Selwyn Times: December 01, 2021
You also want an ePaper? Increase the reach of your titles
YUMPU automatically turns print PDFs into web optimized ePapers that Google loves.
WHILE SOME plants like it hot,<br />
many of us have plants in our<br />
gardens that require regular and<br />
effective watering.<br />
Plants, like people, need<br />
more water over the warmer<br />
months.<br />
Moisture is lost through leaves,<br />
bark and roots in the soil.<br />
Wind is one of the most moisture-sapping<br />
elements to deal<br />
with.<br />
Symptoms of inadequate plant<br />
watering are poor plant performance,<br />
plant death, visible water<br />
run-off without penetrating the<br />
soil, and dry spots and increased<br />
levels of pest and disease.<br />
Weak plants are easy targets for<br />
bugs and diseases.<br />
Some soils through the summer<br />
get so dry, they actually<br />
repel water. When this occurs the<br />
soil can be described as hydrophobic.<br />
Water your garden once every<br />
few days rather than applying a<br />
small amount every day.<br />
By watering a little every day<br />
you encourage the plants roots<br />
to stay on the soil surface to find<br />
water.<br />
By deep watering every few<br />
days you encourage the roots to<br />
go deeper into the soil to seek<br />
moisture. This benefits the plant<br />
as its roots secure the plant further<br />
into the soil.<br />
It is wasteful to apply water<br />
faster than the soil can soak<br />
it in. If you add too much<br />
water too fast it will pond, run<br />
off and maybe even wash away<br />
the soil.<br />
To prevent run-off, water for<br />
several short periods if you are<br />
having trouble getting the moisture<br />
into your soil.<br />
Add organic matter such as<br />
manure, pea straw and compost<br />
to your soil.<br />
These help the soil hold onto<br />
more moisture and make it<br />
available to the plants to take up<br />
through their roots.<br />
Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz<br />
Use water to maintain strength<br />
Remember the golden rule –<br />
the more you feed your soil the<br />
more it will feed you.<br />
Plant groundcover plants in<br />
soil that is totally exposed to<br />
the air and sun. This exposed<br />
soil leeches out the most moisture.<br />
Water early morning or evening,<br />
when winds have died down<br />
and temperatures are cooler. By<br />
doing this you will minimise the<br />
amount of water lost to evaporation.<br />
Keeping the weeds down will<br />
NUTRIENT:<br />
There are<br />
many<br />
techniques<br />
involved in<br />
how to water<br />
your plants.<br />
reduce the number of plants<br />
competing for water in your garden.<br />
Mulching is also one of the<br />
most cost-effective ways of helping<br />
conserve moisture in the<br />
garden.<br />
For maximum effect you<br />
need to apply about 10cm<br />
of organic matter to the soil surface.<br />
Mulch reduces moisture<br />
loss, reduces weed growth and<br />
increases biological activity in<br />
the soil.<br />
Wednesday <strong>December</strong> 1 <strong>2021</strong> <strong>Selwyn</strong> <strong>Times</strong><br />
GARDENING 31<br />
Know when<br />
to harvest<br />
sweet corn<br />
CORN IS ONE of those<br />
quintessential summer vegetables.<br />
The trick when growing your<br />
own corn is knowing when and<br />
how to harvest it.<br />
Mother<br />
Nature often<br />
gives us hints<br />
and tips on how<br />
to know when<br />
crops are ready.<br />
With corn,<br />
you can tell<br />
when this happens by feeling the<br />
end of a cob.<br />
If it’s rounded or blunt rather<br />
than pointed, the ears are ready.<br />
When the ‘corn silk’ or hairs, as<br />
they are sometimes called, dry up<br />
and turn dark brown it’s a sign<br />
the cobs are ready to be picked.<br />
If you don’t trust your judgement,<br />
you can pull back a bit of<br />
the husk and check to see if the<br />
cob looks like it’s ready.<br />
You are best to leave the corn<br />
on the plant to ripen fully before<br />
you harvest.<br />
Sometimes you will find that<br />
your corn cob may not have a lot<br />
of actual corn on each cob.<br />
This is often caused by a lack<br />
or water or nutrients during the<br />
development phase of the corn.<br />
To harvest, simply snap the<br />
whole cobs off the stem of the<br />
plant.<br />
Fun and exercise<br />
all year round<br />
Lagoon Pools import and install quality fibreglass swimming pools. To compliment the pools<br />
they supply good quality equipment including salt water chlorinators, heat pumps, pool lights,<br />
fountains and water features, swim turbines, spa jets, robotic pool cleaners and a range of covers<br />
and roller systems including hidden and automated.<br />
Imported from Leisure Pools in Australia, their Vinyl Ester pools are strong with six layers including<br />
protective armour. Each pool is strength tested and has a lifetime structural and osmosis warranty.<br />
Lagoon Pools owners Julie and Warren are dealers for Leisure Pools in the North Canterbury to<br />
Southland area, and agents for the Elite Hideaway Roller system.<br />
Call Lagoon Pools on 0800 927 282 or 349 2160, email info@lagoonpools.co.nz or visit:<br />
www.lagoonpools.co.nz They are open by appointment only.<br />
www.lagoonpools.co.nz<br />
03 349 2160<br />
0800 92 72 82
Change language