WHAT TO DO IN THE GARDEN THIS WEEK

2022-04-30 - BY BARBARA SMITH

Sow poppies to commemorate Anzac Day

Red soldier poppies (Papaver rhoeas) are the classic symbol of remembrance. They can grow up to

cm tall, and their single, red bowl-shaped owers traditionally provide splashes of colour in early summer. In New Zealand, poppies are sown around the time of Anzac Day (April 25), so that they are owering by Remembrance Day on November .

Poppies prefer a site with well-drained soil and full sun. Sow poppy seeds direct over bare soil and rake them in. If you prefer, you can also raise the seed in containers and transplant the seedlings in spring. Feed plants in early spring with a controlled-release fertiliser. They’re wonderful wild owers for gardens because, once established, they’ll self-seed and pop up charmingly in random spots but they aren’t overly invasive.

On the shady side

My ngers type the phrase, prefers full sun and welldrained soil , so o en when I’m writing about veges and owers that it is almost automatic. So it comes as a pleasant change to report that quite a few bulbs cope with both shade and damp.

The bulbs to consider for the south side of the house or that soggy garden bed, are those adapted to life in woodlands or alpine meadows with poor drainage that are saturated with snowmelt from late winter to early spring. Some direct sun is bene cial but not essential. Damp conditions are tolerated but the soil shouldn’t be saturated all the time.

Think of dri s of bluebells naturalised in the dappled shade under woodland trees. Dogtooth violets (Erythronium) also thrive in rich soil under trees and shrubs and so do crocuses.

Leucojums, commonly known as snow akes, grow well in northern and southern areas and naturalise under deciduous trees where they get sun during the winter and shade in spring and summer. They’re o en confused with true snowdrops which prefer cooler parts of the country.

Chionodoxa, glory of the snow, are cold lovers too as they appear as the snow melts in their native Europe. Give them a cool, shady site with a little sun in spring and summer. Fritillaria also need the chill and are not suitable for warmer districts. Give them a cold, shady position, with some a ernoon sun.

Gardening under cover

Now’s a good time for cleaning cold frames, tunnelhouses and cloches, while the weather’s still warm and drying o is a breeze.

Scrape if you need to, but be very careful with puncturable polytunnels. Use an eco-detergent or vinegar and baking soda to clean glass or polycarbonate panes and scrub down benches. Those will do the job very well and can be safely washed o into the soil. lean out any cracks that may be harbouring snails and other pests like slaters and earwigs looking for a warm spot to spend the winter.

I grow spinach, mesclun and microgreens in my mini greenhouse over winter. Spinach does grow outside all winter in Auckland, but my under-cover plants grow very quickly and stay clean and tender – perfect for picking leaf by leaf to eat raw in salads. The outdoor spinach leads a rough and ready life and tends to end up cooked in stir-fries or quiches if the snails don’t get it rst.

If you’re lucky enough to have a full size greenhouse or tunnelhouse try growing kale inside. Kale is tough and survives outdoors, but given a comfy possie undercover it will reward you with an abundance of lush, tender leaves.

Try spuds inside too. Place the seed potato on the soil surface or in a large pot and cover with mulch. As the tops grow, build up the mulch to keep the tubers out of the light. This way they’ll be warmer than if they were buried in soil.

Bring frost-tender plants like citrus and chillies inside if you live in a region with bitter frosts. It might seem early, but better than too late. A frosted lemon tree recovers slowly, if at all. Sit them as near to the centre of your glasshouse as you can.

hilli plants in pots can be overwintered successfully in a greenhouse or even a conservatory. The plants may look a bit the worse for wear by late winter, but come spring they’ll be in ower much earlier than new seedlings. If your chilli plants are in the ground, rig up a frame around them to support frost cloth or a clear plastic cover.

Plant peas before it’s too cold

Peas are in the legume family which means their roots harbour bacteria that will nitrogen in the soil – this makes them ideal to go in a garden bed where root crops have been harvested to refresh the soil so it is readyforleafygreensne tspringandsummer. Planting now will get the peas up and started before the cold of winter sets in but they do not like wet feet, so ensure the garden bed has good drainage. Make some sort of frame to support the growing plants and poke the seeds in about 2cm deep and cm apart. over from birds as they will enjoy plucking the new seedlings out and lay slug bait. Ensure the seed stays moist but don’t over water as it tends to rot if too wet.

WIN! A $50 GIFT CARD

A $50 gift card goes to the first correct entry opened for Barbara Brown’s Weekend Prize Crossword. Email answers to cryptic@stuff.co.nz. The competition closes at noon on Friday and the solution will be published next week.

WINNER

Christchurch.

of the $50 voucher for crossword 706 on April 16 is Mark Hornby Congratulations, Mark.

CROSSWORD SOLUTION 707 Across:

1 Racing, 5 Woodcock, 9 Unharmed, 10 Second, 11 Blue cheese, 12 Roué, 13 Gagsters, 16 Elapse, 17 Joints, 19 Purchase, 21 Serf, 22 Cattle prod, 25 Ledger, 26 Whacking, 27 Stands by, 28 Turkey.

Down:

from

2 Annul, 3 Irate, 4 Gumshoe, 5 Widgets, 6 Obscene, 7 Cockroach, 8 Conquests, 14 Atonement, 15 Son of a gun, 18 Secures, 19 Put away, 20 Reliant, 23 Poker, 24 Ounce.

// ACROSS 1

Extremely satanic youth leader with the reaper’s tool (6) Mr Cooper admits disappearance of the word list (8)

Looks after the potters upset about Copyright (8) Penalty around the Spanish cat (6)

The presentation of a proposal requires resignation? (10)

Sell the whip (4)

The setter is after a timepiece for the guardian? (8) The fish in the ship trembles (6)

What the umpire calls at the end of day baffles (6) Sequester the tourists, initially within the coast (3-5) The buckboard holds a pig (4) Rule about a relative holding a shortened gun (10) Reckon the firebug is confused missing the start of the bonfire (6)

Drew out that the old priest was spotted I hear (8) Expired photo of a marksman (4,4)

Simple after King George becomes unctuous (6)

5 9 10 11

12 13

16 17 19

21 22

25 26 27 28 // DOWN 2

One hundred and four developed the Mediterranean island (5)

A pole for half of them going after the child (5)

Cut out but trained without the Queen (7)

Showing amazement at the joke about a type of delivery (7)

Displeases with a kinky send-off (7)