Tag Archives: pest control
The Benefits of Guild Planting in a Small Urban Space
(Featured on www.troppo.nz)
Living in a town or city often means limited space for gardening. You might have a tiny backyard, a balcony, or just a few pots on a windowsill. But even with these small areas, you can create a thriving and productive mini-ecosystem using a clever technique called guild...
Colocasia esculenta ‘Pharaoh’s Mask’ – A Statement Plant for Your Garden
Few plants command attention quite like Colocasia esculenta 'Pharaoh’s Mask'. This striking elephant ear variety boasts deep green, heavily veined leaves with dark, almost black ridges that create a dramatic, sculptural effect. The veins protrude outward, making the foliage appear almost three-dimen...
Action Items for the Month of February Vege Planting in Bay of Plenty, NZ
Welcome back to the Tropo blog! February in the Bay of Plenty is a fantastic time to get your hands dirty and plant some delicious veggies. The heat of summer is starting to ease, and the soil is still warm, creating perfect growing conditions for a variety of crops. Whether you're a seasoned garden...
The Importance of Critique and Feedback in the Plant and Garden Community
Critique and feedback play a crucial role in the plant and garden community. Whether you are a novice gardener or an experienced horticulturist, constructive feedback helps improve skills, fosters learning, and builds a supportive community. This is particularly important when dealing with tropical ...
Quick Guide on Prioritizing Tasks Using the Eisenhower Matrix and ABCDE Method for Food Forests, Gardening, and Syntropic Agroforestry
Prioritizing tasks effectively is crucial for maximizing productivity and efficiency in your food forests, gardening projects, and syntropic agroforestry systems. Here’s how you can use the Eisenhower Matrix and the ABCDE method to organize your tasks.
Eisenhower Matrix
The Eisenhower Matrix, also...
Fruit Gardener’s Diary for the Year in New Zealand
New Zealand’s diverse climate allows for a wide range of fruiting plants to be grown throughout the year. Here is a month-by-month guide to help you plan your fruit garden, including planting, caring, and harvesting activities for the most common fruiting plants grown in New Zealand.
January
P...
Flower Gardener’s Diary for the Year in New Zealand
New Zealand’s diverse climate allows for a wide range of flowering plants to thrive throughout the year. Here is a month-by-month guide to help you plan your flower garden, including planting, caring, and enjoying the blooms of the most common flowering plants grown in New Zealand.
January
Pla...
Vegetable Gardener’s Diary for the Year in New Zealand
New Zealand’s temperate climate allows for a wide variety of vegetables to be grown throughout the year. Here is a month-by-month guide to help you plan your vegetable garden, including planting, caring, and harvesting activities for the most common vegetables grown in New Zealand.
January
Pla...
Fruit Tree, Vegetable, and Gardening Planting Calendar – A Broad Brushstroke for our NZ climate
The Bay of Plenty region enjoys a temperate climate with warm summers and mild winters, making it ideal for growing a wide range of fruit trees, vegetables, and other garden plants. Here is a comprehensive planting calendar to help you plan your garden activities throughout the year.
Fruit Tree Pla...
Citrus Growing Guide for New Zealand: From Seed to Juicy Success! 🍋🌿
Get ready to transform your garden into a citrus wonderland! Growing citrus trees in New Zealand is a rewarding adventure, offering delicious fruit and a burst of vibrant color to your outdoor space. Whether you're dreaming of juicy lemons, sweet oranges, or zesty limes, our fun and comprehensive gu...
Ready to create a cozy retreat for insects, also known as a bug hotel?
Insects play a crucial role in our environment, from pollinating crops to providing various services. They aerate soil, control pests, and produce useful substances like honey, wax, and silk.
Agriculturists have devised a simple and effective way to support these tiny helpers: bug hotels. These c...
Feijoa Growing Guide for New Zealand: Sweet, Tangy, and Easy to Grow! 🌿🍈
5 Steps to Feijoa Success Autumn and spring are an ideal time to plant feijoas in most areas of New Zealand. Plant at least two different varieties. Even self-fertile varieties will produce a better crop if pollinated by other varieties. Prepare your soil with organic matter like compost and sheep pellets. Add a layer of citrus & fruit mix to plant into. Feed fejioas regularly from spring to harvest. Water deeply and regularly from mid to late summer when the fruit is developing and ripening. Follow our full guide below to a bumper crop of homegrown feijoas.
Pear Growing Guide for New Zealand: Juicy Delights from Your Garden! 🍐🌿
5 Steps to Pear Planting Success Choose an open, sunny position sheltered from strong winds for your pear tree. Pears are partially self-fertile. Prepare your soil with organic matter like compost and sheep pellets. Add a layer of citrus and fruit mix to plant into. In New Zealand winter is the optimum time to plant pear trees. Feed your pears in spring and summer to encourage maximum flowering and fruiting. Mulch and water well, particularly over the warmer months. Follow our full guide below to a bumper crop of homegrown pears.
