February already, where did January go?
The strong winds we have been experiencing here in North Otago
are what this area usually experiences in October, or later to blow the autumn leaves off. It has taken very little time to zap the moisture from that last good rain, but we have not had to get the hoses out a lot so far this growing season....we do now.
The first of the seeds I left to fall from spring flowering plants are up, I will wait until perennials are stronger, another week or two and then transplant them into trays and then sit them in the shade to keep growing then will plant them out at the end of next winter. Have a look around plants that have dropped seed in your garden and you will find nice little seedlings of pansies, viola, marigolds, hellebore's, sweet William and aquilegias to name a few.
Seeded annuals can be planted out as soon as they are big enough,they should flower over Autumn.
Stake dahlias to protect and support blooms and keep the liquid fertiliser up to them to ensure good plant development.
Feed Daphne and azaleas with acid plant fertiliser to ensure you get good root growth and bud development for the Spring.
Take the seed heads off anything that you do not want to spread, that goes for weeds as well, make sure you whack the seed heads off until you have time to deal with them.
Keep trimming hedges as they put on soft new growth and either compost the trimmings or scatter them around the garden, they are soft enough to break down at this time of the year.
Hydrangeas are looking lovely right now, I have been taking hard wood cuttings of one or two that I need more of. Select a stem that has flowered and cut at a node just before a new shoot, this would be the flower for next year. Push the cuttings into some firm, damp shady ground where they will not be disturbed and place an up turned pot with drainage holes over the top of them. Forget about them until they start to shoot after the frosts then pot them up and get them big enough to plant out in the late spring, early summer.
Give roses a dressing of manure or blood and bone now as they will be ready for a boost after their first long flowering and keep the dead heading up to encourage flowering.
Give lavenders a hair cut now before they make seed, they will flower again, same for catnip I cut mine back twice during their flowering season.
Lawns
its grass grub time again, they are most active from February to May. There are products that can be shaken on and watered in on, both need watered in well like powdered fertiliser so when it is raining or about to rain is the best time. The grubs feed on the grass roots and leave dead patches of grass on lawns, once the dead grass patch is visible they will have moved on to another area of the lawn so concentrate on the unaffected areas
Vegetable / Fruit
February is the time to prepare for Winter crops and vegetable patches. Sow carrots, parsnips, beetroot, spinach, peas, cauliflower and cabbage. Build up the soil first with peat, compost and lime.
Continue taking laterals off your Tomatoes and harvesting ripe Tomatoes making sure to remove any fallen or diseased fruit to prevent disease spreading.
Trim back all leaders on grape vines, this will put the new growth into only the fruit which should be plumping up now.
The strong winds are hard on fruit trees and bushes, fruit is blown off before ready and needed moisture is sucked from the roots.
I have been watering in blood and bone, anything too rich in nitrogen will only encourage more leaf growth.
A lot of my leaf veg want to bolt before being used, the hens at least are happy!
Keep sowing root veg seed and peas, beans and lettuce there is heaps of growing time still ahead of us.
Gardening by the moon
Date: 04 & 05 February 2012
Flower Gemini
Waxing gibbous
Waxing gibbous
Synodic:
This is a good time to sow vegetables that produce internal seed bearing fruits. Tomatoes, beans, peas, peppers, chillis, pumpkins, courgettes.
Biodynamic:
Moon in Gemini: This is a Air sign. This is a good time to sow Flowering plants like Broccoli, but it would not be a good time to sow Rooting plants like Garlic, Horseradish, Jerusalem Artichokes, Onions, Shallots, Spring Onions,
Sidereal:
Moon in Gemini: Barren and dry, and yet good for promoting flower growth.
Cheers, Linda
Tuesday, January 31, 2012
Tuesday, January 24, 2012
Gardening in North Otago 24th January 2012
A little cooler at times this past week which helps to hold back growth a little, not a bad thing when the heat and the odd shower of rain we have been experiencing really accelerates growth.
