Daltons Growing Ideas Newsletter Issue 79 - October 2026
Daltons Growing Ideas
Kia ora,
October is here and so is tomato season. This month it's a bumper issue, so make sure you read to the end so you don't miss anything!
We’re sharing tips to get your tomatoes off to a good start, our new Edible Garden Planting Guide and how mulching can help your garden through an El Niño summer.
You’ll also find dahlia planting prep, new cottage and cut flower garden guides, a carrot muffin recipe, your chance to win a Tomato Planting Pack, and more!
Congratulations to Celeste Lourens and Angelina Newman, whose gardening questions feature this month.
Happy growing,
The Daltons Team
October Gardening Tasks
Sow and plant veggies and flowers, plant kūmara slips, feed actively growing plants, take softwood cuttings and keep weeds in check.
Tomatoes aren't happy in the cold, so don't rush them. Wait until the soil has warmed and frost risk has passed before planting, and you'll be rewarded with a much better crop.
A few quick tips to get started:
Choose a warm, sheltered, sunny spot
Soak seedlings in Garden Time Seafeed NPK before planting out - helps them settle in faster
Plant into free-draining, enriched soil
Try a new variety alongside your favourites
Growing in pots? Dwarf varieties like Scoresby Dwarf, Russian Red or Roma do best in containers.
NIWA says El Niño is underway, and is expected to continue through summer and into 2027, bringing drier, windier conditions to some parts of the country, while others may see wetter weather and periods of heavy rain.
Mulching now helps protect soil through changing conditions. It holds onto valuable moisture during dry spells, suppresses weeds, protects soil from drying winds, and helps reduce soil erosion from heavy rain.
Keep an Eye on Soil Moisture
Check soil moisture as the weather warms and water during dry spells, especially newly planted areas and pots.
See our guide for types of mulch to use and how to apply.
PRODUCT NEWS: Feed your Garden Naturally With More
Our Garden Time™ Chicken & Sheep Pelletsare now available in a handy 15kg value pack. Made from chicken and sheep manures with sustainably sourced natural seaweed extracts, they provide slow-release nutrients while helping build soil structure and fertility.
Easy to use, dig into soil before planting or apply around established vegetables, fruit trees, flowers and ornamentals.
Our Behind the Scenes Series: Ever wondered what goes into growing a tree before it reaches your garden?🌳
For the first episode in our new Behind the Scenes Series, we visited Rainbow Park Nurseries, one of our wholesale nursery customers.
Rainbow Park Sales Manager Cath Rawnsley and the team show us what goes into growing their trees, from rootstock and potting through to getting them ready for sale.
Watch the video below
Get Ready for Dahlia Planting
Planning to plant dahlias in November? Prepare garden beds now.
Dahlias do best when planted into well-prepared soil. This helps provide the nutrients they need through the growing season - watch our video for tips.
While we’re talking beautiful blooms like dahlias, discover more ways to bring flowers into your garden and home with our new guides. Learn how to grow a dreamy cottage garden or create a cut flower garden filled with blooms.
Growing beefsteaks, sweet cherry tomatoes, reliable Romas or colourful heirloom varieties, we’re giving away TWO Tomato Planting Packs valued at over $80* each to set your tomatoes up for success.
