Operations for November

Northern Advocate, 31 October 1936, Page 2 (Supplement)

Operations for November

THE VEGETABLE GARDEN.

Sowings of practically all vegetables may be made, including haricot and Lima beans.

Sow pumpkins and marrows, if not already done, without delay. Sow rock melons and watermelons. Give any amount of wellrotted manure in the hills, and an open, sunny position. Plant out late-maturing cauliflower plants. These may be sown . now* but it is getting on the late side. Small plants would have a hard time against the “fly” or Diamond Back Moth,

and would want a lot of attention a little Later on. Early-planted onions are bulbing out. They should be given every encouragement. Keep down weeds and spray with lime-sulphur solution.

Spray potatoes with Bordeaux mixture, reaching the undersurfaces of the leaves as well as possible. Put in kumera plants. Plant out celery, leeks, tomatoes and cabbages. Brussels sprouts may be sown any time in November. This vegetable likes a well-drained, rich soil, which should also be firm. The rows should be about 3ft. apart, and the plants 18in. apart. Seed sown now should give a crop a little after mid-winter.

Dust young celery plants with soot and lime as a measure against the celery fly. Stake and earth up peas as they require it. Sow spinach, lettuce and radish in small quantities and often. Tip off broad beans. This will help the pods to develop. Spray apples and peas with arsenate of lead to combat the codlin moth.

THE FLOWER GARDEN.

Cut back Argentine sweet pea when it has finished flowering. Keep lily of the valley watered so as to encourage new growth and new foliage. There is still time for sowing seed of zinnia, French and African ' marigolds, petunia, celosia, aster, cosmos, portulaca, etc. Tithonia is the tall, flowering annual with a tangerine flower, a little like a sunflower or single zinnia. Seed may be sown now.

Mina lobata is a splendid annual climber, now well-known in xWhangarei. Seed may be sown in the open ground during the present month. Plant out dahlias and chrysanthemums in beds of good rich soil. Plant out salvia, phlox Drummondii. carnation, verbena, petunia,

aster, etc. . 1 ' Sow seed of ranunculus, anemone, polyanthus, and other perennials for next spring bloom. As soon as shrubby calceolarias have finished flowering, they may be divided for next, season’s bloom. Pansies will last in bloom much longer and give larger blooms if the latter are kept picked as they fade, and if weak liquid manure is given once a week. Gelosias should have a moderately rich soil. They are more attractive if they do not grow too tali, When the foliage is damp, dust flowers of sulphur over roses’ sweet peas, delphiniums and other plants subject to mildew.’