GARDENING NOTES

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 34, 8 August 1925, Page 17

GARDENING NOTES

SUCCESSIONAL CROPS

KITCHEN GARDEN HINTS

VERY EARLY PLANTING NOT ALWAYS SATISFACTORY.

(By "Practical.")

The spell of calm, mild weather dur- | ing the last week or so has brought on growth marvellously and given renewed enthusiasm to the gardener. As we are almost sure to have some very cold weather later on it is well not to be in too great a. hurry to put, out plants which arc tender or only half hardy. The results of the early planting are always unsatisfactory, and in most cases the planting has to be done a second time, which means double work and unnecessary expense. There is so much really urgent work to be done now that the ground is in good order for working, that anything which canbe put off with' safety should be delayed to enable the gardener to catch up on the work, which was unavoidably delayed through the wet winter. The sowing of most of the vegetable seeds may safely be done now. Any of the following may be got in in suitable ground, which should be in good heart and thoroughly worked up: Peas, broad beans, carrots, parsnips, onions, Bpinach, lettuce, radishj red beet, cab bage, cauliflowers, and celery. It is advisable to bow sufficient for requirements only and to make further sowings later, so securing successional crops. Many vegetables, especially peas and all salads, are always much more palatable when young, and consequently should be grown as suggested in small quantities at frequent , intervals. To secure really good stocky plants for putting out tho seedlings should be thinned in the seed beds as soon as large enough to handle. Too often this thinning is neglected with the result of a lot of drawn, spindly plants. To bo •ure of a good crop of first-rate carrots, parsnips, or beet, new manure should on no account be used, as this induces the roots to branch. The ground must be deeply worked and should have been well manured the previous season. Land where peas or beans were grown does well for root crops the following season, and if a dressing of soot can be worked in so much the better. GROWING ONIONS.

Possibly tho Vegetable most in demand next to" potatoes is the onion, being in season at all times of the year. This vegetable might with'advantage be more widely grown by people with small gardens. ' They are not difficult to grow, but the ground must be rich and very well worked. This crop can be grown on the same ground year after year, provided the plot is manured ; each season. Stable manure i« the best manure for onions, and coot is also a good fertiliser for this crop. It is. getting late enough to sow the main crop onion*, 10 every effort should be made to get the teed in. Sow thinly in drills at a depth of one inch at most, in ground which is fairly firm, and thin out to eight inches apart when big enough. The planting out of autumn-sown onions should be completed. This variety succeeds best when raised in seed beds and; transplanted to well-prepared ground. The transplanting should be done as soon as the weather is favourable. Being perfectly hardy plants, their roots will commence to grow provided the ground is not frosty. A few days before the planting is done the surface should liq pricked over, with a fork, and given a. good dusting with lime and soot, j after which the surface should bo raked finely. Plant at distances of 12 inches, as these onions attain a great size when well grown, in rows 15.inches apart. The roots only should be inserted in the ground, the fact that the .plants lie over on the ground does not matter-as they will straighten up as soon aa the roots take hold of the ■oil. TOMATOES FOB OUTDOOR GROWING. Thi* ii on* of the plant* which it is a mistake to plant outdoor* too early. Every year hundred* of plants have to b* replaced a* the first planting ha* been destroyed by rough weather. October is quit* early enough to plant out of doors, while November is not too late. The majority of people with small gardens are content to purchase their plants ready grown as this saves the trouble of raising them from seed. Where only a few plants are required it is really hardly _ worth while going to the trouble of raising tha seedlings. The time to sow the seed may be regulated by the date the plants are to be put out, about 12 weeks after sowing—less if the seed is sown in heat. Seed should be sown thinly in shallow boxes, which should be half filled with old decayed stable manure, covered with good loam. Smooth off. the surface and make fairly firm. Thin the seedling* to three inches apart each way, and be very sparing with water, giving only aafflcient to keep the plant* growing. The boxes should be placed under a frame on a hot-bed of manure—the bottom heat encouraging the formation o:( roots. A* soon a* the plant* are well grown they should be thoroughly hardened off before planting out. This must be done by gradually removing the light from the frame until the plants are sufficiently hardy to remain without any cover. Plenty of air is essential to secure sturdy plants.

FRUIT-TREE SPRAYING. Most of the pruning should be well under way if not already completed, and during calm woather efforts should ba made to get the spraying done for the control of fungoid diseases and insect pests. Bordeaux mixture and lime sulphur solution are the sprays most commonly used. These may be purchased from any seedsman in containers of handy bize for small users, with directions on each tin.

The planting of lilies should be done as soon as possible after the bulbs are lifted, as these should never be allowed to become dry. These beautiful flowers succeed best in rich loamy, soil with some decayed manures and sand mixed. with it. The bulbs should bo planted from 4 to 6 inches deep, as many of. the varieties are stern-rooting, throwing roots from the stem above the bulbs. When 'planting; it is a good plan to surround the bulbs with clean sand if this, is available.

Propagation of chrysanthemums, from the young sucker growths should be go* : on with. Select the strong, sturdy growths, those with a few roots showing for preference. Insert the cuttings firmly in nursery toils of good soil. Making the cuttings thoroughly firm is one of the most important points, especially firming the soil at tho base of the cutting. Some good, sharp sand at the bottom of the hole for the base of the cutting to rest on will encourage root action. • •

The sowing of hardy annuals should b« proceeded with. Well-drained ground in » sunny position t which is sheltered from cold winds and draughts should bo chosen for sowing seeds. ' Tn districts where {rswtfl p.rr, HVely \r\ twji' oonn groteUat .fvuU l» vbwbla. flUi

may be provided by mean* of ism* icrim stretched a few inches above the beds or some light scrubs may be laid over them with good effect. Hose pruning should be completed as toon as convenient, according to directions given in thii column eomt weeki ago. After the heavy rains the rose beds will require to be forked over to break up the surface -which has become very • caked. A little bone dust forked in around the plants will encourage growth. All flower beds require weeding and manuring and to bo dug or forked over. The frequent loosening- of the surface soil has a wonderfully beneficial effect upon the plants, allowing of free aeration. Lilting and dividing of herbaceous plants such as phlox, Michaelmas daisies, shastus, etc., should be done as soon as possible now, as growth has commenced, and unless done soon the plants will receive too great a check. The younger growth from the outside of the clumps is usually the bestto employ for replanting, as the centres are chiefly old worn-out growth. Before replanting see that the ground receives a good/ working and manuring. It is getting late enough for planting shrubs and trees; any work of this nature should be completed without delay. Pansies and violas are such general favourites and so well known that itseems hardly necessary to emphasise their great value and charm for general garden use. Plants may be put out noy and will then give a good display of bloom throughout the summer. Either as edging plants or in beds by themselves or as rockery plant* they are charming, the variety of colours making them suitable for any colour scheme. The violas ,or tufted pansies produce a profusion of bloom, and merit being more widely grown. Both pansies and violas require rich, well-drained soil, and must not be allowed to suffer from drought. Slugs are very destructive with these plants, so measures must be taken to prevent the plants from their ravages