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
Many thanks to Portstone Garden Centre for this update. CHS Members enjoy a 15% discount at Portstone Garden Centre www.portstone.co.nz Plant of the Month – Bulbs Flowering bulbs bring brilliant colours to your garden from late Winter through to Summer. At Portstone, we offer a fantastic selection, including anemones, freesias, ranunculi, hyacinths, scillas, muscari, … 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
Many thanks to Portstone Garden Centre for this update. CHS Members enjoy a 15% discount at Portstone Garden Centre www.portstone.co.nz Plant of the Month Hydrangeas are beautiful, low-maintenance plants that thrive when given the right conditions. They grow best in rich, well-draining soil that is slightly acidic. You can enhance soil quality by adding … 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
Spring Gardening Tips in Canterbury As I write, the rain is falling – much-needed to give Spring a proper top-up of moisture in the soil before the demands of Summer arrive. Labour Weekend is the traditional time when the soil and daytime temperatures are warm enough to plant and sow all the plants that need … Read More
Spring Gardening Tips in Canterbury Has Spring arrived? It certainly seems so, with some of my fruit trees already in bloom (perhaps a bit early for some), daffodils in full flower, and the grass growing steadily. All the signs point to an early start to Spring, but as we know, the weather is fickle and … Read More