AKAROA GARDENING NOTES

Akaroa Mail and Banks Peninsula Advertiser, Volume LXIV, Issue 6581, 31 October 1939, Page 3

AKAROA GARDENING NOTES

FLOWER GARDEN

The display of spring has almost passed away. Preparation is now to be made for the autumn and summer.

First of all trim up all shrubs that have flowered over the winter and spring. A branch that upsets the shape of a bush can be removed. Any heaths that flowered during spring and winter can be trimmed up. Cut away all the old flowering spikes for the best flov er is always produced on the new seasons growths. The flowering currant can be cut well back. Do not allow it to become overgrown. It also produces its best flowers on the new wood. Trim up lilac bushes. If they are overgrown they can be cut well back and will flower on the new growths next season..

Now the flower borders can be considered. If the wallflower is faded and not required pull it out and dig the ground over. The primroses and polyanthus can be lifted, divided and planted in some cool sheltered place to rest until planting time next April. Chrysanthemums can still be planted out. Attend to dahlia tubers. These can be cut apart and planted obout the large borders. A piece of root with one or two shoots is sufficient when planting. Some gardeners allow only one shoot. When this shoot has grown about six inches it is cut back. This causes branching. Usually three or four branches are retained and carefully tied to a stake. Dahlia planting can be done in December and quite good results are obtained.

When time permits most of the bedding plants can be planted. The question is often asked: What can be planted for summer flowering and last well into the autumn?.

For the autumn the chrysanthemum and dahlia are to be first on the list. Gladiolias planted during December will flower in March and April. Now the bedding plants Salvia Bonfire is most dependable. It flowers well in the summer and lasts until the first winter frost. It requires soil that is well worked. Dig in rolled straw or manure, failing that, the usual "gardeners excuse" blood and bone. First on the list of good flowers are Verbena, Phlox, Petunia, French and African marigolds. The cosmos is worthy of consideration especially the new variety "orange flare." The double form are interesting and useful as cut flowers. If Nemesia is sown now and planted out it will flower well into the late autumn. The same can be said of Asters, Calendula and salpiglossis. The "American Beauty" strain of aster is late in flowering is very useful on this account. The antirrhinum is useful, but in order to keep it in bloom it will be necessary to cut away all spent flowers during the summer. Dwarf French marigold, Tagetes, Lobelia and Ageratum can be used for edging beds and plots. The dwarf forms of petunia are useful for this purpose.

Seeds to sow now are geum, pyrethina, penstemon, Aquilegia, primrose and polyanthus. Seedlings can be raised outside in boxes or in cool sheltered places about the garden.

Vegetable Garden Keep the hoe working about all rows of plants. If thei*e are any plots still in a rough state dig them over while the ground is in working order. Earth up potatoes and plant sets of later varieties if required. Sow French and runner beans. Sweet corn can be sown now also jnelon, cucumber, marrow and pumpkin. Sow cabbage (savoy), Brussels sprouts, beetroot, carrot and parsnip, spinach and all vegetable according to requirements.