SHELTER TREES
Tagasaste (tree lucurne) is a quickgrowing, short-lived evergreen tree/shrub that you can grow from seed. It has a lot of good points:
• FIXES nitrogen in soil.
• WINTER flowers for bees.
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PROVIDES a high protein fodder for stock, is preferred by sheep more than cattle.
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LIKES dry conditions and does not mind being exposed but its long thin branches can whip in the wind to the detriment of nearby trees.
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MAKES a great nursery crop to plant natives under.
How to grow tagasaste for free
It flowers from mid-winter to spring, then develops seed pods containing 6-8 seeds.
Store the seeds pods in a dry place until they pop open then, when ready to plant, soak the seeds in hot water overnight until they swell. The water should be hot but not boiling (if it burns you, it will burn the seed).
Some people prefer to nick the seed shell with a pair of nail clippers to aid swelling, others repeat the overnight hot water soak until the seed swells.
Once swollen, plant in a very welldraining medium. Keep dry and grow on in root trainers or paper tubes until large enough to plant out.