Gardening in North Otago May 20th 2014

Some nice drying days & nights for North Otago in the past week, I even manages to get a blaze going on the pile out in the paddock, after it being sodden for weeks. Just about at the end of the leaf collection and compost making and was lucky enough to score a trailer of wonderful horse manure to add to the mix, From now on It will be just making sure the water is kept up to the heaps to get them started. Now leaves are off the gardens it's on with compost around the roots of each plant, shrub & tree, the worms will do the job of taking it down into the soil. Next week I will be spreading pea straw around each garden, the bales are wet which makes them easier to pack down around the roots of plants. I will then turn my back on weeding until spring, Fantastic!! A chain saw has been on the go again here in our garden, tree's I planted 35 years ago had become tired, three of which were tall straight conifers and two were flowering cherries which had developed silver leaf. These trees were planted as boundary trees before the small paddock in front beckoned to become garden. While medium height and width they still fitted in well but the last ten years had taken them to maximum height & width hiding the now developed slopping bank garden behind. The change was an instant flow of one established garden into another allowing us a view we never had before, and the wonderful thing is I can now shift and plant to enhance it even more. Don't hesitate in taking out tree's that have out grown their allotted space, with an Arborist on the job really big trees can be dropped with minimal damage to what is growing around them. Lately I have been buying punnets of bedding and perennial plants then planting them into deep polystyrene trays, the polystyrene insulates from the cold ground allowing the roots to grow faster. Once the plants show signs of strong growth and start budding I will plant them out into a sunny spot in the garden in the hope that they will go on to flower during winter if it is mild. The worst that can happen is they will sit making strong roots until early spring and flower then. Any one wanting early colour in their gardens around September/October should do this now. Vegetables You can start planting garlic now to the end of the month, Plant 3-5cm deep and 10-12 cm apart in warm, sunny well drained place. Harvest your lemons before frosts make the fruit bitter and dry. Harvest pumpkins after the first frost. Pick once the pumpkins have coloured up and sound hollow when you knock the shell with your knuckles. If the skin of the pumpkin is hard and doesn't leave a dent when ‘knocked’ it is ripe. also once the leaves have died away is another way to know your pumpkins are ripe. Pick pumpkins from the vine but leave the stem on. This is important because if you cut it off you leave a wound which may cause the pumpkin to rot rather than store well. Place in a dry, dark place away from rain and weather. Garages, wood - sheds and tool sheds are perfect – just keep them up off the ground. Fruit Deciduous fruit and citrus trees will be in retail outlets soon, if you are planning on planting some get the soil ready now by digging and working the ground in the spot chosen for planting. If you plan to plant a few out together measure the distance between now and dig the holes. Read up on the varieties you plan to plant before you do this, taking note of the height and spread each tree will eventually grow. Fruit tress need sun and light right around them to fruit and ripen well so allow plenty of room for each tree. At planting time use slow release fertiliser under each tree to give them food to draw on. Fruit tree pruning should start as soon as the leaves have dropped. Re; Scruff the pup,another week down with no fatality, only one or two close shaves! Cheers, Linda