This week has still been dead heading, cutting back and planting in the gaps for me. Plants like tall campanula, alstroemeria, some lemon balm, lupins, lavateria, daisy bushes and delphiniums were all looking a bit tired and messy and a cut back will encourage them to make new growth. I also cut the old stems that flowered out of the tree peonies which reduced their size by half and stop the seed pods from popping everywhere. Don't let tree peonies get away and swamp other plants, they can also send out runners from the mother plant that pop up all over the place. Cut them out if they are not wanted.
My geraniumns are doing well this year, an old but reliable plant which gives heaps of colour all through summer & autumn. Some very pretty and different varieties are on offer now days, they are a wonderful plant for pots and the ivy type are lovely in hanging baskets. This is one plant that will not fail to root when cuttings are planted. Geraniumns are so easy to grow in full sun and they do not mind if you forget to water them for a while because they like to be a little dryer than most other plants.
I have noticed a lot of snails about this year, my chooks take care of them in the places they wander but in other parts of the garden they are such a pest. I came across a method of dealing with them that I have put into place and thought I would share with you.
Scientists have discovered that slugs and snails detest caffeine. Pouring the dregs of your morning coffee on the ground will drive them away. Even better, add coffee grounds to your mulch or potting mix. Ask your local coffee shop if you can recycle their leftovers and mulch your hostas, lettuce seedlings and more. Now is a great time to give this a try, i have pulled all the eaten leaves off hosta's, cineraria and lettuce plants and the first lot of coffee grounds have been spread around, I will let you know the out come, if you experiment and let me know the out come.email:linda.lsw@gmail.com
Slugs and snails can be controlled by night raids with a torch, beer traps. Slug bait is poisonous to birds and dangerous for children. Plants in pots can be protected with a thick band of Vaseline applied right around the rim of the pot - impossible for slugs and snails to cross.
Healthy plants will resist pests better than struggling, spindly specimens. Feed your plants well and ensure that they get adequate water. Encourage birds into your garden to control pest populations, not spraying allows insect predators to get to work.
To Spray or not to Spray
To spray or not to spray is a big question when it comes to pests on your roses. When you spray you also eliminate the predators; ladybirds and the like. These predators take longer to restore their population than the fast breeding pests, so the problem seems to worsen when we spray and becomes an endless cycle. I have opted not to spray this year and so far so good, I have been pulling off the rust and black spot effected leaves and destroying them. It looks like the natural predators are taking care of the green fly and keeping a good supply of food up to the roses is paying off in keeping them strong and healthy.
Nature Isn't Coping
If natural predators don't keep pests to an acceptable level then you need to intervene.
Earwigs can eat great holes in your flowers overnight, an earwig trap made from an upturned plant pot filled with scrunched up newspaper resting on top of a bamboo stake pushed into the ground makes an ideal hiding place for these nocturnal pests - you can tip them into rubbish or leave the bodies on the bird table.
Spittlebug, hidden in a foamy 'spittle' like substance, can be removed with a strong jet of water from the hose, or even by hand.
If you are looking for non-toxic solutions to keeping those bugs down, try Garlic spray for aphids.
You will need
3 large cloves of crushed garlic
1 tbsp of vegetable oil
1 tsp of liquid soap
1 litre of water
Combine the garlic and vegetable oil and leave to soak overnight. Strain and add to the litre of water along with the liquid soap. Spray regularly.
Aphids can also be eliminated with Rhubarb spray. Boil 5 rhubarb leaves in a large pot of water for approximately 10 mins. When cooled add a squirt of dishwashing detergent to fix the spray to the leaves. Set to and spray. Note that rhubarb leaves contain oxalic acid and should not be eaten.
Here is one I found for Rabbits and Hares, I have seen small rabbits hopping around our garden lately.
Troubled by rabbits eating your plants? You can buy commercial sprays from nurseries but try making your own.
