Mitre 10 MEGA Wānaka is excited to introduce itself as sponsor of the blooms and vegetables categories at this year’s Home Industry competition at the Wanaka A&P Show.
The Mitre 10 MEGA Wānaka store garden department is well known as a go to destination for the towns gardeners – so we asked our perennials and cut flowers expert Erika Burke for a few hints on how to plan and get the best out of your back yard flower beds with a view to targeting success at the Wanaka A&P Show.
Erika is a long-time local gardener who knows the weather and soil conditions distinct to the area better than most. Her top tip for blooms is to ‘stay in your sweet spot’ when it comes to plant selection. “I recommend that you go for plants that thrive here. Dahlias, roses, lilies all do well in our dry Central Otago climate. Start with reliable varieties that you can springboard to success with.”
Erika encourages growers to get the basics of flower growing success going well, before trying something out of the ordinary. “A look through gardening magazines or social media will give an insight into current gardening trends – you can choose varieties accordingly.”
Clearly, the foundation of any great flower bed is quality soil – teamed with a regular watering regime during dry weather you can encourage strong root growth, which means sturdier stems for showing and generally better blooms. A planned proactive watering regime, rather than a reactive approach, reduces stress to plants and helps sustain steady growth. Mulching will help retain moisture and further reduce stress associated with drying out.
If you do want to enter blooms into the show, then the key is to think well ahead when it comes to plant management. Identify the stars in your home garden and pay them extra attention. Stake taller varieties to encourage straight stems. If you want to make sure your rose blooms are in the running then it is important to keep up a regular routine of dead heading – ensuring the plant puts all its energy into quality blooms, rather than just a large number of flowers.
Finally, in the weeks leading up to the show do all that you can to minimize stress on the plants. Keep plants well-watered but avoid bruising petals with overhead drops. Keep vigilant for pests such as aphids and consider sheltering plants from wind or heavy rain. Varieties such as True Blue hydrangea will do well with a feed in the weeks prior to showing.
For judging pick your blooms early in the morning or late in evening when they are full of moisture and aim to keep them cool after. Use nice sharp secateurs and place them directly into water. For a tidy presentation, wipe stems and remove any damaged petals.
A six month window should be enough for a home gardener to plan, purchase and grow blooms. Mitre 10 MEGA Wānaka has a great range of bulbs seasonally available, and a team who are enthusiastic to support home gardeners.
