Gardening in North Otago 22nd October 2010

A chilly few days here in North Otago this week with the odd frost, I am finding some soft new growth still being effected by the cold. Hydrangea's, peony roses, agapantha's and even the new growth on roses are not enjoying the cold nights. They will recover and keep growing as it warms up then the the damaged growth can be removed.

Weeds are in full force now! I can not believe how many have been pulled from our garden, mostly biddy bid, chick weed and convolvulous. Weeds need to be removed before they make seed or, you will be chasing them forever.

I have been potting up seedlings grown from seed, lupins, Oriental poppies, delphiniums, penstamains and nasturtiums. It is best to pot seedlings on into individual pots for roots to become established before planting out.
Strong growing plants like sun flowers and delphinium seeds need to be planted straight into peat pots and once the pot is filled with new roots plant pot and all into the ground, the strong roots will grow out through the pot as it breaks down.
Companion planting:
With all the planting that is going on right now it is time to think about companion planting.
Gardeners have past successful companion planting knowledge down through the years for us to follow. Some plants give off an aroma that is disliked by unwanted insects and others are thought to enhance the growth of certain plants if planted along side them.
Nasturtium attract caterpillars, so planting it alongside or around vegetables such as lettuces, broccoli and cabbages should mean the nasturtium will get attacked rather than your edible crop.
Fox Gloves have stimulating effects on all plants in the garden, a welcome addition to the flower and veggie garden.
Marigolds have a scent that repels aphids and attracts hoverflies, which are predator insects
Tagetes, the lovely little tagetes, or French marigold, is invaluale in companion planting. Cabbage white butterfly are attracted to their host plant by smell and planting rows of tagetes is effective in masking the smell and reducing cabbage moth damage. A secretion from the roots of the Mexican tagetes deters eelworms and your potatoes and tomatoes are left alone.
Tagetes are also said to kill couch grass, this would be a pretty trial which I plan to put in place in a couch filed area in our garden.
Tagetes and calendula marigolds planted near tomatoes and roses will reduce aphid attack as the marigolds will attract the hoverflies that are voracious eaters of these pests.
Basil and tomatoes are a well-known combination; the strong smelling foliage makes these plants great companions.
Garlic, chives and parsley can be benificial planted with Roses. The herbs deter aphids from the roses.
Dill is popular with bees and attracts them into the garden. Dill planted with corn will ensure a bumper crop, as more bees will be around to pollinate the corn strings.
Marigolds, plant marigolds in the veg patch, glass house and flower garden.
Sage is also a great herb to plant around the celery crop, as it helps to keep the aphids away.
Hyssop repels white butterfly from cauliflower, cabbage and broccoli and other brassica crops.
Carrots and leeks work well planted together, they both have strong aromas, which repel other’s pests.
I have been planting out more wild flowers but this time I am using fertiliser bags filled with sifted soil and compost. I stapled the open end of the bags closed, lay them length wise and cut a few slits for drainage on the underside then cut a large rectangled opening on the top to plant out in wild flowers.
In the past I have planted wild flowers directly into the ground but weeds germinated along with the flower seeds and choked them out. This way it will be only the flowers that germinate. I have placed the bag gardens in gaps where spring bulbs are dieing down and covered the bag with the pea straw already on the garden leaving the planted area open to light and rain.

Hosta's are pushing fresh new leaves out for waiting slugs! put sharp gravel under hosta's and spray with fish emulsion to deter them. I have 6 little Peking bantams who take care of snails and slugs in my garden. because they are very short in the leg their scratching is minimal compared to long legged hens.

Vegetables:
My raised veg gardens had a visit from a very large ewe this week, she was working her way over them when I came across her and gave her a short shift! She trimmed back all the herbs, carrots, lettuce, brassica, ignored the leeks and broad beans and was just starting on the peas and potatoes!!
The herbs will benefit from the trim and planting new veg is not a problem at this time of the year so not all bad. (it's the fence that is the problem)

With all the fruit trees in blossom it's sunny days we need to keep the bees busy working at pollinating along with the help of windy days. Keep the water up to them and mulch with un -sprayed grass clippings right out to their drip line, they have a lot of work ahead of them growing juicy fruit.

The garden is looking very pretty right now and is open this long week end for viewing should people be interested in taking a drive out to Weston.

Cheers, Linda