Gardening in Waitaki November 1st 2022

Now we can hear growing happening around us as nature gives us the perfect spring growing conditions. As I write this, gardens everywhere are exploding with colour. If not in your own garden, visit our public gardens to see it all happening beautifully. Rhododendrons, azaleas, peony roses, iris, and fresh green on hedges and trees and "oh," the birdsong as nests are filled with eggs and young. This is undoubtedly the time for planting, but never in the heat of the day, wait until the end of the day or better still wait and plant on a dull day if possible. I am busy most days weeding and pricking out flower and veg seedlings into punnets. Fill every space in the garden to not only look amazing but also to leave no room for weeds to take hold. Those that do persist need to grow fast to the light which makes them easy to pull. A full garden also keeps plant roots shaded and less evaporation after watering. Sow summer flowering seeds now and leave to germinate in light, semi shaded areas, too sunny and planting mix dries out too quickly, too shady and seedlings grow too fast looking for light. Once seedlings come through, leave until a set of two leaves fully form then prick out carefully into punnets and soft water spray often until firm enough to cope with a stronger hosing. Once planted punnets are filled with roots they can be planted into the garden and should thrive.  Spring is the perfect time to get Children involved in gardening by planting sunflower seeds so they can watch plants grow fast and taller than themselves. Runner beans are great for growing over bamboo or wooden lengths joined into a teepee tent shape for the bean runners to grow over to form a green living tent for them to play in and pick beans. I work with Children in a School garden and know they love peas, carrots, beans,  radish and  all berries straight from the garden. We Also grow swan plants so monarch butterflies will visit, lay eggs to hatch for Children to watch grow into fat caterpillars that create a chrysalis then grow into beautiful butterflies. Nature at its best is to touch, smell, taste and happenings in real time. Peony roses are stunning right now in bud and flower, it pays off putting supports under them to hold up heavy flowers to come. I have tall wire supports shaped like a u that are pushed into the ground with the rounded top in place to let them flop over and stay in place. Peonies need water kept up to their roots,  I have some crowns that were planted last season so I have let only one flower develop to see what it is like and removed any others. I will cut the one blooming flower off before it makes seed pods. A clump will form much faster if you do not let it flower for the first two years. Hybrid clematis:  ( those large flowered clematis) are shooting skyward now, you have to be quick to train them onto supports or they will just find their own way over plants. Direct them while trailers are still soft, they like a lot of feeding to take them to great heights, manure is great. Don't worry if you have one with no buds just yet they all have different flowering times, If you planted a new one this year, let it flower then cut it to the ground this will make it put up more shoots and you will have a much bushier and stronger climber. If you have one that looks dead with the ends wilting I am afraid it will have wilt and should be cut off at the ground level. Don't remove it because I have known some to shoot away again the following year, climatic like a sweet soil so add a little lime. Lawns: Grass, Grass. Grass...So much mowing! sprinkle unsprayed clippings around the garden, it is wonderful humus but don't leave thick piles, spread it out so it can break down fast. Your garden can take as much fresh green growth that you can throw at it now the warmth is here to break it down. Sow new lawns and fill bare patches with the right lawn seed for the lawn you require. An autumn sowing usually has a more successful strike by not having to compete with annual weeds and not drying out at the same rate as an early summer sown lawn. Fruit: Blossoms have moved on to forming fruit, gooseberries, currents,  strawberries, pip and stone fruit seem to be all swelling fruit well. Remember to keep water up when needed while fruit is plumping. Veg: Keep planting veg seeds and plants, a few at a time so you can have the continuous thing happening. Butterflies are about wanting to lay eggs on brassica crops, keep them off with overhead netting.  The ground is warm enough now to plant corn and beans, pumpkins and courgettes. Carrot flies are still about, when thinning carrots remove thinnings as carrot flies can pick up the scent from far away. In the glass house tomato plants will be looking to be tied and supported, cucumbers and peppers should be starting to make progress. Plant basil and a few marigolds to encourage pollinators in and deter pests. Cheers, Linda.