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.

Gardening in Waitaki 21st November 2023

Begonia display at The Oamaru Botanical Gardens.

Another month has almost run away from us, and with all the early Christmas hype the pressure is on to be ready for the festive season. Because nights are still cool the night beetle and the big Porina moths are not about yet, porina caterpillars feed on lawns along with grass grubs which turn into night beetles. However spittle bugs are here frothing up plants. Spittlebug nymphs can turn a liquid secretion into bubbles by moving or pumping their bodies, once bubbles have formed, they use their hind legs to cover themselves with the froth that insulates them from temperature extremes and protects them from predators. Although spittle bug nymphs do feed on plant sap, the damage is minimal and populations are usually small, so no pesticide is necessary, a strong blast from a hose should be enough to dislodge them. Roses: I am keeping up the fish emulsion to foliar feed roses and deter greenfly. Orchid growers it is the time to re-pot now, use orchid mix for the best results, it takes the guesswork out of wondering what to feed them. Tuberous Begonias are are beginning to show leaves, they are easy to grow in pots, baskets, window boxes and the garden as long as you provide good drainage and shelter from scorching afternoon sun, dappled sun or bright shade, in a spot protected from strong winds to avoid damage to the foliage and stems. Dew's are still wetting so the ground is still holding some moisture, scatter grass clippings around as mulch if your lawns have not been sprayed, they become good humus. I empty the catcher, then rake it about to cover any bare soil. vegetable garden: Successive plant and seed planting can be kept up right through the Summer. The best way to keep pests from young plants is covering them with mesh that lets light in. If your veg has already been attacked, make your own natural sprays, the following plant leaves can be simmered in water and the resulting liquid used on plants. Basil will eliminate aphids, Chives prevent mildew occurring on cucumbers, squash and pumpkins. Coriander also for aphids and spider mite. Eucalyptus is a good general purpose insecticide. Rhubarb has been found to help prevent blackspot. These may be only plants but in liquid form they can be harmful to children so keep marked bottles high up. I found from experience that it is not a good idea to breathe in fumes when bringing to the boil and keep doors and windows open. Get corn and pumpkins in as soon as possible because they need a long growing and ripening season. Fruit: Keep water up to currants and berries, lemons and fruit trees, it takes a lot out of a plant to fruit. All fruiting trees and plants need a lot of water now to create juicy plump fruit, it takes only a day of strong wind to zap moisture from the ground. Remember to cover your strawberries from birds, strawberry netting stretches out to cover a large area and does the job well, birds can strip gooseberry bushes as well, throw some frost cloth over them until you get a chance to pick them. Keep food up to tomatoes as they grow, be sure to remove laterals of the taller growing variety. Tomatoes should be flowering now, waiting for insects to pollinate them. If bees are few and far between on overcast days you could take a hairdryer into the glass house to gently blow the pollen around while leaves are dry. Stake tomato plants to keep them upright as tomatoes get heavier. Cheers, Linda

