GARDEN NOTES

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 45, 16 November 1929, Page 34

GARDEN NOTES

(By

“Kowhai.”)

ANNUAL DELPHINIUMS. Annual delphiniums are useful for filling in where early spring flowers have left empty spaces in the borders, and their lovely blue flowers aro produced over a long season. To get the best effect, they should be planted in fairly big groups, or used to fill a whole bed. They like light, well-drained soil that has had plenty of well-decayed garden rubbish worked into it, and a sunny position. A little bonedust may be put in with the plants. If the seedlings arc “puddled in,” and are looked after until they become established, they, grow quickly, and soon reach the flowering stage. Twiggy sticks should be placed round them as they grow, to prevent the flowering stems being beaten down by wind and rain. . Xbe two varieties worth growing are Blue Butterfly, with dark blue flowers, and Azure Fairy, with azure blue flowers. Seedlings should be planted as soon as possible, so that they may be established before the weather becomes hot. CYNOGLOSSUM AMABILE. Cynoglossums are just opening their flowers, and for several weeks the plants will be giving us touches of glorious colour in our borders. The flowers resemble forget-me-nots, and are produced in big panicles, the central flowering stem being about two feet in height. The colour ic rich forget-me-not blue. ■ - ■ , r .. , The plants seed freely, and a plentiful supply of self-sown seedlings may generally be found not far from the parent plant. ■. .... Seeds should be sown during this month in drills in the open ground, and strong seedlings should then be ready for planting out early in l the autumn. Cynoglossums are biennial, and by sowing the seeds now, one has, by next flowering season, big spreading plants that make a great show. Autumn-sown seedlings will flower the first season, but the plants will not be so big. The plants should be In groups or drifts to get the best effect, and should be a foot or eighteen inches apart each way.. Staking must be attended to, for the flowering stalks are very brittle, and the flowers are too lovely to be lost. A little weak liquid manure given now, just as the flowers are opening, is a good help to the plants.

PERENNIAL LUPINS. , Perennial lupins come so readily from seeds, .that one can easily keep up to date with them. They are noble garden plants, and when well grown are among the handsomest and most stately. Hybridists are continually.at work upon them, and every year there are new and richer colours to delight us, blue in every delightful shade, rich, deep purple, clear pink, deep rosy red, and rich apricot being some of them. - Perennial lupins are wonderfully hardy, and able to adapt themselves to any soil. They grow to perfection in a rich silty one. and also in a well-dug heavy one. Indeed, the plants do so well in heavy soil that they have earned the gratitude of many amateur gardeners. . If seeds are sown during November, the seedlings will often send up a spike of flower in the autumn, and this gives one a chance of seeing the colours before the plants are moved into permanent quarters. ROUTINE WORK.

Carnations. —The flowering stems should be tied to their, stakes as they grow, and if perfectly formed flowers on long stems are wanted, some of the buds should be removed. Growth is so rapid just now that the plants seem to be in need of little attentions every few days. At the first sign of greenfly attacking the young shoots, the plants should be well syringed with water. A very little dry fowl .or fish manure may be pricked In as soon as flower-buds are formed. ■ Delphiniums.—ln many gardens the plants have sent up tall stems, and buds here and there are showing colour. The stems must be securely tied to stakes, but in such a way that the stately beauty or the plants is not spoilt. Thorough waterings, and a little weak liquid manure may be given to the plants all through the flowering'season. . As soon as the flowers fade, the stems should be cut off just below the flowering part. If a good watering and a mulch of well-decayed cow manure are given, the plants semi up a fresh lot of flowering stems, and as they push up, the old flowering ones should be cut right down. By prompt attention to the plants ana good feeding. It is possible to get three lots of flowers. • ■ . • Canterbury Bells. —The plants make a wonderful show during their flowering season, and well repay . one for careful staking. , ■ . „ They arc very hardy plants, growing well in quite ordinary soil as long as It lias been well dug, anil tbelr lovely, flowers are produced in profusion. By sowing seeds during November, one gives the seedlings a chance to, grow into line plants before their flowering season. The seeds mav be sown in the open ground, and if they are sown very thinly, pricking out will not be necessary. The seedlings should be planted in the beds, in March or early in April. Violets.—Violet plants are still growing vigorously, and the leaves are green and strong. As soon as they show slfins of veilowing, however, cut them oft level with the ground. Prick in a little bonedust, give the plants a good watering, and then 'work some good soil from a com posit heap in amongst the growths. Trltonias.—Trltonlas are glorious just now. and during dry weather should be given thorough waterings, followed by a little weak liquid manure. As soon as the first spike of flower begins to fade cut it oft to give the second one a chance to devol op. . - Spanish Trises. —Spanish irisis, too, should hare the first flower removed as soon as it begins to fade, for most of the steins will produce a second flower. Roses.—Cut the blooms off rose bushes as soon as they fade, cutting off at least a third of the flowering stem in doing so. A mulch of some sort may be spread round the plants now. They arc surfaccrooters and appreciate this during hot dry weather. Well-rotted, manure, decayed garden rubbish, lawn clippings all form suitable mulches. First prick in a little bonedust, and then give a thorough watering before spreading the mulch. Young shoots must, be watched, and washed immediately if greenfly is found on them. . . Dahlias. —Dahlias have strong shoots now. and may be planted out in the beds. Slice off part of a tuber with each shoot, and plant out In richly manured ground. Or one whole tuber with a strong shoot, showing may be planted. ’■ Anemones. —Anemone seeds should He sown now, and the seedlings should then be ready for planting out early in. the autumn. These seedlings begin flowering early, and give a splendid yield of fine blooms. VEGETABLES. Young carrots are always delicious, but at this time of year especially so. But when one has to pay a penny each for quite small ones, they become rather a luxury. They are so easily grown, and take up so little room, that a row of them might easily find a place in a garden even where .vegetables are ndt usually grown. By making a fresh sowing, as soon as the most forward ones are in use. one may always have ‘young carrots in the. garden. It is a mistake to sow too many at a time. Make, rather, frequent small sowings. If the ground is light and rich they come on quickly. Potatoes should be earthed np as it becomes necessary. , , Push the soil towards cabbage and cauliflower plants as you hoe, but keep It away from onions. Thin out ail seedlings as soon as they can ,be handled. Stake peas and broad beans from the start. Train runner beans up their supports. Stake tomato plants. Pick the Howers off shallots and chives. Keep the beds free from weeds and the plants well supplied with water. As soon as spedling marrows, pumpkins, etc. appear through the ground, give them a good watering and then spread grass clippings or decayed garden rubbish round them. This keeps the little roots moist, and gives the plants a chance to establish themselves. Big leaves soon appear, and the vines begin to creep over the mulch. Onee this stage is reached the plants give no further trouble, except that they need a good watering now and again in dry weather. Seeds may be' sown of pumpkins, marrows. savoys, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, celeriac, French beans, runner beans, broad beans, radishes, lettuces, carrots, peas, red beet, spinach, silver beet, and sweet corn. , •> The soil must be kept well-stirred and loose between the rows of vegetables.