You need
6 eggs
60mls acrylic paint
600 mls water Thoroughly mix eggs with a small amount of the water and add rest of water and acrylic paint. Spray plants. If planting new plants be sure to spray them before the rabbits and hares get a taste for them
Vegetables where to plant & when harvested
Basil (herb) Grow in seed trays, and plant out in 4-6 weeks. Harvesting from March - April
Beetroot Sow in garden. Harvesting from February - April
Cabbage Grow in seed trays, and plant out in 4-6 weeks. Harvesting from March - May
Carrot Sow in garden. water well. Harvesting from March - April
Chives Sow in garden. Harvesting from February - April
Dwarf beans
(also French beans, Bush beans) Sow in garden. Harvesting from February - April
.
Kale
(also Borecole) Grow in seed trays, and plant out in 4-6 weeks. Harvesting from February - March
Leeks Grow in seed trays, and plant out in 4-6 weeks. Harvesting from April - June
Lettuce Sow in garden, or start in seed trays and plant out in 4-6 weeks.. Harvesting from March - April
Mustard greens
(also gai choy) Sow in garden. Harvesting from February - March
Oregano Sow in garden, or start in seed trays. Harvest when plant reaches the flowering stage
Parsley (herb)
(also curly leaf parsley or flat leaf (Italian) parsley) Sow in garden. Harvesting from March - June
Parsnip Sow in garden. Harvesting from April - June
Potato Plant seed potato. Harvesting from April - June
Gardening by the moon: January 28th 2012
Leaf Pisces
Waxing crescent
Waxing crescent
Sow leafy vegetables and annuals that produce above ground. Lettuce, Spinach, Asparagus, Broccoli, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Sprouts, Sweetcorn, Cucumber. Grains are also good to plant now. This is not a good time to pick vegetables if they are to be stored.
Moon in Pisces: This is a Water sign. It is a good time to sow Leaf plants like Cabbages, Celeriac, Lettuce, but it would not be a good time to sow Fruiting plants like Broad Beans (Fava),Peas,
Moon in Pisces: This water sign promotes root growth.
January 29th 2012
Leaf Pisces
First quarter
First quarter
This is a good time to sow vegetables that produce internal seed bearing fruits. Tomatoes, beans, peas, peppers, chillis, pumpkins, courgettes.
Moon in Pisces: This is a Water sign. It is a good time to sow Leaf plants like Cabbages, Celeriac, Lettuce, but it would not be a good time to sow Fruiting plants like Broad Beans (Fava),Peas,
Moon in Pisces: This water sign promotes root growth.
Cheers, Linda.
This week has still been dead heading, cutting back and planting in the gaps for me. Plants like tall campanula, alstroemeria, some lemon balm, lupins, lavateria, daisy bushes and delphiniums were all looking a bit tired and messy and a cut back will encourage them to make new growth. I also cut the old stems that flowered out of the tree peonies which reduced their size by half and stop the seed pods from popping everywhere. Don't let tree peonies get away and swamp other plants, they can also send out runners from the mother plant that pop up all over the place. Cut them out if they are not wanted.
My geraniumns are doing well this year, an old but reliable plant which gives heaps of colour all through summer & autumn. Some very pretty and different varieties are on offer now days, they are a wonderful plant for pots and the ivy type are lovely in hanging baskets. This is one plant that will not fail to root when cuttings are planted. Geraniumns are so easy to grow in full sun and they do not mind if you forget to water them for a while because they like to be a little dryer than most other plants.
I have noticed a lot of snails about this year, my chooks take care of them in the places they wander but in other parts of the garden they are such a pest. I came across a method of dealing with them that I have put into place and thought I would share with you.
Scientists have discovered that slugs and snails detest caffeine. Pouring the dregs of your morning coffee on the ground will drive them away. Even better, add coffee grounds to your mulch or potting mix. Ask your local coffee shop if you can recycle their leftovers and mulch your hostas, lettuce seedlings and more. Now is a great time to give this a try, i have pulled all the eaten leaves off hosta's, cineraria and lettuce plants and the first lot of coffee grounds have been spread around, I will let you know the out come, if you experiment and let me know the out come.email:linda.lsw@gmail.com
Slugs and snails can be controlled by night raids with a torch, beer traps. Slug bait is poisonous to birds and dangerous for children. Plants in pots can be protected with a thick band of Vaseline applied right around the rim of the pot - impossible for slugs and snails to cross.
