Gardening in Waitaki July 21st 2022

No doubt about what season we are in now, frost, rain, wind and more rain but the days are beginning to lengthen slowly and with increased daylight plant roots begin to stir. During the rainy days I have been planning the next stage of our new town garden, I still want trees around me and have favorites that have served us well over years but most would grow too large for this town garden. The larger growing trees I need around me will be planted in grow bags then into the ground to simi bonsai them by containing the tap roots and restricting spreading roots. Feeder roots will nourish so they will need fed and mulched to retain moisture. I will update you on my success or failure to create the leafy grove of trees I desire in my new low maintenance garden. It may look as if growth has stopped but here on the coast with some milder days there is plenty of feeding going on. Bulbs are starting to make an appearance and will benefit from a dressing of compost as will hellebore (winter roses) which are looking wonderful right now. If winter has left your garden looking a little too bleak, Garden centers will have nice potted colour to brighten things up. I have noticed on offer pansy's, wall flower, polyanthus and primula malacoides which look fresh and bright planted in groups or as a border before bulbs bloom, all these plants respond really well to dried blood sprinkled around them. Dried blood is also a good tonic for yellowing camellias and rhododendrons, mix it with camellia and rhododendron fertiliser, apply now while there is rain about, and they will reward you well come spring. Take saucers away from under tubs and planters, frozen water in saucers will freeze the roots of your plants. The last dumping of rain will have saturated foliage of tender plants like geranium and pelargonium, it would be best to put a cover of frost cloth over those planted in the garden and move potted ones under cover because frosts will not be over for a while. Roses: Mulch, mulch and more mulch. Apply a thick layer of mulch on and around your roses to keep moisture there, this also protects the root zone and enables the plant to concentrate on root movement and getting ready for the coming growing season. In early spring an application of Rose Fertiliser high in potassium which will enhance the establishment and healthy growth of roses and 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. Apply again in mid December for an autumn flush of blooms. Mulch to retain moisture and protect roots from freezing, Un-sprayed Pea or barley straw are ideal for mulching now and when the ground begins to warm a little add compost to replace nutrients that will have been washed out by all the heavy rain. I will mention again the wonderful compost available from our meat works at Pukurie, this is weed free, easy to use and looks good on the garden. Contact Gregg on 0272293215 for a load or get it bagged from the Humber street stall. Sheep and old stable manure are also a good sauce of food for roses and new spring growth, add to your compost as well to encourage worms. Sawdust can be used on gardens that stay wet and garden pathways. The Waireka Lions manure and sawdust stall is always well stocked. Vegetable garden: To have Christmas new potatoes you need to start thinking about them from now on, all varieties are available in shops now. Potatoes have a natural dormancy from the time they are harvested to when they begin to sprout and start their next growth cycle. This can only be modified slightly by storage conditions. I set them out in a box on damp newspaper and left them in a dark place in the warmth of the house. Some leave them in a warm well lit place, whatever works for you, I go with the theory that it is very dark down in the soil where they eventually end up. FIRST EARLY VARIETIES: Cliffs Kidney, Jersey Bennes, Maris Anchor, Rocket. SECOND EARLY Ilam Hardy, Karaka, Red king. MAIN CROP: Desiree,Agria Mondial, Nadine, Pentland Dell, Red Rascal, Rua Sow vegetable seeds in trays for planting out later, cauliflower and Cabbage seedlings on offer can be planted now under cover to keep birds off. In warmer areas silverbeet and Broccoli seedlings can go in. Asparagus crowns should now be available to be planted out in a well composted bed, (no animal manure for asparagus ) 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. All fruit trees need to grow in an open sunny position. Cheers Linda.

Winter veg protection.