Camellia Growing Guide for New Zealand: Blooming Beauties in Your Garden! 🌸🌿
5 Steps to Camellia Success Choose a sheltered spot, protected from harsh midday sun, strong winds and frosts. Spring is the best time to plant camellias in New Zealand. Prepare your soil with organic matter like compost and sheep pellets. Add a layer of rose & shrub mix to plant into. Feed after flowering and once again during its growing season. Water regularly to keep the soil moist, and mulch around the plants to protect its shallow roots. Follow our full guide below for quintessential camellias.
Vibrant Marigold Growing Tips: Your Essential Guide for New Zealand Gardens
Marigolds are well-known for the riot of colour they produce for around six months of the year. They are available in a wide range of colours from yellows, limes and creams to just about every shade thinkable of orange and bronze. Marigolds are a reliable companion plant as they help keep away aphids.
What Are the Best Companion Plants for Feijoas in New Zealand?
Feijoas, also known as pineapple guavas, are beloved in New Zealand gardens for their delicious fruit and attractive appearance. To maximize the health and productivity of your feijoa plants, consider companion planting. This guide explores the best companion plants for feijoas in New Zealand, helpi...
Blueberry Growing Guide for New Zealand: Sweet Berries, Happy Plants! 🌿🍇
5 Steps to Blueberry Success Plant a combination of blueberry varieties of the same type to ensure good cross pollination. Choose a sheltered, well drained position in full sun and prepare your soil with organic matter like compost or sheep pellets. Add a layer of strawberry mix to plant into. Blueberries can be planted year-round in New Zealand. Feed blueberries in spring and summer with citrus food, and prune dead or diseased wood and branches in winter. Water to keep moist throughout the growing season. Follow our full guide below to a bumper crop of homegrown blueberries.
What can I do about mosquitoes in my glasshouse?
Mosquitoes and fungus gnats can be a persistent nuisance in glasshouses, disrupting your gardening efforts and creating an unpleasant environment. Fortunately, there are several effective strategies to manage and eliminate these pests. This guide will provide practical tips to control mosquitoes and...
How can I control white fly in my flower garden?
Whiteflies can be a persistent and damaging pest in flower gardens, but with the right strategies, you can keep them under control. This guide will provide you with practical tips to manage and eliminate whiteflies from your flower garden, ensuring healthy and beautiful plants.
Identifying Whitefly...
Kale Growing Guide for New Zealand: Leafy Greens for Every Season! 🌿🥬
Bursting with goodness, these hardy no fuss vegetables are brilliant crops to plant in the winter garden. Kale is a superfood in every sense of the word. This fantastic leafy green can be used both fresh and cooked. It is a quick growing crop for the cooler months, and it looks highly attractive in the garden too.
Gladiolus Growing Guide for New Zealand: Spectacular Blooms in Your Garden! 🌸🌿
Tall, elegant and definitely stylish, Gladiolus (Gladys) are ideal floral centrepieces in both the garden and the vase. Once thought of as old-fashioned, these regal bulbs are finding new homes in gardens all over New Zealand. Grown for their amazing flowers, Gladys are perfect for picking. Little else has the form and structure that these plants do. Gladys come in a huge number of varieties and colours featuring most shades of the rainbow.
Which plants are good companions for strawberries?
Strawberries are a favorite in many New Zealand gardens, prized for their delicious fruit and attractive appearance. Companion planting can enhance the growth and yield of strawberries, while also helping to deter pests and improve soil health. This guide explores the best companion plants for straw...
December – Flower Gardener’s Diary for New New Zealand
December is the height of summer in New Zealand, and your flower garden will be bursting with color and activity. Here’s a comprehensive guide to help you manage your flower garden during this vibrant month.
Planting
Summer Annuals: Continue planting summer annuals such as marigolds, zinni...
What can I plant under my fruit trees?
Planting under fruit trees can enhance the health and productivity of your orchard while creating a more diverse and resilient garden ecosystem. This guide explores the best plants to grow under fruit trees in New Zealand, helping you maximize the benefits of companion planting.
The Benefits of Und...
What can I grow near my tomatoes?
Tomatoes are a staple in many New Zealand gardens, and companion planting can enhance their growth, yield, and health. This guide explores the best plants to grow near your tomatoes, helping you create a thriving and productive garden.
The Benefits of Companion Planting
Companion planting involves...
