Stoney Ground Herbs

Beautiful, strong herbs for NZ gardeners and herbalists of all levels

It’s that tom again!

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Have you checked out what tomato plants I’m selling this year?

I have a slighty new lay out where you can look for size first.  I have discovered over the years that the cherry tomato variety are the most sought after.

You may notice that I’ve changed the names on some..  I’m not sure if this is a good idea or not ~ let me know what you think.

Black Pict, black cherry tomato, organic heirloom plant for sale, NZ

I’ve changed Black Cherry to Black Pict; because its seeds that I’ve been saving since I lived in Picton 7 years ago and you’d be amazed and possibly astounded with how many people whom are looking at my plants at the market and say “oooh, you’re selling cherry trees?”

I’ve changed White Cherry to Wee Moonlight because it just ‘aint white!  But looks like the soft glow of a full moon, you know, when it’s yellowish…

Big beautiful moon

On that note, no Moonglow tomato plants this year (which was orange), it was one of my seed lines that fell victim to last years crap summer.  Let’s hope for a better one this year!

This year I’m also going to be selling organic zucchini plants.

Black Beauty and Rampicante, one is entirely practical and the other totally entertaining (but also edible!).  You can find them under my “Other” heading.  You’ll see Tomatillos there as well; they sold well at the markets last year and they grew prolifically in my garden last season so they get the winner tag from me!

There are still some herb plants that I haven’t listed that you’ll see at the market…green shiso (Perilla frutescens), yarrow (Achillia millifolium), dill (Antheum graveolens), oregano (Originum vulgare).  Will get on to listing them for more info.

We’re shifting a bit earlier now, so will only be at Paraparaumu markets the 14th, 21st and 28th October.  Am working on getting my domain name changed to stoneygroundherbs.co.nz, kapitiherbs just won’t fly soon!  Little bit sad, but also excited for the next chapter!

 

To The Other Side..

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Home has been found!  And when I say home I really mean home, for we have found ourselves in a wonderful extraordinary position where we’re going to be renting to own!!

So where in the great wonderous Aotearoa are we going to be… Nowhere else but Eketahuna in the beautiful Wairarapa!

We’re not moving til the 9th November so I’m pleased to say that I still get to go to the Paraparaumu Beach Markets for the first four weeks of the season.

I will be at the Pram markets from the 14th October til the 4th November, possibly the 11th.  From the 18th November you’ll find me at the Wairarapa Farmers Market in Masterton.

So it’s over the Tararua Ranges we go!

Tararua Ranges, Horowhenua

Lovely spring day looking at the Tararua Ranges from Horowhenua

See ya later 2016!

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It’s been so long I almost don’t know where to begin, but it’s the end of the year in a matter of hours so I better just begin to end the year, now!

It’s been a busy couple of monthes, always is during market time and I’ve been working on extending my season (I usually wrap up by Xmas, market wise).  In the new year I’ll be selling Thai Basil, Sacred Basil/Tulsi, Red Russian Kale, green cabbage and Red Treviso Early Chicory.  All organic of course~

I’ve been dealing with the pleasant effects of so much rain.

A piece of my herb patch

A piece of my herb patch

The herbs have been going off and already I’ve harvested my peppermint twice.

A bouquet of sage

A bouquet of sage

Got a beauts crop from my sage and my catnip is just about ready for cutting, amongst others.

Lemon balm with guano!

Lemon balm with guano!

Let my lemon balm be a warning to you, DO NOT plant it (or any harvestable herb) under a tree frequented by birds!

I’ve also been dealing with the unpleasant effects of this wet spring… Rust on the garlic, early blight through one of my tomato beds (I bagged up and disposed of all affected foliage, they seem to be all doing ok still if not a bit naked!) which caused a paranoia induced lifting of my urinika patch, silver leaf in one of the apple trees.  Weeds galore, mainly grass.  And the freakin chickens drove me insane, despite netting they dug up my borlotti fire tounge bean patch, got into a tomato bed and ate the seedlings (that weren’t affected by blight) and made me doubt my vegetarian heart!  Note I’m talking in the past tense, we sold them just before Xmas!  Looks like I’m going to have to get a worm farm cracking so the wastage that the kids create won’t go to complete waste!

Anyhoo, happy new year everyone, may your herbs grow strong and your heart ring true!

 

xox

 

You say “Tomato”, I say “Which one?!”

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Things are cracking along here, the warmth is doing wonders for my seedlings.  I’ve even been able to leave them outside overnight, though admittidly I have a couple of times done a mad dash to rescue my babies from what might not be such a warm night!

organic heirloom tomato seedling for sale, NZ

So varieties I’m growing this year are my usual suspects…

my personal favourite Black Russian,

everybodies favourite Black Cherry,

Moonglow every healthy mans’ favourite,

Sweet Virginia for everyone that wants to grow tomatoes where just one fruit will feed a family,

Orange Roma for the adventurist,

Sweet Raima for salads and hanging baskets,

Golden Nugget for all those that like to feed themselves and children whilst out in the garden.

Plus two new ones.. White Cherry for those going for a rainbow garden and Principe Borghese (I did have this in 2014) for foodies who want to make their own sun dried tomatos, these ones are specially “built” for it!

So after thinking long and hard as to whether I’d go to the Whanganui markets this year or return to the Paraparaumu Beach Markets or even if I should do the markets at all (thinking of my dear darling toddler whom loves playing in dirt and grabbing pots filled with it!).  I’ve decided that I will return to the Pram markets and I reckon I’m going to be there the week before Labour Weekend (the 15th) hmmm, that is quite early..if it’s not nice then maybe not, we’ll see how we go.

Now, I’m also more than encouraging of any pre-orders and if you live outside of Kapiti, Horowhenua and Manawatu and are after more than 3 plants I’m sure I can work out delivery/postage for you…  Plants are $5 each and all grown organically.

Right next thing for me to do is update what herbs I’m growing this year, it’s gonna be huge!!

Herb labels

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herb labels, stones

Generally, if you’ve purchased a plant you’ll know what it is and particulay with a herb it will look quite different from other plants.  But.  Often other people in your family aren’t so savvy and when you ask for someone to nip out and grab you some thyme they come back with dill, or they need a vivid description of said plant which by that time you may as well just got it yourself!

So in support of getting other people to help you I’ve made these, which I’ll be selling at the markets with my plants.  If you have specific plants that you want labelled I can take orders and if you’re not in Kapiti I can even send them!

Tomatoes!!!! Which one will it be….

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My website has been updated with the tomato seedlings I will have available this year, go check it out!  http://stoney.223.165.76.14.sth.nz

 

Heirloom tomato seedlings that I will be growing this year… available from Labour weekend (2015)

Borghese Principe getting ready to dry

Now, not all tomatoes are created equally and it’s heirloom tomatoes that can really bring that message home..

Heirloom or heritage tomatoes come from seed that has been passed down the generations untouched from genetic modifications (outside of Mother Natures work).  The definition of ‘heirloom’ before it became a marketing label, (ie. cool!) was a variety that was over 50 years old and was no longer in commercial production.

Seed saved from your locality or a place with similar climatic conditions has literally proven the test of time (by continually producing viable seed) has higher dis-ease resistance and usually outstanding flavour (why else would you grow it?!).

Heirloom tomatoes come in a rainbow of colours – and flavours.  You might find some in the supermarket in summer but they would’ve been picked before their time and nowhere near as delicious as what they would be picked fresh from your garden!

So check out my selection, if you’ve got any questions just ask.  I’m going to be selling them along with my herbs at Paraparaumu Beach Markets on Saturdays from Labour weekend onwards.