July is one of the busiest quiet months in the New Zealand garden. Not much looks like it’s happening above ground, but this is the month that sets up everything for spring, so it pays to get outside between the frosts and get a few key jobs done.
A Note on the Season So Far
It’s been a mixed run of weather heading into winter this year. May was particularly dry across much of the country, leaving soils lower in moisture than we’d usually see heading into the cooler months, while June swung the other way with a good soak of rain. That kind of swing between dry and wet can leave soil structure and nutrient levels a bit out of balance, so July is a good time to help redress that: working in compost and humate now improves both drainage in wet patches and moisture retention in dry ones, giving your soil a more even footing before spring growth kicks in.
Feed the Soil with Dave’s Magic Mix Pellets
One product that earns its keep at this time of year is Dave’s Magic Mix pellets. These are a blend of chicken manure and humate, rich in natural nitrogen and trace elements that fruit trees and vegetables are crying out for right now. A handful per hole, mixed in with a bit of organic humate, will do wonders for whatever you’re planting this month. And as a bonus, the carbon in the humate soaks up much of the ammonia smell from the chicken manure, so it’s a far more pleasant job than it used to be.
In the Vege Patch
July is garlic month. Traditionally it goes in on the shortest day for a harvest on the longest day in December, so if you haven’t got yours in yet, now’s the time. Keep planting your winter staples too: brassicas, beetroot, leafy greens and herbs will all handle the cold and reward you later.
It’s also a great window for planting deciduous fruit trees, including apples and pears, while they’re still dormant. Most pip and stone fruit have dropped their leaves by now and are settling into dormancy for the next couple of months, which makes it the ideal time to get them in the ground before the sap starts running in August.
Strawberries can go in too. Prepare the bed with a good compost mixed with organic humate and Dave’s Growth Booster sheep pellets to give the plants a strong start, then feed every four weeks to keep them ticking along. Strawberry straw around the base helps keep roots moist and keeps developing fruit clean and off the soil.
What You Can Still Harvest
Beetroot, bok choi, brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, carrots, kale, lettuce, leeks, mesclun, mizuna, parsnip, peas, radish, rocket, shallots, silver beet, spinach and yams are all fair game this month.
Maintenance Checklist
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Parsnips and yams – these can stay in the ground until you’re ready to use them.
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Rhubarb – lift and divide older crowns while the plants are dormant.
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Vegetables – feed with Dave’s Magic Mix pellets and a little added humate for the nutrients they need to keep growing through the cold.
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Cooler weather protection – apply Dave’s Fish & Seaweed liquid to help plants cope with dropping temperatures and frost.
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Tender plants – citrus and frost-sensitive flowers should be covered overnight with frost cloth or hessian sacks.
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Fruit trees – this is a good time to prune deciduous trees while they’re dormant. Remove dead or diseased wood and shape them up to encourage healthy growth in spring.
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Garden beds – start preparing for spring by working compost mixed with humate (at a rate of 5–10%) and any well-rotted manure you have on hand into your beds. A layer of mulch on top will retain moisture, suppress weeds, and insulate roots over the rest of winter.
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Trees and shrubs – apply organic humate around the base at a rate of 200–300 grams per square metre. This feeds the soil microbes, builds a more diverse soil base, and over time supports stronger root systems, better disease resistance and more resilient plants overall. Rake it in or simply let the rain do the work.
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Tools– July is also a good time to give your gardening gear some love. Sharpen the pruning shears, clean out the pots, and get the shed sorted before the spring rush hits.
Dave’s organic humate can be applied at any time of year and comes in both liquid and powder form. As more Kiwi gardeners discover what it can do for their soil, we keep hearing more of those wonderful stories of happy, thriving gardens, and there’s nothing we enjoy more than that.
Happy Gardening,
The Dave’s Garden Products Team