GARDENING

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXIX, Issue 13138, 12 September 1940, Page 7

GARDENING

P (By C. CAMERON).

THE VEGETABLE PLOT

This is always a'very busy period for the amateur gardener, as the main sowing time of the year is now at hand. After the cold of the winter months, the soil is now receiving the benefit of the sun’s rays, and all the seed sown now germinates freely and quickly. It is very necessary, however, that the gardener should sow those varieties, of vegetables most suitable for this time of the year, as some kinds, if sown out of season, will only cause failures and disappointment. The following can be recommended as the most suitable for present sowing: Beet (Crimson Globe) a splendid quick maturing variety of good colour, which doss not go woody, it does not grow large and coarse, the matured beets being of medium size and of good shape. French Beans—Peltom Prolific, Perfect Bush, Stringless Green Pod, and Canadian Wonder, are all good. Make successive sowings at intervals of about three weeks to keep constant supplies available during the summer and autumn months.

Cabbage—Early Allhead, and Cooper’s Fly Resistant, are good and most reliable for sowing now.. The heads are rerharkably solid, and they withstand the hot dry weather well.

Cucumber —Long Prickly is a reliable cropper, Apple Shaped, is a very mild cucumber,, and Short Prickly is a good sort for pickling. Lettuce —Brittle Ice, vbry hard and crisp; Iceberg and Webb's Wonderful, which produce" large crisp heads of fine quality.

p eas —w. F. Massey, Waratah, or Greenfeast will give universal satisfaction, but remember that heavy yields cannot be obtained on poor soil.

Turnip—Sowings may still be made of Early White Stone, a sweet quick maturing variety.

Carrots —Make sowings of these. Carrots are a most wholesome and nutritious vegetable. It is one of the essential crops of every garden however small, and is in use the whole of the year. The Short Horn or stump rooted kinds are most preferred to the large coarse roots that are often used for culinary purposes. They succeed in any light, shallow soil, but the long rooted ones prefer a deep, well drained, sandy soil. Do not apply manure just previous to sowing carrots. A piece of ground that has been well manured for a previous crop will do well. Carrots like a dry seed bed and in consequence the seed germinates better" in dry weather than wet. It is advisable to soak the seed for two or three days before sowing in dry weather. Often the seedlings appear, but in a few days - they, take on a yellow tint, and then disappear, the foliage of any left curling up, and the plants refuse to grow. This is due to the disease called carrot aphis, a that is becoming more frequent every year, and is so bad in many gardens that it has become impossible to grow carrots.

THE FLOWER GARDEN

September is without doubt one of the most beautiful months of the year, and garden lovers would be well advised to prepare now for a continuous display of charming beauty and colour by carefully, studying the current sowing and planting lists. Amongst the most important subjects may be mentioned amaranthus, aster, candytuft, godethia, eschscholtzia, linaria, marigold (French and African), cosmos, celosia, annual chrysanthemum,, nasturtium (Tom Thumb), petunia, phlox Drummondi, poppy (Shirley), salpiglossis, salvia, stock (Teh Week and Virginia), sunflower, verbinia, and zinnia.

Kochia is another commendable subject. Perhaps better known to readers as the “Summer Cypress,” or “Burning Bush.” For a specimen plant, temporary hedge or border, there are few things in the garden to surpass it.

Salvia is another splendid standby. This fairly hardy plant will produce a gorgeous blaze of scarlet* for many months. Harbinger and Scarlet Bedder, are.two of the best, being dwarf and prolific bloomers. If you are looking for a low bedding annual, thSre is none to exceed phlox drummondi for beauty and

continuity of blood. If the beds are planted in separate fcolours the charm is enhanced tenfold. Linaria is also a dainty little annual, admirbly suited to bedding and bordering and should be more extensively- cultivated in the home garden.