September in the garden is the start of a busy season for a lot of gardeners. Since my leg is still not up to the task I am busy setting my husband up to sow our next lot of vegetable seeds, pruning our fruit trees (espalier) and also when the ground dries out he will be attacking the pesky weed that have crept into the lawn over the winter. You will also notice in our latest spring issue of Oderings Live & Grow magazine that there are articles on how to espalier fruit trees and also lawn weed identification and sprays to use, as well as many other articles. For your latest free copy of Oderings Live & Grow pop into your local Oderings store or click here to view online.

I promised to talk about seed potatoes when I returned to work so here is what you need to know. Now is the time to purchase seed potatoes. Once you have picked the variety you want to grow you need to let the potatoes sprout before you plant. This is done by putting in a warm sunny spot (inside). Once they have sprouted (takes around 7-10 days) then they are ready to plant. You can plant potatoes into the garden or into potato bags, recycle bins, planter tubs, buckets or pots.

• When planting into containers you need to fill up the bottom with 10cm of soil, add a layer of potatoes (in a 50cm round bucket you would use seven) then add 10-15cm of soil. When the potatoes have grown to 15cm above the soil add more soil to cover 2/3 of the stems. Once they have grown to 15cm above the soil again fill up the rest of the container and then leave them be until maturity date.
• When planting into the garden dig a trench 10cm wide by 20-30cm deep. Add lines of the seed spuds and place 30cm apart. when the foliage has grown to 15cm above the soil mound soil up 2/3 around the stems. Once the foliage has grown to 15cm repeat the above and then leave to grow for the recommended maturity date.

You may not realise but not all varieties of seed potatoes flower, so don't be overly concerned if this does not happen. Its also important to note that potatoes are a root crop therefore they need a fertiliser that aids in root growth. These fertilisers are called Superphosphate, Biophos or for the best results use Potato Fertiliser. Also its imperative that seed spuds growth does not get frosted. Did you know that you can grow potatoes just about anywhere in the garden as long as there is light and they get regular water while growing. They are also one of the best crops to help break up clay soil.

Other Garden Jobs For September

• Sow spring/summer flowering bedding plants now. Keep frost tender varieties inside, they will then be ready to plant come October. Varieties to sow/plant now include Alyssum, Begonia, Cosmos , Dianthus, Gazania, Gerbera, Impatiens, Marigolds , Petunia, Nasturtium, Salvia , Sweet Peas, Verbena and Viscaria. Remember you can buy seeds online at www.oderings.co.nz  Key: Frost Tender plants are in red.
• Protect plants with slug bait, especially when you are planting petunias etc.
• Plant Dahlia tubers, Gladioli and Begonia corms now for summer display and feed the spring flower bulbs (tulips, daffodils etc) with Bulb Fertiliser to help with the flowering for next year.
• Now is the time to pick Rhododendrons and Camellias as many varieties are about to come into flower.
• Dig plenty of compost into your spring veggie patch, adding plenty of lime is important with brassicas (cabbage, cauli, broccoli) and will generally double their size. Veggie seeds/plants to plant now include carrots, parsnip, beetroot, silverbeet, peas, leeks, cabbage, tomatoes, capsicum, courgette, cucumber and egg plant. Key: Frost tender plants are in red and need warm soil and climate to survive, if unsure please ask you local store or leave until the end of the month to plant.
• Feed existing citrus fruit trees now with a Citrus & Fruit Tree Fertiliser.
• Prune passionfruit and feijoas to encourage new growth and fruiting.
• Spray stone fruit trees with Copper to protect from leaf curl.
• Sow new lawn seed - seed must be kept moist and frost free. Now is also the time to feed existing lawns with Oderings Lawn Replenish, Scotts Lawn Builder or Oderings Lawn Fertiliser.
• PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE remember to get rid of prickle weed in your lawn you need to spray it before it flowers (generally in october) for two years in a row.

Anyway I think that should keep you (and my husband) busy for a while. A BIG thanks for all of your emails that helped keep me sane with my 5 months off work, there was an overwhelming number of people that emailed me and there are about 10 people i still have not managed to get back to (yet). Once again if i can be of any assistance please feel free to email me at pamela@odering.co.nz