HIGH COUNTRY GARDENER

Ruapehu Bulletin, Volume 9, Issue 438, 27 May 1992, Page 15

HIGH COUNTRY GARDENER

by

Bea

Barnes

This weather is a gardener's nightmare. I trust all you lucky people have got farther ahead than we have with all the clearing up jobs waiting to be done. All spring flowering bulbs should be planted by now if you want a good display in the spring. No prizes for guessing whose bulbs still await planting. Our ground is extremely wet and soggy so we have decided that all our bulbs not yet planted will go into pots and contain-

ers. We found this to be quite an advantage last season as in times of heavy rainfall and strong winds we could bring the containers under cover during the worst of the weather. An added advantage was we could have instant colour in any spot required in the g arden simply by moving a pot of flowering bulbs. Liliums will be available soon and if you plan to grow some of these lovely flowers the ground should be well

prepared. Most lilies are not difficult to grow and will do quite well in any good well drained garden soil enriched with a dressing of well rotted compost, well dried animal manure or peat. They enjoy full sun or partial shade with some protection from strong winds. Choose the spot with care so the lilies when planted need not be disturbed. They are happier growing in the same spot for years. From page 16

HIGH COUNTRY GARDENER

by Bea Barnes

Turnpage 15 very thoroughly indeed! to become an authority on the subject. Mostj species are not tolerant of lime in the soil but there are some, including the aurelian hybrids who will benefit from a little lime. They all pre-

fer their roots to be kept cool even if their heads are in the sun and a good mulch around the roots will help to achieve this. Mostly they do not suffer too badly from pests and diseases but aphids can attack the growing tips and can

carry viruses from other plants to your lilies so it is important to keep the plants as free as possible from these pests. The asiatics hybrids' are the first to flower in the season and I am told that these do quite well in this area. The regales or christmas lilies grow

quite well here and are always very popular but they do need room.

Autumn is the time to set out your new strawberry plants and the bed should be well prepared choosing a site in full sun with a well drained soil enriched with a plentiful supply of humus such as well rotted compost, peat, or animal manure. The plants are quite hardy but the

flowers can be nipped by early frosts and it is as well to protect them with covers of newspaper if frosts are likely to be a problem at flowering time. A mulch of beech mast or straw around the roots of the plants will serve to keep the fruit clean. Some growers spread plastic sheeting to protect the fruit from being soiled by contact with the earth but this method has it's

drawbacks. The plants need plenty of water during the growing period and water tends to lay on the plastic instead of being absorbed by the soil. To stay healthy the earth needs to 'breathe' and a sheet of plastic is no help in this respect. Straw berries are quite popular grown as container plants and will grow very well provided the drainage is good and the soil contains plenty

of humus so that it is light and friable. A good medium consists of one part of good g arden loam to three parts of well rotted compost or one of the commercially prepared potting mixes. A good base to start with is of more advantage than all the additives afterwards. A good base, plenty of sunshine and plenty of water and you will grow good strawberries.