Selwyn Times: January 25, 2023

Wednesday January 25 2023 Selwyn Times
Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz
GARDENING 41
Late season veges, flowers and fruit
Vegetables
Keeping the soil hoed at this
time of year not only keeps down
weed seedlings but also gives
vegetables an effective mulch of
broken soil that prevents loss
of moisture lower down in the
ground.
In most of the South Island,
sowing seeds this late for late
autumn and winter vegetables
is a chancy matter, although
experience of individual plots is
the best guide. Keeping a garden
diary with sowing and maturity
dates is well worth the effort for
the valuable record it gives.
An alternative to a diary is a
sturdy exercise book divided into
sections for plants, so carrots, for
example, are all together, with
varieties and sowing/maturity
dates listed year by year with
relevant notes.
Small carrot varieties, such as
the mini baby and mini sweet,
are best for late-season sowings.
Chinese cabbages, kohl rabi,
spinach, parsley and turnips can
be sown.
Plant out broccoli, late celery
and leeks. Lift onions, garlic
and shallots when the tops
turn yellow. Harvest on a dry
day, gently shaking off as much
loose soil as possible. Store in a
dry place. Garlic can be stored
by tying the tops together and
hanging under cover. Ground
GREENS: Chinese cabbages, kohl rabi, spinach, parsley, turnips, broccoli, late celery and leeks can be planted at the
end of January.
for next season’s crop of onions
should be prepared now with
plenty of stable manure or
compost and some lime. Never
let rhubarb seed, as it saps the
strength of the roots and inhibits
the storing of nutrients for next
season’s growth.
Flowers
Now is the time to lift springflowering
bulbs and corms. Soon
after the leaves die down, bulbs
begin to grow new roots, so
transplanting should be carried
out before the roots get under
way. This is the best time to
take hydrangea cuttings. Look
for firm shoots that have not
flowered this season. Cut pieces
about 10cm long, cut off lower
leaves, dip in rooting hormone
powder and push cuttings
around the edge of a pot of damp
potting mix to which a handful
or two of gravel has been added.
Cover with a plastic bag to hold
in moisture and leave in a cool
place until well rooted.
Fruit
Outdoor tomatoes should be
growing well and although more
usually used in the glasshouse,
fruit-setting can be used to get
a good set from each spray of
flowers. Once the tiny tomatoes
form, a weekly application of
liquid manure diluted to pale tea
colour can be given as well as the
usual watering.
As blackcurrants (Ribes
nigrum) are picked, the bushes
can be pruned. Remove old
branches that have borne fruit
to let light in and air circulate.
Next year’s fruit grows on this
season’s growth, so do not
be over-enthusiastic about
cutting back new growth. In
contrast, redcurrants (ribes
rubrum) and their albino form,
the whitecurrant, fruit on old
wood, so new growth should be
pruned to half to two-thirds of
its length. Cut out old wood after
four or five years of producing
fruit. Prunings can be used to
propagate more currant bushes.
Take straight pieces, 20cm to
30cm long, and push well down
around the edge of a pot of moist
soil to which some compost
and sand has been added. Water
well and cover the pot with an
opaque plastic bag, tucking the
ends underneath.
Leave it in a cool spot and
forget about it for at least a
month, by which time growth
should have begun. At this point,
the bag can be cut across the
top to begin hardening off the
cuttings.
Keep the soil moist and
transplant next spring.
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Garden
In the
with intelligro
As we near the end of
January, we head into
what can often be the
hottest, driest time of
the year. It is important
to keep your plants and
lawn as well-watered as
you can, doing so in the
early morning or later
afternoon.
Investing in an irrigation
system is well worth the
money. If you haven’t already,
add some mulch to help retain
moisture in the soil, keep the
weeds down and protect your
plant’s roots from the sun.
Intelligro Hire
Did you know we have range of hire tools to help you
with your DIY backyard project? Check out our website
for more information about the equipment we have for
half and full day hire.
www.igro.nz
Top tasks this month
• Feed your tomatoes and
remove laterals
• Remove weeds as they
appear
• Remove spent flowers
from plants, this will
encourage new growth
• Add mulch or decorative
stones
In the Veggie Garden
Now is great for planting
these varieties
• Beetroot • Beans
• Carrots • Leek
• Lettuce • Parsley
August – April opening hours:
Mon – Sat 7am – 5.30pm, Sun 8.30am – 4.30pm
www.igro.nz /igro.co.nz /intelligro_nz
261 Manion Road, Weedons 7677 | P: 03 347 9012 | E: info@igro.co.nz