Gardening in North Otago 12th February 2013

Well we got some rain to freshen everything up after such hot weather leading up to it. Dahlia's are taking center stage now, and will carry us into autumn they are making it into our flower borders can look great mixed with late summer perennials, there's a dahlia style and colour for every situation - cacti, singles, pompom and more. A bright splash of candy pink, almost black, vivid red or sassy orange, dahlias bring vibrant colour into a summer garden and remain through until the frosts force them back into the ground. Dahlia tuba's are a good investment for the garden because they increase in size from year to year and in time can be broken up to plant as gap fillers. They can be left in well draining ground all year round but if left in ground that holds water they will rot. Perennial phlox is also putting on a fantastic show right now with it's tall frothy pinks and white. They are also a great investment for the garden because one plant will grow into large clump in no time and will need staking but so worth the trouble because not only do the look beautiful the perfume from a clump of tall phlox can be intoxicating wafting about the garden. Plant annual seeds now to give colour in the winter like Iceland poppy, primula malacoidies, Virginian stock (a great plant for winter hanging baskets) wall flower, and flowering kale. Have any of these at budding stage before the frosts arrive and they will push on and flower. This applies to coastal gardens only not further in land unless you have a frost free sheltered spot. Lawns Lawns have really benefited from that last lot of rain it is strange to see them so green at this time of the year but now is the time to deal to grass grub, they are most active from now until May. The birds have started scratching the grass out in different area's of our garden and I can see patches they will move onto where the grubs are busy eating the grass roots. Have some grass grubs granules ready to apply before the next lot of rain if you have the same problem in your lawns. Veg & fruit Many edibles are peaking in production to enjoy at the moment. Water in the morning or evening before or after the full heat of the sun, otherwise there’s too much evaporation for the plants to thrive. I swear my pumpkins grow every time I turn my back on them! we are all in for a bumper crop this summer. I have been free flow freezing veg when I have the time, cauliflower, broccoli, carrots, courgette's beans, peas & corn all keep well after blanching and freezing in the free flow method. Gardening by the moon New moon 10th - 18th February At the new moon, the lunar gravity pulls water up, and causes the seeds to swell and burst. This factor, coupled with the increasing moonlight creates balanced root and leaf growth. This is the best time for planting above ground annual crops that produce their seeds outside the fruit. Examples are lettuce, spinach, celery, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, and grain crops. Cucumbers like this phase also, even though they are an exception to that rule. Cheers, Linda