Healthy plants will resist pests better than struggling, spindly specimens. Feed your plants well and ensure that they get adequate water. Encourage birds into your garden to control pest populations, not spraying allows insect predators to get to work.
To Spray or not to Spray
To spray or not to spray is a big question when it comes to pests on your roses. When you spray you also eliminate the predators; ladybirds and the like. These predators take longer to restore their population than the fast breeding pests, so the problem seems to worsen when we spray and becomes an endless cycle. I have opted not to spray this year and so far so good, I have been pulling off the rust and black spot effected leaves and destroying them. It looks like the natural predators are taking care of the green fly and keeping a good supply of food up to the roses is paying off in keeping them strong and healthy.
Nature Isn't Coping
If natural predators don't keep pests to an acceptable level then you need to intervene.
Earwigs can eat great holes in your flowers overnight, an earwig trap made from an upturned plant pot filled with scrunched up newspaper resting on top of a bamboo stake pushed into the ground makes an ideal hiding place for these nocturnal pests - you can tip them into rubbish or leave the bodies on the bird table.
Spittlebug, hidden in a foamy 'spittle' like substance, can be removed with a strong jet of water from the hose, or even by hand.
If you are looking for non-toxic solutions to keeping those bugs down, try Garlic spray for aphids.
You will need
3 large cloves of crushed garlic
1 tbsp of vegetable oil
1 tsp of liquid soap
1 litre of water
Combine the garlic and vegetable oil and leave to soak overnight. Strain and add to the litre of water along with the liquid soap. Spray regularly.
Aphids can also be eliminated with Rhubarb spray. Boil 5 rhubarb leaves in a large pot of water for approximately 10 mins. When cooled add a squirt of dishwashing detergent to fix the spray to the leaves. Set to and spray. Note that rhubarb leaves contain oxalic acid and should not be eaten.
Here is one I found for Rabbits and Hares, I have seen small rabbits hopping around our garden lately.
Troubled by rabbits eating your plants? You can buy commercial sprays from nurseries but try making your own.
You need
6 eggs
60mls acrylic paint
600 mls water Thoroughly mix eggs with a small amount of the water and add rest of water and acrylic paint. Spray plants. If planting new plants be sure to spray them before the rabbits and hares get a taste for them
Vegetables where to plant & when harvested
Basil (herb) Grow in seed trays, and plant out in 4-6 weeks. Harvesting from March - April
Beetroot Sow in garden. Harvesting from February - April
Cabbage Grow in seed trays, and plant out in 4-6 weeks. Harvesting from March - May
Carrot Sow in garden. water well. Harvesting from March - April
Chives Sow in garden. Harvesting from February - April
Dwarf beans
(also French beans, Bush beans) Sow in garden. Harvesting from February - April
.
Kale
(also Borecole) Grow in seed trays, and plant out in 4-6 weeks. Harvesting from February - March
Leeks Grow in seed trays, and plant out in 4-6 weeks. Harvesting from April - June
Lettuce Sow in garden, or start in seed trays and plant out in 4-6 weeks.. Harvesting from March - April
Mustard greens
(also gai choy) Sow in garden. Harvesting from February - March
Oregano Sow in garden, or start in seed trays. Harvest when plant reaches the flowering stage
Parsley (herb)
(also curly leaf parsley or flat leaf (Italian) parsley) Sow in garden. Harvesting from March - June
Parsnip Sow in garden. Harvesting from April - June
Potato Plant seed potato. Harvesting from April - June
Gardening by the moon: January 28th 2012
Leaf Pisces
Waxing crescent
Waxing crescent
Sow leafy vegetables and annuals that produce above ground. Lettuce, Spinach, Asparagus, Broccoli, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Sprouts, Sweetcorn, Cucumber. Grains are also good to plant now. This is not a good time to pick vegetables if they are to be stored.
Moon in Pisces: This is a Water sign. It is a good time to sow Leaf plants like Cabbages, Celeriac, Lettuce, but it would not be a good time to sow Fruiting plants like Broad Beans (Fava),Peas,
Moon in Pisces: This water sign promotes root growth.
