flame of a match or lighter until the stem seals. Other sap filled flowers including Hydrangeas, Hellebores, Euphorbias, Clematis and Hollyhocks should get the same treatment.
Tip provided by Norma

Gourds

While drying, gourds may develop mould on the outside. Don't panic and throw themn away, just keep on letting them dry out completely, mould will die and can be scrubbed off. You can also save the seeds that you find inside and use them for other purposes. eg. A shingle roof on a gourd house.
Tip provided by Norma

Growing Tomatoes in Containers

There are two types of tomatoes, determinate and indeterminate. Determinate ripen their fruit all at one time. Indeterminate have fruit production throughout the season. Determinate plants are better for growing in containers because they will stay compact. Indeterminate plants will get huge and need support. When you buy your sedlings it should say what type it is on the pack.
Tip provided by Norma

Growing Tomatoes in Hanging Baskets

The indeterminate type of tomatoes can be grown in hanging baskets. Cherry tomatoes look good this way. You will want to pinch them off at the tips to keep them small. You may still need to tie some of the branches for extra support.
Tip provided by Olwen

Storing Bulbs

When storing bulbs sprinkle then with medicated baby power and store them in old onion sacks that you can get for free from your vege store. Then hang in a dry airy place until ready for replanting again.
Tip provided by Norma

No Leaks

To prevent soil leaking out of a potted plant, place a pair of old pantyhose in the bottom of plant pots, it provides drainage too. Tip provided by Norma

Garden Tool carrier

Use an old golf bag to store your garden tools in, it can carry both your long handles and short handled garden tools. It makes gardening so much easier not having to run back and forth for tools.
Tip provided by Norma

Dirty Nails

To prevent dirt getting under your nails when gardening, scratch a bar of soap before starting to work. When you have finished, the soap will wash out from under your nails.
Tip provided by Norma

Tumbling Composter

You can make a cheap tumbling composter using a plastic rubbish bin with a sturdily attached lid. Just poke holes in the sides for aeration, and roll the can to mix the compost.
Tip provided by Norma

Pot Plants

Besides regular watering, once a month dissolve an aspirin in a cup of tea and feed to plants.
Tip provided by Norma

One to tickle the fancy!

A birth control pill dissolved in water will help ferns grow faster and stronger.
Tip provided by Norma

Citrus Glut

Peel skins with potato peeler and process with steel blade in food processor. Wrap portions in glad wrap put the little wrapped balls in a plastic bag and freeze for use in baking etc. Freeze the juice in ice cubes and bag those too.
Cut Citrus in half. Juice and remove seeds. Boil skins and juice and then chop the lot up in processor and bag for making marmalade later..
Tip provided by Therese

Gardening Gloves

I use disposable medical or milking gloves for anything that isn't prickly. I find that I have better sensitivity in my fingers for delicate tasks. I buy them in boxes of 100. They last several uses and keep the hands nice and clean.

Tip provided by Therese

Watering Strawberry Pots.

Here is a way to make sure you get water right through to the bottom of Strawberry Pots.
Before you plant, cut a section of PVC pipe roughly the same length as the height of the pot. Then drill holes in the pipe, staggered every 50mms. Stand the PVC on end in the pot with about 20mm of soil beneath it, fill in around it with soil, then plant. Fill the pipe to water.
Tip provided by Norma

Tools from plastic bottles

Plastic 2 litre bottles can be used to make useful tools.
Make a scoop for potting mix by cutting the bottom off, and cutting back towards the handle at an angle. I use this the whole time.
I also wanted a tool to make it easier to fill a PB3/4 bag. I find this size of bag really useful, but they are sometimes messy to fill with mix. I cut a panel from a 2 litre bottle, about 26 cm wide, 11 cm high at the side, and 15 cm high in the centre. This curls round because it was cut from a round bottle, and easily slips into the PB. This stiffens it so you can scoop out the potting mix. You can then shake it down, and slip the plastic out. This provides a no-mess way to fill the bags.
Tip provided by Olwen