Gardening in Waitaki November 14th 2023

Some nice spring weather over the last few days, even one so hot I had to take Scruff the dog to Friendly bay for a dunk in the sea. It is time once again to cut back plants that have finished flowering, alyssum, ground cover phlox, aubrieta, aquilegias and forget-me-not. if you cut them back now they will green up again and look good over summer, same goes for Erica's, cut all the brown spent flower stems back and they will green up again in no time. Spread compost in the gaps created and fill every gap with flower seedlings like cosmos, petunias, statice, blue salvia, nasturtium, lavatera and lobelia. Leaving no room for weeds to grow while creating a magic summer picking garden. Dahlias should be pushing up leaves leaf now, once in bud they can be pinched out like chrysanthemums to encourage bushiness, they will still get tall so put stakes in now before they get up too far and begin to bend and fall. If your daffodils did not flower so well this spring, It's a good time to break up large clumps while you can still see where they have been. Flowering will be restricted when clumps get over crowded. Dug bulbs can be left to dry, (leaves left on) to be planted again in Autumn or replanted in small groups in about 20 cm of compost...plant, feed with blood and bone and mulch so they don't dry out over summer. There are autumn flowering bulbs in Garden centers now, like belladonna lilies (naked Ladies), nerines & crocuses plant in full sun where they will not be disturbed. Water lilies can be added to ponds now that the water is warmer, if buying one it should be in leaf, plant into a plastic basket using thick news paper first then some manure and garden soil, plant the lily in soil then top with a thick layer of stones or gravel. It is important not to let any fertiliser or manure leach out into the pond water because it will encourage the water to go green with slime which is harmful to fish when caught in gills. If your pond is stagnating it means that it is not working, put in some un-sprayed barley straw weighed down with a rock so it does not float around. At first the pond water will not look too healthy but soon you will be amazed at how fast it will clear and stay clear once things start working naturally. There is now a liquid barley extract of barley straw on offer. To work naturally the bottom of the pond can and should be a little muddy, but the top should be clear, you can easily tell when it is. Introduce some oxygen weed from a pond already filled with fish. Fish blow their eggs into the weed so there is sure to be eggs now in the weed, these will hatch out in your pond with no big fish around to eat them. You will not have to feed fish as the warmer months attract plenty of bugs to a pond. Lawns: Keep mowers up a notch and try mowing without the catcher now and then, then rake the clippings out over the lawn to add humus. Lawns need fed regularly through the growing and cutting seasons but never without moisture to follow to avoid grass burning. Have some fertiliser on hand for the next rain. Dig out daisies, clover and flat weeds before they seed or spot spray each weed, then gaps where the weeds die should fill in with grass during this rapid growing season. Fruit: Check your fruit trees now for over crowded bunches, thin bunches out by snipping small fruits off if winds do not do it for you. Vegetables: I have planted peas where the broad beans were and lettuce and coriander where I dug out the beetroot. Potatoes are well up, corn and pumpkins should be romping away during warm days. So far no white butterflies about looking for brassica to lay eggs on. Keep planting all vegetables but not too many of the same at one time and cover to keep bugs off while small. Cheers Linda.

Gardening in Waitaki November 7th 2023

Some nice rain last week ment hoses did not need to be out, the weight of rain on deciduous tree branches makes it easy to see those needing to be lifted, if left to increase width they cast shade over surrounding plants. Any branch growing downwards with a canopy branch directly above it can be cut back or removed altogether because lower plantings need overhead light to prevent stretched growing. Hedges: will still not be finished pushing out spring growth and if trimmed too early another trim will be needed so best to wait until new growth  has hardened and stems snap clean when bent. All new growth hedge trimmings can go on the compost or be scattered around the garden as mulch.  Cut back spring flowering perennials that have finished flowering and fill gaps with summer annuals. Tall annual plants like cosmos and lavatera at the back, petunias, nemesia, saliva and marigolds middle and lobelia. alyssum, dwarf sweet peas and petite petunias in front.  Roses: Fat rose buds are now opening, healthy and beautiful before succumbing to the stress of hot drying days. Aphids, blackspot and rust will not be a problem if water, feeding and mulch is kept up healthy roses can be enjoyed through to early winter.  Dahlias are pushing through now as spring bulbs finish, if you see some of your dahlias will be in the shade cast by tree branches growing wider, shift clumps into a sunnier position  while new growth  is low. Support can be put in place now for large spreading dahlias before they put on heavy growth.  Hydrangeas are starting to produce flower heads now so it is important to keep the water and food up to them, old stable manure, blood and bone, liquid or slow release fertiliser will keep them happy and flowering well. It's a dressing of lime for pink and Epsom salts or aluminum sulphate to keep them blue.  Fuchsias are on sale right now and are wonderful in pots or a shady spot, they are making a lot of growth now so if you missed cutting any back do it now, they will soon catch up.  Peony roses: What wonderful additions these are to the flower garden, peony roses are beautiful fillers in a sunny spot and great for filling vases. Support will be needed for most peony roses to hold up full flower heads.  Lawns are thriving after the spring rain, annual weeds will have been mowed out but perennial lawn weeds will need removing before they make seed and spread. I dig them out as I see them while small but if they have spread over your lawn they may need lawn spray but please just spot spray and never on a sunny day when insects and bees are about.  Veg garden:  I have planted peas where the broad beans were and lettuce and coriander where I dug out the beetroot. Potatoes are well up, corn and pumpkins will have a chance to go for it now without the threat of frost. So far I have seen no white butterflies looking for brassica to lay eggs on.Keep planting all vegetables but not too many of the same at one time. Elderflower cordial: Elder flowers are covering bushes now, they  don't last long before berries start forming from the flowers. Ingredients: 20 large elderflower heads, 4 lemons, 1 tsp citric acid, 1.5 liters water, 1kg sugar. Method; Grate zest off lemons, then roughly chop into chunks. Gently wash the flowers and steep them in a bowl with water and add this to the flower head mixture. Cover and leave for 24 hours, then strain through muslin gently, bring the strained liquid to the boil, add sugar and stir until dissolved. Pour into sterilized glass bottles and store in the fridge when cool. Add a measure to iced water for the perfect fresh summer beverage for all ages and a dash in gin for those who like a G and T.  Cheers, Linda.

