Can you believe that Christmas is nearly upon us? Take time and relax in this busy season by getting back to nature and enjoying your garden.

December In The Garden...

Don’t think you have run out of time to plant a veggie patch, in fact between now and late April is such an important time to do so. If you plant now you will have plenty of veggies ready in 3 months time just as the supermarkets start getting expensive again.

Veggies & Herbs To Plant Now Include...

Dwarf beans and peas at 2-3 week intervals & climbing at 6-8.

Plant broccoli, cabbage, lettuces, cauliflower, carrots, beetroot & spring onion at four weekly intervals for a continual autumn harvest.

Sow from seed or plant seedlings of leeks, onions, brussel sprouts, chives, coriander, parsley, silverbeet, spinach & celery.

You still have time to plant potatoes, peppers, basil, cucumber & zucchini.

Insects and Fungus Protection...

Apply Derris Dust or Neem Oil (both natural products) to brassicas as white butterflies are appearing

Mound up potatoes with soil to prevent potato tuber moth damage.

Regular spraying is needed especially for caterpillars, white fly, blight, and mildew.

Continue fortnightly spraying of roses.

Spray pip and stonefruit with Greenguard for black spot and brown rot control. Greenguard is also good for controlling powdery mildew on pumpkins, marrows and other cucubits.

Feeding...

Further applications of fertiliser will help increase the size of fruit on trees.

Feed lawns with a slow release fertiliser such as Scott's Lawn Builder or Oderings Lawn Replenish.

Apply a side dressing of rose fertiliser to encourage summer growth and flowering.

Time to Harvest... (depending on when you planted)

Asparagus, beetroot, beans, cabbage, carrots, cauliflower, lettuce, onions, potatoes, silverbeet, tomatoes, strawberries & raspberries.

Garlic should be ready for lifting on the longest day – 22 December.

Also...

Do not allow gardens to dry out. Water early morning or early evening to help minimise water evaporation. By applying mulch to the garden you will help keep the soil from drying out, saving a lot of watering.

By cutting lawns higher than normal it will help to prevent them drying out.

Re-pot orchids or any other winter/spring flowering houseplants.

Keep strawberries well protected from birds with bird netting.

Tip of the month...

Often when I plant coriander it goes straight to seed, and the other day I found out why. It is because it has been put under stress, so for a stress free coriander plant tap it out of the pot and plant straight away; don’t attempt to split or disturb the roots in anyway.

Did you know Oderings can take all the hassle out of Christmas shopping when you shop online at www.oderings.co.nz not only do we sell gift vouchers we also have gifts, gift boxes and garden accessories that we will wrap and send to the lucky recipients house. You can also now buy all Oderings seeds online with over 150 varieties to choose from.

The Oderings family and staff would like to thank you for your support throughout the year. We wish you all a safe and Merry Christmas and New Years.