Gardening in North Otago 13th December 2011

How well everything is blooming right now, the early English roses, philadelphus,(Brides blossom) peony roses and honey suckle and ohh, the fragrances, they are sure to trigger memories of early summer 2011 in the future

The rain we have been getting along with the warm sunny days and very little wind make for perfect growing conditions, long may it last.
This week I was ruthless and pulled out or cut back the fillers that flowered through spring, a change over needed to be done and with the ground so warm the new plantings will clump up quickly. I planted petunias,lavatera,lobelia,statice, blue salvia and geranium cuttings that I set to make roots a few months ago along with purple sage and lavender, all grew fantastic roots which I hope will reward me with a nice show over summer.
If you are also doing this, once the ground has been cleared of plants that have finished flowering the soil will be starved, give it a good watering then apply compost and a sprinkle of slow release fertiliser or blood and bone before replanting.

I see the biddy bid sticky weed is starting to make seed!!!! so much of it is still being pulled out of our garden, I am determined to get it all before it spreads it's seeds. If you see any in your garden get rid of it now at the flowering stage the seeds develop very quickly from now on.

Keep dead heading roses, it's six weeks from cutting at an outward facing bud to another bloom at this time of the year. Keep the water up to them But make sure they go into the night dry. Moisture on leaves and blooms on warm nights will encourage mildew and black spot. If they were not fed after the winter prune give them some stable manure or slow release fertiliser now to keep the bushes healthy and flowering well.

Spring bulbs have finished flowering, tie a knot in the leaves of daffodils rather than cut them off yet as they need to take all the top green to store in the bulb. Tulips collapse quickly and can be dug up and stored in a dry place until planting out again in May next year. Blue bells need to be left to seed if you want them in mass, they increase in the bulb but also seed successfully.

Keep the water up to Lillie's, they are making rapid growth and some are flowering now, they resent being in dry ground so mulching is a good idea and stake them now before they become too heavy.
It is time to break off the spent flower heads on rhododendrons, mine are not too tall for me to get around as yet, if they were I would break off only what i could reach. There is a point just above where the new leaf growth starts that snaps off clean by using finger and thumb. Tight fitting plastic gloves are best worn because the seed heads are really sticky. Removing the heads before they set seed allows the bush to put it's energy into making new flower buds instead.

Ahh,The endless summer holidays of trying to keep the kids entertained and away from the TV and computer. With out them even knowing, why not set up a painting and planting table...... gather up all the discarded kids paint brushes plus small ones from the shed along with half tins of house paint which can be tipped into screw top jars and add a few test paint pots to increase the colour range. Water based house paint will withstand the outside weather, is very cheap, and most of all, will wash off hands and clothes. Next visit the recycling center and hunt out planting pots of all different sizes to be painted by your young Artists. Then choose seeds that are suitable for planting in pots, or hunt around the garden for plants already seeding like calandula( marigolds) hellobours (winter rose) alyssum and heaps of bulbs and other plants that have sowen seed in the ground and are now small plants ready to be dug up and planted in a pot. A seed and plant hunt would fill in time while the painted pots are drying.
With a little help from an older child, parent or grand parent even pre-school children can enjoy this .If you’re keen to promote an interest in healthy food, why not try growing salad greens, beans and peas. Runner beans in a large pot with an old fanning branch heeled in for the beans to climb will go well with the Jack n the bean stalk story.
Once the painting is finished and pots have had time to dry, fill to the top with potting mix and a little added slow release fertiliser or blood and bone and start planting. Sit planted pots in full sun with a watering can on stand by for the job of watering each day. This activity can be on going for as long as you want to draw it out by not letting Children do it all on the first day and then giving them the responsibility of maintaining the pots.
Another activity that works with keeping kids busy is giving them a lump of oamaru stone to chisel, saw and rasp, they will surprise you with what they create for the garden....(Christmas present??) so when the painting and potting up is finished the table can become a stone work bench.

Vegetables
Tomatoes will be growing rapidly and will need regular feeding and watering. Be sure to remove laterals off taller growing tomatoes and make sure they are firmly staked. They should be flowering now and can be sprayed with a Tomset to help pollinate the flowers, especially where bees are absent like in a glasshouse.
Continue successive planting of Lettuces, Radishes, Spring Onions, Beetroot, etc.It is very important to keep the vegetable garden moist now with early morning watering to minimize water wastage.
Remember to "Mole" up your Potato's to encourage a good hearty crop.

Leeks, Cauliflower, Broccoli, Silver beet, Onions, Spinach, Celery can all be planted this month.

FIRST QUARTER
Sunday, 18 December 2011
Garden:
Prick out any seedlings as necessary
Keep up watering
carefully observe all plants - they'll tell you if they need some more water, nutrients, help with pest control, tying up for more space.... This is a very important time to take good care of tomatoes and peppers.
Orchard:
You should be able to have a break for a few weeks now if you're up to date!
Time to begin picking the fruit and enjoying the season!
Cheers, Linda.