Pansy Planter
Henri Ham shares tips on saving produce and refreshing gardens with flowers and native plants.
It has been such a tough start to the year. The recent weather has caused a bit of upset, and damaged crops. It’s a reminder that gardening is a continuous process of learning. Now, it’s time to preserve the surplus produce and prepare the garden beds for the colder months. The good news is that it’s also the time to freshen up the gardens with flowering plants to encourage more pollinators and keep the vegetables producing. Fresh and healthy vegetables, and herbs truly are backyard treasures. Planting seedlings saves you precious time. It’s also time for planting natives!
Garden maintenance
Remove summer vegetables that have withered away.
Be on the lookout for slugs.
Continue to tidy up the garden by trimming hedges, mowing the lawn, and weeding.
Separate clumps of perennials.
Add nutrients to your soil.
Mulch to keep the moisture in the ground.
Edible garden
Brassicas, such as broccoli, cabbage, and cauliflower, thrive in this season. If you’re looking for some variety, consider adding beets. You may also want to plant onions, carrots, or leeks where you previously had brassicas. Move the brassicas to a new bed with high-quality soil. If you have limited beds, it’s a good idea to add a bit more compost.
Crop rotation is beneficial in preventing or minimizing the risk of diseases and pests, as soil can become depleted and develop a build-up of disease-causing pathogens.
Brassicas are heavy feeders and require well-draining, high-quality soil. Space brassica varieties about 50cm apart. If you have limited garden space, growing cabbages in containers (approximately 30-35 litre containers) could be an option. You may plant approximately five cabbages in a 35-litre container. Try planting spring onions in the same container as a great companion plant for cabbages. Containers may also be a good alternative for some frost-sensitive plants in areas with cooler climates, as they can be moved to areas with more sun or inside a greenhouse.
If you have an abundance of tomatoes or zucchini, it’s a good time to start preserving them (eg tomato or zucchini relish).
Fill your garden spaces with fast-growing lettuces to maximise garden space.
Here are our recommended vegetables for your garden this autumn: kale/cavolo nero, pak choy, spinach, lettuces, rocket, beetroot, carrots, celery, kohlrabi and brassicas (broccoli, broccolini, cabbages, brussel sprouts, cauliflower).
Flower garden
Keep your flower garden blooming with beautiful, mildly fragrant stock flowers. They have stunning displays and are a perfect choice for cut flowers and indoor floral arrangements. There are tall and short varieties available throughout autumn to create a layered look.
Autumn is a time for pansies, violas, lobelia, cornflower, polyanthus, sweet pea and lavender.
Herb garden
Consider growing strong-smelling herbs such as thyme and sage, as they are useful companion plants for brassicas (broccoli and cabbages) as they help repel pests. Mint, chives and oregano can handle colder climates.
Natives
Autumn is the perfect time
to plant a wider range of
native plants. Natives
enjoy the cooler
breeze and appreciate wet weather. If you’re in a warmer region of New Zealand and are considering planting natives now, place them in a sheltered area and water them regularly until more rain comes and the days become shorter.
You may also want to consider starting your native hedges this season. Pittosporum, griselinia and ake ake varieties are fast-growing natives that are great for hedges. Whilst you can plant them at any time of the year, they would love a slightly warmer soil and the rain to get established more quickly.
Flaxes are great options for erosion control if you have a river or stream flowing through your property.
Landscaping options
Ornamental grasses, such as emerald green hebes, black mondo grass, festuca actae and carex (red and green), are popular choices for newly-built homes and sections because of their stylish, minimalist look.