Midwinter Musings
By Christine Dann
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I found the Matariki holiday was a perfect time to take a walk around the garden and think about what worked well in the past year, and what needs to happen in the new year. It was also a good time to find new recipes for the autumn-harvested crops now in storage, such as pumpkin and kūmara, and for the ones still safe in the ground, such as carrots, beetroots and parsnips – see the recipe for kūmara and white bean soup here.
How to make the garden more productive?
As I took my midwinter garden stroll, I had two main considerations on my mind. The first was ‘How can I make this garden more productive?’ This involves practical considerations of how to improve the soil, remove and/or suppress weeds, increase access to sunlight by removing or pruning trees which create too much shade, making sure new beds can be watered easily, and so on.
It also involves thinking ahead to what needs to be planted when spring comes, from the hardy seeds of peas, beans and new potatoes, which can be planted in late August or early September, through to the second sowing of sweet corn seeds in early November. This planning involves remembering what was planted where in the last season, so as to rotate the crops and not overwork the soil. Taking photos or drawing plans could help with this.
Once the vege planning is sorted, and the list of seeds to restock before spring is made, how about more fruit production? Is there room (or the need) for another fruit tree or two, and if so – what kind? I used to be snobby about dwarf fruit trees, but after harvesting around 25 peaches from one tiny tree in its first season here I am now a fan. They are much easier to grow – and protect from avian and mammalian munchers.
How to make the garden more beautiful?
My second consideration is ‘How can I make this garden more beautiful?’ I include the vege garden in this, as flowering plants are great at attracting bees and other beneficial insects, and once sown some of them will keep returning – I now have to pull out and compost borage, calendula and purple flowering ornamental carrots which spread too far.
But mostly I look at the play of light and colour, form and texture, scent and sound, mystery and reveal that is fundamental to the sort of woodland-style garden that I enjoy most – a garden for all the senses, not just sight. I am lucky to be able to indulge myself with such a garden, but even if a garden is restricted to pots and raised beds in a courtyard, it can be a place of floral and productive beauty in summer with a little forward thinking in winter.
Single camellias which flower in midwinter make the garden more beautiful, and provide welcome food for bellbirds – korimako. Photo: Christine Dann.
Christine Dann has been gardening organically for 50+ years, and is the author of four books on gardening and/or food, and numerous articles on aspects of gardening.
