IN THE GARDEN

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIX, 31 January 1936, Page 7

IN THE GARDEN

WORK TO BE DONE THE VEGETABLE PLOTS Vegetables are usually most expensive in late winter and early spring, and now is the time to plan to have a home-grown supply at that period. Apart from the brassica tribe, sowings may be made of carrots, onions and turnips. AH beans should be picked regularly to ensure a continued supply. Runner beans that have been wen watered —a good soaking at least once a week—have been yielding abundantly. Keep the soil loose.

Do not allow spent crops to remain in possession of valuable land after they have ceased to be of value. Bury all rubbish and weeds that will decay and burn sticks and thick stems.

As the potato crop is removed plant out leeks, broccoli and savoy and other suitable vegetables. Celery should be planted without delay. ’ Extra large plants will bear removal without apparent check if the soil is thoroughly moist and a good ball of soil is lifted with the plants. Before earthing-up celery give the plants a good watering with clear water, and then a dose of weak liquid manure. Should the ground already be fairly damp, the watering will not be necessary. When earthing up don’t throw the soil round the plants with the spade. Lift it into the trench carefully and then press it round the plants gently and firmly holding the stems close together with the other hand. Some people twist a piece of pliable wire round the’ stems of each plant, and as the earthing-up proceeds this wire band is pushed further up the stem. Whatever plan you adopt (he main thing is to keep the soil from getting in among the stems. Earth up a little at a time and never go beyond the heart of the celery. Spinach is a very useful and healthgiving vegetable for winter and spring use and requires little special attention.

Constant war must be made on weeds. Only persistent effort will kepe them under control. Few plants respond more readily to good treatment than lettuce. A watering twice weekly with liquid - manure should be given in dry weather/ A teaspoonful of nitrate of soda in a gallon of water is a good, clean form of liquid manure. Lettuce should be sown at regular intervals in small quantities. Sow thinly in order that they may grow continuously without transplanting. It is not too late to try another sowing of dwarf beans.

’MIDST THE FLOWERS A good many perennials may be raised from seed and when the seed can be gathered the best time to sow it is at once. Perennials may be sown outside and will corrie up quite freely if given the necessary attention. Seeds sown outside usually result in much stronger plants than those .sown under glass, as the latter easily run up and get lanky; there are exceptions, especially if the seeds are very small. If this is the case they should be sown inside either in a box or a seed pan. The average perennial has fairly large seeds and is quite hardy. The necessary hoeing and raking is just no\v routine work. All beds and borders should be full. Some plants may require tying up. Gypsophila, delphiniums, and michaelmas daisy, for instance. Plants such as-stock, nemesias, pansies, should he rremoved. -as soon as they have finished, flowering and either burnt or buried. Burying is preferable as it gives back to the land what has been taken from it. |J ’

In the ornamental garden, growth on the whole is satisfactory. Roses gave good second crops, and more growth is coming and this Should result in more blooms. The bushes should be helped by keeping the seed pods picked off them.

Sweet peas are just about over and should be pulled down and destroyed, except, of course, very late sown ones, which will give some very late blooms. We are now again at a time when we_ must prepare for next autumn and early spring’s display of flowers, hence the need for some of the various annuals that are needed for this purpose. Pansies, violas, coreopsis, grandiflora, primula-, cineraria, etc. Sowing of these in itself is quite easy, hut protection of the seed from excessive sun and excessive rain is essential. It is quite easily done once the knowledge is acquired, and it is fascinating work. Not so very long ago it was asserted that the dahlia had lost its popularity and usefulness, and would gradually cease to be grown in gardens. They were wrong in their conclusions, for, after being under a cloud, the dahlia is more widely cultivated now than ever, but they did not foresee the great improvements that were to be brought about. Instead of being largely an exhibition flower, it.is.now in more demand for garden decoration—for which the old types were not always suitable. No longer do we tolerate varieties which carry their blooms on weak stalks, hidden under a mass of foliage. The present-day forms, with their graceful, upstanding flowers, are among the very finest subjects for brightening the garden; their, period of effectiveness is extended, starting in November and continuing till frost; and there is so much diversity in height and habit, that varieties * are available for the smallest bed or broadest border.