September in the Garden Tasks for Spring August in Christchurch was chilly, with an average temperature of just 6.8°C. Nights often dipped close to freezing, the coldest at -4.5°C, while the warmest day only reached 16.4°C. It was a fairly wet month too, with 91 mm of rain, most of it falling mid-month. Looking ahead, … Read More
August in the Garden Tasks for Winter July saw highs of 9–15 °C and chilly lows around –2 °C. A typical Late Winter mix of frosty mornings and milder afternoons. Expect similar patterns in August—cool starts, warming gradually. As Winter gives way to early Spring, it’s time to wrap up Winter tasks and prepare for new growth. … Read More
June in the Garden Tasks for the first frosts As the Christchurch weather turns colder and the first frosts begin to settle in, we find ourselves well and truly into late Autumn and edging into Winter. The crisp mornings and shorter days mean it’s time to switch gears in the garden. With fewer opportunities to … Read More
May marks the golden end of Autumn in Christchurch — a beautiful, busy time as the landscape transforms and cooler days signal the arrival of Winter. There’s a special energy in the garden now: a race to finish Autumn tasks and lay the groundwork for a thriving Spring.
April Gardening Update Autumn in the Garden With the Equinox behind us, Autumn is in full swing. Leaves are changing colour across the city and countryside, and the garden is transitioning to cooler days. Harvest & Preserve Keep harvesting tomatoes, courgettes, and other Summer crops to preserve for Winter. Freeze them whole, or turn them … Read More
March Gardening Update Canterbury Gardens in Autumn March is ideal for harvesting fruit and vegetables. Surplus produce is common, and freezing remains the most popular preservation method—it’s quick, easy, and cost-effective. Clean, blanch, cool, dry, and pack vegetables into freezer bags before freezing. Bottling fruit and beetroot, while more time-consuming, adds colour to your pantry … Read More
February Gardening Update Canterbury Gardens in Summer The weather over the Christmas period was not very summer-like. Below-average temperatures, dull, cloudy days, and double the usual rainfall made gardening quite a challenge. The silver lining for me was the excellent crops of raspberries, strawberries, and blackcurrants. Tomatoes have been slow to ripen, and my stone … Read More
Site Plan Creating a site plan for your fruit tree orchard is essential for effective management. A straightforward layout that indicates the location and type of each tree—such as apple, peach, pear, and plum—provides a clear reference for future care.The next step is to track harvest times and annotate this information on your plan. This … Read More
Summer Gardening Update Canterbury Gardens in Summer Summer has arrived, bringing the annual battle with blackbirds over ripening berries. Strawberries and raspberries are their favourites, often pecked before they’re fully ripe. Not this year! With netting in place, the berries are safe, ready to enjoy with ice cream. This is a busy month in the … Read More
When is the right time to harvest? Picking too early or too late can result in underdeveloped or overly ripe fruit. Check out the information below to help you determine when your fruit is ready to be picked. Signs of Ripeness Colour Apples, pears, nectarines – full colour has developed for the variety. Peaches, plums, apricots … Read More