Saturday 13th May, 2023
Hi
Some prep for below zero may be needed
Typical huh!!! We go from mid Autumn temps of around the early 20s to another period of significant rain, then to top it all off its going to drop to 0 degrees over night for the next few. The problem is that all of the plants in the nursery have been happily growing at the rate of knots due to these nice warm unseasonal temperatures, with plenty of moisture then bang zero...no hardening off this year for your plants in the garden or even ours in the garden centre. Usually as the season cools plants will stop pushing out new growth and the foliage there will harden right off... but not so much this year and so frost can certainly burn that new growth.
I know that Tony moved all his orchids yesterday from under the pergola to under the verandah to protect the developing buds, just in case that it frosted last night. Though I do wonder whether tonight is going to be the cold one... not worth taking the risk!
I find though that its not until the temperature falls below zero that the foliage will burn and not even then sometimes. I guess that we don't often get a hard frost here in the Waikato.. It seems also that the cumulative effect of several really cool nights can do some damage and associate this with wet then it can be stressful for plants esp. those that haven't stopped growing.
Vaporgard is the product to spray on those more sensitive plants or those that have some new growth that needs some extra protection, for example the leaves on citrus whilst not frost tender when hardened, the new growth certainly is. If the air temp is going to fall well below zero then covering your citrus fruit will help prevent damage.
I believe that this (
the Japonicas) species of the
Camellias is the largest or most prominent of the Genus and with some 30,000 cultivars in an array of colours and flower forms. This is last species for me to write about here in our email other than perhaps the various hybrids that we carry here but that's another story in itself. The species name Japonica indicates that these are native to Japan and China.
These are perhaps what I think are the most ornamental of the
Camellias in that they tend to have the bigger and more out there flowers in a range of forms, being described as single, semi double, anemone, Peony, and formal double.
Japonicas often tend to be quite dense and more upright in form than other species and usually flower after the
Sasanquas being late Winter and early Spring.
There didn't appear to be a 'single' flowered Japonica in the Camellias that we have on offer and to be fair I think these are more frequent in other species and or perhaps the
Sasanquas. There are a few semi double that I think are quite cool with a couple of rows of petals. Probably the simplest in the Japonicas and some examples are
San Dimas,
Silver anniversary and
Flame.
The anemone forms have the outer roses of petals and a pincushion of petaloids in the centre. Check out Elegans Supreme, Brushfields Yellow and Mansize
Formal doubles I think are really cool as they have all those petals layer and organised into such a formal looking flower. Some examples of these are the
Nuccios series being
Pearl,
Gem and
Cameo. Some more are
William Bull,
Amazing Graces and
Desire.
The little ones
I have a soft spot for the small Camellias. I know that most Camellias will make for a shrub of some 2 metres plus and more as the years go past if left untrimmed. There are, however a group of small shrub, hybrid Camellias that could be called dwarf or just diminutive in stature. These are ideal in the garden as a low maintenance shrub of around one metre, albeit a tad slower growing than say other choices but much longer life span. They will suit most positions other than perhaps all day sun. Because these are small growing then they really lend themselves to small hedges or other landscape effects like a mass planting of topiary balls and Camellias in general do respond well to being trimmed.
Baby bear is a classic that is pretty cute and will take years to get to even just one metre high. I have grown this one in the past and probably not in the best spot but perhaps just one metre after 20 years. Baby bear has tiny semi-double flowers are pale pink blushed white and combine well with the dainty foliage.
Then there is
Itty bit..This little sweetie was bred right here in NZ by Felix Jury. The softest pink flowers appear from mid winter onwards. Very dainty and pretty with the added bonus of a delightful fragrance. Useful for containers as slow growing. Happiest in semi-shade.
Little Gem is reminiscent of Baby bear but perhaps more perfect in form being almost like a topiary ball shape. The miniature single flowers are pure white with just a hint of yellow on the anthers. The flowers appear from early spring and look very dainty set against the dark green foliage.
Moonlight Magic is fabulous being, I think, the only small growing Camellia that we have in stock with large white semi double flowers with yellow stamens showing. Glossy dark green leaves that look like a Japonica but the mature height of this beauty is only a metre.
Dwarf Shishi is a new one to us with semi double rose pink flowers and quite a petite green leaf and another mini that will attain a height of approx one metre.
Quintessence has been around as long as I can remember and that's quite a while now. Cascading habit that will attain a metre high and wide with pretty fragrant dusky pink flowers . Whilst all these Camellias will suit being in pots Quintessence could suit a hanging basket with its cascading form.
Sweet Emily Kate. An attractive little Camellia that has beautiful, pale pink, scented flowers that are in a miniature peony form. Glossy green foliage offsets the flowers well. A slow grower with a compact habit making it ideal for container growing and or hedging.
It's countdown to the the start of Potting
You think its ages away but then all of a sudden we are all on countdown to the arrival of the new seasons roses and the potting time is now planned and on the weekly white board. Suppliers are being primed for delivery dates, a new space for potting and teams are being organized for the start date which is approx 4 weeks away now.
If you are in the garden centre you will see the space being cleared for all the new seasons roses to arrive but you have time to go on line and peruse the line up for 2023.. and even order and put down on your wait list..and we will let you know when they are all potted. Too easy
Planting Now
Garlic. Just a quick reminder that now is the time to get these and have them on hand to plant.. usually around the shortest day and I was thinking to myself the other day that this isn't too far away now.. Thank goodness .. onwards and upwards to spring and hopefully a summer.
Broad beans.. I planted a crop of these last year as I do enjoy a decent feed of Broad beans. These do best in a cooler season and usually are planted around mid to late winter, early spring and then crop in mid to late spring. Ill plant mine once the sprouting broccoli is done and out of the way.
Pre order
strawberries if you are after the bare root plants.. mid winter is the planting time for these so that they establish a strong root system and then hit the floor running with a good crop of strawbs in late spring or as we approach Christmas.
Mothers Day this Sunday
Often on Mothers day we get many who have been out for lunch and then come for a wander through the garden centre and the gardens here. Hopefully the forecast is such that its going to be a great day to do this.
Vouchers.. Just in case, but could be a perfect thought for a Mothers day gift... Go online and order yours now.
Its a stunning day today and tomorrow is forecast for a fab day too. It never ceases to amaze me how the sun creates such a positive happy feeling in ourselves and I just look at the garden and I reckon I can see the plants smiling too.. Might sound a bit weird but everything responds to the sun especially after such a crappy week to put it bluntly. I so want it to be cool and just fine for a while now well more than just a while. Think that a cold sunny winter will be way better than a wet one.
Don't just have a great weekend, if its going to be a stunner then have fantastic couple of days out and about, whether it be the garden, friends, holidays and of course Mothers day.
Take care and cheers from Lloyd, Tony and the Wairere team.
