Gardening advice with Daltons We all need a bit of help in the garden sometimes, and the Daltons gardening experts are here to help. NZ family-owned and operated, Daltons have been manufacturing and supplying growing media made from natural and renewable resources to Kiwis and their gardens for over 75 years. Send in your gardening question and you could win a Daltons gardening prize pack! See entry details below.
Tackling fungal disease in tunnel houses What can I use to clean my tunnel house, without killing all the good things in the soil? My brassicas get a fluffy fungi on the edge of the leaves and planting fresh plants doesn’t get rid of it. Garden hygiene is always critical when growing vegetables in a tunnel house. In between crops (seasons), make sure you remove finished plants and wash the covering material of the tunnel house (inside) with strong soapy water and/or vinegar. For the soil, take off the top 10 centimetres to help remove any residual fungi that may be present in the topsoil. Replace the soil with fresh Daltons Garden Time Compost and Daltons Garden Time Enriched Garden Mix. It’s critical to keep refreshing and adding nutrients back into your soil between crops (seasons). Rich organic matter like compost stimulates microbial and earthworm activity. It also improves soil structure and drainage. The Enriched Garden Mix contains added fertilisers and nutrients for healthy veggie production.
You also need to check the ventilation to ensure that it is adequate – this is very important in tunnel houses, and often overlooked. The movement of air can help significantly reduce the number of fungal infections. Note that brassicas thrive in winter conditions, so it may be more prudent to grow them outside, rather than in the tunnel house. This may be better utilised for cultivating more marginal vegetables that require shelter from cold winters. Other products to try: You may also find it helpful to read our free How to Grow Vegetables Guides for more gardening advice: daltons.co.nz/how-to-guides Congratulations to Sarah with her question about fungal disease in her tunnel house.
Win an $85 Daltons Summer Flower Care Pack Summer annuals and perennials bring scent and beauty to the season, whether grown in pots, garden beds or hanging baskets. Keep your summer flowers blooming with our Daltons Summer Flower Care Pack. To enter, email your gardening question to nelsonmag@daltons.co.nz with Daltons prize pack in the subject heading. Giveaway entries must be received by Monday 22 November 2021.
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