| KITCHEN
GARDEN
Vegetables
• Garlic bulbs will be available to plant in late May.
Plant amongst your roses to deter aphis.
Prepare the soil prior to planting with an application of
General Fertiliser and a handful of Superphosphate. Break
the bulb into individual cloves and plant 5cm deep with the
point facing upwards. The plants will produce leafy growth
through the cold weather. Use some of these leaves to add
a sweet garlic flavour to stir-fries but not too many as the
bulb will suffer.
During spring water regularly with Thrive Flower & Fruit
Soluble Plant Food. Do not give garlic too much nitrogen as
this will promote lots of leaves but not fat bulbs.
The bulbs will mature in the summer when the tops begin to
yellow and die back. Improve bulb development by bending the
tops over as soon as the leaf tips start to discolour.
Pull out the plants when the leaves have turned completely
yellow and hang them in a dry, airy place for a few weeks.
Also in May:
• Plant - broad beans, broccoli, carrots, savoy cabbage,
cauliflower, lettuce, mizuna, parsley, peas, onion, radish,
silver beet and spinach
• Lightly cultivate developing winter crops and water
on a liquid manure if the soil is dry or a foliar fertiliser
spray if the soil is too wet
• Spray celery, cabbages and cauliflower with Bravo
or Champion Copper to check fungus diseases and leaf spots
• Sow vacant areas of garden with a green crop of mustard
or blue lupin that can then be dug into the soil in spring
• Dig in compost
• Feed compost by sprinkling each layer with sheep pellets
or a light sprinkling of Garden Lime or Dolomite Lime
Fruit
• Feijoas – Spray with Conqueror Oil to protect
against hard wax scale
• Citrus – Spray with Champ DP and Conqueror Oil
to prevent verrucosis, kill scale and destroy insect eggs
.
ORNAMENTAL GARDEN
General
• Begin to water hydrangeas with ‘Blueing Tonic’,
re-applying every two to three weeks right through to flowering
time. This tonic not only keeps your blue hydrangeas blue
it will help grow stronger and more vigorous plants. It can
also be used to boost other acid loving plants such as azaleas
and camellias
• Lightly prune proteas after flowering for blooms next
year. If the bush needs severe pruning to keep tidy this will
result in a loss of flowers for two to three years
• Lift dahlia tubers and gladioli corms. Dust with Flowers
of Sulphur before storing in a dry place.
• Cut back the top growth of daisies and geraniums
• Cut off the old foliage from Helleborus orientalis
to let in light and promote flowering
Bulbs
• Plant lily bulbs. Read more about planting and care
of lilies here >>
LAWNS
• Keep clear of fallen autumn leaves |