January 29th 2012
Leaf Pisces
First quarter
First quarter
This is a good time to sow vegetables that produce internal seed bearing fruits. Tomatoes, beans, peas, peppers, chillis, pumpkins, courgettes.
Moon in Pisces: This is a Water sign. It is a good time to sow Leaf plants like Cabbages, Celeriac, Lettuce, but it would not be a good time to sow Fruiting plants like Broad Beans (Fava),Peas,
Moon in Pisces: This water sign promotes root growth.
Cheers, Linda.
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
Gardening in North Otago 17th January 2012
I would imagine many people are still in holiday mode and long may it last......it would be great if the lawns and garden followed suit.
So much growth happening here in our garden, the second round of weeds since the last spray are well up but easy to pull or hoe out out at this stage, I had the sprayer on the go when the wind dropped, I spray in the heat of the day when weeds are really thirsty.
Roses, spray if fungus or mildew is a problem. Use a systemic spray which will control both fungus and green fly, use at 10 day intervals.
Hydrangeas, with the rain we have been getting hydrangeas are looking fantastic but I have noticed a couple of mine are displaying light green leaves instead of dark green, iron deficiency! I remember adding some lime to the pink ones during the winter I must have given them too much and in doing so altered the PH of the soil. Proper choice of nitrogen and potassium fertilizer sources can help control iron deficiency.
Mulching around shrubs and trees is so important now to keep the moisture from the rain in the ground take the garden into what could be a long dry Autumn. All bulbs that have died down will need a good mulched to hold the moisture in. From now on is when bulbs dry out and whole clumps can disappear if they get too dry for too long. I have been cutting lavenders and bunching for drying. If you have very woody lavenders, it's a good time right now to cut them right back. They will regrow fresh and bushy and make hard wood again before winter.
Keep cutting back all early summer perennials and shrubs before they make seed. Cutting will promote a new lot of blooms, but remember to feed what you cut back because they will need it to make the new growth required of them.
Our wisteria went ballistic after flowing, sending out heaps of leaves and new leaders. It got the hedge trimmer treatment. Trim only the new growth, if you take it back past the hard wood you will be removing the flowering wood. I like doing this now before the autumn leaf drop, less to rake up then.
Lawn weeds can be sprayed out, use product at the suggested strength, consider spot spraying for the sake of the worms. If too heavy handed even the grass will be affected. There are a few different lawn weed sprays on offer, even one that weeds and feeds at the same time.
The best time to put dry fertiliser onto lawns, is when it is raining is to wash it in. Any patches left exposed to the hot sun will leave burnt patches, liquid fertiliser is fine any time.
Vegetable & Fruit
Keep rotating root and leaf vegetables to get the best results, i.e Where carrots have been growing, plant lettuce.
My corn is growing really fast. Corn needs a long ripening season but I am putting more plants in now with the hope of a long warm autumn ahead and enough time left for them to cob and ripen after flowering.
Pumpkins also require their growing and ripening to be done before the first frost. Mine are spreading fast, flowering and the bees are doing their job so I expect a bumper crop. Pumpkins love old stable manure to feed them while they spread.
Even after a good amount of blossom in spring we have no apricots on our tree. I guess a combination of blossom damage during a cold spell and the night beetle devouring most of the leaves was the problem. I hope they are plentiful else where.
Planting by the moon this weekend
21st January
Fruit Sagittarius
Waning crescent
Waning crescent
Use this time to weed and harvest from the garden. It is an excellent time to start building a new compost heap.
Moon in Sagittarius: This is a Fire sign. This is a good time to sow Fruiting plants like Broad Beans (Fava), Peas, but it would not be a good time to sow Leaf plants like Cabbages, Celeriac,Lettuce,
Moon in Sagittarius: Dry and barren. Good time to plant onion sets and bulbs.
Planting by the moon 22nd January
Fruit Sagittarius
NEW
Sow leafy vegetables and annuals that produce above ground. Lettuce, Spinach, Asparagus, Broccoli, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Sprouts, Sweetcorn, Cucumber. Grains are also good to plant now. This is a good time to pick vegetables if they are to be stored.
