TAKE CARE WITH BULBS

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 297, 14 December 1940, Page 7 (Supplement)

TAKE CARE WITH BULBS

Garden Notes

♦ ♦ ♦ * Cape Gooseberry

I grow bulbs successfully the 1 requirements of each particular nulb must be studied. The native habitat of each species must be known in order to determ'"e correct temperatures and the position most likely to suit the plants. Some bulbs require plenty of sunlight and some require shade. A few require damp, moist conditions, and others do best in a very dry soil. Ilio tnrwt suital.io soil f,,r miwt harrtv '"'M'* is ;i woll-flrainofT, deeply t.roiirlicd ' !>■>' -Mi.-lily l>r< '..'ii up ln ;im . " ' ir,r 1 ;irv. well n.ttnl V..\v ~r '' wl' ] 0 H'Minirr. or. fii: Ii 11 ;_r (hi-. 1... n <•«! 11 -1. ra " Hlli' I U '«l lllllillLf ( II 1-}| ill L.'. \ > 111 i""-t 1'" t IKH ~11-hl \- in. O- 'Oi iitc.l into t lie .-oil. Preparing the Soil ft, heavy, clayey ground is unsuitable, as it is cold, damp and sticky and apt to rot the liulhs. Soil of this description must he broken ~p as well a 9 possible and lime applied. A few weeks after l«rcakin<j up, add a liberal • piantity of well decayed stable manure and sand mixed and tlioi v work in. I AN ith proper attention the must da-s of heavy >oil can li" brought. n|> to the standard o! ;i £<hxl, rich, saudv loam in a few moiit hs.

Where the soil is too light or sandy, some good compost must lw added to gi'- e it body. When preparing the ground for a bulb bed remember that the bulb roots and very often the bulbs themselves are attacked by wirevvorms and other soil in-eds. This is the cause "! very many failures and can be easily remedied by giving the .-oil a good dressing of .-oil insecticide while turning it over. This cleanses it of insect pests m a remarkably thorough manner.

Where possible reserve a patch of ground solely for bulbs, although this is not always fea.-ible in the small gaiden, and it is generally necossarv to grovv the bulbs it. clumps or patches in between other plants. Take care to place the bulb so that the crown is uppermost. At a glance it may be dillieiilt to detect the crown iTI some bulb-, such as anemones, but careful examination will show where the stem has died down and this is the top or crown of the bulb.

i he depth of planting is also important and it mu-t be, rcniernhered that the lighter the toil the deep, ;■ the planting can be ]jracti.-cd. Jn heavy soil place the bulb nearer to lie surface. A '_M>o<l general rule is u> cover the bulb with twice it- own depth of soil. J lie months suitable for planting the various bulbs vary; the approximate flowering |«'riods and the approximate months the bulbs are ready for lifting

lire almost the whole year round. The times shown apply to acclimatised bulbs only. Btillis which have been imnortcd or retarded may be. planted out of season and will bloom at a different period until by gradual acclimatisation they veer round to the correct season. Hose Lightly Providing the ground has been properly prepared, apart from weeding and an occasional light hoeing' no further treatment is necessary. Be particularly careful to hoe lightly, so as not to damage the bulbs. >."0 manure will be needed except a little cow or stable manure just at the flowering period. Do not use chemical manures, such as sulphate of ammonia or nitrate of soda. .As the majority of bulbs are planted ; cither in the autumn or winter, sulli-i-iciit moisture for the bulb is contained in the ground except under very dry conditions. These remarks do not apply to bulbs such as gladioli, which are planted during the spring and summer. (Should the weather, however, continue dry through the later winter and spring an occasional watering is essential. This is most beneficial if given just about the flowering period. If the flowers are allowed to remain on the. plants until tlicy wither and «eed permitted to form the bulb is robl-.od of a great deal of its strength, which passes into the seeds to enable them to ripen. The benefit of cutting off the flowers when froli or even a few days after they are pa-t. their best will be fully realised and this will obviate any excessive strain on the reserve resources of the bulb, l-'lowers of bulbs are best cut in the early morning, being then well charged with moisture, which enables them to last in water for a longer period than if cut during some other time of the day. To Lift—Or Not to Lift Tho leaves of most bulbs die down every year and the bulbs lie dormant for a certain period. It makes very little difference as far as most deciduous bulbs are cerned whether they are lifted each year or left in the ground urdisturlied for a miiulicr of years. Daffodils, crocus, liliums, aga[>anthus and crinums, for example, are best left undisturbed while they are doing well, while others, such as hyacinths, tulips and gladioli, require to be lifted every year as soon as the flowering period i» over and the foliage is showing signs of yellowing. Lift the bulbs with foliage and roota at this stage and lay in a dry place until the leaves have withered and the moisture has dried right out.