November – Flower Gardener’s Diary for New Zealand
November is a busy and exciting month for flower gardeners in New Zealand. With the onset of warmer weather, it's the perfect time to get your garden ready for summer. This diary will guide you through essential tasks and tips to ensure your flower garden thrives this season.
Early November
1. Soi...
August – Flower Gardener’s Diary for New Zealand
August marks the transition from winter to spring in New Zealand, making it an exciting time for flower gardeners. With the promise of warmer weather and longer days, there are plenty of tasks to prepare your garden for a vibrant spring bloom. This diary will guide you through essential tasks and ti...
July – Flower Gardener’s Diary for New Zealand
July is a mid-winter month in New Zealand, and while it may be cold, there are still plenty of tasks to keep flower gardeners busy. This diary will guide you through essential tasks and tips to ensure your flower garden is healthy and ready for the upcoming spring.
Early July
1. Soil Preparation
...
Are marigolds good companions to runner beans?
Marigolds are popular in New Zealand gardens for their vibrant blooms and pest-repelling qualities. But do they make good companions to runner beans? In this guide, we explore the benefits and potential drawbacks of planting marigolds alongside runner beans specifically in New Zealand. This article ...
Marble Queen Pothos Care Guide: Your New Leafy Best Friend! 🌿👑
5 Steps to Growing Marble Queen Pothos Select a suitable sized pot with good drainage Add a layer of indoor plant mix to plant into Choose a spot in bright, indirect light Don't water too frequently, allow the soil to dry out between watering Apply a general purpose fertiliser once a month during the growing season Follow our full guide and plant care tips to growing Marble Queen Pothos below.
Gardening Checklist for December in New Zealand
December is a busy month in the garden as the weather warms up and plants thrive. Here’s a comprehensive checklist to help you stay on top of your gardening tasks and ensure your garden flourishes throughout the summer season.
General Garden Maintenance
Watering: Ensure all plants receive adeq...
Gardening Checklist for November in New Zealand
November is late spring in New Zealand, and it's a bustling time in the garden as the weather warms up and plants enter a vigorous growth phase. Here’s a comprehensive checklist to help you make the most of your gardening activities this month.
General Garden Maintenance
Weeding: Regularly rem...
Gardening Checklist for October in New Zealand
October marks the middle of spring in New Zealand, and it's a busy time in the garden as plants begin to grow vigorously. Here's a comprehensive checklist to help you stay on top of your gardening tasks this month.
General Garden Maintenance
Weeding: Regularly remove weeds to prevent them from...
Syngonium Care Guide: Keeping Your Arrowhead Plant Happy and Healthy! 🌿✨
5 Steps to Growing Syngoniums Select a suitable sized pot with good drainage Add a layer of indoor plant mix to plant into Choose a spot in bright, indirect light When watering, ensure the soil is kept lightly moist Apply a general purpose fertiliser once a month Follow our full guide and plant care tips to growing syngoniums below.
Gardening Checklist for September in New Zealand
September marks the beginning of spring in New Zealand, and it’s a vibrant time for gardeners as the weather warms up and plants begin to flourish. Here's a comprehensive checklist to help you manage your garden tasks in September.
General Garden Maintenance
Weeding: Regularly remove weeds to ...
Gardening Checklist for August in New Zealand
August is the tail end of winter in New Zealand, and it's a crucial time to start preparing your garden for the upcoming spring. Here's a comprehensive checklist to help you get your garden ready for the new growing season.
General Garden Maintenance
Weeding: Keep on top of weeds to prevent th...
Gardening Checklist for July in New Zealand
July is mid-winter in New Zealand, and while the weather can be cold and wet, there are still plenty of gardening tasks to keep you busy. Here’s a comprehensive checklist to help you maintain and prepare your garden during the winter months.
General Garden Maintenance
Weeding: Keep on top of w...
Gardening Checklist for June in New Zealand
June marks the beginning of winter in New Zealand, and it's a time to protect your garden from the cold while preparing for the upcoming spring season. Here’s a comprehensive checklist to help you manage your garden tasks in June.
General Garden Maintenance
Weeding: Keep on top of weeds to...
Gardening Checklist for May in New Zealand
May marks the beginning of late autumn in New Zealand, and it's time to prepare your garden for the upcoming winter months. Here's a comprehensive checklist to help you keep your garden in top shape during May.
General Garden Maintenance
Weeding: Regularly remove weeds to prevent them from com...
Gardening Checklist for April in New Zealand
April marks the middle of autumn in New Zealand, and it’s a crucial time to prepare your garden for the cooler months ahead. Here’s a comprehensive checklist to help you maintain your garden and get it ready for winter.
General Garden Maintenance
Weeding: Regularly remove weeds to prevent them...
