Gardening in North Otago November 20th 2018

Wow what a wet cold snap last week, we were kept out of the garden with that lot!. 

Heavy rain in spring is a bonus to get moisture right down into the reserves for a hot summer, however nutrients are washed down as well so feeding now 

to help those active roots is recommended especially for annuals coming on for a summer show and flowering pots and hanging baskets will need food and 

maybe a top up of potting mix.

I have divided clumps of violas now finished flowering, I just dig up part of a large clump and basically pull it to bits planting  sections with roots into pots ,

by the start of next winter the small pots will be filled with roots, new leaves and buds ready to be planted out.

The same for pollyanthus  and  primulas, break up clumps; plant out only fresh new growth and throw away knotted old spent roots.

There is still time to divide agapanthus, large and dwarf varieties due to flower in February. They can get a bit clump bound which reduces their flowering, 

dig out the whole clump (if it is still manageable enough to do this), then pull off smaller root balls and plant out on their own using fresh compost to get 

the roots going again. Agapanthus are great gap fillers in new gardens, they can always be removed as you fill your garden with permanent plants.

If you have, or can get hold of some aged compost that has finished working and is ready to put on the garden you will be able to make compost tea.

Compost Tea is a nutritionally rich, well-balanced, organic plant food made by steeping aged compost in water. The water is then diluted and used 

as a root / or foliar feed. It is also noted for its ability to control various plant diseases (blights, molds, wilts, etc. when used as a foliar spray), to repel 

and control insect pests and their damage when used on a regular basis, and to encourage the growth of beneficial soil bacteria which results in healthier, 

more stress-tolerant plants. The basic recipe most often recommended is as follows:

1 large container with lid (plastic rubbish bin works well) enough aged, completed compost to fill an old pillow case 1/2-3/4 full. Fill the container with 

water, place the compost filled pillowcase (cheese cloth bag or pantyhose also work well), tie off the top and submerge in the container of water. 

Cover (to prevent odor and insect problems) and let steep for a MINIMUM of 2 weeks. This steeping time is crucial to the formation of beneficial bacteria 

and the required fermentation process. When finished, dip out the tea and dilute it (3 parts water to 1 part tea) and use weekly as root food for all plants. 

The following factors will determine the quality of the finished tea: Use well-aged, finished compost - Fresh compost can burn the plants 

or contain harmful pathogens and compost past its best will be nutritionally deficient. If using purchased compost it should contain a portion of aged 

animal manure which apparently remains active longer than compost made up only of plant matter. Dilute it a little more when using on young seedlings.

It is important to note that COMPOST TEA AND MANURE TEA ARE NOT THE SAME THING. Manure tea can be made in the same way 

but is not generally recommended as foliar spray and is not as nutritionally well-balanced but great for roses when applied around roots to keep them healthy. 

Weeds maturing to seede stage, get them out before they do while the ground is soft and wet. I am still battling with convolvulus,so have resorted to pulling 

it off plants then searching for ground level regrowth in plant clear areas to appear for me zap with round up which should travel right back along the root runners 

and kill them. I find it too risky spraying around the plants so resot to just pulling away from plants.

Vegetables:

Keep mounding the potatoes to keep them producing more and more new potatoes for Christmas, crops will have enjoyed the resent down pour. 

Leafy veg don't need any extra feeding at this time of the year it will just encourage them to bolt. Plant only as many seedling plants you think 

you would use when ready and hold back and keep in the shade other small seedling plants from the same batch for a staggered planting.

New small plants can be over watered to the point where their roots cannot cope and they collapse, the soil should be dry on top between watering's

and good drainage is essential .

Keep pumpkin and squash plants mulched, their roots are fragile until large leaves grow to create the root shade needed. 

Cheers, Linda