ROUTINE GARDEN WORK.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20598, 24 June 1930, Page 15

ROUTINE GARDEN WORK.

WINTER OPERATIONS. During tlie pas* week or two some fairly heavy siiov.ers have been experienced and these have served as a reminder that the winter is now upon us and I hat. everything should ho clone with tho least delay. Tho warmth of the weather generally has been all that could be desired up to the present, but this cannot bo expected to continue for ever. Whenever an opportunity occurs the gardener should do anything that is required, operations involving tho working of the soil being attended to first. Celery may be earthed up onco more where this is necessary. Tho period usually taken to blanch celery properly is about six weeks from tho time the last of tho earth is drawn tip. If celery is being blanched by tho earthing method one must remember not to draw the soil up while it is in a wet condition or when tho plants arc wet themselves. Another crop to be blanched is endive, and this is accomplished by spreading the plants out flat ami placing a plate or a picco of board on each. Another method followed commonly in England consists of tying the foliago toguthor at tho top and placing an inverted pot over each plant. Tho drainage hole in the bottom of the pot should bo blocked up so that the light does not get into the interior of the pot. When the ground for potato onions' and shallots has been prepared as mentioned in these columns a week or two ago, the planting may bo proceeded with. In tho case of potato onions singlo bulbs 01 " sets" are planted from 9in to 12iti. apart, in rows from 18in. to 21 in apart. Tho depth to which to plant tho bulbs will depend on tho method of subsequent culture. There are two different ways in which the plants may bo treated, tho first one being to keep the bulbs buried throughout their development. On the other hand it is claimed that yields equally as good are obtained bv keeping the bulbs clear of tho soil during their development. If the grower has not yet found out which is tho better method tho writer would suggest that half the crop bo treated in one wa.y and the others by the second method. If the first-mentioned method of culture is undertaken the bulbs should be com plctely buried u'hon planted. For the other method the sets should be but half submerged. Shallots may bo planted in rows 12in. apart, allowing 9in. between the bulbs. As is tho case with potato onions, single bulbs, or as tlic.y are sometimes called, "cloves," should be planted 'I he cloven should lie pressed into the soil until there is only tho neck showing above ground, On heavy soils it is advisable to form ridges about 4in. high on which to plant the shallots. There would be no difference in the space allowed between the rows in this case and it would remain the same, i.e., 12in., as when there nro no rir'crcs. When making sowings at this time of the year one must avoid sowing during a wet spell or immediately after one. It is safor to defer tho work until some future tirno, when tho soil is in a more suitable stale for tho reception of seed.