IN THE GARDEN

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXI, 2 December 1927, Page 3

IN THE GARDEN

UNSETTLED WEATHER CQNPffIQN§ TIIJF, VEGETABLE /PLOTS ■The cold weather experienced during the week has retarded growth, and it is devoutly to lie hoped that warmer conditions will soon prevail. The soil has been kept moist, allowing ample opportunity to get rid of weeds and transplant seedlings. The following seeds may be sown in drills:—Leeks, broccoli, lettuce, beet, spring onions, radish. Sow in groups of three or four pumpkins, marrow, squash, melon and cucumber. This is one of the most suitable months to sow parsley seed and may be grown in almost any soil and situation. Sow seed in drills 12 inches apart and cover lightly. Parsley often takes four to five weeks before germination shows.

Kumaras can be planted. Well-work-ed soil is necessary for this crop. Make small sowings of sweet corn every week, or even less. Half a dozen seeds or so is sufficient for a sowing. " Sow runner beans. Give this crop a deeply worked soil. Trench a piece of ground, putting plenty of vegetable matter in the bottom. This'crop pays for trenching. Make frequent sowings of dwarf beans, lettuce, radish, and such like crops. These should bo sown every ten days or so. Haricot beans for winter use should be sown now. Sow. and treat as recommended for othor beans, except that the pods are allowed to mature and harvested when ripe. Sow a few seeds of pie melons. One or two plants will supply the require- 1 merits of Hie ordinary family. Plant out cape gooseberry. These require well-drained soil and one sheltered from cold winds.

The great secret of success in growing vegetables is to keep constantly cropping, although at this time of the year it depends on the season that follows to a groat extent as to the measure of success. Failures often occur, yet, on the other hand, they frequently succeed when least expected. i If you would have really good lettuce don’t rely on one sowing only. It is better to sow a little seed every few wfeeks than have more than will supply the need at one time. Do not sow thickly; try the plan of manuring a shallow trench, covering it with fine soil and dropping two or three seeds at given distances, say four inches apart. Little thinning will he required, and the plants will make uninterrupted growth. These will mature quicker once they get a start than plants that arc transplanted. Most people make, the mistake of sowing too thickly, when every season we are reminded that it is the isolated plants that give the best results, as witness the stray seeds dropped in places where they ihave plenty of room to grow. \

’MIDST THE FLOWERS

Now that the liot weather is approaching, gardeners are looking foir plants that will withstand a. dry situation. Calendulas, (he old English marigold, should not he overlooked. These have been wonderfully improved of recent years and bloom for months. Plant out 12 inches apart. Planting out of many varieties of annuals can be done. Salvias, zinnias, portulacca, cosmos, amaranthus, balsam, marigold, salpiglo,ssis, sunflower, nasturtium, celosia can be planted. Seed can also be sown now and will produce plants that will flower in autumn. Where violets have not already been planted no time should be lost in getting them into their flowering quarters. The bed should be made rich and given a warm, sunny situation, but not a. hot and dry soil. Trench the border deeply and add plenty of manure. Hanging baskets should now be repaired and filled with any hardy trailing plant such as asparagus, tradescantia, lobelia and lotus. Pack baskets tightly with moss and fill with the best soil procurable; Erica or heath plants finished flowering should be pruned back to make new wood for next season’s flowers. Gladioli bulbs should be staked to protect from wind.

Chrysanthemums that were planted early and are now making-growth should have, Ihe lops pinched out. Further plantings can he done. Those requirced for cut flower purposes can be planted up to the middle of December. Kochia or summer cypress is a subject well worth cultivation. They are easily grown and maintain an oval-shaped bush of a light green colour which turns a. dull red in the late- autumn. These should be planted along a. border 12 feet apart or one in the centre of a bed is sufficient.

Applications of liquid manure will bo beneficial to roses, pansies and most plants that are flowering freely now. Make the liquid' weak and apply often. Plants require, their food in a very diluted condition to be able to assimilate it. Mulching of rose beds, herbaceous borders, shrubs, and almost anything that is likely to suffer from drought should be done now. Liliums are now showing buds and should receive a mulching of well-rotted manure or leafmoukl. A few applications of liquid manure will also he beneficial. . i

Hoses are now flowering freely, and spent blooms should he picked oft. This helps to* prolong the flowering period. Disbud the border carnation, removing some of tlie lateral buds. If the blooms are required for exhibition it is wasting the energy of the plant to allow it to produce useless buds. 'Libera! applications of liquid manure should now be given to hydrangeas, as they are fast developing heads of bloom. The hydrangea will take a lot of feeding and watering when the heads are developing. One good clod of cow manure m a bucket of waiter makes a splendid “pick-me-up" for various plants. Leave the manure in the water till it softens, then mix it thoroughly by stirring with a stick. Give the plants to be stimulated a good watering and then pour a fairamount of the diluted cow manure round them. It is wonderful what, a difference this mixture makes at this time of the year to such plants as roses, chrysanthemums, dahlias, cosmos, Michaelmas daisies, liliums, or any plants just coming into flower, and also French and runner beans and peas. Country Gardeners have no difficulty in obtaining the manure, hut it would pay town gardeners to take a sugar bag with them every time they go into the country and to bring it baqk full of ilrv cow manure..