Moon in Sagittarius: This is a Fire sign. This is a good time to sow Fruiting plants like Broad Beans (Fava), Peas, but it would not be a good time to sow Leaf plants like Cabbages, Celeriac,Lettuce, Fruits Harvested now will store for longer.
Moon in Sagittarius: Dry and barren. Good time to plant onion sets and bulbs.
Cheers, Linda.
So much growth happening here in our garden, the second round of weeds since the last spray are well up but easy to pull or hoe out out at this stage, I had the sprayer on the go when the wind dropped, I spray in the heat of the day when weeds are really thirsty.
Roses, spray if fungus or mildew is a problem. Use a systemic spray which will control both fungus and green fly, use at 10 day intervals.
Hydrangeas, with the rain we have been getting hydrangeas are looking fantastic but I have noticed a couple of mine are displaying light green leaves instead of dark green, iron deficiency! I remember adding some lime to the pink ones during the winter I must have given them too much and in doing so altered the PH of the soil. Proper choice of nitrogen and potassium fertilizer sources can help control iron deficiency.
Mulching around shrubs and trees is so important now to keep the moisture from the rain in the ground take the garden into what could be a long dry Autumn. All bulbs that have died down will need a good mulched to hold the moisture in. From now on is when bulbs dry out and whole clumps can disappear if they get too dry for too long. I have been cutting lavenders and bunching for drying. If you have very woody lavenders, it's a good time right now to cut them right back. They will regrow fresh and bushy and make hard wood again before winter.
Keep cutting back all early summer perennials and shrubs before they make seed. Cutting will promote a new lot of blooms, but remember to feed what you cut back because they will need it to make the new growth required of them.
Our wisteria went ballistic after flowing, sending out heaps of leaves and new leaders. It got the hedge trimmer treatment. Trim only the new growth, if you take it back past the hard wood you will be removing the flowering wood. I like doing this now before the autumn leaf drop, less to rake up then.
Lawn weeds can be sprayed out, use product at the suggested strength, consider spot spraying for the sake of the worms. If too heavy handed even the grass will be affected. There are a few different lawn weed sprays on offer, even one that weeds and feeds at the same time.
The best time to put dry fertiliser onto lawns, is when it is raining is to wash it in. Any patches left exposed to the hot sun will leave burnt patches, liquid fertiliser is fine any time.
Vegetable & Fruit
Keep rotating root and leaf vegetables to get the best results, i.e Where carrots have been growing, plant lettuce.
My corn is growing really fast. Corn needs a long ripening season but I am putting more plants in now with the hope of a long warm autumn ahead and enough time left for them to cob and ripen after flowering.
Pumpkins also require their growing and ripening to be done before the first frost. Mine are spreading fast, flowering and the bees are doing their job so I expect a bumper crop. Pumpkins love old stable manure to feed them while they spread.
Even after a good amount of blossom in spring we have no apricots on our tree. I guess a combination of blossom damage during a cold spell and the night beetle devouring most of the leaves was the problem. I hope they are plentiful else where.
Planting by the moon this weekend
21st January
Fruit Sagittarius
Waning crescent
Waning crescent
Use this time to weed and harvest from the garden. It is an excellent time to start building a new compost heap.
Moon in Sagittarius: This is a Fire sign. This is a good time to sow Fruiting plants like Broad Beans (Fava), Peas, but it would not be a good time to sow Leaf plants like Cabbages, Celeriac,Lettuce,
Moon in Sagittarius: Dry and barren. Good time to plant onion sets and bulbs.
Planting by the moon 22nd January
Fruit Sagittarius
NEW
Sow leafy vegetables and annuals that produce above ground. Lettuce, Spinach, Asparagus, Broccoli, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Sprouts, Sweetcorn, Cucumber. Grains are also good to plant now. This is a good time to pick vegetables if they are to be stored.
Moon in Sagittarius: This is a Fire sign. This is a good time to sow Fruiting plants like Broad Beans (Fava), Peas, but it would not be a good time to sow Leaf plants like Cabbages, Celeriac,Lettuce, Fruits Harvested now will store for longer.
