GARDENING NOTES.

Hawera Star, Volume XLVII, 16 December 1927, Page 8

GARDENING NOTES.

(By “Warntali.”)

LETTUCES. It is somewhat difficult to grow, lettuces successfully during hot weather. The leaves of the lettuce plant are very succulent and wilt very quickly under hot sunshine. For this reason the best position to grow lettuces m during the summer months is one that is shaded during the hottest part of the day. Ihe surface .soil also tlrys very quickly an summer, and the best method of grovying lettuces from December to March as to sow a -small quantity of seed every three weeks in shallow trendies a-bpu three inches beloav the surrounding surface. Thin out the seedlings as soon as thev can -be handled to a few inches apart. Bv sowing in shallow trenches the plants' receive -the full -benefit of any rain which may fall, or when applying water it- is concentrated in tlie drills, it is not advisable -to transplant seedling lettuces in hot. weather as the plants usually “•bolt” to seed owing to the check in growth. A weak solution of nitrate of soda (loz per gallon of water) applied to the soil round the plants once a week will make them -grow very rapidly.

DAHLIAS,

Dahlias should now be making rapid growth and will require tieing qp to supports as soon as they arc high . enough! Use strong stakes about 4*ll lon o- . The 1)ost material to use for tieing is raffia, as it does not injure the stems. Tic a loop first round the- stem, then another round the stake. The ligatures must not be too tight, or they ■will cut into the stem. Only three or four branches should be- allowed to grow; when the plants have too many branches the centre of the plants becomes a mass of weak useless shoots. Each of these branches should have a stake. The laterals or side shoots, except the two lowest, must be nipped out from these branches, and only one bud allowed at the apex. These laterals will produce flowers later on. When the buds have formed, liquid manure given two or three times a week will be found to help the flowers considerably. LEEKS. The leek is a« hardy, as any vegetable in the garden and a fairly fcuro crop, it is practically free from insect pests and diseases, and it conies into use when vegetables are scarce. They are often useful when there- is a. shortage m the supply of onions, and if in. the sparing they occupy ground that is required lor .another purpose, they can be lifted out and ‘’heeled” in some odd corner until required for use. The present is a good time to prepare the tranches for leeks, and the trench method is decidedly the best. The treneb for leeks shou.'d be twelve inches wide and deep, and some wellrotted manure or vegetable refuse should be well mixed with the -soil m the bottom of the trench. The lpe,ks should be planted nine inches apart centrally down tlio trench, and loaves should point the same way as the tranch runs. Leeks are gross feeders, and should have ample supplies of water in dry weather and an app'acur tion of liquid manure once a week. A more simple way of cultivating leeks is to make holes about eight inches deep with a dibber and to put one seedling in each hole, its roots testing on the bottom. Place just sufficient soil in this hole to cover the roots, and give a good watering. Another method is to draw drills four inches deep and made holes five or si;x inches deep with a dibber. Tins method will produce longer stems than the first, but the finest plants are grown by the trench method. Whichever method is used, the -plants ishould be earthed up towards thie end of the season of growth. Leeks may lie i)tinted out during the months of December and January. TOMATOES. Tomato plants will need a good deal of care and attention now. The plants should be. looked over every few days for side shoots, which appear at the junction of leaves and stem; theso grow surprisingly quickly, and should be removed when small. When the plants are about two feet high apply a mixture of two parts .superphosphate and one part potash at the rate of -loz per square yard, and hoe it lightly into the surface soil. To .prevent, “black stripe” disease the plants must be sprayed with Bordeaux mixture at least every three weeks. This disease usually attacks the bloom end first, usually when the fruit is about halfgrown. The Irish blight disease of the potato is also likely to attack the leaves of the plant. This can be pre r vented by spraying the plants with Bordeaux mixture. Spray the whole- of the foliage thoroughly. Bordeaux mixture can be made by purchasing the prepared Bordeaux powder and adding the requisite quantity of water—lo gallons to each pound of powder. Caterpillars of several species of moths are sometimes very destructive to tomatoes. Spraying with -arsenate of lead is the most effective cure. This should be used at the rate of two even teaspoonsfu! to each gallon of water, and may be added to the Bordeaux solution if necessary. ROUTINE WORK. Riant celery plants nine inches apart. The trenches should be nine inches deep, with plenty of well-rotted - manure or vegetable refuse mixed, with the soil at the bottom. When grown in double rows the trenches should be 18 inches wide, for single rows one foot wide. Spray potato and tomato plants 1 c-vory third week (or more frequently f if the weather be showery) to prevent * fun goi d d ise a se-s.

Cease cutting asparagus and apply a liberal coating of manure to the bed. If no animal manure be available use some good general artificial manure at the rate of 4oz per square yard. Also apply loz of salt per square yard to keep down weeds.

Make fortnightly sowings of mustard and cress and radishes for salads. Sow a small quantity of lettuce seed in a sliadv position every third week for succession.

Sow “Early Horn” carrot for pulling voung.

Sow nca.s and dwarf beans once a fortnight for succession.

Sow New Zealand spinach.' Thin out a'l seedlings as soon as they can be handled. Apply water in dry weather to all newly-planted frees and shrubs. Plant out all summer and autumn flowering bedding plants. Plant broccoli, Brussels sprouts, winter cabbage and Savoy cabbage.