What a freezing cold snap early this week, and those poor little new born lambs will have suffered, with it being School holiday time again let's hope the second week warms up.
After the temperature drop and strong winds there will be a few causalities in gardens, I had two rows of potatoes blackened and a few trays of seedlings succumb to the intense chill even though they were covered. Rhododendrons with dehydrated foliage and soft new maple foliage damaged, each got a good soak to help them recover until we get a decent rain which is in urgent need now in North Otago. Those districts receiving snow cover will benefit from deep spring moisture but here on the coast the ground is parched. When things warm up again seedlings will zoom up, It is best to pot seedlings on into individual pots for roots to become established before planting out because small seedlings have almost zero survival rate if planted out into a dry garden. Strong growing plants like sun flowers and delphinium seeds are best planted directly into the ground or peat pots and once the pot is filled with new roots plant pot and all, the strong roots will grow out through the pot as it breaks down.
Summer colour in the garden should be thought about now if raising plants from seed, petunias, lobelia (both lovely in baskets and pots) nemesia, salvia will all germinate this month and be ready for pricking out into punnets to develop a root mass. All cottage plants as cosmos, poppies, larkspur, nigella (love in the mist) lavataera (annual) can be sown directly in the ground.
Begonias & calla lilies will be showing shoots now, begonias can be cut into sections with a shoot to grow as new single plants and covered with damp sawdust to get them started before planting out later in the month.
Companion planting:
With all the planting going on right now companion planting could be the way to go, Gardeners from the past have documented successful companion planting knowledge down through the years for us to follow. Some plants give off an aroma that is disliked by unwanted insects and others are thought to enhance the growth of certain plants if planted along side them. Nasturtiums attract caterpillars, so planting alongside or around vegetables such as lettuces, broccoli and cabbages should mean the nasturtium will get attacked rather than your edible crop. Fox Gloves have stimulating effects on all plants in the garden, a welcome addition to the flower and veggie garden. Marigold shave a scent that repels aphids and attracts hover flies, which are predator insects, cabbage white butterfly are attracted to their host plant by smell, planting rows of small marigolds are effective in masking the smell and reducing cabbage butterfly damage. Hyssop also repels white butterfly from cauliflower, cabbage and broccoli and other brassica crops. A secretion from the roots of the Mexican tagetes deter eel worms so your potatoes and tomatoes are left alone. Tagetes and marigolds planted near tomatoes and roses will reduce aphid attack and attract hover-flies, voracious eaters of these pests. Basil and tomatoes are a well-known combination, great companions in the kitchen as well as the garden. Garlic, chives and parsley can be beneficial planted with Roses as aphid deterrents. Dill is popular with bees and planted with corn will ensure a bumper crop. Sage is a great herb to plant around a celery crop, as it helps to keep the aphids away. Carrots and leeks work well planted together, they both have strong aromas, which repel the other’s pests.
Vegetables: Potatoes are up so mounding begins to get more to the shore. Corn sprouts in no time now, plant in groups so they support each other and pop some dill in to attract bees. Plant corn, beans, courgettes, cucumbers, late tomatoes, lettuce and basil (but protect basil from cold nights)
The dreaded carrot fly is about in October when carrots are being thinned, Plant seed sparingly to avoid thinning and don't leave any thinning's about planted rows for the carrot fly to smell and if you have had problems in the past, cover rows with shade cloth to keep the female flies from landing and laying eggs.
Fruit: Early blossom will have been affected with the frozen temperatures but we will have to wait and see. Bees are busy working at pollinating fruit bushes and trees on sunny days, keep the water up to them and mulch with unsprayed grass clippings right out to their drip line to keep moisture there, and organise netting over low trees for bird protection.
Check all apples trees for woolly aphid ( white furry aphids on branches) spray trees with garlic, pyrethrum and neem oil (mixed)
Cheers, Linda
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