Gardening in Waitaki October 5th 2022

Trim back ericas that have flowered.

As I write this it is the first week of School holidays and the cold polar blast will be keeping all inside,a gentle warm spring drizzle is what gardens need right now, not this harsh weather which is hard on new spring growth. Spring bulbs are still dancing in gardens. Enjoy the blooms then let green tops die down into bulbs to feed and encourage bulbs to multiply. If you have really big clumps of bulbs choking your garden space there will always be someone willing to bring a spade to halve big clumps and adopt bulbs. Put a sign at the gate saying Bulbs to give away, bring a spade! Geen tops will still die back into bulbs if left on when dug up. Sifted soil is what is needed for reseeding lawn bare patches and to add body to tired gardens, pots, baskets and seed trays. With peat based planting mediums used today soil becomes light and fluffy and will not hold moisture, soil is nature given for growing and sifted it is the perfect medium for new roots, spread it on top and it will wash in beneath the mulch with each watering to bulk up depleted soil. Lavenders eventually reach the end of their growing but if trimmed back at the end of Winter you will soon know if they are going to make good growth only or just patchy growth with most of the plant staying woody. If you have the odd lavender doing this pull it out and replace it with a fresh plant. Cuttings can be taken now from stronger growing lavenders, Tip cuttings with stems that have firmed can be taken along with a little hard wood at the bottom, (too soft and it will not work) strip bottom leaves and dip into rooting hormone, then push into damp, sharp crusher dust and place in a warm place with good overhead light, (not full sun) . Nurse cuttings until they are ready to pot on into individual pots. Take tip cuttings from shrubs as well now once stems have firmed, using the same method as lavender cuttings. They will make roots over the Spring and summer ready to be potted and nursed for planting at the end of next winter. Keep an eye on tall growing chrysanthemums they start making a lot of growth now, Pinch back growing tips two or three times as they grow to keep them bushy. If this is not done they become leggy and woody. Prune fuchsias back now if you have not already done so, they will make new fresh growth, because they flower on new seasons wood, they can be taken well back. Ericas that flowered over winter can be trimmed now so new growth does not start above the spent flowers. Dahlias are just starting to make a move so if you want colour to continue in your garden when the spring show is over dahlias will do the job. They like a warm full sun, free draining spot, tubas will rot if planted in ground that remains wet. Lawns: mowers are humming again on lush lawns, use the clippings around your garden as mulch, not great piles but evenly scattered around will keep the weeds down and help to retain moisture. Vegetables: Tomatoes, Peppers and cucumbers for those with glass houses, prepare the soil well by digging in good organic compost. This will need to have been heated to the point of all fungus disease being eradicated. Summers here in North Otago can be cool so a glass or tunnel house is a must if wanting to be a serious tomato grower. However, a glass house is a perfect incubator for fungus disease during nights and dull days when moisture is not taken up quickly by plants and never let tomato plant leaves go into the night wet. There are a lot of tomato varieties to choose from. Beefsteak, the big tomato best for sandwiches and cooking, Early girl, stars producing early and keeps on until late in the season, Potentate, medium/small firm with moderate acidity and low in sugar, Money maker, medium size and good flavor , Doctor Walter is the very low acid tomato Cherry tomatoes, the plant you can grow in a pot inside or on a porch, great for Children's lunch boxes. Russian red a tomato to grow outside in a sunny spot protected from the wind. Heirloom tomatoes have become popular, they don't look great but they have the great taste of yesteryear. Most need staked and tied up in the glass house and ALL tomatoes like sun all day, 6 to 8 hours. Nip out laterals and it helps the fruit if there are fewer leaves on the plants. Tomato leaves create unneeded shade, compete for nutrients, and harbor disease. Keep planting vegetable seeds directly into the garden but don't sow too thickly, mix seeds with fine soil when sowing to avoid a lot of thinning. Beans, pumpkins and corn can be planted as soon as the ground remains warm. Cheers, Linda. Tomatoes,basil, peppers and cucumber.