Green Thumbs

Dr Lynsey Ellis, Ōrewa Community Garden lynseymellis@gmail.com

Plenty to do in winter garden

As the evening and early morning temperatures start to drop, things are slowing down in the garden. Despite things taking longer to grow, there is still lots of opportunity to get out into the garden in the winter. Here are some tasks you may want to do at this time of year:

• Cover your delicate plants from the harsher winter conditions. Use a covering such as frost cloths to protect tender plants and mulch to protect soil from the wind – especially with the huge rains we have been experiencing lately.

• Sow some winter veg seeds: In the greenhouse, or as I do, on a sunny window sill – growing them on a windowsill makes it easier to keep them watered and tended during a busy week.

• If you want to direct sow in the garden, try carrots, garlic, onions, beetroot, and turnips. These will grow well during the winter and give you a good crop in early spring.

• Choose cool hardy plants: plant crops that do better in the cooler temperature such as kale, broccoli, carrots, onions, cabbage, or Brussels sprouts and why not add a bit of colour with pansies, calendula, polyanthus, hellebores (also shade tolerant), snap dragons or camelias to brighten up your garden and provide food for the bees?

• Prune deciduous trees while they are dormant, you will see they are dormant as most of the leaves will have fallen. Prune off any dead, diseased, or crossing branches. Aim to prune no more than a third of the tree – this will allow airflow and the tree to flourish in the spring with new growth. It is important to find out whether your tree fruits on new, or second-year, wood before pruning.

• Carry on composting through winter. Collect fallen leaves to make leaf mold, or add to the compost along with food scraps, garden waste, shredded newspaper, and cardboard. Turn your compost regularly and add some garden lime to keep the pH balanced and maintain a healthy compost ready for topdressing your beds in the spring.

• Take stock and clean: clean your greenhouse, potting bench, pots, and tools to ensure diseases don’t spread and things are clean and ready for the next season. Cover any soil not being used with mulch or cardboard.

• Plan ahead: map out your planting wish list for the coming season and source seeds ready for spring sowing. Remember winter gardening is not only for your garden, but also for your wellbeing. Fresh air, physical activity, and connection with nature are all good for your health. So as the nights draw in, make time to get out in the winter daytime.

If you want to connect with some local community gardeners, come along to the Ōrewa Community Garden on a Wednesday or Saturday morning at 9am to share and learn new tips and tricks and get some inspiration this winter.

HAVING FUN AT ONE OF THE RSA’S FAMILY DAYS IS THE SHORT ANSWER

Check out what’s happening for yourself! One of the best options on the Coast whether you’re two or 102. Great entertainment, great food, great prices – singers, bands, kids’ days, Sunday roasts and a range of activities from line dancing to snooker, karaoke to the Rocky Horror show. Throw out those myths about the RSA. We are charity driven, looking after the welfare of those who need support by bringing low-cost or free entertainment and fun for everyone in our community. Joining is as cheap as chips (but doesn’t taste as good as those made by our chef) JOIN IN JUNE AND GET THE MONTH FREE.

Local teenage band The People recently placed 5th out of 22 entries at the first ever Armageddon talent quest. Armageddon was held June 3-5 in Auckland. The band say it was a fantastic event showcasing some incredible talent. Each act had a 10 minute slot to shine on stage in front of an audience. The People played a collection of three songs and the judges were obviously impressed. The band plays at local venues – watch out for their next gigs at Paraoa and Archers in Whangaparāoa.