Gardening in Waitaki November 28th 2023

Another cold change happened here in North Otago but we can never say no to spring rain regardless of how cold it is.  I am needing  to spend most of each week  away from my new garden right now and when I do arrive back I notice Mother Nature takes full advantage of my absence and all gaps are filled with wonderful spring growth. If you have had violia's flowering through winter cut back and divided clumps, I just dig up part of a large clump and pull it to bits basically. You can gently pull masses of new young plants out of the clump and plant them out separately in a cool shady part of the garden. They will soon form their own small clump which can be planted out next autumn to flower where you want it. The same for polyantha type primulas, break up clumps; plant out only fresh new growth in a cool place and throw away knotted old spent growth. Plant up hanging baskets now with small rooted annuals like lobelia, petite or cascading petunias, nasturtium and cascading begonias. Avoid upright plants and plants that make a big root ball, they need more depth than a basket can offer and will soon rob all the nutrients and fill the basket with dry roots. The secret to hanging baskets is a good heavy potting mix, water crystals, a lot of slow release fertiliser and consistent watering. I am using old carpet underlay as liners again this year but if I had none the coconut liners look good and do the job. If you have aged compost that has finished working  you are able to make some economical compost tea. Compost Tea is a nutritionally rich, well-balanced, organic plant food made by steeping aged compost in water. The water is then diluted and used as a root and/or foliar feed. It is also noted for its ability to control various plant diseases, blights, molds, wilts, etc. when used as a foliar spray, to repel and control insect pests. and encourage the growth of beneficial soil bacteria. The basic recipe is as follows: 1 large container with lid (plastic rubbish bin works well) enough aged, completed compost in an old pillow case 1/2-3/4 full, 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 compost tea) and use as root food for any and all plants on a weekly basis. To use as a foliar spray on young seedlings dilute it a little more. Lawn: Good grass growth is giving me garden mulch to suppress weeds, moisture and warmth help to break down layers into humus. Vegetables & fruit: Transplant late crop tomatoes, beans, corn, basil, courgettes, cucumbers and leeks. Plant seed into trays for late summer harvesting of dwarf and climbing beans, courgettes, carrots, beetroot, lettuce, basil, short season corn. Herbs: mint, marjoram, thyme, sage, parsley and rosemary I have cut and have laid out to dry on news paper in a dry shed. Once they are crunchy I will rub them and store them airtight dry glass jars. Fruit: Gooseberries and currants are fruiting well, all the rain and heat are just what they need in fact all fruiting shrubs and trees should be doing well this spring.  Put bird protection net in place over fruit bushes before fruit ripens. Watch carefully for branches of stone fruit showing signs of silver leaf - often just one limb of a tree will have silver leaves. Now is the time to cut that limb off and burn it and seal the tree with Trichopaste. Cheers, Linda.

Drying herbs.