Gardening in North Otago November 3rd 2020

Blossom is almost over for another year "But oh", the Rhododendrons and deciduous azalea's, how lovely they are right now, in my view equal to any beautiful tropical flowers.  Roses, one or two of my roses started to flower this week, a little later than usual because I pruned late, the new growth is healthy and with the on and off again rain and continuing evening chill they should stay that way. I mentioned noticing aphids last week, yes they are colonizing on new buds and can be removed using the index finger and thumb. Aphids winter over on the underside of last year's hellebore leaves, if you have not done so already remove them because new leaves should be up now. If you do not want hellebore seedlings germinating all through the garden cut out spent flowers now before seed is dropped.  Peony roses should be in bud now, get supports under them to help hold up the heavy flower heads. I have tall wire supports shaped like a u at the top that are pushed into the ground with the rounded top in place to let them flop over and stay in place.  If you planted new crowns for this season it would pay to let only one flower develop on these to allow growth to go into the crowns, then cut the one blooming flower off before it makes seed pods. Clumps form much faster if no blooms are produced for the first two years, Peony roses need full sun and do not like to be smothered by other plants plus lots of water before and during flowering.  Lavenders are budding up, if spittle bugs become a problem spraying will not work, the spittle surrounding them is a barrier to pesticide, a forceful hosing will dislodge them and hopefully drown a few.     Hybrid clematis: I have noticed these lovely clematis in Garden centers, Hybrid's are those especially large flowered varieties, not the invasive pink and white montana type. You have to be quick in training hybrids where you want them to grow, train while the trailers are still soft enough to wind around a support. Hybrids need a lot of feeding to take them to great heights, manure, deep down with a little lime added when planting is beneficial. Don't worry if you have one with no buds because they all have different flowering times, If you planted one this year let it flower then cut it to the ground. This will make it send up more shoots and you will have a much bushier and stronger climber. Hybrids can also wilt and die for no reason if this happens cut it to the ground but don't dig it out because I have known some to shoot away again the following year with no sign of wilt.  Filling gaps: I have been filling the gaps in the flower garden with old fashioned cottage flowers like cosmos, love in the mist, salvia blue bedder, Clary sage, and lavatera. These are all taller flowering annuals planted close together so they hold each other up. The more plants put in the less room for weeds to grow is the plan. All the plants mentioned will be flowering at Christmas, and then for ages after if dead headed regularly.  Fruit: No night beetles about yet, they should not be far away and ready to feast on new tree leaves, the damage they cause to established trees is not that noticeable but newly planted fruit and prunus trees can be striped of leaves. Leaves will re-grow and fruits will continue to make growth.    Vegetables: Still perfect Spring weather for growing all veg now the ground is so warm and moist. Board beans are doing well with no sign of rust, could it be the pinch of potash I put in when planting? Peas are romping up netting and beans are in and ready to climb. Keep planting veg seeds and plants, a few at a time so you can have the continuous thing happening. Also plant corn, pumpkins, courgettes, cucumbers and all that need to grow in glass / tunnel houses. White fly seems to find it's way into glass / tunnel houses and multiply rapidly. Sticky traps are a good way to monitor populations of white fly early on in the season, make your own, paint or colour in cards yellow, then smear with a concoction of petroleum jelly cut with a little dish washing liquid. Hang up close to affected plants. If white fly is detected on sticky traps the first line of control is to take action as soon as they appear.1. Begin with a strong blast from a hose, all areas of the leaf, especially the undersides. 2. Organic insecticidal soap (eg, Neem soap) after the water blast can be sprayed taking great care to cover all areas of the leaf, top and beneath. Spray at a cool time of the day and follow up with a couple more sprays a few days later.  Also consider encouraging the whitefly's natural enemies, hover flies and ladybirds by planting flowers and herbs such as calendula, oregano, fennel, parsley even thistles will draw in white fly eating predators. Grow some outside next to the door to tempt beneficial bugs closer. Cheers, Linda.