Gardening in North Otago July 22nd 2020

Sasanqua camellias

We are getting closer to spring, with another winter month almost over our gardens are beginning to stir beneath and above the ground even with the heavy frosts we have been experiencing. I remember when winter meant frozen ground right through mid winter and my pond with a cover of thick ice, but not so over the last few years when we experience hard frosts then warm days like last Tuesday, a warm spring like day. 

Pruning and composting and pea strawing is still going on here around this large, never ending garden! rain would be a bonus now because it is showing severer dryness in some parts of this garden. It may look as if growth has stopped but here on the coast with the warmer ground there is plenty of plant feeding going on now.  Bulbs,  hellebores (winter roses), pollyanthas, violas, which hazel, camellias and rhododendrons will all enjoy a dressing of compost or even a dressing of blood and bone would be beneficial when we get a shower of rain.

Garden retailers are offering  colourful sesanqua camellias in flower, different varieties of flowering hellebore's and cyclamen to brighten up indoors and porches. Any flowering plants on sale will have been grown under protection to get them looking so good so don't be too quick to plant out in the garden, let them harden off gradually first.

Roses:

About now I would advise mulch, mulch and more mulch around roses if we had rain,  I am mulching but soaking the dry ground first then mulch applied will hold moisture.  This also protects the root zone and enables the plant to concentrate on root movement and getting ready for the up coming growing season. Un-sprayed Pea or barley straw plus well cooked compost are all ideal for mulching. 

In early spring an application of Rose Fertiliser will enhance the establishment and growth of healthy roses as it has an excellent level of potassium, which is the nutrient responsible for promoting large, vibrant, healthy blooms. For established roses apply 200 g (1 cup) per square metre and water in well. An application just before the end of winter is a good idea, if buds are swelling they are using food. Apply again in mid December for an autumn flush of blooms. Have some on hand to apply next month.

Vegetable garden:

To have Christmas new potatoes you need to start thinking about them from now on, all varieties are available in shops now. There are early and late varieties so ask about the variety you choose, a potato is not just a potato any more! Lay your seed potatoes out on a tray in a dark dry place and get them sprouting or chitting by leaving them in a well lit, cool, protected place where they will form protrusions of leaf buds ready for early planting.

Keep sowing vegetable seeds in trays for planting out later, if your veg garden is in a warm spot plant Cauliflowers and Cabbage seedlings (cover from birds)  and sow early Peas. 

Asparagus crowns are now available and can be planted out in a well composted and fertilised bed. (no animal manure )

Fruit: There will never be a better time to choose and plant ornamental and fruiting trees than right now! Each tree will have an informative label to tell you exactly what you will be buying with instructions on how and where to plant. Plus all tall grafted trees need to be tied to a stake, any wind root movement will hold a tree back. All fruit trees need to grow in an open sunny position.

Cheers, Linda. 

Mulching for spring growth