Gardening in NZ – November Tips
November is a busy month for gardening in NZ. Spring is in full swing, temperatures are rising and plants are growing rapidly. Young plants and newly planted seedlings may need regular watering, particularly during dry spells.
Most deciduous trees are now well into leaf growth, with many also flowering. This is a good time to mulch around plants to help conserve moisture and suppress weeds. However, always leave some air space around the base of plants. Piling mulch against the stems or trunks can encourage rot and disease and can eventually damage or kill the plant.
Tasks For This Month
General
If you’ve been organised and made a plan for your garden, November is the time to put that plan into action. Growth is rapid now, so regular maintenance will save you considerably more work later in the season.
Watering – Keep an eye on newly planted trees, shrubs, vegetables and flowers. Young plants have smaller root systems and can dry out quickly. Water deeply when necessary rather than giving plants a small amount of water every day.
Mulching – Apply organic mulch around established plants to help retain moisture, reduce weed growth and improve the soil as the mulch breaks down. Keep mulch away from the stems and trunks of plants.
Slugs and snails – If you’re planting small seedlings, you’ll need to watch for slugs and snails that can make seedlings disappear overnight. Baits and/or traps can be used. Remember that some slug and snail baits can be poisonous to birds, pets and other animals, so they need to be used carefully and according to the label directions. There are products based on iron compounds that are considered less hazardous to wildlife when used as directed.
Beer traps can also be used with some success. Another option is to check around plants in the evening and remove slugs and snails by hand.
Ants – Ants can become a problem, particularly in warmer northern districts. If they are causing problems, consider using an appropriate ant bait in sheltered locations where children and pets cannot access it. Controlling ants early can be easier than dealing with a large infestation later.
Weeds – Keep removing weeds before they flower and produce seed. Small weeds are much easier to remove than established weeds with large root systems.
Pollination – If you’re concerned about a lack of bees and other pollinating insects, some fruit trees can be hand pollinated with a small soft brush.
For example, if you have two compatible varieties of apple flowering at the same time, dab the brush into the centre of a flower on one tree and then transfer the pollen to flowers on the other compatible variety. Some fruit trees require pollen from a compatible variety before they will produce a good crop.
Planting
Tree and shrub planting should ideally have been completed earlier in spring, particularly in areas that are becoming warm and dry. However, container-grown plants can still be planted if you can provide adequate watering while they establish.
Food Gardening
Vegetables
Remove weeds before they go to seed and concentrate on removing young weeds while they’re still small. This is much easier than trying to control large established weeds later.
Remove vegetable plants that are going to seed unless you want to collect the seed. Remember that closely related varieties can cross-pollinate, which can affect the characteristics of seed collected for planting the following season.
Prepare the soil before planting vegetable seeds or seedlings. Mix fertiliser into the soil rather than placing concentrated fertiliser directly against young roots, as this can cause root damage.
Organic fertilisers such as well-rotted animal manure and compost can help improve soil structure and support soil life. Avoid using fresh manure around young plants.
Keep an eye on tree roots growing into the vegetable garden. Large tree roots can compete with vegetables for water and nutrients.
Continue sowing and planting vegetables in quantities that match what you’re likely to eat. Succession planting is a good way of avoiding a situation where everything is ready for harvesting at the same time.
I usually start my vegetable planting season with punnets of small seedlings because this can give you a two- to three-week head start compared with sowing seed. Later in the season, I make successive sowings of seed to replace harvested crops. This helps provide a continuous harvest throughout the growing season.
Generally, I find that directly sown seeds can produce strong plants because there is no transplanting shock. One of the most common mistakes when sowing seed is planting it too closely together. This creates more work when the seedlings need thinning and can result in damage to the remaining plants.
When sowing, consider the mature size of the plant and allow sufficient space between plants. Remember that some seeds will not germinate, so avoid sowing excessively thickly.
Vegetables to Plant or Sow
Depending on your location and local conditions, November is suitable for planting or sowing:
Beans (climbing and dwarf), beetroot, broccoli, cabbage, cape gooseberry, capsicum, carrots, celery, chicory, Chinese cabbage, choko, cress, cucumber, eggplant, endive, kohlrabi, kumara, leeks, lettuce, marrow, melon, mustard, spring onions, parsnip, peppers, potatoes, pumpkin, radish, rhubarb, salsify, silverbeet, squash, spinach, sweet corn, tomatoes, swede and turnips.
Beans, cucumbers, pumpkins and melons need warm soil for good germination. A minimum soil temperature of around 15°C is useful for germination, with warmer temperatures generally producing faster results. In cooler parts of New Zealand, be patient and wait until soil temperatures are suitable.
Herbs
Plant and/or sow herbs such as chives, chervil, dill, parsley, rocket and sweet basil. Keep newly planted herbs watered while they establish.
Fruit Trees
Pip and Stone Fruit
Pip and stone fruit trees will be at various stages of flowering, fruit set and fruit development depending on the variety and your location.
Watch trees regularly for signs of insect pests and fungal diseases. If you use chemical pest or disease controls, follow the product label carefully and pay particular attention to application timing, withholding periods and conditions affecting pollinating insects.
