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The Edible Garden
- Seed potatoes can now be planted. They prefer a free draining soil with lots of organic matter. Make sure seed potatoes have a lot of good sprouts before planting
- Carry on planting all your edibles; stone fruit and pip fruit, feijoas, citrus and strawberries.
- Plant: Asparagus crowns, beetroot, broccoli, cabbage, carrots, cauliflowers, onions, peas, radish, silver beet, spinach and early lettuce.
The Flower Garden
- Seeds to sow: Alyssum, Begonia, Candy tuft, Carnation, Celosia, Cosmos, Cornflower, Dianthus, Delphinium, Forget-me-not, Larkspur, Linaria, Linum, Lobelia, Lupin, Marigold, Nemesia, Pansy, Petunia, Phlox, Poppies, Portulaca, Salvia, Snapdragon, Statice, Stock, Sweet peas, Sweet William, Violas and Zinnias.
- Seedlings to plant: Alyssum, Carnations, Cineraria, Forget-me-not, Nemesia, Pansy, Polyanthus, Poppies, Primula, Viola.
- Dahlia and Begonia tubers, and Gladioli bulbs, are all in store this month. Plant now for a riot of summer colour
Begonias are one of the easiest summer flowers to grow
- They are bright and cheerful and come in a range of colours and types to suit every situation. They are easy to grow and will give months of summer colour
Roses
- If you haven't completed your rose pruning it is not too late but try to have it done as soon as possible this month.
- It is a good time to plant roses as it gives them time to settle and put on root and leaf growth before spring and summer flowering.
- Roses are now as popular as ever and are unsurpassed for summer colour and fragrance. There is a rose to suit every situation - groundcover, patio pots, covering walls and trellis, adding colour to the border year after year.
General
- Camellias that have finished flowering can be pruned back and fed with Tui Acid Plant Food
- A protective Copper based spray can be applied to deciduous trees and roses to reduce risk of fungal diseases over spring and summer months.
Soil Preparation
- Good soil preparation is the key this month, prior to spring planting.
- Dig soil over well, breaking down any clods.
- Add in lots of good organic compost.
- A dressing of lime can also be added now, especially in vegetable gardens. This gives the lime time to react before adding other fertilisers in the spring.
- Remember not to apply lime around plants which like 'acid' soil conditions - Camellias, Azaleas, Rhododendrons and Ericas.
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