THIS MONTH’S WORK

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 29021, 9 October 1959, Page 8

THIS MONTH’S WORK

With the advent of the last month of spring, we should realise the importance of pushing on with the sowing of all seeds—in both vegetable and flower garden. This is particularly the case in the former, for the kitchen economy is so dependent upon the home-grown supplies. It is pleasing to see so much good growth being made at the present time, and it should prove an encouragement to push on this important phase of garden work at all costs. VEGETABLE GARDEN—

Sowings of almost all vegetables can be made. Sow with the idea of keeping up a continual supply. Every week at least it is necessary to sow or plant something. Sow Broccoli, Brussels sprouts, Savoy and other winter greens.

Sow carrots —Shorthorn types for early use and the Intermediates and long sorts for main crop. A few turnips should be sown. This sowing will probably meet with ary weather, so sow only a few, followed in a* few days with another sowing. Plant potatoes. Those that are up should be hoed. Scatter along the drills a dressing of manure, including half an ounce of sulphate of ammonia to the yard of drill, before hoeing. Sow pumpkins and marrows. These will need shelter of some kind.

Prepare ground for .the various crops. There should be no vacant, weedy spots. Hoe between onions. Further plantings can be made. Peas can be sown for succession. Stake and earth up those that are growing. Dwarf French beans can be sown. Sow as you would green peas. Two or three sowings should be made for succession. Scarlet runner and Fardenlose climbing beans can be sown where trellis or twine supports can be provided as growth ensues. Sowings of all general crops can be made—onion, beef parsnips, silver beet, spinach, parsley, lettuce, cabbage, cauliflower, and radish. Sow leeks and celery to plant out in January, Cucumber and sweet corn should be sown. They need a warm, moist soil. Feed the asparagus and rhubarb beds with liquid manure. Plant tomato, lettuce, cabbage plants and shallots. THE FLOWER GARDEN—

Sow Shirley poppies, clarkias. eschscholtzias, larkspurs, godetias. Plant out Phlox drummondii. Beauty stocks, delphiniums, pansies, antirrhinums. Chrysanthemum cuttings can be taken. Those rooted earlier can be transplanted. The chrysanthemum bed should be prepared for planting. Dahlias can be started and cuttings taken. Old stools can be divided. Prepare the dahlia bed. In warm gardens, planting can be done. . Do NOT cut off the foliage of bulbs if you wish for blooms next season. Spray roses for aphis and mildew. Gladiolus should now be planted. Bedding plants of all kinds can now be put,out. Planting can still be done of azaleas, ericas, rhododendrons. aucubas, abutilons and acemmias. Spray the lawn to kill weeds. New lawns can be sown down. •/' y f ■ ■ THE GREENHOUSE— Tomatoes and tobacco can be sown. Those plants that are up can be pricked off. Sow seeds of cucumber, pumpkin, melon in small pots —one seed to each pot. Ventilate freely. Apply shading to the glass to prevent temperature from rising too high, and to hold the moisture. Keep a moist, buoyant atmosphere, but not a saturated one. Sow English border carnations, hollyhocks, delphiniums, petunias and primulas, but get good strains. Sowings of celery. Cape gooseberry, egg plant and halfhardy flowers like salvia, lobelia, zinnia, and even asteis and stocks for early planting out. can be made. THE FRUIT GARDEN— Work the soil under and between the trees. Complete all pruning. . Spray peaches, nectarines and plums with lime-sulphur (l_120) to control leaf curl, brown rot, leaf rust and shothole. ..... . Outdoor vines should be tied to their supports, i Give the trees a dressing of superphosphate, allowing three to four pounds to a large tree. and. in addition, half a pound each of sulphate of potash and sulphate of ammonia. Smaller trees require proportionately less.