Gardening News & Notes

Northern Advocate, 29 October 1949, Page 2

Gardening News & Notes

Vegetabfes

Sowings of practically all vegetables may be made.

When sowing seed in the open ground during dry weather, make a shallow depression with a . hoe, and pour in quantities of water, till with a little, fine dry soil, sow the seed and cover with fine soil. Water with a fine spray.

It is a good plan to lightly cover the seed with sifted compost or stack bottom or moss. Bruken fern makes a little shade placed along the rows. Sow green peas, lettuce, tomatoes etc., for succession.

Sow celery, leeks cabbage cauliflowers carrots, etc., for next winter use.

Plant tomatoes, potatoes, cauliflowers, kumaras, etc.

Spray potatoes, tomatoes, peas and beans if necessary with Bordeaux or similar spray. Mildew

Onions or green peas sometimes suffer from mildew during humid weather, or over-dry conditions. The foliage takes on a grey look. Dust with lime and sulphur, and keep the surface soil open. Peas and beans should be well staked and plenty of twine used between the stakes. Plenty of water is necessary during dry weather. Mulch the strawberries before the fruit turns colour.

Spray peaches, plums and nectarines using Bordeaux, lime-sulphur or cuprox.

Spray apple and pear trees when two thirds of the blossoms have fallen. Arsenate of lead is the spray to use to prevent codlin moth. Marrows, pumpkins etc., may still be sown.

These vegetables want a good rich compost underneath and an occasionand good watering.

Value Of New Soil

It is much easier to handle a load of new soil when it is dry, which is likely during the summer months. Most gardeners who have worked the same piece of ground for 10 years or more, long for a plot of new soil. This is particularly the case with volcanic soils. Clay soils lake longer to break in.

They need plenty of manure, lime and cultivation, but are satisfactory and lasting when well prepared. New soil is better put on the surface of the ground, as it is the topsoil that wears out.

Tf bad weeds appear they should be i amoved immediately. Turfy loam is to be had by stacking sods- from a good paddock of volcanic soil. Cut the sods into neat square pieces and stack neatly grass side down. When the heap has rotted down and will crumble easily when cut with the spade it is ready for use. When building a house take the sods from the house site. The sods may be stacked to form a low wall to give shelter to part of the garden. In some gaidens it is possible to change the beds by putting them down in lawn for a few years and digging fresh beds. This makes an interesting change as well as giving new life to the plants Flowers The early summer (lowers are more beautiful than ever. but. at time of

writing, the weather is very dry and roses, carnations, delphiniums, Jilin ms, gladioli, gerberas, etc, need plenty of water when they are flowering. Sweet pea flowers must be cut off as soon as they fade, and weak growths should be removed. Spray or dust for mildew, if necessary. Keep the ground forked over about the plants' roots, and tie growths into position. Disbud carnations, leaving one bud at the end of the stalk. The plants need supports Continue to plant seedlings for summer and autumn show of bloom. When planting during dry weather water the plants in the boxes before lifting, and pour plenty of water in the hole underneath the plant when transplanting. Liquid Manure

Weak liquid manure may be used for plants that are coming into bloom, Thoroughly soak the ground with water before giving liquid manure. Weak and often is the rule.

If the ground has been well worked and trenched for deep rooting plants a little superphosphate is necessary forked in at the surface to give the plants a good start. Seed of phlox, kochia, comos, petunia, dahlia and zinnia, may still be sown.

The Mercury Bay weed, so popular for lawns, should be kept well watered and weeded until established, to encourage side shoots. Chrysanthemums should be pinched out at the top when a few inches high,