Matariki signals the Māori New Year that begins with the rising of the Matariki star cluster that emerges in the middle of winter.
It’s a time for remembrance – remembering those who have passed during the year; celebrating the present – gathering to celebrate the present with feasting, games and joyful activities; and looking to the future – planning for the year ahead.
Planting during Matariki
As Matariki approaches, it also signals the time to start thinking about our food plantings for the coming year.
Three stars of the Matariki cluster, Tipuānuku, Tipuārangi, and Ururangi, are important for planning the coming year’s food crops – and traditionally, the way they appear to viewers (hazy or clear, for instance) helps determine when the best planting times and conditions would be.
Tipuānuku is the star of food from the earth – root vegetables or anything that grows from the ground, which covers most of your veggie garden.
Tipuārangi is the star of food from the sky, meaning fruit from trees, berries or birds.
Ururangi is the star of the winds, so it is logical that this star would play an important part in determining key dates of the growing calendar.
The middle of winter is the best time to leave the saturated garden soils alone to hibernate (and slowly mature their winter crops). In this time, you can also hibernate in the warmth of your home, all while preparing your saved seeds.
It is important to think about next year’s garden rotation.
Give each type of vegetable a different spot from the previous year to minimise the build-up of soil-borne diseases, assess your previous harvest from each vegetable and whether it might need different conditions or an attuned planting time, and decide whether you have enough seeds for each type of veggie you want to grow.
Saving seeds is a great way to take control of your food stock, save money, teach kids about growing and preserve local varieties – as well as keep that delicious juicy tomato you grew last summer, so you can have it again!
Have a chat with other gardeners in your area to see if they have any seeds for you to try. Locally-saved seeds are often a good bet as they have already adapted to local conditions. Different plants need different seed saving techniques, but there are lots of great books and info online on seed saving – why not try starting with one or two plants, and learning how to save seeds from a new one every season?
Once you get started, seed saving can be very enjoyable, and a little addictive! You might end up with paper towels spread on your windowsill with all sorts, from tomato seeds to melon and passionfruit.
Tips for drying seeds:
- Scoop the seeds out of the vegetable or fruit
- Spread the seeds out on paper towel and leave to dry on the windowsill for a few days
- You can keep these as is until around September, or when they are ready to plant
- Put the seeds – with paper towel and all – in some soil, and cover with a thin layer of soil
- Water gently or use a spray bottle – don’t overwater
- Water every day or set up an automatic spraying system
The nine stars of Matariki
- 1. Matariki: The star that welcomes in the New Year and signifies wellbeing, reflection, hope and the gathering of people; considered to be a female star which is the guardian of the other stars in the cluster.
- 2. Waitī: The star linked with fresh water – lakes, rivers and streams.
- 3. Waitā: Star of salt water and food that comes from the ocean.
- 4. Pōhutukawa: Helps us remember those who have died since the last rising of Matariki.
- 5. Tipuānuku: The star associated with food grown in the ground.
- 6. Tipuārangi: The star linked with food that comes from the skies: fruits, berries, and birds.
- 7. Ururangi: Star of the wind, determining the winds for the year.
- 8. Waipuna-ā-rangi: The star linked with the rain – ‘water that pools in the sky’.
- 9. Hiwa-i-te-rangi: The star associated with dreams and aspirations for the coming year.
