Gardening in Waitaki January 19th 2022

Seed collecting:

I would imagine many people are still in holiday mode and long may it last......it would be great if the lawns and garden followed suit, however it is so good to get the rain this week to keep gardens fresh. Weeds are loving the perfect growing conditions also, if you need to spray, wait until the end of a hot day when weeds are thirsty and bee's are fewer. The summer cut back, with the continual growth and with garden maintenance being all about keeping plants and shrubs under control, cutting back will still be in full swing in gardens and once a plant has finished flowering there should be seed heads to save. Seed collecting starts now, I select beautiful annuals and perennials and let a part of them go to seed for collecting when fully ripe, then store seed pods to pop out into brown paper bags. So far I have aquilegia, poppies, dianthus, pansy, viola, and polyanthus still waiting on delphiniums, peonies, iris, and many more treasures to fully ripen. Seeds can be planted during Autumn then the germinated seedlings will need to be nursed through winter. Agapanthus, hydrangeas and roses are all giving good displays around waitaki with the heat and moisture, as are, rhododendrons, camellias and azaleas, these along with hydrangeas all do best in semi shade and moist soil so summer rains have been perfect for them. They would all benefit from a dressing of blood and bone watered in when a good soak is needed. Lawns will be enjoying the heat and moisture as well which means catcher after catcher full. Grass cuttings are good humus to soil so cover bare ground as a mulch to conserve moisture and to block out the light needed for weeds to grow. Fruit: So many fruits are ripening now, black currants and raspberries to freeze, strawberries have been disappointing but apricots and plums are ripening well. Apple and pear trees are layden to the point where thinning out of bunches will be necessary if the wind does not take care of it. Vegetable gardens should still be producing well, I have a slug problem because I kept the garden too moist so will leave it up to the rain from now on. Beans are plentiful and Corn and pumpkins are putting on good growth which is important because they both need a long ripening season. Cheers, Linda