Spring planting season is upon us
DEB TAPP
The colder months are over and the warmer, sunnier days are upon us, which means it’s the perfect time to get out in the garden and start planting.
Leighton Davies, plant buyer for Lower Hutt-based garden store California Home and Garden, says now is the ideal time to plant out the likes of berries, summer edibles, potatoes and a variety of bedding plants.
Vegetable-wise, it’s also a good time to plant the likes of silverbeet, lettuce, spinach, beetroot, broccoli, cauliflower, as well as herbs, such as parsley and coriander.
Herbs, as a general rule, enjoy as much sun as possible, and good draining soil, says Leighton.
Silverbeet and spinach prefer full sun or partially shady spots, while lettuce, broccoli and cauliflower always do best in full sun.
Ideally off-season, Leighton says it’s important to feed the garden beds - dig through some compost and general fertiliser into the existing soil, then add some mulch.
“Coming into summer the ground can get quite dry, so if you get your mulching done now, it will help retain the moisture through the drier months,” explains Leighton.
“You can do all of this in a day, plant your new plants and water through compost and fertiliser through your existing plants.
“You can also put in some garden lime - it can help to sterilise any fungal problems that might be potentially lingering in the soil.”
Once the vegetables are in the ground, it’s also a good idea to put down some slug bait and consider bird netting.
“This is especially important for berries, strawberries, blueberries… young seedlings can be targeted by birds and slugs and snails,” says Leighton.
As your plants grow, keep an eye out for pests, birds or slugs.
“Look out for aphids in particular, a few weeks down the track,” says Leighton.
To check for aphids get down close to the plant and inspect each one.
If you can’t see them, telltale signs of sap-sucking insects like aphids, scale and thrips, include deformed or wrinkled up leaves, or yellowing of leaves.
“Look for any signs of stress, such as deformed flowers, leaves and yellowing what generally happens is that bugs drink the sap out of the plant which means it’s not supplied to the leaf.”
Potatoes can be planted from now until March, depending on the variety, either in the ground, containers or grow bags.
The beauty of grow bags is that the spuds are placed in the bottom and covered with soil, then as the plant grows more soil is placed on top to bury the leaves.
“It’s a very easy way to grow potatoes,” says Leighton.
Edibles aside, bedding plants can be planted out now too.
“Bedding plants will brighten up any space, they add pops of colour either in garden beds, containers or hanging baskets,” says Leighton.
They can also help attract bees for pollination.
“Planting bee and butterfly-friendly plants will encourage pollination for your edible plants and get more life into the garden,” says Leighton.
Blue-flowered plants like borage, salvias, rosemary and lavender are ideal, and the likes of single-flowered daisies and sunflowers are easier for bees to get into than a double-petalled flowers, he says.
“And it’s good to talk to and encourage children about the importance of bees for pollinating our edible plants.”
The swan plant season is upon us, and a great way to get children into the garden and learn about life cycles, says Leighton.
“The ones we have here are spray-free and are in hot demand so they sell out fast.”
Also popular right now is the new mildew-resistant strain of Impatiens, suitable for partially shaded or sheltered sites.
Marigolds and petunias are also popular, while chrysanthemums, cosmos, geraniums and pelargoniums are ideal for filling gaps. All prefer sunny positions.
“They all flower well through spring and summer in containers, hanging baskets or in garden beds,” says Leighton.
In order for them to thrive, he stresses the importance of preparing the beds before planting, ideally in winter and/or early spring.
In containers and hanging baskets, use a premium potting mix, which will feature fertiliser and water storage crystals to help prevent drying out over the warmer months.
In garden beds, mix in compost and a general fertiliser to replace nutrients from last season before planting out the flowering perennials.
Adding fertiliser will help to promote flowering, whether it’s bedding plants or fruit trees.
One question Leighton is commonly is asked is why certain plants or trees aren’t flowering when they should be.
Often it’s because there is an excess of nitrogen, he says, or lack of light depending on the plant or lack of trace elements.
Phosphorus and potassium fertilisers can help, says Leighton.
“I’ll ask what they’re feeding the plant and the answer is often sheep pallets and blood and bone.
“People assume it’s a complete food when it’s more a source of nitrogen – it’s good to put down, but complement it with an actual plant food.”
“Otherwise the plants will take up most of that nitrogen, which promotes leaf growth but the plants won’t necessarily actively flower.
“Everybody has their way of doing things when they garden, it’s just a matter of what works best for the individual and what successes they’ve had in the past.”