GARDENING NOTES.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVIII, 17 October 1924, Page 3

GARDENING NOTES.

(By Waratah.)

L. , g FLOWER GAB,DEN. a Asters. —When well grown a bed of choice asters makes a gorgeous display ; of colour in late summer and the k autumn. Asters wili thrive and flower s in any good garden soil, but if spe- c cia-lly fine blooms are required some rj well-decayed manure should be dug j. into the soil before planting. The aster is a surface-rooting plant and g soon suffers from want of moisture, so must be liberally supplied with water during dry weather. The healthy g growth of the plants and the develop- j rnent- of large blooms are greatly assisted by weekly applications of liquid ] manure up to the time the' plants form flower-buds. Plants that have been raised from seed isown under glass earlier in the season may now r be planted out in sheltered situations • provided that they, have been well j hardened off. Aster seeds should not j be sown in the garden -until the wea- j ther becomes warm and all danger from possible frosts is over. The ( seeds are usually of weak germina- < tion, and very small seedlings are ( killed by even a light frost. The types of aster usually grown are the double varieties known as Comet, Ostrich Plume and Giant Crego. The large-flowered single Comet aster is an excellent plant to provide flowers for cutting. The flowers are of very attractive colours and last for a ‘long time in water. • When planting asters choose a sunny position, and if possible do not grow them in a. position in which they grew last season. A disease known ms “wilt” occasionally attacks asters; plants that are apparently healthy will suddenly collapse and die. This disease usually only attacks asters that are growing in soil, in which they have been grown - for several seasons. IPenstemons.— No garden should be ■ without a few- of these handsome border perennials. They flower continuously and will thrive with little attention, but to get the best results the flower-spikes should be cut off as soon as they have faded, and the plants regularly watered and supplied with liquid manure once a Week during the summer. With these attentions the plants will give flowers twice as large as any that do not receive them. Plants that have been growing for more than two- years get leggy and straggly. These should he dug out and a few fresh young plants obtained and planted not less than 2ft 6in apart, as in good. soil the plants attain a. large size. The soil should be enriched by the addition of decayed animal manure or hone dust, and the . site chosen to plant them a sunny, one well away from trees or shrubs. . Salvia. —The scarlet salvia; known as “Bonfire.” is perhaps the most popular bedding plant of the present day. The plants form dense hushes and have large spikes of dark crimson flowcre, which make a gorgeous display in summer and autumn. Seedling plants, that have been thoroughly ! hardened off may now be planted in sunny sheltered positions. In exposed gardens planting should be deferred until warmer weather is experilencecl and all danger from frost is past. Seedlings of this plant are )very susceptible to frost or cold cutting winds. Salvia Patens.—This is a. perennial salvia which produces bright blue flowers and handsome foliage. It should be planted in good isoil in a sunny position. Sow hardy annuals for succession. In sunny sheltered positions seeds of half hardy annuals such as phlox, Drummondi, salpiglossis, asters, portulaea, Zinnia, balsams may be sown in the open garden if the weather is favourable. Cuttings of chrysanthemums may still he taken. - Sew sweet peas ■ for late summer flowering. Remove suckers and superfluous shots from rose bushes. Inspect the plants regularly for aphis and caterpillars. Plant gladioli bulbs 6 inches deep in rich soil and a sunny position. VEGETABLE' GARDEN.

Tomatoes. —'Plants of these may be planted now in a sunny sheltered position. As we are likely to have cold winds, the plants should be protected by placing, benzine tins with the tops and bottoms cut out over the plants each night. These should be removed in the mornings of warm sunny days. The soil in which tomatoes are planted should not contain any fresh animal manure, or the plants will grow very rank with, soft foliage, susceptible to attack by disease, and will not be fruitful. If the ground is very poor fork in 20/.s. of superphosphate and 2ozs. of sulphate of potash per square yard. Place the plants 18 inches apart and bury them down to the first pair of leaves (the seed leaves). Make the soil thoroughly firm about the roots. This is a. very important aid to success. If the soil is moderately dry it can scarcely be trodden too' firmly. Each plant should be provided with a stake 4 to 5 feet high, and it is best to put this in at planting time. The plants should be watered as soon as planting is completed, but they will not require watering again for some weeks afterwards, unless the weather is exceptionally hot and dry. When water is given it should be in suifieient quantity to moisten the soil thoroughly, and no more applied until the soil is- again dry. Tie the stems to the stakes as they advance in growth, and pinch off every side shoot that develops from the junction of the leaves with the stem, thus restricting the plant to one main stem. The plants should be looked over every few days for -side shoots, for they grow quickly.. As soon as ithe first- truss of fruit has set liquid manure should be given once a week, made from animal or poultry manure, or by dissolving an ounce of superphosphate and an ounce of sulphate of potash in each 4 gallons of water used. Sow radishes jin. deep in rich, firm soil. Thin out to 2in. apart and sow once a fortnight for succession. Tohave tender crisp radishes they must be well watered in dry weather. Sow broad beans for succession. Sow dwarf French beans in a (sheltered situation. Sow Bin. deep and thin out to- Bin. apart. Hows should be 2ft apart. Sow butter beans in same manner as French beans. Thev are rather more susceptible to frost than French beans, but by. the time the plants are up there should not he much danger of damage from frost. Sow both French and butter beans in small quantities at intervals of about three weeks until January, as the plants produce large quantities of beans, and they soon become tough if not picked while young. Sow runner or pole beans in rows running north and south, if possible, and at least (Ift apart, in drills 3in. deep, seed to he sown 4in. apart. Thin out to Sift, apart and provide support

