Gardening in North Otago May 9th 2017

Then it was over, our Ladies Garden Party fund raiser here at Rockvale Gardens, the day was beautiful and all went well show casing amazing local talent and Artisan stall holders raising  $2365.00 for Charlee's journey. Thank you to all who joined us on the day and those involved in making it happen.

A heap of work was done here in the garden this week, my ready compost went down fast as autumn leaves and annual weeds were removed it was shoveled on thickly over beds then ready for a layer of pea straw.

I have been potting up well grown seedlings before the nights get colder, because they are straight from seed trays the frost cloth has gone on and will remain on until spring.

remove water trays from pots now,  soil will stay damp from now on and should never be waterlogged through winter as this will lead to plant roots freezing and rotting.

This is a great time to make new perennial beds or re-organise existing beds, with perennial clumps increasing in size annually they soon over fill a space. Lift overgrown clumps, break up and replant some of the youngest growths from the perimeter. Healthy vigorous plants can be reduced by putting a sharp spade in where you would like a reduction then lift the cut portion out without disturbing the remaining plant. I have been doing this with asters, phlox, aurbretia, small grass's, hosta's, and herbs like sage, thyme and lemon balm. Rockery plants can be divided now as well. Once plants have been sectioned and rearranged cover the bed and around plants with compost which will encourage new root growth and help to keep perennial beds warmer through the colder months.
May is the last month for planting spring bulbs, and peony rose tubers are now on offer which means tubers in your garden can now be broken up or shifted. 

All leaves from my hellebores have now been removed, green fly winter over on the under side of these leaves. Hellebores  are budding up for a winter display and will soon push up new leaves. A fortnightly liquid feed can be given if you feel they need boosting. 

Lilies, this is the main time to shift or divide old over grown clumps of lilies. Be careful not to break the fleshy scales and to retain all the basal roots. Don't pull the old steams away from the bulb as it leaves a hole where water can enter and cause rot, just cut old stems short and bend. Never allow Lilly bulbs to dry out while out of the ground, I plant lilies on a little river sand and cover with compost which has had blood and bone added.

Vegetables and fruit .
Garlic planting time is said to be on the shortest day but any time from late May until August is ok. Garlic is one of the most bulletproof and satisfying crops you can grow at home, taking a very small area of garden space (up to 50 bulbs per square metre) and thrives in all New Zealand climates.Select large single cloves (plant point up) 5cm deep and 20cm apart in warm, well-drained sites where soil has been recently limed. Plant only New Zealand varieties bought from a Garden center not a super market. Locally we have Kakanui garlic which grows well here in North Otago.

Continue planting strawberry plants, raising the beds where drainage is suspect and adding manure rich compost to the beds.
There are many well grown fruit bushes on offer now in garden centers, raspberries, boysenberries, blackberries and gooseberries can be planted now and through winter, currants, cranberries and blueberries plant all year round.

Apples and quince are dripping from trees, it is best to pick when not too ripe then store in a cool dark place.

Walnuts also need picking up to be dried in readiness for shelling while sitting by the fire on a winters night.

Cheers, Linda