SEASONABLE GARDENING

Northern Advocate, 17 December 1919, Page 3

SEASONABLE GARDENING

PLENTY OP WORK,

At this time of the year there is plenty of work to be done in the garden, especially with the which should be kept going at every availI able opportunity, not so much to destroy the seedling weeds that are coming up in thousands as to conserve the moisture in the soil, which can be done by keeping a nice fine worked surface on the beds. Weeds are easy enough to control while they are in the seedling state, but if they are left to g e t high the chances are they will grow again. Plant out bedding plants in all the spare places, and sow seeds in the open. Seeds sown now will produce plants that will never flower freely in the autumn. For the background such plants as cosmos and chrysanthemums are well worth planting, because when the cosmos are over the chrysanthemums will be there to take their place. Plant out dahlias in beds if they are wanted for exhibition, or in the borders if they are wanted simply to add colour to the general scheme. Chrysanthemums should be out in their permanent positions now and a stake should be put in to secure each one to as it grows. These flowers do not do any good if they are allowed to fall about on the ground. Sweet peas must be kept picked and seed pods must not be allowed to form, or the blooming period will be a very short one.

VEGETABLES. I The earliest crops of potatoes are now ready for. digging, and as they are dug, which! will be Only a few roots at a time, the ground should be prepared for something else to follow. Leeks are another crop that will do well if put in after potatoes. They do not need the same kind of trench that is given to celery, but can be dibbled in to the ground on the flat. Manure is essential, and this should be dug in before the plants are set out. When planting make a hole as deep as it is possible to put the plant without losing sight of it altogether, that is to say, allow the leaf es to appear above the surface and do not fill the hole in with earth, but fill it up with water. The water will wash enough soil down to cover the roots, and subsequent hoeings will draw the earth up to the plants. Sowpeas, French beans, lettuce, and radish seed in the open, and thin out to the required distance apart. In the case of the lettuces the plants can be thinned out to about two inches apart for the fir.st thinning, and then those that are too thick can be used while the main lot are growing which will leave about four out of every five to come out. The plants left in can be allowed to come to perfection. Runner beans require staking as soon as they begin to climb, and when they reach the tops of the stakes the tops can be pinched out of the plants. Stop cutting and give the bed a good dressing of manure. This can be left on the surface to act as a mulch, and dug in later on in the season when the bed has its winter clean up. Marrows, pumpkins and cucumbers are all the better for a good coating of. manure being placed around the plants. After they begin t 0 run it is very hard to get near the main riots, and this is the best way to keep the soil moist, Of course later on they can be watered, when the mulch will also act as liquid manure.

Celery plants should now be ready for planting out. The self-blanching kinds are generally considered the best for easy work, and in fact they are not to be recommended for any other kind, as they will not stand the winter weather very well. To grow, good celery the soil must be heavily and plenty of water must be available at all times, as celery is a gross feeding plant. When, preparing a trench for any kin,d of celery dig it out about a foot in depth and if clay is closer to the surface than this take the clay out tp abou{; fifteen inches from the surface;, and put an inch or two of good soil back in its place. On top of this put three or ; four inches of manure, and cover this again with more good soil. The plants can be set out in this about ten inches apart, and two rows to the trench. If the weather is very hot it may be necessary to shade them for a few days until they begin to make fresh roots, but do not shade too much, as they will bivr-ni when the shades are taken away. Give plenty p.f water at all times, for the growth of celery depends entirely on the amount of water it gets. Keep the plants free from w e eds. Earthing up oan either be done gradually or at one operation whichever you prefer. For show purposes it is better to grow the plants as strongly as possible, and then about six or seven weeks before the show for which they are required wrap brown paper round the plants to keep the earth from the. ' and earth up as high as possible.