GARDEN DIARIES

Grow a crop of broad beans. Sow the seeds 4cm deep and 15cm apart and rig up a structure you can tie them to as they grow. ‘Hughey’ is a variety with pretty crimson flowers.

Winter is a great time to pamper your house plants. Trim off old leaves, wipe dusty foliage and provide a nutrient boost by feeding them with house plant fertiliser.

Give tender seedlings a head start by placing them under a cloche or greenhouse tunnel to boost soil temperature. Don’t forget to open the cover and water them regularly.

Prune roses back by one third to a half of their size. Remove stems that are unhealthy, crossing over each other or thinner than a pencil. Make cuts on a 45 degree angle about 1cm above an outwardfacing bud eye.

Plant garlic to celebrate Matariki (Māori New Year, Friday July 14). Choose a sunny spot in soil enriched with compost or sheep pellets. Separate bulbs into cloves, then plant each clove, pointy end up, about 5cm deep and 15cm apart.

Some veges grow better from seed. See our suggestions for a colourful crop below (check your climate zone for when to sow).

To relocate established trees and shrubs, remove a third of the foliage. Dig a trench a spade’s width deep around the root ball (the main root section). Leave for a month then water well, dig up, transplant and water in with diluted seaweed solution.

1 Mr Fothergill’s ‘Hughey Crimson’ broad bean seeds, $4.94, I/N: 8907120. 2 Daltons

‘Premium’ houseplant fertiliser, $11/500g, I/N: 0351486. 3 Saxon

3m greenhouse tunnel with cover, $25.83, I/N: 0332834. 4 Fiskars bypass solid pruner, $19.93, I/N: 0241661. 5 Fiesta Flower Bulbs

‘Printanor’ garlic bulbs, $18.75/ pack of 8, I/N: 0275986. 6 Atlas Trade tree planting spade, $67.18, I/N: 0325213. Some products are not available at all Bunnings stores, but may be ordered.

CARROTS

A crunchy veg that benefits from the moisture retained in soil at this time of year. Sow in place as they don’t transplant well.

BEETROOT

Although it loves the cooler weather, this colourful root vegetable needs at least four hours of direct sunlight a day.

After applying fertiliser around edible plants, delay harvesting for a few days and rinse well before cooking and eating. If using products to deal with pests, diseases or weeds, or when handling compost or mulch, follow instructions carefully and wear gloves, a mask and suitable protective equipment. Store all garden chemicals out of reach of children and pets.

RADISHES

Sow radish seeds in rotation (every three to four weeks) for a continuous crop throughout the colder months.

PARSNIP

This soup superstar grows best from fresh seeds in loose soil. Water well and wait: germination is slow (two to four weeks).

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For more on what to do in the garden during winter, go to bunnings.co.nz/gardendiaries feastwatson.co.nz

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