Gardening in Waitaki April 2nd 2024

With Easter behind us, for me this has always been the time for action in the garden. Clearing out spent growth and collecting seeds as I move about in the flower garden then spreading compost over all cleared gardens, I mix my ready compost with pig manure to give the soil a boost after all the summer growing then let it all settle before mulching areas that require it and filling gaps with winter/spring colour. Calendula, pansy, viola, polyanthus, ornamental kale, primula malacoides, snapdragon, wallflower. Here on the coast in a warm sunny position get any of these planted early to reach the budding stage while there is still warmth in the soil and they will go onto. Further inland planting will need to wait until early spring. Ranunculus and anemones will be on offer in Garden centers now, They are good value because they multiply well and give vibrant or soft mid-height colour to an early spring garden. Ranunculus and anemone corms look very dried up and brittle in the packet when bought, soak them overnight and they will become nice and plump before planting, plant at least five together in groups to get the best effect. Dried Blood is an easy way to replenish the nitrogen content in the soil for plants needing to perform through winter, Polyanthus, Primulas, Pansies, and Cyclamen love it and will flourish when you add dried blood to their diet. I have been taking tip cuttings of many plants, so many plants can be produced from rooted cuttings. Snip 10 cm long tips from the shrubs you want more of. Remove lower leaves and halve soft top growth before pushing them into river sand/crusher dust to make roots. Roots will develop over winter. Leafy tip cuttings from all hedge-type shrubs can be taken now along with tip growth from lavender, daisy bushes, hebes, lavatera, salvias, and geraniums. Roses are producing lovely shades for the last flowering, no more deadheading or feeding as they need to make seed heads to help harden wood. Leucadendrons develop rich colour as days and nights become colder, picking the bracts is a must to keep both leucadendrons and proteas from becoming top-heavy and blowing over. Picked bracts will last in a vase for weeks, even months. All South African plants resent any form of phosphates. potassium and nitrate fertiliser, a little blood and bone in spring will keep them looking good. On the coast prune back perennial wallflowers and buddleias now to encourage new growth for winter, do the same to Marguerite daisies. Further inland take hardwood cuttings from daisies, pot up, and protect over winter. Lawn: I have been filling with soil divots I created by hoeing out weeds and rogue-coarse grass clumps, I then worked in grass seed as this is a good time to sow grass seed for good germination without annual weeds taking over. Vegetable garden: Pumpkin leaves will soon let you know when they are ready to harvest, bring them in if there is any threat of frost. Leave the plump stem attached to the stalk, leave in a warm sunny spot for skins to harden then store in a dry place. Corn should be ready for eating and freezing, tomatoes also, I have been making and bottling a lot of tomato sauce from plump ripe tomatoes. Sow onion and celery seeds and plant all the winter veg seedlings on offer in garden centers. Fruit: Still a lot being picked from trees and vines, I like to think when storing autumn bounty we are capturing the summer sun stored within to be enjoyed during those cold dark months to come. With my new garden being only 2 years old I have been fortunate enough to have acquired a very generous neighbor who shares cooking apples, peaches, pears, and tomatoes with us and a generous amount of walnuts have come my way to dry and store. LUCKY ME! Cheers, Linda.