In the GARDEN

Northern Advocate, 8 February 1936, Page 11

In the GARDEN

_ [BY “TAINUI"]

Operations for February THE VEGETABLE GARDEN. Sow cabbage, cauliflower, dwarf beans, lettuce, turnips, spinach, i carrots, silver beet. Perhaps the last week for sowing dwarf peas with any guarantee ... ■ I of success for autumn crop. Plant out celery and keep well watered during dry weather. Plant out leeks for winter use. Spray tomatoes and keep lateral shoots removed. Keep runner beans closely gathered. | Peas or beans that are finished with should be dug into the ground where they were grown. Their remains will leave the soil richer in nitrogen. Following peas or beans, grow spinach, silver b£et, cabbage, or | cauliflower. Earth up early planted celery and leeks. Sow oats, mustard, or other soiling crop for digging-in later. Compost all healthy soft-wooded material, such as tender hedgeclippings, grass cuttings, fallen leaves, etc. The rotted compost is excellent dug into the garden. THE FLOWER GARDEN. February arrived with a bang. In many gardens plants were either washed. away by the flood waters or levelled to the • ground by the gale. After the first shock is over the gardener looks around to see what can be mended, what has escaped, and why. 1 Scarlet gums and many other trees and shrubs have been broken by the wind. I noticed that plants that have been cut back to form bushy heads have not suffered as much a® trees, and shrubs of more straggling growth. Most dahlias, chrysanthemums, and other plants that were not staked, were badly broken, but plants that had been pinched back to form bushy plants were better off than the taller plants. Many plants will recover if carefully tied to stakes now, and cut well back. There should be plenty of growth after this rain, and the plants will soon flower again. Self-sown seedlings of Iceland poppies, primula malacoides, polyanthus, viola£, anemones, ranunculus and many others win be making their appearance. They should be kept watered and growing for planting out later. I Seed sown of perennial plants for summer bloom will have done well this summer. Seed of the following may’ be sown:—lceland poppy, carnation, viola, primula malacoides, wallflower, calendula. 1 Slips of carnations may be put in. Use short, sturdy, side-shoots. A little sand pjaced at the base of the slip will assist rooting. Roses may be lightly pruned now, so as to encourage them, to make new growth for late autumn or 'early winter. Primulinus gladioli may be planted for late flowering. •' I Seed of gladioli may be sown. Dahlias will benefit by weak liquid manure once a week unless ■ the soil has been well manured. . .