Gardening in Waitaki 1st November 2023

Hydrangea in early bud.

A chill in the air last week with even a flurry of snow, Nature has her own way with fresh spring growth. Rhododendrons, azalea's, delphiniums and peony roses will put on their show as we look forward to the expectation of something new happening every day in the garden. But once again Gardeners will be pulling sticky biddy-bid, chick weed and convolvulus because every year there seems to be just as much as the year before! Convolvulus is the worst, the only way to completely eradicate convolvulus is to dig out the mass of roots below. These roots are easily identified; they are thick, white and long, it is so satisfying to pull a length right out without it breaking. Every little bit of root left behind will grow very fast. Hydrangeas are well leafed up now with flower buds forming, if you have not mulched them with manure enriched compost do it now and they will reward you well.  I use pig manure from the Recycling center on hydrangeas, roses and all other plants needing a boost.  Box hedges should have put out a good amount of new growth now so all new growth can be trimmed back to the last cut on established hedges. On new plantings even up only the top growth leaving the sides to grow together. Trimming is best on an overcast day to limit the amount of sun scorching that will happen. When planting a new buxus hedge 5 to 7 plants per metre for small plants. All other hedges can be trimmed when finished putting out spring growth.   Lawns: There should be excellent results from grass seed sown, to repair winter damage, rake out bare patches, add sifted soil and plant grass seed. Small patches can be covered with shade or frost cloth to keep birds off until seed has germinated. Keep lawn mower blades higher while grass is lush to shade roots and we are still getting dew which settles on longer grass keeping the ground from drying out. Veg Garden: A good no fuss way to grow veg is in a no dig garden.  Making a no dig garden: Find a sunny spot on bare ground,( not concrete) surround with sleepers, logs, Oamaru stone, boards or even small straw bales, high enough to hold layers of manure, soil, compost and straw. Flood the base dirt before you start to get dampness deep down. If you plan to create a no dig garden on top of grass soak the base ground well then spread a layer of manure on top to attract worms from deep down, second layer can be a thick layer of compost, old leaf mulch and dried grass clippings, soak before adding a layer of soil, (clay soil is fine in this layer), water well after each layer leaving no dry spots. Next add a layer of straw, (soak) then add more layers of compost, old leaf mulch and dried grass clippings, (soak) and top that with more soil, (soak). As you build layers add river sand, a little lime and an all purpose fertiliser. Lastly add a top layer of straw to suppress weeds. When you think the garden is high enough, start planting and you should be eating your own produce within six weeks at this time of the year.  Fruit: Bee's will be doing their job on fruit blossom, berry fruits are romping along so water is important while fruit is forming especially after wind, a good soak from time to time if rain is scarce will ensure full juicy fruit.  Grapes will be flowering, give only the vines you think could do with a boost fertiliser in early spring, feeding established vines that are doing ok will only encourage more leaves and leaders. A little potash from time to time will help with fruiting.   Codling moths appear from October to February I have come across another method of dealing with codling moths which is said to have worked well for some. Use a plastic milk container, and place in it 1 banana peel, 1 cup vinegar and 1 cup sugar. Fill the container almost full of water, replace the cap and shake it well to mix and dissolve the contents. Remove the cap and firmly secure one container into each apple tree. The moths are attracted to the scent of the concoction, becoming trapped and drowned when they investigate. Refill with water as needed throughout the summer.   Cheers, Linda.