in the form of sticks or wire-netting bft high as soon as the plants are a few inches high. » Borecole or Scotch kale is a very useful winter vegetable which may be 'sown now. Sow a pinch of seed'now and another in November for succession. Only a few plants are needed for an ordinary-sized family. Sow thinly and about Ain. deep. Broccoli for winter use may also l be sown now. Sow an early variety in drills 9in. apart and about tin. deep. The seed and seedlings should be protected from birds. Sow cabbage and cauliflower for succession. Sow savoy cabbage for winter use. Sow selery in shallow boxes of fine - soil pressed firm. Sow on the surface and shade until seedlings appear. Corn, sweet or table.—This is a delicious vegetable which is not grown as drills 2in. deep and thin out to Pin, much as it should be. Sow now in apart. The rows should be 4ft- apart. The space in between cap be utilised to grow lettuces, cucumbers or pumpkins, which will be benefited on veryhot days by the light shade provided by- the corn plants. Sow turnip-rooted beet lin. deep in drills Ift apart. Thin to 3in. and use every alternate root as soon as large enough. Those left can he used later in the season. Sow silver beet lin. deep in drills ISin. apart. Thin to 9in. This is a splendid vegetable to give to fowls confined in runs, and those who have fowls should grow a row or two of it. Many people do not care for this vegetable, but it is useful on occasions when there is a. dearth of other vegetables, and if cooked with a little lemon juice provides a welcome change at times. Leeks .should he sown now in a seed bed to transplant in December or January. Lettuce should be sown in drills loin, apart. The soil should be rich and firm. Thin out to- Sin. apart. Small sowings should be made at intervals of three weeks or a month to keep up a constant supply of this delicious vegetable. ! ’ Onions may still he sown in shallow ‘ drills 15 to ISin. apart in isoil which ’ has been made very firm. Sew thinly I and thin to 3 or Gin. apart, according to the size of bulb required. Onions for pickling should be sown in poor * soil in small beds or wide drills. Sow ! thickly and evenly. ! Sow peas for succession- every three ‘ weeks in drills 2ft apart for dwarf and 5 t-O' 6ft for tall varieties. A * good dressing of lime on the surface ] after sowing will be very beneficial to " the growth of the peas and make the ' soil unpleasant for slugs and snails, which are so- troublesome this season. Parsley may now be sown half an ! inch deep. Thin seedlings to six J inches. Parsnips should be sown in soil 1 free from fresh animal manure or the “ roots will he,a- had shape and coarse, k Sow lin. deep in drills loin, apart.. s Thin to Gin.- .apart for medium-sized 1 roots and ]2in. if large roots are re- " quired for show purposes. Sow carrots 4in. deep in drills one ■’ foot apart in soil free from fresh ani--1 nu’- 1 manure. Sow turnips J-in. deep in drills one * foot apart. Thin to- 6in. apart. The " soil should not be very rich or s luxuriant foliage will develop at the e expense of the roots. Turnips grown ’* in very rich soil have a strong and unpleasant flavour. L ‘ Sow Brussels sprouts in. deep in e drills 9in. apart. t When sowing seeds of cabbages, a cauliflowers, broccoli, etc., sow the seeds thinly and thin the seedlings out to- 2in. apart as soon ,a« they can he s handled. You will then .have sturdy ■■ healthy plants when the time comes to l_ transplant them into their permanent n quarters. If the seedlings are overs crowded the plants will he weak and spindly.

Sow mustard and cress thickly on the surface. If both are wanted at the same time sow the cress five or six days before the mustard. Plant main crop potatoes Gin. deep and 15in. apart, rows to be 2ft Gin apai’t. Vegetable marrows, pumpkins and squashes may now be sown in wellsheltered sunny positions if protection

from frosts can be provided. Roles should be dug 2ft in diameter and 2ft deep, the holes half-filled with decayed manure and the soil replaced. Sow seven or eight seeds 2in. deep and thi nout the seedlings to 3 as soon as it can be seen which are the strongest. The holes should be dug 10 to 121 ? t apart. For small gardens the “bush’’ variety of vegetable marrow is the best kind to grow. . The marrows are produced on the stems of the plants, which are neat and compact and do not throw out any trailers. Four or five plants can be grown in a row. three or four seeds sown at intervals of two feet and the seedlings thinned, leaving the strongest one at each two feet. Gucumbers may be sown lin. deep in positions prepared as advised for pumpkins, the holes to be dug 4ft apart. Sow twelve seeds in each position and thin out to the four strongest. Water, rock and pie melons should be sown m the same manner, the holes to he dug 4ft apart for rock melons. Sft for water melons, and 12ft for pie melons. ‘All must be protected at night from possible frosts and cold winds by means of shelter boxes until all danger from probable frost is over. Cabbage plants of an early or pointed variety should be planted ISin. apart in rows 18in. apart; if of the Drumhead type, 2ft each way. Cauliflowers should be planted 2ft each way.