Our Central Otago Summer Garden Secrets
A summer garden starts at the coldest time of year... but even in the depths of winter, I like to think the act of planting it brings a little of that summer warmth, to remind us of what's to come.
So, ready for our Central Otago Summer Garden Secrets?
A non-negotiable for the garden there are plenty of varieties of tomatoes- a mix of beefsteak tomatoes great for eating now, low acidic tomatoes for making roast tomato sauce for the freezer and a mass of cherry tomatoes.
I like to try at least one new variety a year and also I remove varieties that I didn't like from the previous season. It's all trial and error with the varieties but isn't that half the fun of gardening?
I plan out the beds that are going to be for the tomatoes and in late winter I start to amend the beds-adding in horse manure, homegrown compost and making sure I've got a source of mulch on the ready.
In about mid September, I sow my seeds with the plan that they will be ready for the start of November. I know people say plant your summer vegetables in and around Labour Weekend but here in central I just don't risk it for those pesky late frosts we can still get at that time of year.
When I sow the tomatoes I also sow marigolds and basil because the flowers act a natural pest control-they are attracted to the scent of the marigolds and basil just goes hand in hand with tomatoes so keep them close.
People like to make out growing tomatoes are super difficult but as long as you keep a couple things in mind they aren't that bad. I don't admit to knowing everything about growing tomatoes but these are the things I've learnt alone the way.
Tomatoes are gross feeders which means they like a lot of nutrients rich food-well broken down compost, sheep pellets or horse manure.
They require being feed every four weeks during key growth periods. Tomato food has a great blend of nitrogen,phosphorus and potassium which promotes growth and helps produce a bounty of fruit.
They love a sunny spot, sheltered from direct wind but they do need air movement so don't completely block it out.
You will have two types of tomato-indeterminate (vining plants that continue to grow and set fruit throughout the season)these need serious support. Please don't make the same mistake as me and try to add more after planting, it does not work.
I use a three-sided teepee with loose soft string from the centre to tie to the plant then as the plant grows I spiral the plant around the string which helps keep the plant upright.
The other type of tomatoes is determinate more compact, bushy like.
Think of cherry tomatoes, low growing so they generally don't require staking but they do need to be well mulch as fruit can lay on the dirt and get eaten by bugs easily.
A couple other things to do are removing laterals which are the new growth that comes between leaf growth and the stem. Removing these encourages bigger better fruit as growing these laterals take away energy from producing great fruit.
As the plant grows remove lower leaves and thin the leaves around the fruit to allow light in.
Tomatoes like to be watered but there is a fine line so try not to overwater, they don't like soggy roots.
I learn something new every year when I grow tomatoes-this year is how they might be a sun loving plant but this hot weather we've been having has put stress onto some of the cherry tomatoes so mulching is very important it keeps the soil damp and keeps the roots cool.
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