THE GARDEN

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume 80, 30 November 1945, Page 3

THE GARDEN

Seasonal Notes for Amateurs BUSY TIME AMONG THE VEGETABLES Last week’s welcome rain had a most beneficial effect on the growing crops and where the ground had been kept well hoed the advantage gained is more lasting. The stimulation of growth means a busier time as seedlings of various kinds should be thinned out as soon as they are large enough fo handle. After the final thinning, a light dusting with blood and bone or fish manure, gently hoed in, is useful. Potatoes should be earthed up, excess of laterals removed* from - tomatoes, peas given support, and broad beans topped when they have formed a reasonable quantity of flowers. In most places broad beans need some support. Encourage lateral shoots on marrows and pumpkins by nipping off the tips of the main vines. Sow peas, either dwarf or medium, french and butter beans, sweet corn, carrots, beet, yellow fleshed turnips, lettuce and radish. Plant out broccoli, Brusseljs sprouts, cauliflower, cabbage, celery and leeks. It is not too late to sow more runner beans. EARLY SAVOYS A reminder is given in the “Agricultural Journal” that early Savoy cabbages are the first of the autumn-mat-uring crops which should be attended to. as they fill the gap in supplies between early and late peas. As with other plants of the cabbage family, a high state of soil fertility will give best results. A suitable fertiliser which may be used for any and all kinds of these crops can be made v • mixing together one part sulphate c ammonia, three parts superphosphate and i part potash —only muriate is available at present. The above quantities should be weighed, applied at the rate of £lb. to each 9ft. of row', and well w'orked into the top soil before planting. If subsequent growth appears to be lagging, a pinch of nitrate of soda applied to each plant after a good -watering wall have a stimulating effect. This nitrogenous fertiliser can also be applied in liquid form by dissolving a tablespoonful in 4 gallons of water. Good liquid manure may be used as a substitute for nitrate of soda, but should be applied oftener. GREEN PEAS It is said by many people that in Nelson it does not pay to grow peas in the small kitchen garden as there are nearly always plentiful supplies available from crops grown commercially. To some extent this is true, and yet there is a great satisfaction in inspecting a good row of peas and picking full green pods for use fresh in the kitchen. As a food crop, peas are im- ’ portant because of their exceptionally high content ol vitamin B complex. This crop reflects in quality and quantity the attention given to it when growing. Superphosphate and ammonium sulphate lightly hoed into the soil a fortnight before sowing is beneficial, and the importance of staking all but dwarf peas cannot be over estimated. Even the dwarf varieties show better returns if they have somewhere to climb. MIDST THE FLOWERS Spring flowering plants are past their best and they can be cleared out to make room for the summer and autumn kinds. The foliage of the spring flowering bulbs is ripening off and as soon as this is completed it can be removed and hardy annuals sown to fill up the gaps in the borders. A light forking up is all that the soil will need and soudng does not damage the bulbs, but planting out would. Stake, tie up and disbud carnations, and give the roses liquid manure or a dusting of a suitable fertiliser. Newly planted roses should not be permitted to flower before autumn.' Complete sowing of hardy annuals in selected positions where they are to flower. Thin out those already germinated when they are large enough to handle. Sweet peas now growing vigorously will benefit from a thorough watering with liquid manure, preferably cow manure and soot. Never apply a liquid manure when the soil is dry, or plants drooping. The sooner dahlias are planted the better. .Sturdy green plants of named varieties should be selected. Make further plantings of gladioli corms for succession. Select large flowered types for garden adornment and primulinus if flowers for cutting are required.