OUT IN THE GARDEN

Take a pair of secateurs with you and do some cutting back (particularly on roses to encourage new growth and flowering), and in no time at all you’ll find the problems that were bugging you have faded into the background. We’re hearing more and more from customers these days that time just pottering in the garden really is good therapy in the current climate of uncertainty and busyness.

Next winter’s food supply – we have Brussels Sprouts in stock and they need to be planted soon to get the stems/trunks as tall as possible – the taller the stem the more sprouts you’ll get on them.

Great recipes out there for Brussels Sprouts that totally stop them being the ‘black sheep’ of the vegetable family.

Heads-up – the newspaper-wrapped bundles of large Leek plants will be available again this season, from around early January – I’ll put it in the n’letter.

What to plant right now?  Lettuces on a regular basis to ensure a constant supply, Radishes are another seed to sow regularly for an ongoing supply – have you tried them roasted? And have you tried pickled Cucumbers? I’m not a great fan of Cucumbers as they are, but pickled is another taste altogether.

Keep on top of watering! This heat means watering deeper and possibly more often in this heatwave, with pots drying out more quickly.

What you need to know about watering:

• The key to watering is watering deeper and more thoroughly and putting water where it’s most effective. 

• Water charges are a pain but it’s still possible to water the garden effectively without incurring large cost increases.

• Water later in the day so that the water will have a good chance to be fully utilised with no evaporation from hot sun.
• The most effective watering is definitely at the base of plants of plants because it’s the roots that actually use the water and not a drop is wasted. Check out our Wetta Weeping Hoses; recycled rubber full of microscopic holes that allow the water to ooze out and soak down to the roots. Fully fitted and in 15m or 30m lengths – just click onto the tap. 
• Hint: run them at a low’ish pressure to avoid blowing the whole thing apart. We use one at home in the tomato/cucumber/capsicum greenhouse snaking around the base of plants, and on a hedge at the front gate.
• Watering is key for Roses and I use a Three End Coupler so that I can run one hose off the tap and then split into two hoses, and soak two roses at a time for 20 minutes. That process, combined with fertiliser, pushes out new growth almost immediately.
• Wars will be fought over water one day so use it wisely!

Plant of the Week: 

Hydrangeas. Our most popular small shrub through the Summer months and deservedly so with their range of colours, flower types, and sizes. Flowers continue all season and the last flowers can be dried in Autumn (Limelight dries particularly well).

Coloured varieties will take sun or light shade and the white varieties need light shade to avoid the flowers burning.

If your Hydrangeas started as blue but changed to pink it’s the lime in the Canterbury water, but it’s easily remedied by using peat around the plants and Acid Food to acidify the soil (blue needs acidity to stay blue). 

We have some excellent good grade plants in stock ready to flower for the rest of the season and with a bit of Christmas wrapping they make great presents.

Take Action Now!

Start spraying for Thrips!  Most people don’t spot the problem until they’re much more evident. The systemic Groventive is by far the most effective treatment and should be used once a month which will prevent the foliage being ravaged by Thrips.