Gardening in North Otago May 20th 2020

Time to get the frost cloth ready

Getting colder for Gardens and Gardeners now but still looking like Autumn here in North Otago even though frosts have started which means  frost tender potted plants can be shifted to a place  with overhead protection and garden plants and shrubs needing to be protected have frost cloth at the ready. I have had my potted cuttings and seedlings in shady positions during the hot months but have now shifted them all into the sun with trays lifted from the cold ground by being placed on polystyrene and sections of pea straw  and a covering of frost cloth during frosty nights, once we move into very cold winter months frost cloth will remain on day and night.

Seedlings raised from seed need to be pricked out now into punnets and small pots before the real freeze, then protected as above,  growing will continue until the temperature drops below 10 degrees.

Sweet peas can be planted  now,  Autumn sown sweet peas  produce stronger plants with more vibrant blooms than those sown in spring. Here on the coast winters are mild enough to sow straight into well drained soil where you want them to flower.

Bearded Iris rhizomes and freesia bulbs should be exposed to bake in the sun, compost and mulch need to be raked from them if possible.

Spring Bulbs are well up now, look around your garden to make sure they are getting enough light,  trees and shrubs will have put on growth during the growing season keeping much needed light from spring bulbs for maximum flowering. Tulips should be in now to get a spring show.  

Shifting shrubs: Our garden gets carried away and tries to out grow the size allotted to it!! shrubs I planted and thought at the time I could keep shaped to fit a space but after a while I get fed up with trying to keep them the right size so if possible they are dug up and given a ride in the wheel barrow. If shrubs have been planted for a number of years they will need to be wrenched by digging down around one side, cutting roots then packing in soil / compost for new feeder roots to grow into. This will eliminate transplant shock when the whole shrub is dug out and transplanted in spring.
Roses: Stop dead heading now to allow rose wood to harden for the big prune in July /August, this allows sap to go into making rose seed preventing new growth .

Vegetables and fruit .
Garlic, time to get cloves ready for planting, growers save garlic cloves from year to year but if planting for the first time get what is offered in Garden centers rather than what is offered for eating at a supermarket.
There are many veg seedlings on offer for planting now before it gets too cold, broad beans can go in and onion seeds can be sown, too cold now to sow carrots and parsnips
Continue planting strawberry plants, raising the beds where drainage is suspect and adding manure rich compost to the beds.

Start pruning pip fruit trees any time after the leaves have fallen, using clean tools from tree to tree, remove dead or damaged wood, crossing or inward turning branches, excess leaders or sucker growth developing on the main trunks. Shorten back vigorous leaders by about a 1/3 to promote branching. Prune long side branches back to a weak twig to discourage further spread.

Cheers, Linda.