GARDEN NOTES

Manawatu Times, Volume 66, Issue 290, 6 December 1941, Page 2

GARDEN NOTES

(By “Ngaio”)

At last the weather is permitting gardening operations to be gone on with The ground is warm and damp, and seed sowing and planting out, both of flowers and vegetables, should be proceeded with apace before the soil dries up again. Seedlings planted out now will not require watering in and should get a very good start indeed. It makes such a difference to young plants if they don’t flag when transplanted—they come on so much more quickly; get everything possible planted immediately and you will be able to go away for the holidays seeing everything well established. As the season is such a late one, it will be as well to give plenty of thought to a good autumn display rather than trying to work in two plantings. It may mean rather bare beds for a few weeks, but tho show in the latter part of the summer and on into tho winter will be worth waiting for. Phlox drummondi, verbena and petunias are all things which have a very ‘long flowering season and therefore are very good value in all gardens, large or small. Phlox should have well propared, rich soil if possible, and should be kept well cultivated. Dig grass clippings into the bed, and when planting, give each seedling a pinch of blood and bone. Phlox should be transplanted when the plants are quite small—they should never be allowed to get straggly in the early stages, and must be pinched back at least once to encourage bushy growth. The same treatment applies to verbenas. These plants spread rapidly and cover quite a large space, so don’t plant them too closely. See that they are in a well-drained position with plenty of sunshine as they like plenty of warmth. Keep the dead heads picked off and they will bloom till very late, and sometimes the plants themselves will last through the winter if the season is not too severe. Either the bedding petunias or tno giant flowered are very colourful in the garden. They also must be given good drainage and a warm position. The bedding petunias are most effective and can be had either in separate colours or mixed, probably the pink and rose shades being the most popular. Be sure you do not plant them near any orangeflowered plants such as African marigolds, as the colours of both are very vivid and do not blend at all. For those who prefer the large-flowered type, Giants of California are a good strain. Blended in with autumn-coloured dahlias or other suitably tinted flowers, the various types of marigold make lovely groups of colour. The tall Africans have been very much improved of late years, and no longer resemble the rubber sponge type of old, though this is still bbtainable. These can be puddled in with cow manure. There is a new hybrid type said to be a cross between the French and African marigolds, which should prove interesting. The blooms have the red and gold colouring of the French combined with the size of the African.

It is always a good idea to plant some tall French marigolds in odd places at the back of the borders or among the shrubs. When they arc given a littbo protection they will last in bloom till well into the winter. Tho dwarf French are very useful for the front of borders or massing in hot, dry corners.