Gardening in North Otago October 3rd 2018

Spring continues  here in North Otago with all the later blossom out now, so pretty are the bright pink upright prunus KanZan and the white with a hint of pink spreading prunus shimidsu sakura usually joined by a sea of light blue forget-me-not or deep blue match heads. Rhododendrons and azaleas are in full bloom or pushing out fat buds, I so LOVE spring.

Spring bulbs: As they start to finish, don't be tempted to cut leaves off just yet as the bulbs top up on food for next year from leaves as they die back. If you have really big clumps of bulbs choking your garden space there will always  be someone willing to bring a spade to halve big clumps to add more bulbs to their own garden.

Erica'

s that flowered over winter can be trimmed when flowers brown so new growth does not start above the spent flowers. Once trimmed new fresh green growth will complement all flowering plants near by. Erica's are such a wonderful ground cover displaying beautiful colour during winter months, one low growing erica will eventually cover a mitre of ground and last for many years.

Keep an eye on tall growing chrysanthemums they start making growth now, cut back the first new growth before they make hard wood. They do not flower until the Autumn, by removing the first new growth they should regrow shorter and be a little more manageable.

Prune fuchsias back now if you have not already done so because they flower on new seasons wood they can be taken well back.
Lillies are really pushing up now so it is a perfect time to get supports in being careful not to damage bulbs. Lillie bulbs need to be planted moist but well draining soil. Mulching will stop soil drying out.  

Too early yet to trim hedges, wait until the new growth finishes and firms up a little or you will be trimming them twice, this applies to box hedging as well. The perfect time to trim spring growth on box is during overcast days, the hot sun burns new undergrowth, dull days give them time to recover although there will still be some burning which will soon be hidden by new leaves.

Lawns: mowers are humming again on lush  lawns, use un-sprayed clippings around your garden as mulch, not great piles but evenly scattered around will keep the weeds down and help to retain moisture. Sifting soil will begin again here this week for resowing  lawn bare patches and to add body to gardens, pots, baskets and seed trays. With all the mulches used today gardens can become light and fluffy to the point of holding moisture, soil is nature given for growing and when sifted it is the perfect medium for new roots, spread it on top and it will wash in beneath dry mulch with each watering.

Vegetables: 
Herbs: We can forget the dried herbs in cooking now as all herbs are putting on nice fresh growth. Sage, mint, thyme, rosemary, bay, marjoram, oregano, basil and even nasturtium can be harvested often during the growing season and what is not used can be dried over summer ready to rub and store for next winter. For the most flavor, cut herbs in mid-morning, right after the morning dew has dried.

Tomatoes: For those with glass or tunnel houses, prepare the soil well by digging in good organic compost having been heated to the point of all fungus disease being eradicated.  Summer nights here in North Otago can be cool so a glass or tunnel house is the a must if wanting to be a serious tomato grower. However a glass house is a perfect incubator for fungus disease during nights and dull days when moisture is not taken up quickly by plants, never let tomato plant leaves go into the night wet. There are a lot of tomato varieties to choose from. Children love the cherry tomatoes, (a good lunch box filler ) cherry tomatoes can be grown in a large pot on a well lit porch and will keep producing all Summer.
Vegetable seeds can be sown directly into the garden now but don't sow too thickly mix seeds with fine soil when sowing to avoid a lot of thinning. If planting seedlings from punnets cover with shade cloth so birds cannot see them, birds are feeding young now and they really like to strip small seedlings from gardens.

Cheers, Linda.