GARDENING NOTES

Grey River Argus, 16 October 1936, Page 8

GARDENING NOTES

THE GREENHOUSE AND NURSERY Scliiz.aiilbus, godetias, Clarkias and anv other annuals which are grown in pots for the greenhouse will now. be developing Hower buds and a little weak liquid manure once a week Win assist theni. ... . Greenhouse calceolarias will I c .rrowing rapidly, a nd they, too, sliou d have weak liquid' manure once a week. These plants are very susceptab e to attacks of green fly, and they shoul be fumigated with X.L. Ab once a fortnight. Be sure that the foliage is dry during the process. Continue to pot up the mure advanced chrysanthemums into five-inch pots and the newly-rooted cuttings into three-inch pots. Cuttings of chrysanthemums put in uow will root retiddy and form nice plants to flower m six-iineh pots, which are useful for a small greenhouse or house decoration. . ■Continue gradually to ripen oil <?- elamen, lachenalias and I'reesias which are past. Jlyd'ianges should be making gou'l o-iowtli; water freely and give liquid niv.uuie once a week. Those -\vhieh are to be blued will, get a weak solution of alum and sulphate of iron, those to be pink lime water. Cuttings of the best varieties can be rooted now. They make nice plants to flower next spring. . . Start tuberous begonias and gloxinias into growth and when they are well started pot up those which are to be grown inside into five-inch pots. Some people pot the niup into their flowering pots at once, but they take up too much room at. a time when -pace under glass is at a premium and they can be potted on later when there is more room.

Continue to pot up tomatoes into their fruiting pots, tins, or boxes, or plant them out into bed’s of specially, prepared soil. Continue tu break up dahlias and to pul in cuttings. Disbud vines and gradually bring the shoots down to the wires. Syringe morning and afternoon, damp the paths ami borders and shut up the ventilators in the afternoon to hold the sun heat.

THE FLOWER GARDEN Ilk is usually quite safe to plant out geraniums and all the bedding plants, except salvias, zinnias, and tuberous begonias, after the 16th of this month. (Sow liavily annuals and plant out ehrysan themums which are to be grown to provide cut Howers in the autumn and winter. Summer and autumn flowering kinds L’liii be planted on! in beds and borders. if"lant violas, pansies, and carnations, Plant oul sweet peas a nd keep them dusted with lime to keep oil slugs. Stake herbaceous plants and thin out the growths on Michaelmas daisies and perennial phlox. Top-dress a>’d patch old woruout grub-infested lawns, and sow seed on bare patches. Where moss is troublesome rake it off with a steel rake, fork up the surface with a fork, give a light top-dressing of soil, and' give dressing of fish manure. Iva plant food, or blood and bone manure. Allow the grass to make a little growth before mowing..

'Sow down now lawns, allowing loz of fine lawn grass mixed seed to the square yard. To get a quick effect, perennial ryegrass is often added.

THE FRUIT AND VEGETABLE GARDEN. Plant second early and man crop potatoes, cultivate among the early varieties and gradually draw the soil up under the foliage as it develops. Plant cabbage, cauliflower, and Brussels sprouts, transplant autumn-sown onions and plant out lettuce which had been raised in boxes. Sow peas, broad beaus, globe beet white and golden ball turnips, parsnips, spinach, parsley, lettuce, radish and mustard’ and cress. Though still -a bit early runner beans can be sown at the bottom of a wall or fence or any other warm, sheltered positions. Make small sowings of cabbage cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, leehv, and celery to provide plants for putting out later. Disbud peach and apricot trees trained against a wall or fence. Break down fhe ground around fruit trees and bushes with the fork or hoe, and give a top-dressing of superphosphate and lime. Thin out the young growths on gooseberry bushes and' cultivate, manure and mulch the strawberry patch. Prepare-hills for planting vegetable I marrows, ridge encumbers and pnmpkin.s, by taking out the top soil to « depth of nine inches, breaking up the bottom soil and then workink back a barrowload of in'anure and the top soil in alternate layers, finish off with the top soil and plant three or four seeds, covering them with a bell glass, hand lights or a box covered with a. sheet of glass, anything which will protect the young plants from the cold wind and admit light.