Winter gardening Tips in Canterbury
This month we will notice that the days are getting longer, so we hope that the weather will also begin to get warmer. July has been a month with many dull and cold days, with single-digit temperatures, so I have spent very few hours in the garden or greenhouse.
I have yet to complete the winter pruning and tidy-up in the garden, so these will need to be finished in the first two weeks of the month. The winter conquer oil and copper sprays should be continued during the month, but watch out for any bud movement towards the end of the month so that the right copper spray can be applied on the stone fruit trees.
The cold, damp ground has made weeding difficult, but the weeds still carry on growing. Hopefully, we will get two or three dry, sunny days that will make weeding possible. I have cleaned out the greenhouse and disinfected the propagating bench and trays ready for the first chrysanthemum cuttings and the sowing of seeds, which I will start this month. I will put the Begonia tubers onto the warm bed in the last week of the month.
Spring bulbs will be starting to emerge through the ground, so it is important to keep them free of weeds along with any perennials that are just below the ground ready to emerge.
The vegetable garden preparation for planting and sowing seeds by digging over the soil and green crops will need to be completed, but only work the soil if it is not too wet. Harvesting Winter crops can be difficult while the ground is very wet. To avoid compacting the ground, place a plank of wood along the rows to walk on to harvest the crop. Brassicas, lettuce, and silver beet may be sown now to plant outside next month.
Greenhouse crops of tomatoes, peppers, and cucumbers may be sown now if you have a heat pad or bench to germinate the seed and grow the seedlings on.
Remember, it takes six to seven weeks to have a plant ready for planting out (early seedlings will take a little longer).
The lawns are looking a bit unkempt now, but by the end of the month they will begin to grow, and a cut at the higher setting of the mower will make the grass look better. Although it is still too early to fertilise the lawn, you may treat the moss areas before they spread.
August is really the month signalling the end of winter and the promise of spring to come. It will test our patience as we wait for the real spring to arrive.
Enjoy the garden, Michael Coulter
Remember: questions can be posted on HortTalk our online facebook group or you can email Michael directly at: coultchrys@xtra.co.nz