Flower Garden Now is the time to get the last of the Spring bulbs planted especially tulips and lilies. As the ground allows plantings of polyanthus, pansy, violas and other Spring flowers can continue. New stock of roses are arriving in the nurseries so get in early to get the best choice of plants. Prepare … Read More
Flower Garden Carry on with bulb planting. Remember many bulbs do just as well in pots. Plant Spring flowering plants such as polyanthus, primulas, pansies, poppies and forget-me-nots. Lift dahlias and begonias after frosts, cut back the tops and store in a cool dark place. Cut back by about 1/3 chrysanthemums as the flowers finish. … Read More
Flower Garden As summer flowers pass their best remove them and prepare the ground for planting for Winter/Spring flowers like pansy, wall flowers, polyanthus and violas. Now is bulb planting time. Choose good firm unblemished bulbs and plant as soon as possible so they get a good start. Sow sweet peas now in good deep … Read More
Fruit & Vegetable Garden Time to plant winter veggies like cabbages, cauliflowers and broccoli. Any ground that is going to be vacant you can think about putting a green crop in – lupins, barley and mustard all help to improve the soil structure. Keep picking tomatoes and removing lower leaves to encourage fruit to ripen. … Read More
From Michael Coulter This summer has been something of a challenge with below average rainfall and wind making for a difficult growing season. Watering is needed more often as plants have dried out quicker, plants need to be supported more, and plants that have been wind damaged need to be pruned to repair any broken branches. So … Read More
Great weather. Been looking on the computer.Rainfall been below normal and well below normal across most of the South Island. Temperatures were above average throughout most of New Zealand. Had a few winds. Of the main centres, Auckland was the warmest, Dunedin the coolest, Wellington the wettest and Tauranga was the sunniest. Christchurch was the … Read More
My first day in shorts. It has been a marvelous spring. Things are earlier than usual. Don’t go putting in warm loving plants just yet. Put tomatoes in a warm corner, but not outside. It’s still too early. The nor’ easter is a most limiting wind. The NIWA weather outlook: September 2013 was characterised by much … Read More
September – All About Gardening With Michael Coulter You know its springtime….the body starts to seize up. Meant to get a Southerly last night but I think it took a detour. Typical Canterbury weather. Warmest August on record for New Zealand. Record high August mean temperatures recorded throughout N.Z. This made the warmest August on … Read More
AUGUST – ALL ABOUT GARDENING With Michael Coulter N.I.W.A said, ‘Mild winter – outbreaks of southerlies’…They were exactly right. It was the 4th – warmest July on record for N.Z… Very warm in the South, dry in the North. A very warm July was experienced in the South Island. Mean temperatures for July were well … Read More
JULY – ALL ABOUT GARDENING With Michael Coulter Overall, temperatures for winter 2013 are likely to be above average, with warmer temperatures in Canterbury. However, don’t be fooled, as frosts, cold snaps and even snow conditions should be expected in many areas from time to time. That’s just typical of winter. We have had a … Read More