Gardening tasks for July in New Zealand

The dahlia Shiloh Noelle, offered by Bulbs Direct for the first time this year

Seed sowing (indoors)
I advise against sowing seeds outdoors until September, when it is warmer.  I usually start sowing seeds indoors on my heat pad in August, but one exception is begonia semperflorens (waxy bedding begonias).  As they take a very long time to germinate and grow, begonia seeds can be sown undercover as early as May right through until September, according to the Egmont Seeds Commercial Catalogue.  That way, your heat pad(s) will be free by the time you want to start your seed sowing in late winter/early spring.
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Here are some pictures of bedding begonias that I raised from seed last season.

Begonia IQ Senator Pink Improved

Begonia Ambassador White

​Planting
You can plant the following outside:

• Lily bulbs.  Bulbs Direct still have a great range available on their website.
• Garlic.  Awapuni have a great deal on at the moment.  Buy a megabundle of 50 garlic plants and a 1.5kg bag of Nitrophoska Blue fertiliser for just $62.95.  Or you can buy a megabundle of 100 garlic plants and a 1.5kg bag of Nitrophoska Blue fertiliser for just $99 (ie receive the fertiliser free!) 
• Strawberries. Awapuni still have Ventana strawberry plants in stock.  Buy a regular bundle of 4 plants for $6.50, 10 plants for $13.50, a megabundle of 50 plants for $55 or a megabundle of 100 plants for $99.
• Onions.  Awapuni have Pukekohe Longkeeper brown onion seedlings and California Red onion seedlings in stock right now.
• Roses.  I am awaiting a standard rose I ordered from Tasman Bay Roses called the Lady of Shalott.  It is a David Austin variety.
• Fruit trees.  Now is the perfect time to plant deciduous fruit trees, including stone fruit.  

The new release Xmas lily Magnifique, which we grew for the first time last year

Last year's garlic plants, kindly given to me by Awapuni as part of our collaboration

Our strawberry patch. Thank you to Awapuni for providing me with so many plants last year!

​Orders
You can place orders for the following now:

• Dahlias.  Bulbs Direct recently uploaded their catalogue online. Be sure to check the website frequently as Kayne is always adding new varieties and more stock of existing varieties.
• Seed potatoes.  Bulbs Direct have a great range of seed potatoes available on their website.  Awapuni will be getting their seed potatoes in stock soon so sign up to notifications on their website so you’re the first to know when they go on sale
• Seeds.  Italian Seeds Pronto has a lovely selection of Italian heirloom seeds on their website, including the famous Franchi Seeds range.  

Some of the wonderful tomatoes on offer at Italian Seeds Pronto

Indoors
Here is a list of tasks you can do indoors, which is perfect for when it’s raining.

• Wash old plastic punnets with a weak solution of bleach diluted in some warm water to disinfect them of germs, so they are clean and ready to be re-used in spring
• Wipe old plastic plant labels clean by rubbing the writing with a little household cleaner (I use Jiff) and leave them to dry, so they are ready for re-using in spring
• Extract seeds from any plants that you have saved seeds from and brought indoors.  For us, that includes peas, dahlias and superhot chillies
• Organise your seed collection.  Make a list of what you already have and note the expiry date, so you don’t re-order those ones.  Make a list of what you need for the spring and summer garden so you are ready to go when seed catalogues become available later this month
• Reading.  The latest gardening book I added to my collection is Floret Farm’s Cut Flower Garden by Erin Benzakein.  Don’t forget that I also write a gardening blog (which you will be aware of if you are reading this) and a free weekly gardening newsletter.  If you wish to receive it by email every week, email me at anitakundu.nz@gmail.com and write “subscribe” in the subject field.  Don’t forget that the current issue and all back issues are published on my website www.anitakundu.co.nz

Perfect rainy day reading