Selwyn_Times: September 28, 2022

Selwyn Times Wednesday September 28 2022
32
GARDENING
EDIBLE GARDENS have never
been more popular and one of the
easiest of fruits to cultivate is the
strawberry.
Because of their compact habit,
strawberries can be grown in
hanging baskets, containers or the
aptly-named strawberry pots, as
well as the usual raised-up garden
beds.
Strawberries have a long history.
They are traditionally thought
of as having European origins
but wild species are also found in
North and South America.
Modern day strawberries tend
to have very mixed heritage,
which has made them stronger
than their ancestors.
They’re also sweeter, less woody,
more prolific and less affected by
day length. They can begin cropping
in a matter of weeks and will
go on producing for much of the
year, especially in warmer areas.
•Strawberries in the garden
– Choose a sunny position
that hasn’t grown strawberries
for a number of years and dig
in some organic compost. Plant
strawberry runners or seedlings
into raised-up mounds, and apply
a layer of mulch.
Debate rages as the origin of the
strawberry’s name. Some say that
it’s a corruption of ‘strew berry’,
Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz
Strawberries are easy to
cultivate in edible garden
so-called because the berries are
strewn along the stems.
Others insist that the name
refers to the straw that is often
used as a mulch around the
plants, which is a useful reminder
of how important it is to mulch
the plants, both to retain moisture
and to keep the fruit cleanly
above the soil.
Pea straw or lucerne hay make a
good a mulch.
Remove runners, unless you
want to use them to propagate
some new plants (which should
be done every three years or so).
•Strawberries in pots
– Start by choosing a suitable
container. Fill with a top quality
potting mix and plant the strawberries.
Water in well.
Feed occasionally with plant
food and watch out for snails and
slugs.
•Strawberries in hanging
baskets – This is a fun way to
grow strawberries, but the main
challenge with growing any plant
in a hanging basket is that it’s
much more vulnerable to drying
out.
Line moss baskets with plastic
sheet and poke in a few holes for
drainage.
Fill with a hanging basket
mix which contains added soil
wetters and water-storing crystals.
Ripe berries look particularly
decorative dangling from a
basket.
Keep magnolias cool
THE ONSET of spring is the time
when the deciduous magnolias
are at their best.
September seems to force these
gorgeous flowers to open in a
rush.
The breathtaking sight of the
large, tulip-like blooms perching
on bare branches can send
passers-by rushing to the nursery
to buy something similar. There
are dozens of magnolia varieties,
and making a choice can be a
formidable task.
The names are confusing so it’s
usually easiest to forget nomenclature
and just go for the flower
you like most (remembering,
of course, to check the ultimate
height on the label).
Most grow into small trees but,
if space is tight, look for one of
the shrub-sized star magnolias.
Because magnolias come from
cool climates with rich, moistureholding
soil, keeping them happy
through hot New Zealand summers
can be a challenge.
It’s important to take the opportunity
to improve the soil as
much as possible before planting.
Choose a spot that gets at least
half a day’s sun and is protected
from strong winds.
Start by clearing grass or
ground-covering plants from an
area about a metre across, then
dig plenty of manure or good
compost and some longlasting
fertiliser into the soil.
Because magnolias hate being
dry, it can also be helpful to add
some water-storing crystals into
the planting area.
Create a planting hole that’s
about twice the size of the pot
and approximately the same
depth. Take the plant out of the
pot with care (magnolias hate
root disturbance) and sit it into
the planting hole.
Backfill, then water well to
settle everything into place.
Lastly, spread a layer of organic
mulch. This will keep the soil
moist and stop competitive grass
from growing back over the root
area.
Once the magnolia is well
established you can plant some
bulbs around the base to add
extra interest in late winter and
spring.
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