The end of Winter and the start of Spring is the beginning of the growing season and when work in the garden really determines results for the coming growing season. The old saying, “well begun is half done” can be applied to the garden, so start the season off properly by doing the right tasks … Read More
Spring has sprung and we are so excited we’ve wet our plants! But in all seriousness spring always feels like the season of scents to me, and at the top of this list of the ever popular daffodils and daphne is a must have plant, the brown boronia. These are in full bloom, so you … Read More
The month of October is one of the busiest times in the garden. The days are now longer than the nights and along with the higher temperatures plant growth from now on will be very rapid. Flower Garden Keep the water up on daffodils so that they grow well to produce next season’s flowers, also … Read More
The days are getting longer and at the end of the month daylight saving starts, meaning plants begin their growth, flowers burst out and our garden work really gets under way. One of the best tips at this time of year is to do today what needs to be done as tomorrow may be too … Read More
August is one of the coldest months of the year but it is also the Winter month closest to Spring so our thoughts must now turn to the tasks needed to be completed as Spring approaches. Much of the work is preparation for the sowing of seeds, planting and cleaning up of weeds. As the days lengthen day time temperature can be quite warm which can bring on new growth but be aware that nights will still be cold and there will be plenty of frosts to come.
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 Michael opened with last night’s brilliant display of lightning and roaring thunder, followed by ‘golf-ball sized’ hailstones. ‘’I lost about 100 panes in my glasshouse’’ he said. Hailstones in some suburbs measured about 3cm in diameter. Metservice weather forecaster, Allister Gorman, said hailstones larger than 20 millimetres … Read More
[one_half] SEPTEMBER: The garden springs into life and so should the gardener! The last of your green crops should be dug in now. Broad beans will start to grow rapidly soon so prepare something to support them. Plant out sprouted potatoes, an application of phostrogen will be beneficial. Seeds of silverbeet, peas, cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli … Read More
The large Narcissus fly (Lampetia equestris) flies in October and November. This fly is the same size as a blow fly with the same distinctive buzz. The female lays eggs on the top of a bulb and the resulting caterpillar feeds on the inside of the bulb right through summer. It is known to attack … Read More