Gardening with Wally Richards: New season

Well here we are at the beginnings of August when a gardener’s ‘Winter Blues’ ends and a new season of planting and growing begins.

Next week Rodney Hide and myself have been asked to do a ‘Spring Planting’ blog on Reality Check Radio (RCR) and The Producer has given us a list of topics to discuss.

So for preparation I will share with you readers the format of the suggested topics (and my answrs)

Preparation including; Garden Bed Clean up, Soil preparation and compost plus Planning for the growing season.

To begin…The garden bed, whether raised or not will likely have a cover crop of weeds or a green crop that was planted at the end of the season.

There maybe a few mature vegetables waiting harvest and so not to delay things you can harvest what is usable to freeze or use.

In the past one would dig over the garden bed turning the cover crop or weeds into the soil to provide the goodness they have gathered for the new seasons plantings.

Times have changed and we now realise that by doing that we are disturbing the soil life and losing the valuable networks they have created.

By leaving the soil undisturbed we have an incredible resource all ready in place that does not have to re-establish itself to accommodate the new plantings.

Instead we will slice off using a knife or a Dutch Hoe the foliage of the weeds and green crop just below the soil surface.

This leaves the roots and soil life associated intact and the roots to rot in the soil feeding both new plants and the vital soil life.

The foliage of the weeds/green crop we leave laying on the soil to be absorbed back into the soil by our soil friends.

A good sprinkling of Wallys Calcium and Health over these decaying plants will increased the alkalinity of the area and create the conditions for the microbes to multiply.

Watering Wallys Mycorrcin at 1mil per litre of NON CHLORINATED water will further increase the break down of the green material.

The reason for non-chlorinated water is so you are not killing the microbes you are working to increase their populations.

A simple housing and filter system on the outside tape will safely remove the harmful chlorine.

See here.

You can leave it all to break down for a while till you are ready to plant and sow your new seasons plants.

But if you want to get started sooner then with a good purchased compost ( my favorites are either Big Value Compost or Garden Basics, 40 litres only about $8.00 a bag) to cover over the green material to depth of about 4-5 cm.

Before you apply the purchased compost over the area you can add some goodies to the benefit of the plants and your own health.

Wallys Real Blood & Bone is a must as it will add sulphur to your crops as well as the natural food source it is.

The sulphur in your crop is a very important element for your health, weight control and taste of the vegetables.

Along with Wallys Real Blood & Bone you can apply any animal or chicken manure you may have or sheep manure pellets.

Then either sprinkle Wallys Ocean solids or Wallys Unlocking your soil to ensure that as many minerals and elements are in your food chain for your well being.

The reason for purchased compost of the two mention is they are not only weed free but also herbicide free too: so no residue harm to plantings of tomatoes, potatoes or beans as well as other food crops.

You can use your own home made compost but if you have not got it right it will likely have weed seeds which you dont need amongst your crop.

Now you are ready to plant seedlings you have sprouted or purchased or sow seeds at the right spacings for the type of vegetable they are and their space needs.

Sowing seeds will achieve better plants than transplanted ones as there is no root disturbance when direct sown.

A matter of interest I recently sprouted 4 varieties of tomato plants from seeds that have been stored in the fridge for the last 25 to 40 years and the strike rate was excellent.

Certainly the best way to store your own collected seeds or ones you have left over from purchased seeds.

The best vegetables, flowers and herbs to plant are simply the ones you want to use or bring colour to your flower gardens.

Only plant the number of each vegetables that you can use in a fortnight. It is pointless to plant more than you can use as they mature as it is a waste.

Then 2 weeks later plant a few more and keep doing that for succession with cabbages, cauliflowers and lettuces etc.

If you sprout or buy more of a variety of vegetable plant than you want to plant out then simply ‘Heel in’ the rest.

That means planting in a bunch which slows their growth and you can lift them later and plant a few more; heeling any in not used for another planting later.

Caution with tender plants like cucumbers, basil, pumpkin etc as they need more heat to do well and will fail or sulk till the weather warms up better like about Labour Weekend time.

Hardy plants like brassica, onions, lettuce do not need any frost protection but they may need some protection from foraging birds and neighboring cats that believe you made this deluxe toilet area for their benefit.

Crop cover or in Mitre 10 garden shops is called Bug Mesh is ideal to put over your young plantings.

Using some ridged alkaline pipe to make hoops that should in the highest point be about a metre.

Place the crop cover over this and on far side hold secure with some soil mounded on it.

The front and sides held down with old 4 x2 or old bricks.

Once in place your plantings are well protected from elements and all pests.

You can easily lift the front part to tend to plants and weeds.

Weekly or more often you can spray the plants with Liquid Sunshine which you make with a tablespoon of molasses in a litre of hot water to dissolve and the add 10 mils of Magic Botanic Liquid per litre.

This will provide extra carbohydrates that your plants dont convert from sunlight so the plants grow better and stronger and will be ready to harvest sooner.

Now your garlic has been planted and sprouted also use the Liquid Sunshine on them every couple of days and to this mix dissolve one aspirin in the Liquid Sunshine mix to help prevent the dreaded Garlic Rust disease.

If you have access to any animal manures then you can make up some wonderful liquid manure to side drench your plants with.

Simply take a plastic rubbish bin with lid and put the manure in to about a third full then add your non chlorinated water to about three quarters full.

Make a paddle out of wood or go to Temu and see the suitable range of paddles they have available.

You stir the manure/water every so often. Advantage is the weed seeds in the manure will float to the top and can be scooped off with a sieve.

After stirring you can ladle out the dark liquid manure and side dress your plants with it.

One of the best foods for plants and soil life and basically free if you have access to manure from a farm or horse stables.

Products mentioned are from Wallys Range of products and can be found in some garden shops or by Mail Order on www.0800466464.co.nz

Problems ring me at: Phone 0800 466464
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