Leaves, leaves, leaves so many on the ground and yet to fall, right now our garden is on fire with it's yellow, red and orange display. Most of the leaves turn into good compost but I limit composting oak or walnut leaves, they take too long to break down in my heaps, burning then adding the ash is beneficial to compost. The addition of hen manure while building autumn compost will aid in the heating process.
Dried Blood is an easy way to replenish the nitrogen content in the soil for plants needing to perform through winter, Polyanthus, Primulas, Pansy's and Cyclamen love it and will flourish when you add dried blood to their diet. 100% Pure and Natural.
Ranunculus and anemone are on offer in Garden centers nowthis week, They are so worth while and a good investment because they multiply well and give vibrant or soft mid height colour to an early spring garden. Ranunculus and anemone corms look very dried up and brittle in the packet when bought, soak them over night and they will become nice and plump before planting then plant at least five together in groups to get the best effect.
With lilies becoming available in shops this month established clumps can be lifted if necessary, but do not disturb them unless they are very crowded or unsuitably sited. Instead top dress them with a mixture of compost and blood and bone. (A cup full of blood and bone to each bucket of compost. be sure to keep lily bulbs moist while they are out of the ground, roots must never dry out. Almost all lilies need to be planted as deep as three times the height of the bulb.The only exception to this deep planting is the Madonna lily which is planted just below the surface and prefers to be shifted in mid summer straight after flowering. This is also one of the few lilies which also prefers limy soil.
Feed rhododendron and camellias with fertiliser mixed especially for them to boost them for spring flowering
Break up primula and viola clumps, pot up or plant out to fill gaps in front boarders.
On the coast give evergreen hedges a last light tidy up during this month. further inland I would leave top growth as frost protection and trim after spring growth.
Vegetables / fruit
Time to dig up and divide Rhubarb crowns, mixing in heaps of compost before replanting.
A good time for sowing of spinach, snap peas and spring onions. Maybe fill the top of a shallow pot with spring onion seed and start picking when plants are still quite small.
I am sure there are some wonderful pumpkin crops being harvested, unfortunately not for me! I planted early but they were wiped out by a late frost and my second planting was too late, lots of leaf and flowers but limited growing season ahead. When harvested remember not to remove the stalk from the Pumpkin, this stops rotting.
Still plenty of apples, quince, late peaches and walnuts to keep me busy.
A good time for sowing of spinach, snap peas and spring onions. Maybe fill the top of a shallow pot with spring onion seed and start picking when plants are still quite small.
I am sure there are some wonderful pumpkin crops being harvested, unfortunately not for me! I planted early but they were wiped out by a late frost and my second planting was too late, lots of leaf and flowers but limited growing season ahead. When harvested remember not to remove the stalk from the Pumpkin, this stops rotting.
Still plenty of apples, quince, late peaches and walnuts to keep me busy.
Cheers, Linda.
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Linda Wilson
Rockvale Gardens
37 Airedale Road
Weston
North Otago 9401
Ph: 03 434 9786
Mbl: 027 4430256
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