November Central Otago Garden Tips: Better Late Than Never
"To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow" Audrey Hepburn
I am so sorry this is a touch late in the month but I’m sure you’ve notice the rather unusual weather we’ve been having this spring and it has left me scrambling in the garden.
Between the frosts that took out all my newly planted beans and the cool overnight temperatures we’ve been having, its has slowed me down planting out my tomatoes.
I’m feeling a little on the back foot this season. But……..
November Central Otago Garden Tips: Better Late Than Never - let's get into it!
Finally In The Ground
Finally the tomatoes are in the ground so too are my courgettes and pumpkins.
The glasshouse is planted too and the seedlings that I’ve been holding in there have started to find a home.
I have sown the second round of leafy greens and carrots for the upcoming Xmas party season.
I’ve never had much success with carrot growing. Last year I didn’t even sow any, but this year I think I’ve nailed it!!
There are several parts to growing a good carrot.
Why You Need To Prep Your Soil
Carrots love loose sandy soil with no lumps.
I’ve found that if I mix the carrot seed with radish, you don’t have to thin as much.
The radish, as it grows, creates space, and they are also faster growers, so when you pull the radish, it gives space for your carrot to then grow.
I cover with a layer of wet newspaper, then weight that down with planks of wood. This keeps it damp without being soggy.
Carrots germinate in dark, moist conditions, and you only need to do this for about 7-10 days.
Carrots can be tricky to germinate, so I only sow a small amount at a time. I start a second patch about 3 weeks after I’ve sown the last lot.
Only about a month away from harvesting the garlic.
There is no sign of rust this season which has hit me in previous summers.
I’ve kept up the regular feeding which I think has helped but I will be keeping a very closer eye in everything because this is the perfect weather for rust to happen-warm moist with regular rain fall. The further into the season it happens the less damage it does but I still like to keep it out if I can.
Strawberries, raspberries and tayberries are in flower and looking great.
When it comes to the raspberry and tayberry I don’t do much at this time of year, just let them do their thing. As long as I mulch them and keep the water up to them they do well.
The strawberries on the other hand are little more picky.
I like to feed them at least every forth night once they begin to flower and regularly water them. I find this gives me a great crop right throughout the summer.
Tomatoes are in as well as their companion plants-basil and marigolds.
I have staked each one to give support as they grow also added in some sheep pellets for some slow release food and a tsp of blood and bone for a bit of extra root nutrients.
The tomatoes will be feed every week and I’ll be taking the first lot of flower off to help grow a stronger plant. And remove any bottom leaves as they grow to stop disease.
As long as I continue to do all this I’ll have a crop that looks like this hopefully.
"To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow"
Audrey Hepburn
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