Flower garden

Experts say that October is an ideal time for replanting flowerbeds and containers, thanks to the wide range of summer flowering annuals available. Popular spring flowers include gerbera, marigolds, lobelia, petunia, dahlia and cosmos. If you’re a fan of spring blossoms like magnolia, flowering cherries or crab apple, it’s not too late to plant any of these. 

Just make sure you protect all seedlings from slugs, snails and birds. And of course, feeding your plants in early spring, as their reserves are low, will encourage new growth. 

Vege garden

Traditionally, Labour Weekend is the best planting time for tomatoes. And if you’ve always considered creating your own vege garden, October also gives you the opportunity to plant a wide range of summer vegetables, including potatoes, beetroot, carrots, courgettes, beans, cucumbers, onions, melons, radish, zucchini, and pumpkins. 

To ensure continuous harvesting, it can be a good idea to stagger plantings throughout summer. Again, beware of snugs and snails, as they will be out and about looking for food.

Fruit garden

According to experts, October is a great month for planting berries and citrus. Pick a spot in your garden that’s fully exposed to the sun, preferably sheltered from prevailing winds. No sun, no flavour. Strawberries, for example, like the warmest and most sheltered areas. If you’re growing boysenberries, blackberries or raspberries, use wires or bamboo canes for support.

As for citrus trees, they tend to thrive in a consistently sunny environment, and in areas sheltered from cold winds, with well-draining soil. For the first two or three years, very little pruning is required, but make sure you remove all fruit before it gets bigger than pea-sized. This will promote a higher quality of fruit for future seasons. 

Indoor plants

Just because you’re spending more time outdoors, doesn’t mean your houseplants don’t deserve some love too. Usually, if the potting mix dries out too rapidly, that means your houseplant is ready to be re-potted. And spring is the best time for re-potting indoor plants, because the actively growing roots will have enough time to grow into newly added potting mix. 

Happy gardening!


* Sources: Palmers | Tui | Yourhomeandgarden.co.nz | ThisNZlife.co.nz | Daltons | Auckland Botanic Gardens

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