Gardening in Waitaki November 16th 2022

North Otago is experiencing lovely warm days to help active roots especially for annuals coming on for a summer show, plant up pots and hanging baskets now and they will put on good growth before Christmas. I have divided clumps of violas now finished flowering,  just dig a clump up and basically pull it to bits and plant sections with roots into pots, by the start of next winter the small pots will be filled with roots, new leaves and buds ready to be planted out. The same for polyanthus, and primulas, break up clumps; plant out only fresh new growth and throw away gnarly old spent roots. There is still time to divide agapanthus, they can get a bit clump bound which reduces their flowering which usually happens in February but I have been noticing some in bud to flower soon? Dig out the whole clump (if still manageable enough to do this), then pull off smaller root sections and plant out on their own using compost to get the roots going again. Agapanthus are great gap fillers in new gardens, they can always be removed as you fill your garden with permanent plants. If you have, or can get hold of some aged compost, finished working and ready to put on the garden you will be able to make compost tea. Compost Tea is a nutritionally rich, well-balanced, organic plant food made by steeping aged compost in water which is then diluted and used as a root / or foliar feed. When used as a foliar spray It is noted for its ability to control various plant diseases (blights, molds, wilts, etc. ), to repel and control insect pests and their damage when used on a regular basis. Around roots to encourage the growth of beneficial soil bacteria which results in healthier, more stress-tolerant plants. The basic recipe most often recommended is as follows:1 large container with lid (plastic rubbish bin works well) enough aged, completed compost to fill an old pillow case 1/2 to 3/4 full. Fill the container with water, place the compost filled pillowcase (cheese cloth bag or pantyhose also work well), tie off the top and submerge in the container of water. Cover (to prevent odor and insect problems) and let steep for a MINIMUM of 2 weeks. This steeping time is crucial to the formation of beneficial bacteria and the required fermentation process. When finished, dip out the tea and dilute it (3 parts water to 1 part tea)  use weekly for all plants. The following factors will determine the quality of the finished tea:  If using purchased compost it should contain a portion of aged animal manure which apparently remains active longer than compost made up only of plant matter. Dilute it a little more when using on young seedlings.  COMPOST TEA AND MANURE TEA ARE NOT THE SAME THING. Manure tea can be made in the same way but is not generally recommended as foliar spray and is not as nutritionally well-balanced but great for roses when applied around roots to keep them healthy.  Weeds are maturing to seed stage, get them out while the ground is soft or if in a large rough area and time is limited, just remove seed heads.  Fruit: Gooseberries, raspberries, currants and strawberries should all be making fruit if bees have done their job, keep water up to help swell small fruits. Vegetables:  So much can be planted now so veg and herb gardens will be filling. Potatoes are putting on fast growth and should be forming good crops below the warm soil, don't load them and other green veg up on high nitrogen fertilisers, it will only encourage top growth and leaf veg to bolt. New small plantings can be over-watered to the point where their roots cannot cope and they collapse, good drainage is essential and soil should be dry on top between waterings. This applies to glass house plantings as well.Tomato plants should be flowering now and ready for side shoots (laterals) to be removed to help channel energy into the fruit, rather than wasting it on foliage.  Mulch pumpkin and squash plants as leaves increase in size to protect fragile roots.  Elder flowers are blooming again, I have been out collecting to make the first lot of elderflower cordial, lovely at the end of a hot day added to a gin and tonic, how wonderful to be coming into Summer again. Cheers, Linda