Moon in Sagittarius: Dry and barren. Good time to plant onion sets and bulbs.
Cheers, Linda.
Tuesday, January 10, 2012
Gardening in North Otago 10th January 2012
Happy New Gardening year to all.
What a wonderful sunny January we are having so far, it reminds me of how North Otago weather was when I was a Child. Everyday of the School holidays was sun and blue sky's, or am I just wanting to remember it that way? Not only have we been experiencing long sunny days, we have even had the odd shower, perfect!
Roses, last year dull days and mildew were a problem for roses but this year it is rust that attacked a few of my roses after the first flowering. I pull all the affected leaves of and destroy them as I dead headed, this left bushes quite bare but it takes no time at all for new leaves and buds to grow back. Deep watering around the roots is the thing for roses during these hot months. All roses should have had a summer pruning after their first flowering, cut a spent flower stem down to an out facing bud on a thick part of stem. If it is just the flower removed the remaining stem will die back to only the first bud which will be too weak to support new blooms.
Cut back summer flowering perennials and shrubs to encourage continuous flowering, I have just cut back my daisy bushes, delphiniums, lavaterias, dianthus, lupins and most of the herbs because they were all going to seed. Feed with slow release or a liquid fertiliser, they will all come back fresh and most will flower again.
I have cut some chrysanthemums back for the second time, they flower in the autumn on shorter steams by doing this. Plant some tip growth from chrysanthemums into river sand and they should root, plant out and next year they will be a clump like the Mother plant. Put stakes in now to support all Chrysanthemums.
Foliar feeding is very important to encourage fresh new growth after cutting back anything at this dry time of the year.
Fill gaps in the flower garden with annuals.
Front planting full sun: impatiens, small type petunias, begonia, small marigolds, lobelia, alyssum
Mid plantings: nicotina, coriopsis, tall petunias, tall marigolds, bedding dahlia, salvia, nemesia.
Tall plantings: cosmos, lavatera, sun flowers, Canterbury bells, love in the mist.
Semi shade ( with good light )plantings: impatiens, bedding begonias, lobelia, Japanese anemone (perennial)
foxglove.
If we get another decent rain feed the lawns and they will bounce back like fresh spring lawns.
I have been lifting lower new branches on the large spreading trees to let more light in for plants growing under them. Oaks, flowering cherries, ash and maples put on a lot of new growth each year and most want to grow to the ground to shade their roots if left. Remove cross over branches and any branches you feel are not required, dappled light is much nicer than dense shade.
Fruit and veg
The gooseberries, strawberries, raspberry's and currents have done well with the nice warm weather but they are ripening quickly so it is a rush to get them picked before they drop from the bushes. I have just picked all my black currents ready for jam and pies. I cut all the fruiting branches off ( they fruit on the previous years growth) then strip them of berries in a nice shady spot. This way the fruit is picked and the bush is pruned at the same time.
I have reduced the length of fruiting runners on my grapes and removed all unproductive growth.
Tomatoes need water kept up and some leaves removed to let more light in too many leaves take up nitrogen that should be used by the fruit.
The vegetable garden is doing fine but the water needs to be kept up and plants are maturing fast then bolting to seed if not picked when ready. The birds have been a problem for me this year, I will get some strawberry net and cover them. Corn and pumpkins are making good growth and the potatoes I thought were all top and no potatoes proved me wrong by being just the opposite, I gave them a tickle up on Christmas day and was amazed at the number and the size of them!
Keep planting all veg , we have the best growing and ripening time ahead.
Planting by the moon
FULL MOON
Friday, 20 January 2012
Garden:
Water as required, especially just around the full moon as the plants are really wanting to grow
Foliar feed three days before full moon
Keep up tomato and pepper maintenance
Spray neem oil for shield bugs. Spraying now will stop the next generation hatching
Remove seeds pods from sweet peas to keep them flowering
Layer carnations
Plant bulbs in garden beds orchard or pots
Dead head dahlias too keep them flowering
Orchard:
Watch for water stress
Spray neem oil on any young trees that need protection
Make a careful notes of when all your fruit ripens so that you know where the gaps are for future plantings
Cheers, Linda
What a wonderful sunny January we are having so far, it reminds me of how North Otago weather was when I was a Child. Everyday of the School holidays was sun and blue sky's, or am I just wanting to remember it that way? Not only have we been experiencing long sunny days, we have even had the odd shower, perfect!
