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Maramataka Māori for February 2021

February 8, 2021 By SandRa Timmins Leave a Comment

Maramataka Māori, gardening by the moon NZ

Haere mai! Welcome to my first “what you ought to do in your garden according to Maramataka Maōri for this month” guide. I will eventually think of a more nifty title!

Now, when I say February, I actually mean Huitanguru, the ninth month of the Māori year, which begins on the night of the New Moon (Whiro), this year that is the 12th February. I follow the Ātiawa version of Maramataka.

Please take mind that these are not hard and fast rules by any means, take into consideration your climate and what the weather is doing. You know your garden best and this ain’t gospel! If you have not read anything of mine regarding Maramataka I recommend you read this article here.

So without further ado, let’s get into it!

Whiro, 12th February

This is a time to plan; think about where you’re going to put all the seeds you sowed during last quarter or what you will sow for your autumn and winter crops. Generally though, whilst the moon is hidden, duck down yourself, put your feet up and relax.

Haohaoata, 14th February

If you weren’t able to get seeds sown during last quarter (did coincide with kids going back to school after all – or in our case, Unschoolers Camp in Foxton) today is the day to do it. Think not just about what you want to grow to eat but also cover crops/green manure crops like mustard (especially where solancae/nightshade family were growing) buckwheat and phacelia. It seems early but flowers and herbs for Autumn and Spring need to be sown now too – think hollyhock, calendula, chamomile and sweet pea. Coriander and dill.

Tamatea angaanga, 18th February

If the weather is playing nice (it can be unpredictable at this moon phase) it’s a good day for harvesting crops/seeds etc that require drying and storing (read, herbs, beans, corn, garlic/onion, potatoes).

Huna, 22 February

If you want to go woo woo – this is a beautiful night to give your appreciation to the ocean and the god of the sea, atua Tangaroa.

Māwharu, 23 February

The best day (very early morning or early evening) for foliar feeding your plants.

Rākaunui + Rākaumatohi, 27th (full moon) + 28th February

Full moon energy a go-go! A good day to plant plants out ~ especially root veges like carrot, beetroot, parsnips, turnips and swedes. Have you got any spring bulbs yet? Plant them during these two days.

Oike, 1st March

A give back moon, give your love (aroha) and appreciation to Papatūānuku and all that she gives you ~ what can you give back apart from caring for your patch of earth?

Korekore, 3rd March – 5th March

Take it easy my friends because we’re coming up to last quarter and if you want to be well set up for Autumn, Winter and Spring…Last quarter is going to be well busy!

Tangaroa piri a mua (Last Quarter), 6th March

Hold onto your hats people, we have five days of productive activity before we get near the next New Moon…

If you’ve got it in you, this is what you need to be doing for this months last quarter;

  • Sow seeds, think of your greens; spinach, chard, miners lettuce, corn salad.
  • Prick out seedlings, transplant and weed.
  • Harvest, dry and store seeds, including your beans.
  • Should have all your onion, garlic and shallots out and storing well. Check they’re all in a dry place and not going soft in any places.
  • Spray roses with seaweed, make sure the roots are well moist and give ’em a liquid feed.
  • Sow anemones and ranuculi for winter flowering.
  • Finish planting all your spring bulbs (esp if in cool climate NZ)
  • Water and feed your dahlias
  • Take geranium cuttings
  • If you haven’t already; prune apricots, peaches and plums, best to do this after your trees have fruited and before the cold sets in, to avoid silver leaf.

Get this all done by Thursday the 11th March you’ll be away laughing and relaxing for the New Moon period.

Hope you have found this useful! xx

Filed Under: Care and Maintenance, Maramataka Māori Tagged With: Ātiawa iwi, growing by the moon NZ, Huitanguru, Māori moon phases, Māori moon planting, Māori tikanga for growing a garden, maramataka, Maramataka Māori, moon gardening NZ, what does the Maramataka say today

Seed Sowing 101

September 10, 2020 By SandRa Timmins Leave a Comment

The moon is right (Maramataka), it’s still a little chilly (here anyway), but spring is trying it’s best and now is a good time to get cracking on seed sowing.

This is a real quick post with lots of photos of dirt, just to give you the basics of seed sowing if you’re new to the game (warning, this game can be addictive!)…

Seed sowing 101
Wet your medium

So, use seed raising mix, unfortunately not all seed raising mixes are made equally, if you’re reaching for the cheap bag be prepared to fish out the large pieces of bark, the real fine stuff is the best, personally, my favourite is Daltons organic seed raising mix.

Fill up your container, usually a flat tray with at least 4 cm depth, then water your medium (medium being your seed raising mix).

Arrange your seeds, or if they’re very fine, sprinkle.. if they’re super fine, mix the seed with sand for an even distribution.

Seed sowing 101
Label!!

Label. Don’t trust yourself to remember what it is that you sowed next to that other really memorable seed, especially true if you’re sowing different types of tomatos.

When it comes to covering your seed you don’t want to cover it with any more than the seed is big. I have re-written this sentence many times, my brain can’t work out how to word it better! Hopefully these pictures of pea seeds help! For the fine seeds, vermiculite is the bees knees, failing that, the finest of the fine seed raising mix, sieve it if you have to,

Seed sowing 101
Peas in a tray
Seed sowing 101
Note the level the soil is at now

Then pat it gently, you’re making sure that the seed is connected to the soil. Then gently spray with water.

Where you’re going to put them now depends on your current climate and what you’ve sown. For me, cold inland, most will be going on my heat pads, some in the glasshouse. (Go to this post here about heat pads)

Seed sowing 101
And then we mist

Keep your seeds moist, by either spraying or watering from the bottom. Watering with a water can is a bit a rough at this stage. And eventually you’ll have trays of little seedlings and a heart full of pride! Have fun and don’t be shy to talk to your seeds to help them grow… Haha! There’s a (completely un-scientific) theory actually that basil seeds grow best if you verbally abuse them, maybe use them to vent your frustrations!

Seed sowing 101
Success!

Filed Under: Care and Maintenance, Uncategorized Tagged With: how do you sow seeds, maramataka, seed raising mix, seed sowing, sowing seeds, spring

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Beautiful, strong herbs
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