IN THE GARDEN - 05 SEPTEMBER 2024

Yes, now the temperatures are warming up you’ll get fast germination, and growing plants from seed is so satisfying and affordable.

The ICan range comes from the top NZ seed merchant and all the varieties in the range are selected for their top performance and reliability.

Because of these qualities we’re promoting ican seeds this month along with Yates Black Magic Seed Raising Mix in 5 litre & 15 litre sizes – check out the sharp prices.   

All our staff use them and we use them at home. The process is easy – seed raising mix into seed tray, sow seeds, keep in warm sheltered conditions, water enough to keep damp but not flooded. An initial watering with Tui Seaweed Tonic gets them off to a great start and helps the plants take up other fertilisers.

Dig over the soil in flower beds or vegetable beds to approx. spade depth (more if you’re planting larger trees) and thoroughly mix in Real Blood & Bone (new stocks this week), Sheep Pellets, and a good quality compost (Daltons Nutrient-Enriched Compost is highly recommended).

Pea-straw used over the winter can be dug in, as can winter green crops (mustard, lupins etc) as these break down quickly. Heavy soil including clay-type soils?   Add some Claybreaker (Gypsum) and in the vegetable garden an annual dusting of lime is beneficial (sprinkle enough to look like a medium frost).

For the vege garden use the 100% Organic Vegetable Food – great stuff!

 First of the Tomatoes now in stock and the range will increase each week.

Now in stock - Daltons Tomato Mix with all the essentials for successful fruit production. Remember that tomatoes must have frost protection at this time of year, but don’t let frosts slow you down – just grow tomatoes in the greenhouse or indoors in a warm well-lit north-facing spot.

Wikipedia estimates that in 2010 150 million tonnes of tomatoes were grown worldwide – I saw it on the Internet, therefore it may be true….

 

 

Prune after flowering – that’s the rule for most flowering plants so any of your Spring-flowering shrubs should be pruned accordingly. 

Take the seed heads off Daffodils that have finished flowering so that the energy goes into the bulb and next year’s flowering and not into seed production but don’t cut the foliage back until it dies back in late Spring. 

I’d have to say our daffodils at home this year are looking superb – they should be fed now while they’re at their most active to help them multiply and store up food (which means flowering) for next season.

Now is the time to put out Codlin Moth traps to catch the little critters, and if you already have the trap but need a refill we have those in stock as well.

Have you fed your roses yet? We’re feeding all the roses at Terra Viva with a controlled-release rose food this month.

Start spraying the roses regularly (every 3 weeks should be fine) – 3 in 1 Combat is a good insecticide/fungicide/fertiliser, Groventive is the top systemic insecticide, Fungus Fighter is one of my favourites, Mavrik is a bee-friendly insecticide, and Super Shield is still a good all-round rose spray.   

Vary the sprays through the season to avoid spray resistance, and we have certain combinations that we recommend to give maximum protection against pests and fungus problems – talk to us when you’re in.

Sweet Basil MUST have warm temperatures so keep it in a pot in a warm situation, away from frost and cold winds. So don’t rush into growing Basil outside yet!

Watering pots – now the temperatures are warming up remember that pots dry out much quicker.

Dual grafted Lapins/Dawson.  The two varieties will cross-pollinate. Lapins has large dark red fruit ripening in January and Dawson has dark black skin with red flesh and ripens mid-late December. The dual grafted tree grows to 3m if left unpruned.

Looking for a smaller-growing variety? Try Cherry Grumpy Dwarf – self-fertile, bright red fruit, grows to 3m x 4m left unpruned, but happy to be pruned after fruiting.

Wanting info on fruit growing in small spaces? Check out the free brochure “A Home Orchard in a Small Garden.”  Pick up a copy next time you are in store.