Do not cut the tops of foliage until tho bulbs are again required for planting, as this assists to retain a certain amount of nutriment in the bulb while dormant. Lift carefully, using a fork in preference to a spade, as the latter is liable to cut the bulbs. Take a good forkful of earth with the bulb and do not disturb the soil around it, but lay all out to dry in a shed. When thoroughly dried the earth will easily shake off or may be brushed from the bulbs.

THE cape gooseberry is a native of South America, and does well in most warm and temperate climates. Cape gooseberry is also known by the name of strawberry or husk tomato, Chinese lantern plant and ground cherry. ' The botanical name is I'hysalis. It is crrown for its fruit, which can be either eaten raw or made into jam or conserves.

The plants do best in a light, rich soil. Tho ground must be well trenched and properly broken up, any manure necessary being thoroughly incorporated with the soil during the operation.

Sow the seed for early plants in a seed box or hot bed in August or from the middle of September to the end of October in a sheltered bed in the open for the main crop. When large enough to handle and thoroughly hardened off, transplant the seedlings in rows. Do not transplant to J lw open garden before November or December.

When the young plants have made a few inches of growth, pinch out the leaders and early shoots so as to induce bushy growth. If necessary, repeat this operation occasionally during the first weeks after planting. Keep tho soil loosened between the rows as well as between the plants, ami cultivate, to destroy weeds. The raw fruit should not be e.tcn until it is perfectly ripe. Fruit required for later use ran either be dried in the sun or preserved.

Warmth-Loving Plants

CAPSICUMS or peppers are warmthloving plants, and will not stand frosts. They require a fine, well-drained, rich, sandy, loamy soil, which must l>e well broken up and properly prepared. To obtain early crops, seed must be raised in a liot bed or in a box kept in a warm place in the house, and the plants transplanted when large enough and after all chances of frost are over. Under these conditions seed may be sown during August and September.

When large enough to conveniently handle prick the young seedlings off into pots, or, better still, into boxes. Harden the young plants off. and when inured to the outdoor atmosphere they are ready for planting out. The use of boxes obviates the possibility of any check. It is not advisable to transplant to the open ground before the beginning of October, t-ecd can l>c sown in tho open ground or an outdoor bed during November and December, but, where possible, it is advisable to have plants from early sowings ready for putting out as soon as the weather is warm, otherwise the greater |xxrt of the season is lost.

They require a warm, sunny situation, and a position at the base of a fence or wall is the most suitable. Keep the plants growing rapidly, and shade them from the hot sun until thoroughly established. During dry weather the plants must be kept weil watered, and a mulch of well-rotted cow manure, besides acting as a fertiliser, helps to protect the roots from the sun, and also to conserve the soil moisture in dry weather.

♦ ♦ + ♦ Runner Beans

\T° T so hardy as French beans, runner beans will thrive well in any jrood jrarden h.wni that has been deeply cultivated. Sow when all danger of frost* are ovea\ six inches be.injr allowed between the -#eeds in the rowe, which should lie from four to ?ix feet apart. If j f«>wn thii krr they should be thinnpd before staking. Earth up and. stake 1 -high. A