Growing your own in the Wakatipu is about to become that bit easier – thanks to the debut book from Queenstown gardening expert Jacqui Stubbs.
Because of its alpine setting and often unpredictable seasons, the region throws up some daunting challenges for green-fingered enthusiasts.
With Raising Queenstown, Dalefield-based Stubbs has conjured a comprehensive and easy-to-follow guide to DIY plants, fruit and vegies.
Jacqui's late winter tips
Apart from cleaning all those tools that didn’t quite get the treatment in autumn, there are tasks that can be done in August…
Garlic: Here in the Wakatipu, the best time to plant garlic is late July through into August. This will be ready for cropping and storing in mid to late February.
Fruit tree pruning: Most of the common fruit trees can be pruned in late winter before new growth begins. This encourages the production of flowers and fruit. Remove any small, twiggy or crossing branches and reduce the fruiting stems back to just above a growth bud.
Roses: It’s best to prune roses when the worst of the winter is over. I generally do mine in mid August, but it’s fine to undertake a winter spraying programme using lime sulphur and copper sprays. They’ll attack dormant pests and strengthen the plants immune system.
“The Wakatipu offers some very diverse and difficult conditions for gardeners,” she says.
“If you live in a sunny area like Kelvin Heights or Frankton you can grow totally different things than you can in colder places like Arrowtown or Dalefield.
“You need to know your own climate and locally that can vary substantially within a few kilometres.”
The 100-page Raising Queenstown is a compilation of two year’s worth of Dig This gardening columns penned by Stubbs and published in Mountain Scene.
The book covers everything from sowing seeds to getting the best from nurturing and storing a variety of fruit and vegies in the Wakatipu.
Stubbs, originally from England, ran her own garden design company in London for 15 years and her work has been exhibited at the world-famous Chelsea Flower Show. She moved to Queenstown 10 years ago with partner Robin and has her own design company Remarkable Gardens.
Raising Queenstown costs $25, with $5 of that going to local schools and charities.
It is currently available to purchase at Arrowtown Primary School, Queenstown Primary School, Mitre 10 Remarkables Park, SBS Bank Queenstown Branch or the Mountain Scene office. Phone 442 7000 or email classified@scene.co.nzto reserve your copy.
Gardening guru Jacqui Stubbs has returned to the pages of Mountain Scene with her new column "Dirt to Dish". Tips for growing your own plus a recipe from The Rees chef Ben Batterbury. Read all her tips here.
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