FRUITS of your labours
Many gardens are thriving in thenewyear— the positive result of the time and energy thatwas transferred to the home garden during themore difficult times of 2020.
January is an extremely rewarding month in the garden, with crops abound fromthe veggie garden, raspberry patch and delicious summer pip and stone fruit.
Fruit trees
The first of summer pip and stone fruit ripen thismonth.
Apricots, cherries, nectarines, peaches and plums are all ready for harvest.
With fruit trees that were planted in winter 2020, ensure they are adequately watered to encourage strong, healthy growth.
Mulching also helpswith water retention and suppresses weeds.
Strawberries
Traditionally strawberries finish around Christmas time.
Howevernewvarieties have extended harvest timewell into January. Mulch the plants with crushed bark or pea straw and water regularly to helpmaintain healthy growth.
Plants will start growing runners in January, these are your next seasons plants. Where there are excessive runners, cut and remove them.
Roses
The easymonths of rose cultivation are unfortunately over. As temperatures and humidity rise, the care of roses becomesmuchmore challenging.
If pests or diseases do appear, apply a good-quality horticultural oil at 3-4 weekly intervals until the end of the season (aroundapril).
Youalso need to reapply after rainfall as protection will be washed off— this canmean spraying several days apart.
Tohelp reduce black spot and rust, maintain your roses in good physical condition throughout the summer months with regular watering and mulching.
Avoid fertilising plants during summerwhenrose plants are heat stressed.
Deadhead (removal of finished blooms) your roses once aweek to encourage continued flowering.
Alight summer prune, especially on vigorous growing varieties is beneficial and is often rewarded with displays of blooms inlate-summer/ early autumn.
Formore gardening advice or information on the wide range of Daltons products, visit www.daltons.co.nz