I am struggling. This is the first winter/spring in NZ and I really don't know what to plant when.
Las year we were late with a lot of things, due to when we bought the place.
We are pretty well frost free here (a grand total of 4 frosts what most people have called a very cold winter)
we are very hot in summer (heading towards the 40s) with low rain fall, but we irrigate.
what goes in when? most books seem to be for the north island.
I am wanting to get as many seeds as practical sown this weekend, but i don't know which. Some have it on the packet, some I collected, some i Was given.
NZ people help - seed planting
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possum
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NZ people help - seed planting
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farmerdrea
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I think your micro-climate is quite similar to the NI's weather, so I'd go for following those guidelines. Over near Oxford, we can get frosts and the occasional snow till November!, so I don't get much going via seeds, and use starts from Awapuni Nursery instead, which I buy direct from them. If I were you, I'd be seeding all my cool weather greens now - lettuces, spinaches, silver beet, leeks, brassicas, etc.
Cheers
Andrea
NZ
Cheers
Andrea
NZ
Try not to get too carried away with seeds yet, winter's not over - she's probably just having a breather!
Also, I don't know if you are planning on planting directly into the soil, or into pots first, but your soil won't have warmed up enough yet, even if the days are warmer. Maybe sow into pots now, and shelter them somewhere, for planting out in a month or so.
Also, I don't know if you are planning on planting directly into the soil, or into pots first, but your soil won't have warmed up enough yet, even if the days are warmer. Maybe sow into pots now, and shelter them somewhere, for planting out in a month or so.
Gidday
Well Possum, I believe that you will have to learn about your own micro climate yourself. The way to do that is simply plant anything you like and note what goes good and what doesn't.
A packet of seed don't cost much and you only have to try a few at a time so just plant whatever you would like to grow and see how it goes. Where you are should be O.K. to plant any vege plants now but don't put too many in at a time.
Our weather often gives us a false spring then comes back to bight you on the bum.
Well Possum, I believe that you will have to learn about your own micro climate yourself. The way to do that is simply plant anything you like and note what goes good and what doesn't.
A packet of seed don't cost much and you only have to try a few at a time so just plant whatever you would like to grow and see how it goes. Where you are should be O.K. to plant any vege plants now but don't put too many in at a time.
Our weather often gives us a false spring then comes back to bight you on the bum.
Cheers
just a Rough Country Boy.
just a Rough Country Boy.
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possum
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well it is worth knowing, that the winter probably isn't over yet, so it would be wise I guess to sow everything in pots for the moment and plant out later.
It will probably be a case of trial an error, we have already learned to ignore people in Christchurch telling us what we can't grow here.
We obviously cant have cactuses growing outside, nor citrus, aloes- no, tree ferns -no too salty along with a whole host of other stuff ( a load of other stuff has died as well that will grow in chch, so it works both ways).
It will probably be a case of trial an error, we have already learned to ignore people in Christchurch telling us what we can't grow here.
We obviously cant have cactuses growing outside, nor citrus, aloes- no, tree ferns -no too salty along with a whole host of other stuff ( a load of other stuff has died as well that will grow in chch, so it works both ways).
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ohareward
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Hi Possum. I would go along with the others. You could also invest in 'Yates Garden Guide'. It gives a good idea when to grow seed, temperate and cold climates. Where we are in Nth. Canterbury I use the cold climate suggestions as we can get some pretty cold frosts and winds. Are you out on the peninsular somewhere?
Robin
Robin
'You know you are a hard-core gardener if you deadhead flowers in other people's gardens.
To err is human. To blame someone else, is management potential.
To err is human. To blame someone else, is management potential.
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possum
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not the peninsula itself, we are on Kaitorete spit, so not far from the sea and on a shingle bank, it is on average 5 degrees warmer than christchurch. The big problem I have is that I can't go on what my neighbours do, because well we don't have any and I can't ask people in Little river as the climate there is completely different.
I have an old copy of the Yates guide, I will take another lookg through it, I have to confess I haven't had a thorough read of it yet, just glanced at it when I was given it.
I have an old copy of the Yates guide, I will take another lookg through it, I have to confess I haven't had a thorough read of it yet, just glanced at it when I was given it.
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Gidday
I think you probably won't have too much problem with frosts from now on, being so close to the sea and where really still nights are fairly unlikely. It will be the winds that will cause you the most problem.
Like you have just said, 5 degrees warmer than Christchurch. So just start planting and protect them from the winds as much as you can. You may lose a few, but so what, if you get some things really early.
I think you probably won't have too much problem with frosts from now on, being so close to the sea and where really still nights are fairly unlikely. It will be the winds that will cause you the most problem.
Like you have just said, 5 degrees warmer than Christchurch. So just start planting and protect them from the winds as much as you can. You may lose a few, but so what, if you get some things really early.
Cheers
just a Rough Country Boy.
just a Rough Country Boy.
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possum
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thanks for you advice.
I suppose the obvious thing might be to plant half a packet of whatever seeds I have, I have more than enough to fill all my pots and trays, then I have a reserve if they get hit by frost and also can spread out the harvesting.
Wind isn't too much of a problem, yes it does get windy, no dening that, but we are fortunate to have a huge shelterbelt protecting us from the sea.
but yes, I will add to the list some wind break cloth. Ideally I would like to build a walled veggie garden, but that is not going to happen unless i win the lottery.
I suppose the obvious thing might be to plant half a packet of whatever seeds I have, I have more than enough to fill all my pots and trays, then I have a reserve if they get hit by frost and also can spread out the harvesting.
Wind isn't too much of a problem, yes it does get windy, no dening that, but we are fortunate to have a huge shelterbelt protecting us from the sea.
but yes, I will add to the list some wind break cloth. Ideally I would like to build a walled veggie garden, but that is not going to happen unless i win the lottery.
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