Fruit trees that have set a heavy crop may also benefit from thinning excess fruit. Removing some fruit while they are still small can help produce larger, better-quality fruit and reduce stress on the tree.
Citrus
Citrus trees vary considerably in their flowering and fruiting times. Some fruit may still be developing while other varieties are ready to harvest. Pick ripe fruit when it has reached the desired size, colour and flavour rather than leaving it on the tree indefinitely.
Keep citrus trees adequately watered during dry weather, particularly while they are flowering, setting fruit or producing new growth.
Berry Fruits
If you’re using chemical controls for pests or diseases, your spray programme may need to continue during the growing season. Always follow the product label and avoid spraying plants while bees and other pollinating insects are actively visiting flowers.
Raspberries, blackberries, boysenberries and loganberries – New growth may need support from a trellis, wires or another suitable support system. I don’t like using plastic mesh because it can become brittle after exposure to sunlight and eventually break.
Gooseberries and blackcurrants – If you haven’t already done so, give them a suitable general fertiliser and keep the plants watered during dry weather.
Strawberries – Protect developing fruit from birds, slugs and snails. Bird protection usually consists of netting held securely over a suitable frame. Avoid allowing netting to rest directly on the plants where birds can become trapped.
Strawberries can also benefit from a suitable fertiliser if they haven’t been fed earlier in the season. Keep weeds under control and water during dry conditions.
Greenhouses / Glasshouses
Check the greenhouse regularly for slugs, snails and insect pests. Remove dead leaves and other plant material, pull out weeds and add compost or suitable fertiliser where required.
November is a good time to grow warm-season crops such as tomatoes, capsicums, cucumbers, eggplants, marrows and melons. Make sure plants have adequate ventilation as temperatures inside a greenhouse can rise quickly on sunny days.
Pot and Container Grown Plants
Remove dead leaves and clean dusty foliage with a damp cloth or a gentle spray of water where appropriate.
Check plants for signs that they have become root bound. If roots are tightly packed around the outside of the root ball, consider repotting into a slightly larger container using fresh, good-quality potting mix.
Apply a suitable slow-release fertiliser if required and check plants regularly for insects and other pests.
Ornamental Garden Jobs
Roses
Give roses a suitable fertiliser if you haven’t already done so. Keep an eye out for common rose pests and diseases and deal with problems early.
If you use chemical pest or disease controls, follow the label instructions carefully and avoid spraying when bees are actively visiting flowers.
Mulch around the root zone using compost or another suitable organic mulch, but keep the mulch away from the base of the plant.
Flowers
Remove weeds regularly and keep an eye out for slugs and snails around young plants.
Sow seeds of: ageratum, alyssum, amaranthus, aster, balsam, bedding begonia, Californian poppy, carnation, celosia, cockscomb, coleus, cleome, cosmos, dahlia, delphinium, dianthus, everlasting daisy, gaillardia, gazania, geranium, gerbera, gloxinia, gypsophila, honesty, impatiens, kochia, marigold, mignonette, nasturtium, nemesia, ornamental chilli, petunia, phlox, portulaca, rudbeckia, salvia, snapdragon, spider flower, statice, strawflower, sunflower, Swan River daisy, verbena, viscaria and zinnia.
Plant seedlings of: alyssum, aquilegia, Canterbury bells, carnations, cornflower, cosmos, cineraria, delphinium, pansies, polyanthus, poppy, gypsophila, hollyhock, stock and viola.
Trees and Shrubs
Ideally, most tree and shrub planting should already have been completed so plants have plenty of time to establish before the hottest and driest part of summer.
If you do plant trees or shrubs during November, pay particular attention to watering during dry weather. A good layer of mulch around the root zone can help conserve soil moisture.
Lawn Jobs for November
Mow regularly to maintain a dense, healthy lawn. Avoid cutting the grass excessively short because this can stress the lawn during dry weather.
As a general guide, keeping many lawn grasses around 20 to 25 mm after mowing works well, although the ideal height varies with the type of grass and local conditions.
If you’ve got a lot of lawn weeds, November can be a good time to deal with them while the grass is actively growing. Follow the directions on any weed-control product you use and check that it is suitable for your particular lawn.
Repair bare patches by preparing the soil and sowing suitable grass seed where conditions are favourable.
Compost Jobs for November
Compost heaps that consist predominantly of dark, crumbly and unrecognisable organic matter are generally ready to use. Spread finished compost around planted areas as a mulch or incorporate it into the soil where appropriate.
Start new compost heaps by combining materials such as grass clippings, dead leaves, vegetable scraps and other suitable organic matter. A small amount of animal manure can help provide nitrogen, while turning the heap helps introduce air and speeds decomposition.
Turn and mix existing compost heaps that have not decomposed sufficiently. Keep the heap moist but not waterlogged.
Enjoy Your November Garden
November is one of the busiest and most rewarding times of the year for gardeners in New Zealand. Plants are growing rapidly, vegetable gardens are filling out and many flowers are beginning to put on a spectacular display.
Regular watering, weeding, mulching and pest monitoring now will make the garden much easier to manage as summer approaches.