As spring settles into New Zealand, October marks a time of rapid growth and transformation in the garden. With longer daylight hours and warmer temperatures, the garden is ready to burst into life. October is a busy month for gardeners, offering the perfect opportunity to prepare, plant, and maintain your garden for a fruitful season ahead. Here’s a guide to the essential garden jobs to tackle this month.
Don't Plant Summer Vegetables Yet!
It can be so tempting to go and put all the summer veggies in the garden, but try to hold off until the risk of frost is over in your area, for most of us that is after Labour weekend. If you do want to get a head start on planting then make sure the plants are well covered and protected with a layer of Cozy Crops wool pellets and some frost cloth.
When the weather warms up you can plant:
Tomatoes: These love the warmer weather and can be planted outdoors as soon as the threat of frost is over. Ensure they are planted deeply and staked for support as they grow.
Peppers and Chillies: Start planting them out in well-prepared soil. Plant these somewhere they can live long term if you want to try to over-winter them and keep them for next season too.
Cucumbers, Pumpkins, and Zucchinis: These fast-growing crops can go in the ground very soon. They thrive in well-draining soil with plenty of organic matter, like wool pellets. Be sure to give these guys enough space to climb or wander.
Sweetcorn: Plant in blocks rather than long rows for better pollination and to give stability in the wind.
Beans and Peas: These can be sown directly into the soil, provided the weather is warm.
Remember to sprinkle some wool pellets around new seedlings to help keep them protected, nourished and hydrated.
Sow Herbs and Leafy Greens
Spring is an excellent time to sow a range of herbs and leafy greens. These plants are generally quick to grow and can provide a bountiful harvest throughout the season. Consider planting:
Basil, coriander, and parsley: These essential herbs thrive in spring. Make sure they’re in a sunny spot.
Spinach, lettuce, and rocket: Perfect for continuous harvesting throughout the spring and summer months. Succession planting every couple of weeks will ensure a steady supply.
Mulch and Weed Control
As the temperatures rise, weeds will start to emerge rapidly. Mulching is a great way to control weeds while also conserving moisture in the soil. Apply a layer of organic mulch such as wool pellets, straw, or bark around your plants to suppress weeds, improve soil structure, and regulate soil temperature.
Weed control is essential to prevent them from competing with your vegetables and flowers for nutrients and water. Take time to remove weeds by hand or use a hoe to cut them down at the soil surface. Consistent weeding will prevent them from setting seed and spreading further.
Don't Forget Your Flowers
To create a colourful and vibrant garden in the summer months, October is a great time to plant summer-flowering annuals. Popular options include:
Petunias, marigolds, zinnias, chamomile, and cosmos: These bright, easy-to-grow flowers will bring colour to your garden throughout summer and help attract bees to pollinate yoru food crops.
Try interplanting flowers around your veggies to add colour and support pollination.
October is an exciting and productive month for New Zealand gardeners. With a little planning and effort, you can set your garden up for a bountiful summer. Whether you're sowing seeds, planting vegetables, or tending to flowers, taking care of these essential garden tasks now will ensure a thriving, beautiful garden in the months to come. Happy gardening!