Gardening in Waitaki 1st October 2026

What a cold snap we have had! The sudden temperature drop will have been hard on plants, with seedlings and soft maple foliage damaged. Here on the North Otago coast the ground will be dry, with gardens needing a good soaking to support new growth while we wait for warmer weather. When temperatures rise, seedlings will soon catch up, but small seedlings have little chance of surviving if planted straight into dry ground, so pot on seedlings into punnets or individual pots first so they can establish a strong root system before planting out. Strong-growing plants such as sunflowers and delphiniums can be sown directly into the ground or peat pots. Think about summer colour now: petunias, lobelia, nemesia and salvia can be raised from seed, while cosmos, poppies, larkspur, nigella and annual lavatera can be sown directly into the garden. The later-flowering cherries are taking centre stage, including Prunus Kanzan and Prunus Shimizu Sakura, although strong North Otago winds can quickly strip their blossom. Spring bulbs are still putting on a show; enjoy them, then allow the foliage to die down naturally so it feeds the bulbs for next year's flowers. Large overcrowded clumps can be divided and given away, a sign at the gate saying “Bulbs to give away – bring a spade!” may soon have takers. Now is also a good time to choose plants for the conditions they will actually have to live in. Dry areas, hungry trees and freely draining ground are unsuitable for shallow-rooted plants such as rhododendrons, azaleas, camellias, hydrangeas and hellebores. Consider deeper-rooted, drought-tolerant plants such as euphorbias, agapanthus, buddleias, grasses, geraniums and lupins once established. For damp, shady areas, hydrangeas, hostas, heucheras, and hellebores are useful choices. Aluminium plant and Acanthus mollis can quickly cover difficult shady ground, although it is best suited to areas where its vigorous spreading habit can be contained. Trim winter-flowering ericas. Cut back fuchsias now to encourage fresh flowering wood, and pinch chrysanthemums several times to keep them bushy. Lawns: Give lawns a good feed during rain to give them a good spring start; lawn weeds can be spot-sprayed now before they run to seed. Keep mower blades higher and scatter only unsprayed clippings lightly around the garden as mulch. Veg Garden: Companion planting can be useful in the vegetable garden. Marigolds and tagetes are traditionally planted among vegetables to help deter pests, while nasturtiums can attract caterpillars away from crops. Basil and tomatoes make good companions; carrots and leeks can be planted together, sage around celery may help deter aphids, and dill attracts bees and other beneficial insects. In the glasshouse, prepare well-composted soil for tomatoes, peppers and cucumbers. Good ventilation is essential, particularly overnight, as damp conditions encourage fungal disease. Tomatoes need plenty of sun, around six to eight hours a day, and can be kept growing strongly with regular feeding and watering. Keep mounding potatoes as they grow to keep light out and encourage a larger crop. Corn can now be planted in groups so the plants support each other, with dill nearby to attract bees. Beans, courgettes, cucumbers, lettuce, tomatoes and basil can also be planted, remembering to protect from cold nights. Sow carrot seed thinly and remove thinnings from the garden to prevent attracting carrot fly. Covering rows with shade cloth (which allows the light needed), can also help prevent the female flies from laying eggs. Fruit trees and bushes need moisture while bees are busy pollinating. Mulch with unsprayed grass clippings out to the drip line and consider netting low trees against birds. Check apple trees for woolly aphid, which appears as white furry patches on branches. Cheers Linda.