Gardening in Waitaki May 4th 2022

Shifting shrubs to settle in before winter.

More warm, settled Autumn days were enjoyed in North Otago during the past week and still no frost here on the coast as I write this. However to be on the safe side , it would pay to shift frost tender potted plants 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 out of the hot sun during summer but have now shifted them all into the sun and will soon need to lift trays from the ground when coldness sets in by placing them on polystyrene, straw or mounds of leaves and a covering of frost cloth during frosty nights, but right now the ground is still warm and growth continues. Seedlings raised from seed can be pricked out now into punnets and small pots before the cold sets in, 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 deep, straight into well drained manure enriched soil where you want them to flower. Bearded Iris rhizomes and freesia bulbs should have compost and mulch raked from them if possible to be exposed to bake in the autumn sun, 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, they like to be planted deep in cool ground. Shifting shrubs: Garden shrubs can outgrow the size allotted to them without us noticing, shrubs planted with the intention of keeping them in shape to fit a space seem to always end up taller and wider. If you are fed up with trying to keep them the right size and they are still of a size to shift, dig them up and give them a ride in the wheelbarrow to a more suitable spot in the garden to settle in before winter. Once shifted a 3rd of the height and width should be trimmed off as roots will have been damaged. If a shrub has been planted for a number of years it 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: The last summer buds and blooms will be putting on a show now and are best left to form seed heads allowing rose wood to harden for winter and the big prune in July /August. Vegetables and fruit . There are many veg seedlings on offer for planting now, broad beans can go in and onion seeds can be sown. I planted beetroot and carrot seeds a couple of weeks ago as the soil is still warm, they are now up and growing well. I also planted winter brassica seedlings that were at once being visited by butterflies and birds so I covered them with an old net curtain and they are now romping away. Once the ground cools and days get shorter it will be late to sow carrots but parsnip seeds can be sown from now to July if the ground is workable, seed is liable to rot in wet soil. Parsnips need a cold winter to convert starch to sugar for sweetness. I planted micro green seeds in a polystyrene tray outside 3 weeks ago, they germinated and grew very quickly and are now ready to snip and use. I plan to keep growing them through winter in a well lit place inside, so easy. Continue planting strawberry plants, raising the beds where drainage is suspect and adding manure rich compost to the beds. Apples and pears are still being picked and enjoyed by Gardeners (and the birds) and feijoas will be ripening for a while longer yet. Cheers, Linda. Micro greens (So easy)