Rhonda's Plants

27/08/2026

Hi everyone the monthly plant give away is on from 2moro Friday 28th 10am to 3pm approx or til plants gone & Saturday 10am to 3pm approx at 129 Park Road, Katikati on the berm/grass verge outside my place. Half the plants & bags fruit & seeds will be out 2moro Friday other half Saturday to make it fair for those who cant come 2moro Friday. Standard rules apply be respectful of others & share don't be greedy, NO fights (two ladies had very loud verbal fight last time). Pics below are most of what will be out will add fruit bags & pots of cuttings & seeds in the thread to spread it all out a bit. We have a range of cacti 6-7 of each to go, 3 types grasses, carex, green mondo, ophiopogon x6 approx of each, Herbs a few parsley, rosemary, sage, a few vege ie spring onions, corn salad, puha, strawbs, Small number of irises, a few bulbs ie spanish bluebells, Ipheion starflower blue, red ixias. Shrubs baby yesterday tday 2moros, hebes, queens tears broms, poppys mauve, forgetmenots blue, chrysanths also a few spider plants. I may not have all in photos suspect I forgot a couple things. As always do share I will do swaps we take avos, kiwifruit, tamarillos, small/medium pots or other plants for swaps, no weeds of course. We accept donations toward potting mix cost also 🙂 No pressure if u have nowt to swap its all about helping each other out

24/08/2026

Hi everyone we have boxes n bags of free citrus lemons n tangelos out on the frontage this arvo Park Road, Katikati, last of the season

17/08/2026

More clearance items to go, Black 6 potholder with 6 pots included $5, small terracotta tray of pots $15, white tray of coloured ceramic smallish pots $20, brown tray mixed medium pots $20, fifs

15/08/2026

Shade loving veges

11 Vegetables That Can Grow Well in Shade — Perfect for Pots and Containers

Not every edible garden needs full sun all day. Many leafy greens and root vegetables actually perform very well with partial shade, especially during warmer weather when protection from intense afternoon sun can help keep plants productive.

1.Lettuce
Lettuce prefers cooler conditions and can grow beautifully with only a few hours of sunlight each day. Partial shade can also help prevent leaves from becoming bitter too quickly.

2.Spinach
Spinach is one of the best vegetables for shady spaces. It enjoys cooler temperatures and can grow successfully in containers that receive limited direct sun.

3.Kale
Kale is hardy and adaptable. It tolerates partial shade well and often produces tender leaves when protected from excessive heat.

4.Swiss Chard
Swiss chard handles partial shade surprisingly well and keeps producing colorful, nutritious leaves throughout the season.

5.Radishes
Radishes are fast-growing and compact, making them excellent for shaded containers. They can mature quickly without needing intense sunlight all day.

6.Bush Beans
Bush beans prefer good light but can still produce in partial shade, especially in warm climates where some afternoon protection is beneficial.

7.Green Onions
Green onions adapt easily to lower light conditions and take up very little space, making them ideal for narrow planters and balcony gardens.

8.Pak Choi
Pak choi enjoys cooler conditions and partial shade. Too much heat can cause it to bolt quickly, so a shaded location can actually be helpful.

9.Arugula
Arugula grows rapidly and tolerates shade well. Partial shade can help keep its leaves tender and slow down flowering during hot weather.

10.Carrots
Carrots can grow with less sunlight than many fruiting vegetables. They may develop more slowly in shade, but they can still produce good roots.

11.Beets
Beets tolerate partial shade and provide two harvests in one plant—the roots and the edible leafy tops.

Shaded areas don’t have to remain empty. With the right crops, balconies, patios, and less sunny corners of the garden can still produce plenty of fresh food.

15/08/2026

Different vegetables respond very differently to pruning, so I don’t use the same approach on everything 🌿 What I usually consider first:
✂️ Basil: Pinch tips and flower buds to encourage leafy growth.
🌶️ Peppers: Young plants can sometimes be pinched early, but established plants usually don’t need aggressive pruning.
🍅 Tomatoes: I selectively remove lower leaves and some suckers on staked indeterminate varieties.
🥒 Cucumbers and pumpkins: I mostly train the vines and only trim when growth becomes damaged or unmanageable.
🍆 Zucchini, eggplant, and okra: Removing damaged or diseased leaves is usually enough.
Healthy leaves are feeding the plant, so I always want a reason before cutting them off.

15/08/2026

another fancy vege garden layout

Smart & Unique Garden Layout

15/08/2026

a backyard vege garden heaps vege squashed in

Backyard Vegetable Garden Double Curve | Natural Flow Garden Design

08/08/2026

August planting hints

05/08/2026

Hi everyone, the next Rhonda's Plants freebee plant weekend is almost here, 7th/8th/9th of August from 10am onwards. Allsorts to go including shrubs Cupheas, Hebes, Yesterday 2day 2moro, also some ferns, grasses ie carex & liriope, Queens tears bromeliads, some bulbs ie Ixias, bluebells, Starflowers, Also herbs ie Lemon Balm, Mint, Oregano, Parsley, Rosemary, Sage, a few vege ie Corn Salad, Puha, Spring onions, Spinach, also a few pots of succulents ie Aeoniums, Jades, Candleabra aloe. Whateva is ready to go will be out over the weekend, As always do share

04/08/2026

Thanku ladies for the recent deliveries of pots for the freebee plant weekends & the bag of iceblock sticks for plant names i aprpeciate u all.