Ruud Kleinpaste: Planting for autumn

Planting for autumn  
I know, I know … it’s still summer. But now is the time to think of autumn onwards. 
It’s the perfect time to sow a heap of wild-flowers. Honestly, it’s always brilliant to get that major flush of colour when days are getting shorter and temperatures make you reach for the firewood in the wood shed. There are many suppliers of wildflower mixes in NZ: Wildflower World (Tauranga), Kings Seeds (Katikati), Yates, Egmont, Mr Fothergills. Take your pick! 
They tend contain a wide range of really pretty flower species: Calendula, larkspur, cornflower, eschscholtzia, nigella, poppy, anagalis, cynoglossum, stock, reseda, gypsophila, and cosmos. Some will flower in autumn, some might pop up in early spring. 
Soil temps of 15 degrees or more are ideal for germination. Wildflower sowing is optimal when you would re-sow lawns – they have similar requirements. 
Make sure the patch is weed-free as much as possible: then the wildflowers take over and shade the weeds out. Some light cultivation (especially on a hot autumn day) will expose the second-growth weeds – they’ll wilt and die. 
Water regularly; wild flowers love moisture! Especially in the first 6 weeks. 
If you want to go for a more “monotone” look, the following flowering plants need sowing in the next few weeks: asters and ageratums, stock, verbena, scabiosa, Californian poppies, marigolds and phlox, dianthus and daisies. What you really do with all these flowers is provide huge patches of pollen and nectar for our pollinators and our Parasitoid Wasps who will do some gratis pest control in your garden.  
Edibles and Herbs 
Now is also the time the time to sow your last Coriander and Basil before winter – cooler temps: not much bolting! It’s still good for french beans and carrots. Lettuce, Spinach, perpetual spinach, radishes, spring onions – the usual suspects. 
And for the winter season… think of cabbage groups (Broccoli, Cauliflower, Brussels sprouts) in the next month or so. I reckon it pays to really think ahead by a few months for vegie gardens! While you have the warm soil, get the seeds to germinate, so you’re not struggling when it gets cooler. LISTEN TO AUDIO ABOVE 

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