Plant sale provides active classroom for students

Staff and students at Otago Polytechnic’s Cromwell campus are busy in the nursery and glasshouse, in preparation for the popular Giant Plant Sale over Labour weekend.

The sale offers a wide variety of good value, locally-grown plants for purchase, including flower and vegetable punnets, lavenders, natives, tomatoes, and grasses.

A particular specialty of Otago Polytechnic’s sale is the large selection of drought-loving exotic and native plants suited to the Central Otago climate – something that’s front of mind for many gardeners in the area given the recent hike in water rates.

“As ratepayers will know, water in Central Otago is now $2.40 a cubic litre which is a significant increase on previous years,” says Nursery lecturer Bruce Thurlow.

“A lawn will in time become incredibly costly, but these plants need a minimum amount of water and they have an aesthetic beauty.”

Guests are encouraged to walk around the dedicated 46m x 10m dry garden on campus, set up to display and showcase 200+ species that flower across different seasons.

“It’s about letting the public know that there's a different way of gardening that people may or may not be aware of.

“There are bright, colourful things flowering in spring, during the summer, and then the autumn.

“So there's always something happening, rising and falling,” says Bruce.

All the plants have been lovingly propagated and grown by our horticulture and nursery ākonga, and they’ll also be helping sell those plants and offering gardening advice.

30-year-old former Sydney resident Alexandra Lovelock is among the students who’ve been busy propagating seedlings and getting everything ready.

Central Otago’s wine and viticulture industry was the drawcard for her to cross the ditch, to live and study horticulture this year at Otago Polytechnic’s Cromwell campus.

“There wasn't really anything available close to home for me in Australia, and I’ve been coming here as a visitor for a long time,” says Alexandra.

“Central Otago is a world-renowned area for its wine and its viticulture, so this felt like a really good chance to come over here and learn from the best.”

Alexandra is working towards two qualifications – Fruit Production with a focus on viticulture and orchards, and Nursery Production – and has a particular interest in winemaking following her university studies.

“I'm a chemist by background, so I'm really hoping to find an interesting way to use those skills.

“But a good winemaker knows the vines, so learning viticulture is a really good first step.”

Working alongside her is fellow student Paige Julian (from Waimate), who’s hoping for a job in a nursery when she finishes her studies.

“We've been prepping lots of plants, sowing seeds, transferring vegetable and flower seedlings, and working with lots of cuttings over the last few months,” says Paige.

More than 800 visitors are expected over the sale, which has been running for more than 30 years and has become a must-do on the local events calendar.  

The main public sale is held on Saturday 24 October from 9:30am-12 noon, with a private “early access” opportunity on the Friday for Gold Card holders and local garden club members.

And for residents who may be out of town over Labour weekend, the Otago Polytechnic team will be running smaller plant sales every Wednesday in we head towards summer (Weds 28 Oct to Weds 2 Dec, 10am-1pm).

WHAT: Otago Polytechnic Giant Plant Sale

WHEN: Public sale - Saturday 24 October, 9:30am-12 noon

WHERE: Otago Polytechnic Cromwell Campus (Bannockburn - Entry via Richards Beach Road)

NB: Please follow parking guidance when you arrive. Sorry no dogs are permitted on site.
If you can, please bring along your own boxes and bags to carry your plant purchases. We have a limited number of trolleys available, but you’re welcome to bring your own if you’re planning to stock up.