Gardening in North Otago January 27th 2015

What great holiday weather North Otago has been experiencing again during this last week of January, a summer to remember for holiday makers there are probably more of than Gardeners at this time of the year. As a Gardener I have been loving the warmth and keeping the fitness up by dragging hoses around to keep plants and grass alive and grateful to be able to do because I have heard in some districts further north it is hand held hoses only.

This week I have been keeping on top of the weeds with the hoe and spray. Gravel walkways and drives are great germinating areas for weed seeds. I use round up on the established weeds as have found that organic weed spray works well on weeds at the early stage of growth but I have little success on bigger weeds.

Hedges can have a light trim to tidy them up, overcast days are the best time to do this so that the growth beneath is not stressed by the hot sun. 

All plants can do with a good feeding now because they have flowered well since the beginning of Summer, foliage feeding is great but if feeding with dry fertiliser around roots it should be watered in well, if left to sit on top it will burn exposed roots.

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Keep dead heading the roses but, to those new gardeners ( repeating myself I know) dead heading means more than just removing the spent bloom, you must cut down to a new strong bud, usually about 3 buds down from the spent bloom. Remove all old leaves with black spot and rust, don't leave them lying on the ground around the roses. Deep soak around roots often and spray fortnightly with a fungus and pesticide mix as well as liquid fertiliser, (all together is fine) There are some organic options available but the fortnightly ritual must be kept up, continuous hot dry weather really stresses roses.

Large clumps of daffodils and bluebells can be broken up now and planted in areas where needed, it is safe to do this once the green has been used up by the bulbs, but a job made easier if the ground has been softened by rain!

Lawns:

I fed the lawns during that last rain it kept them green but the ground did'nt take long to bake hard again. Don't cut lawns too low, I have found if they are encouraged to make top growth grass will develop deeper stronger roots to sustain it, a little sprinkle of water now and then on dry grass will produce weak growth, a good soak and the natural rain will do the job but do not be tempted to scalp once it greens up they still have a long hot Autumn to tolerate yet.

Vegatables:

Plenty to be had from vegetable gardens right now, new potatoes are still being dug, and later crops being put in and tomatoes ripening perfectly. I have just sown a third lot of peas because my little Grandies are so put out when a crop is finished. Carrots and parsnip planted now will be up in no time and there should be bumper crops of corn and pumpkins later on in the season. 

If spaces are left after veg has been dug sow with wheat or or mustard rather than letting weeds grow then dig in while soft and green, this will add humus to the soil and keep it covered until ready to plant a winter crop of veg.

Fruit:

My apple trees are laden, the late ripening peach tree is the same and I see local cherries still on sale, what a difference continuous sunny days make to fruit ripening compared to those overcast summer days in past years.

Nip back the growth on grapes to let the sun in and to stunt leaf growth, the fruit needs all the vine can give now to ripen. 

Cheers, Linda.