Anna's July Garden Journal
July brought Wānaka loads of very grey skies and a very cold inversion (fog). Thankfully, as I write this, the sun has arrived, and the clear skies have given us terrific frosts. We now just need a dollop of the white stuff for the skiers to enjoy.
In my edible garden, we're reaping the rewards of our hard work with a bountiful harvest of broccoli, spinach, leeks, miners lettuce, rocket, beets, coriander, and parsley. While I've given my glass house a break this winter, I'm still enjoying a variety of leafy greens, with miners lettuce and rocket filling the green salad bowl.
In this issue
- Working out when the last of the big frosts occur so we can plan backwards.
- What to plant in July
- Take stock of your seeds
If you live in a part of New Zealand where frosts are frequent, then knowing when they are generally likely to stop is hugely valuable when planning your spring garden. For example, as a rule of thumb, when I lived in Canterbury, Labour weekend was said to be a safe (ish) time to plant out the frost-tender plants (e.g. tomatoes). Here in Wānaka, that timing is still too early, and as hard as it is to wait, I generally wait at least a few more weeks later before I plant.
Why do we want to know this? The end of the big regular frosts marks the start of the warmer season. The daylight hours will be lengthening, the days will be warming up, and the soil will start to warm up—all perfect conditions for our growing season.
Once you've identified this key date, make sure to mark it in your diary. This date will serve as a starting point for planning your gardening season. If you're unsure, remember that local gardening communities are a valuable resource. They hold a wealth of local knowledge that can help you determine the best time for planting in your area.
July in your garden, what to plant this month
In New Zealand, July is the middle of our winter, an excellent time to plant apples, blueberries, blackberries, raspberries, strawberries, peas, broad beans, kale, spinach, silverbeet, rocket, and onions, and you can still plant garlic. (If you live in warmer parts of the country, you will be able to grow even more.)
Take stock of your seeds
I tend to pop my collection of seeds away in a dry box for the winter, and I also easily forget what I have. July is a great time to think about what you want to grow this season, look at what seeds you have already, and make a list of what you need to buy. Next month, we will start sowing. I hope you find some exciting seed surprises once you take stock of what you have.
Until next month,
Anna xxx
