Hmmm Time for an update

4 November 2020

We have had a very busy few months. End of July / start of August we started planting the first round of seeds and chitting potatoes for our Spring planting and then when the weather co-operated prepared beds for all the seedlings to go in.

Hedges have been trimmed and all the prunnings mulched for use in the garden beds, tomatoes are now outside with all the spare plants sold, climbing beans are just starting to flower and we have picked our first zucchini (I feel a loaf of zucchini bread coming on soon). Potatoes are growing strongly and new potatoes will be ready about the start of December. Kamokamo and spaghetti squash are starting to set fruit so fingers crossed will have good crops of these.

Chillies are in the middle of getting potted up or planted out (spare plants will get sold in a few weeks time). This year we are growing Carolina Reaper, yellow 7-pot, yellow Trinidad Scorpion Moruga, Yellow & red Ghost, Thai Super Hot, Cayenne, Jalapeno & Rocotto. I am so impressed our Rocotto chillies came through winter fruiting the whole way and are now looking good, think I will get a few more going.

We have started a new pop up weekly stall in the Hokowhitu Village carpark every Sunday 9.00am -11.00am and a new Farmers Market has started 1st Sunday of every month at the Summerhill shopping centre - I think we are close to maximum production now for our microgreens.

Most of the indoor food and craft markets we do have been cancelled this year due to covid but the NZ Hot Sauce Festival was finally able to go ahead last weekend. It was amazing fun catching up with people and getting feedback on our sauces etc AND TO TOP IT OFF WE GOT 3RD PLACE FOR OUR Silent assassin (A.K.A. Jeff’s Favourite) Chilli Sauce in the XXX Fruit Sauce Category for the first round of Mr Chilli in New Zealand.

Country Calendar spent 5 days filming and the episode is due for screening 6 December 2020.