Gardening in Waitaki October 25th 2023

The wonderful Labour weekend weather bought garden growth on beautifully with the last of the blossom trees in full bloom, prunus shimidsu sakura a lovely low, spreading prunus with large double very pale pink / white ballerina blossom and the upright prunus kanzan with bright pink blossom gracing many gardens in North Otago. Spring planting: There will never be a better time for planting annuals, perennials and herbs than right now, the soil is warm and moist to get roots growing. When growth is lush the most important thing along with keeping the moisture up is deadheading as blooms die off. If a plant is left to run to seed it has finished the job it had to do. Keep deadheading and plants need to keep flowering. Roses are doing well now that the nights have warmed up, keep the food and deep root watering up to them as they bud up, foliar feeding on fresh new leaves works well now along with slow release fertilizers which ensures they are feed each time they are watered. Green fly on bud tips can be washed off with a strong hose which will hopefully drown them. Cut spent flowers off hellebore's so you get the full effect of their wonderful leaves. Weed spraying: With warm ground weeds grow before our eyes but right now roots are still soft enough for weeds to be pulled or hoed. Wild areas may need spraying before they make seed and spread everywhere. Lawns: Keep feeding lawns when rain is about, powdered fertilizer's need to be washed well in to stop fertiliser burning lawns during hot sunny days. Vegetables: plant out pumpkin, squash and corn plants. Pumpkins need a large prepared area to ramble with lots of compost and old stable manure dug in. Leaves will always let you know when they need water. If you have a glass or tunnel house why not plant some peppers, they can grow high so staking will be needed. Tomato plants will be romping away, those planted early will have been affected by the last cold snap, bottom leaves can curl and take on a blueish look but they should grow through that and grow normally. It helps to plant bee attracting flowers as tomato flowers develop Raspberry Kane's and strawberries: both flower and fruit up really quickly as long as they get all day sun they will ripen fast. These berries and new season peas are perfect for encouraging Children into the garden. They all learn the results are well worth the wait. Rhubarb: Keep manure enriched compost up to Rhubarb, if the soil gets hard and dry around rhubarb it will grow stringy dry uneatable steams. Elder flowers are blooming now so elderflower cordial will be happening again https://thisnzlife.co.nz/recipe-elderflower-cordial/ Cheers, Linda.

Gardening in Waitaki October 19th 2023

Labour weekend upon us and the time I have always felt for safe planting of summer annuals both floral and veg with the needed warmth and moisture in the ground supports new fresh growth. Roses are budding up, keep the deep root watering up to them, foliar feeding on fresh new leaves works well now along with slow release fertilisers to keep roses healthy. Aphid is looking for new rose growth, if time allows removal with finger and thumb while on top growth will reduce numbers moving down into the bush and laying eggs. Cut back Erica's and callunas that have finished flowering, this stops them from going woody, removing all the spent flowers will encourage fresh new green growth for summer. If you don't cut the old flowering growth off they will make their new growth out from the old growth which means they become woody at the base. Cut back aubretia rockery plants and you will get another flowering, also cut spent flowers from hellebore to stop seeds ripening and spreading, if you want to build up hellebore numbers leave a few to drop seed. If you are concerned about a hot dry Summer having a disastrous effect on your garden? Plenty of Mulch breaking down on your soil will help retain moisture as well as improve soil structure and suppress weed growth. Mulch can be straw, grass clippings or weed free compost. So many spring perennials, iris and other pretty garden fillers well up now to notice as Gardeners walk their gardens. Lawns: keep feeding lawns when rain is about, to wash fertilisers in. A new spring lawn sowing will compete with strong growing weeds so a thick sowing of grass seed is required to choke out annual weeds. Annual grass weeds will be removed when mowing begins. Flat perennial weeds in established lawns will need to be removed or spayed before they spread seed. Vegetables: PLANT, PLANT, PLANT plants and seeds, I have planted pumpkin and squash plants grown from seed with a lot of compost and old stable manure dug in, they need a large prepared area for them to ramble. Peas and radish are perfect for encouraging Children into the garden, If you have a glass house or tunnel house you will have success with growing tomatoes, (strings attached from the roof to stakes for support as they grow up), cucumber, peppers and basil need the warmth of a glass house as well. Fruit: Berry cane's and strawberries both flower and fruit really quickly as long as they get all day sun. Gooseberries can cope with shade and actually do better without harsh afternoon sun. Blueberries are best planted in spring or autumn, if you have had trouble growing blueberries they need to be planted and grown in conditions suited to them, acid, clay free, good draining soil. If in doubt plant in a good size pot drainage stones on the bottom in acid mix and water with rain water if possible because it is thought tap water has a negative effect. Keep manure enriched compost up to rhubarb, if the soil gets hard and dry around rhubarb it will grow stringy dry uneatable steams. Mound up earlier planted potatoes, critical that you either mulch or mound up well to obtain heavy crops and avoid potato worms. A foliar spray with raw milk is a great way to kill blight spores, add to a foliar spray of high quality compost tea, this is a great way to strengthen the microbe populations on the potato and tomato leaves to help avoid blight. Cheers, Linda.