April - Time To Reap What You Sowed

April - Time To Reap What You Sowed In The Garden

Here in Central Otago autumn may have arrived and the leaves may be changing but the temperatures are still holding strong which means the garden is still ticking along.

I am eagerly waiting for feijoas to begin falling and for my pumpkins to begin drying off but with the pumpkin vines still looking strong and still lush and green that probably won’t happen till our first frosts which means I’ll probably have to cut off the pumpkins and store them in the garden shed to dry out.

Can You Grow Watermelons in Central Otago?

I gathered my watermelons at the end of March from the plants I set out at the end of November. It was probably a bit late to plant them, but I was lucky because early in November, we experienced a couple of heavy frosts that could have impacted my plants.

Every year, I try to grow something new, and I never imagined watermelons could thrive here. While they weren't an overwhelming success, we did get 2 excellent melons and 6 medium to small ones. They were delicious, and I'm definitely going to plant them again. This is also the time of year when I'm busy processing all the different harvests as they come in.

I’m either preparing them for the freezer to manage over the winter when I have a bit more time or handling them immediately, like drying the plums. I enjoy snacking on them throughout the year, and they make a great addition to my cheeseboards instead of dried apricots.

The garden is gradually winding down, and I've ceased watering large sections as the plants complete their growth.

Although I haven't had much time to begin clearing out the beds, it's not a major concern right now since the plants are serving as a natural weed suppressant until I can return to the garden.

The beds I managed to clear have been sown with a green mulch, which will be ready for chopping and dropping next month, with the intention of using them as my garlic beds.

Growing Garlic In Central Otago

Regarding garlic, while the shortest day falls in June, it's the perfect time to start planning your garlic crops. It's important to prepare your garden bed now, as garlic is a heavy feeder, requiring nutrient-rich soil to grow strong and large.

It's also the ideal time to source your garlic seed, as it can sell out quickly.

This year, I'm fortunate to have some excellent-sized seeds from last season, and I'm eager to see how they perform this coming summer.

I prepare the bed by turning the soil to ensure it's well-aerated, as garlic prefers loose soil. I then add a couple of wheelbarrows of six-month-old horse manure, which hopefully means no weeds.

A few weeks before planting, I incorporate a couple of wheelbarrows of homemade compost. When planting, I top it off with a basic vegetable mix and several handfuls of sheep pellets. I water the seeds with seaweed tonic, repeating every few weeks thereafter.

I'll update you next month on how the bed preparation went and show you what's left in the garden. Until then, enjoy the cooler days and the seasonal change, which is my personal favourite.