Looks like a lot of IT types on Lemmy NZ by the discussion today (I'm one too). But I've had enough of that in my lifetime, so, another gardening topic:

I've been growing some Asparagus from seed over winter in our sun room and have just got them into the ground. They take a while to establish, so I probably won't start picking them until after next winter.

Mary Washington Asparagus

Really easy to grow from seed, just have to wait a bit longer. These have gone into a no dig bed with pretty rough compost, but by the time they establish it will have rotted down well. I'll try to collect some seaweed sometime during summer and add that as well, which is recommended for Asparagus beds.

Netting to keep those hard-working blackbirds from moving the garden bed to somewhere I don't want it.

[–] eagleeyedtiger 4 points 1 year ago (11 children)

Blackbirds are my nemesis every Spring. Digging up newly composted beds and destroying seedlings in the process sometimes 😡 Also eating all our berries!

They are lucky I need them to pollinate my feijoa hedge otherwise I would try to eradicate them

[–] 2tapry 3 points 1 year ago* (last edited 1 year ago) (1 children)

Yep. We struggled for a year or two trying to keep them of gardens. Just use netting now, and don't have problems. Occasionally "catch" a cheeky sparrow that finds a gap somewhere, but they don't do any harm. When plants are big enough we take off the netting so the birds can have at the bugs. Mostly works for us.

[–] eagleeyedtiger 2 points 1 year ago

Now I do remember once I had netted my black berries and a blackbird got itself all tangled and ended up strangling itself. Took ages to get it out. I've kind of just given up on stopping them from getting the berries. Just aim to grow enough for both them and us.

load more comments (9 replies)