Gardening in the Waimarino

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 1, Issue 13, 30 August 1983, Page 10

Gardening in the Waimarino

In spite of assurances by some nurseryman and shops selling trees, shrubs, flower and vegetable plants, gardening in the Waimarino can be very daunting to the uninitiated. So where to start? Here are some ground rules which will result in removing some of the stress from your efforts. Walk or drive about the district and take note of trees and shrubs which flourish in our weather conditions. Do this at different times of the year. Join your local garden club — there is one in both Raetihi and Ohakune. A great deal of information can be gleaned from meetings and members. The Waimarino is one of New Zealand's leading market garden areas. The commercial growers concentrate on six or seven main vegetable varieties with great success. Don't be afraid to approach these growers fOr information on best varieties to grow in your own garden. Avoid if possible buying trees or shrubs which have been propagated in relatively frost-free areas such as Auckland, and the Bay of Plenty. Remember that plants are like humans in that they take time to acclimatise. Our main spring-summer-autumn growing season starts later and is considerably shorter than average. For example your potato crop will be at risk if planted before the third week in November. What can be done now? Select your garden plot then dig out persistent weeds, dig the ground to the depth of your spade or shovel. Apply a good dressing of lime to the roughly turned soil. A plot 10 paces by 20 paces will accept 10kg of lime but keep it off your potato planting area. Any tree pruning should be completed in the next fortnight. Pay attention to staking and securely tying trees and shrubs where necessary because we are approaching one of our windy periods. This gardening advisory service is not provided by professional nurserymen or women but by Garden Club members with many years of local experience in the hope that Waimarino Bulletin readers will gain greater enjoyment and satisfaction from their gardening efforts.