Mind your PEAS
Now is a good time to plan your veges for winter and beyond, writes
THIS WEEK we have had some much-needed rain. Lately, we’ve been enjoying what has become a regular occurrence — a long lingering autumn with calm settled weather. Fine, warm days are contrasted by increasingly cooler nights, reminding us that winter is drawing nearer.
Moisture and warm temperatures are the key to good growth in the gardens for most plants. As I write this, it is around 20C. These temperatures are so good for keeping growth going which is important for getting good size on the brassicas in the vegetable garden before winter arrives and it grinds to a halt.
The unfortunate downside of the continuing warm weather is insect pests. After spraying my brassicas a few weeks ago and thinking that would be the last time for months the population of whitefly and hungry caterpillars has increased, though I suspect by the number of holes I spotted that they are now not so hungry. A spray with Yates Success or Mavrik will keep these in check.
If you haven’t made plantings of winter vegetables then do it now, for as winter draws closer, rain becomes more frequent and frost more likely the garden becomes a much less inviting place. Making the most of fine days it is time for vacant ground to be dug over and fertiliser and or compost added to it. This is the best time to add lime to the soil in your vegetable garden. If you garden on heavy clay soil, the lime helps to combine with the very fine particles of clay soil to form into larger particles that are more easily cultivated.
It is the time to rake up all the leaves as they fall from trees and add them to your compost heap. When composted this is excellent for use in planting and also helps the condition of the soil. Note that leaves generally take longer to break down than other garden compost but a compost activator (Tui Worm Conditioner) is available to speed this process. Materials suitable for composting include; autumn leaves, grass clippings (unsprayed), hedge trimmings, straw, sawdust (untreated), wood ash (untreated), food scraps, vegetable peelings, tea leaves, leafy tree prunings, pine needles, sea weed, animal manure, egg shells and newspaper. Do not include; animal fats, diseased plant material, oxalis or weed seed.
Broad beans are a cool season crop and it is time to start sowings of them now, with a second sowing in June or July. They are normally ready for eating in 16 weeks. They are best grown in full sun in well dug soil and sheltered from the wind. Protect from birds with bird netting.
Place seeds in double rows 10-25cm apart and set the double rows about 90cm apart. This will help ensure that there is good pollination. Sow 5cm deep, cover with fine soil and keep moist. Water regularly as this is important during pod setting. Pods picked at a young stage can be eaten whole although normally they are left to mature and only the beans are eaten. Broad beans like lime and sulphate of potash — apply to the ground before sowing. Check out the variety Mr Green Seed, it is part of a range of seeds called Chefs Best distributed by Ican. Ican brand has been developed by a group of independent garden centres with the aim to put quality and value first. You can sow a row or two of peas if you wish to grow your own. Peas like lime added to the soil. Soak the seeds for four to six hours to hasten germination. If sown now you should be picking them by October. The top variety, that is part of the Chefs Best Ican range is Pea-Magic; it has dark green pods on vigorous high yielding plants. Good resistance to fusarium and powdery mildew means you keep on picking till the last pod is produced.
If you are keen to grow your own onions from seed now is the time to be sowing
GARDENING
sweet red, odourless and of course pukekohe long keeper. The soil for all onions, shallots and garlic should be fertilised with potato food. When planting onions make sure the ground is thoroughly firmed.
If you do not intend to plant a winter vegetable garden, rather than letting the area become invaded with weeds, it is recommended that you sow a green crop. The most popular two are blue lupin and mustard.
Blue lupin is useful for the maintenance of soil fertility. It assists in recycling lost nutrients from your subsoil and adds a good level of nitrogen.
Mustard aids in the control of wire worm nematodes etc, which are problems often associated with root crops (carrots, parsnips etc). Mustard also reduces the chances of any soil-borne diseases within about 40 days of digging in. Brassica may need another treatment for the control of white butterfly caterpillar, whitefly and aphids which are common on brussel sprouts. Plantings of cabbage, cauliflower and broccoli can still be made.
Check brussel sprouts in your garden particularly after strong wind to make sure they are firmly in the ground. Check this and remove any yellow leaves.
This month is a good time to bring out any cloches you have. They are useful in the vegetable garden for warming the soil before sowing peas, onions etc. The warmer the soil, the better the seed germination. This is the time of year to give some attention to your strawberry patch. Over the coming month is the best time to plant new plants as well as cutting back and feeding existing plants. Strawberry plants can be grown on a wide range of soils although medium to fairly heavy acid soils are best within a pH range of 5.8 to 6.2. Soils can be improved with the addition of compost or other organic material. Good drainage is essential. Prepare the strawberry bed by digging in compost or manure several weeks before planting. Polythene or weed mat can be set down to suppress weeds. Spray a good coating of copper spray onto any citrus trees to prevent brown rot. I recommend Growsafe Freeflo Copper. It can also be mixed with Grosafe Enspray 99 which will control scale, thrips, mites and aphids.
Both these products are Bio Gro Organically Certified.
Have a great week!
Gareth Carter is the general manager of Springvale Garden Centre