New year spells hope and the anticipation of a better future... and this is the essence of gardening. Not only does it hold a promise of a fruitful endeavour, it also encourages diligent, purposeful work. January is the height of summer in New Zealand and many gardeners are realising the results of their efforts. Tomatoes, garlic, zucchinis, basil, beans and chillies, potatoes, capsicums, brassicas, beans, eggplants, cucumbers, celery, corn, pumpkins fill our gardens. Colourful flowers surround us - petunias, impatiens, hollyhocks, roses, geraniums, gazanias, marigolds, lavender, sunflowers, alyssums, dianthus, rengarenga lilies, foxgloves, lupins are the key bloomers this season.
As we enjoy harvesting and picking flowers, there's also a few things to do in the garden.
Garden Maintenance
Keep deadheading spent flowers to keep them producing more.
It's time to trim your older hedges.
Keep weeding.
Keep an eye out for blossom rot, aphids, and powdery mildew. Remove the affected fruits.
Consider different preservation tips for excess produce.
Vegetable and Herb Garden
Preserving is a keyword this season. Try pickling garlic in good olive oil. Chillies can be dried. Onions can be pickled with pepper and dill. Keep picking veggies to encourage them to fruit more. Trim the lower leaves of adult/fruiting tomato plants to help conserve resources and reduce risk of disease. Vegetable baskets can be great gifts for loved ones and friends if you have an excess. Sunflowers can be roasted for a different and delicious treat.
Always plant herbs in your garden as they can be natural pest killers. Plus they offer wonderful flavours to meals. If you let some of your herbs bloom, they'd definitely bring in beneficial pollinators.
It's a good time to plant basil, thyme, coriander, sage, chives, mint and rosemary. Lemongrass loves the warm weather and summer is a good time to add it in your garden. Rosemary is now ready for planting but note that it can't handle very cold (negative temperatures) and needs protection from the frost.
We suggest adding broccolini, carrots, chillies, beetroot, kohlrabi, sweetcorn, lettuces, spinach, silverbeet, onions, leek, celery in your vegetable garden.
We have some superfoods like okra and bittermelon seedlings as well this summer available in our online shop.
Flower Garden
Remember to plant annual and perennial flowers to add colour and bring pollinators to the garden until autumn. To keep plants healthy during the hot summer months, it is important to water regularly, use mulch, and remove the competing weeds. It's a great time to plant gazanias, cosmos, marigolds, lobelias, lavender, aster, catmint, canterbury bells, echinacea, delphinium, geranium, daisies, dahlias, portulaca, vinca and zinnias. These plants are available at Awapuni Nurseries during the summer months.
Natives
NZ natives can be planted all throughout the year. If you are planning to create a native garden, you may want to consider established native carex grasses and hebes. Awapuni Nurseries has several hebe varieties that produce delightful purple, pink and lilac flowers. It is important to make sure the plants are well-watered during the establishment phase.
For more tips, check our gardening guides. View our planting calendar to see which plants are in season.
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