Roses, last year dull days and mildew were a problem for roses but this year it is rust that attacked a few of my roses after the first flowering. I pull all the affected leaves of and destroy them as I dead headed, this left bushes quite bare but it takes no time at all for new leaves and buds to grow back. Deep watering around the roots is the thing for roses during these hot months. All roses should have had a summer pruning after their first flowering, cut a spent flower stem down to an out facing bud on a thick part of stem. If it is just the flower removed the remaining stem will die back to only the first bud which will be too weak to support new blooms.
Cut back summer flowering perennials and shrubs to encourage continuous flowering, I have just cut back my daisy bushes, delphiniums, lavaterias, dianthus, lupins and most of the herbs because they were all going to seed. Feed with slow release or a liquid fertiliser, they will all come back fresh and most will flower again.
I have cut some chrysanthemums back for the second time, they flower in the autumn on shorter steams by doing this. Plant some tip growth from chrysanthemums into river sand and they should root, plant out and next year they will be a clump like the Mother plant. Put stakes in now to support all Chrysanthemums.
Foliar feeding is very important to encourage fresh new growth after cutting back anything at this dry time of the year.
Fill gaps in the flower garden with annuals.
Front planting full sun: impatiens, small type petunias, begonia, small marigolds, lobelia, alyssum
Mid plantings: nicotina, coriopsis, tall petunias, tall marigolds, bedding dahlia, salvia, nemesia.
Tall plantings: cosmos, lavatera, sun flowers, Canterbury bells, love in the mist.
Semi shade ( with good light )plantings: impatiens, bedding begonias, lobelia, Japanese anemone (perennial)
foxglove.
If we get another decent rain feed the lawns and they will bounce back like fresh spring lawns.
I have been lifting lower new branches on the large spreading trees to let more light in for plants growing under them. Oaks, flowering cherries, ash and maples put on a lot of new growth each year and most want to grow to the ground to shade their roots if left. Remove cross over branches and any branches you feel are not required, dappled light is much nicer than dense shade.
Fruit and veg
The gooseberries, strawberries, raspberry's and currents have done well with the nice warm weather but they are ripening quickly so it is a rush to get them picked before they drop from the bushes. I have just picked all my black currents ready for jam and pies. I cut all the fruiting branches off ( they fruit on the previous years growth) then strip them of berries in a nice shady spot. This way the fruit is picked and the bush is pruned at the same time.
I have reduced the length of fruiting runners on my grapes and removed all unproductive growth.
Tomatoes need water kept up and some leaves removed to let more light in too many leaves take up nitrogen that should be used by the fruit.
The vegetable garden is doing fine but the water needs to be kept up and plants are maturing fast then bolting to seed if not picked when ready. The birds have been a problem for me this year, I will get some strawberry net and cover them. Corn and pumpkins are making good growth and the potatoes I thought were all top and no potatoes proved me wrong by being just the opposite, I gave them a tickle up on Christmas day and was amazed at the number and the size of them!
Keep planting all veg , we have the best growing and ripening time ahead.
Planting by the moon
FULL MOON
Friday, 20 January 2012
Garden:
Water as required, especially just around the full moon as the plants are really wanting to grow
Foliar feed three days before full moon
Keep up tomato and pepper maintenance
Spray neem oil for shield bugs. Spraying now will stop the next generation hatching
Remove seeds pods from sweet peas to keep them flowering
Layer carnations
Plant bulbs in garden beds orchard or pots
Dead head dahlias too keep them flowering
Orchard:
Watch for water stress
Spray neem oil on any young trees that need protection
Make a careful notes of when all your fruit ripens so that you know where the gaps are for future plantings
Cheers, Linda
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