The Home Garden

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 23169, 15 October 1938, Page 10 (Supplement)

The Home Garden

By KEPOS

FLOWERS Spring-flowering annuals that have finished their display should be removed to make room for the summer kinds. Thin out the number of shoots on herbaceous perennials, leaving just a few of the strongest. Plant out the half-hardy annuals raised under glass. Zinnias, asters, salvias, marigolds, petunias, etc., can all be planted now. Plant out divisions of dahlias when they have started into growth. Keep the sweet peas tied up to their supports; when grown on the cordon system the side shoots must be removed regularly. Greenfly will be troublesome on roses; do not allow these to gain a hold. .There is still time to plant climbers out of pots where these , are needed. The Greenhouse Cyclamen that have passed the flowering stage should be , transferred to a frame for a rest. Coleus from cuttings are making good growth; pinch the shoots a few times to make bushy plants. Topdress the pot liliums as soon as the stem roots show. Sow seeds of streptocarpus in sandy peat; cover the plants with glass. Sow primula obconica for next winter flower; vigorous seedlings are better than old, exhausted plants. Pot on the tuberous begonias and gloxinias as they require ' more room. Keep a moist atmosphere in the greenhouse by damping the floors on sunny days.

Working Guide for the Week

VEGETABLES Make a sowing of radishes every ten days to keep up a constant supply. Early peas are ready for staking; this should be done before the stems bend over. Sow onions, mustard and cress, and lettuce for summer salads. Plant out kumaras on well-worked soil with a solid base. Keep the hoe going among the growing crops; run the push hoe between drills of seeds as soon as the rows can be defined. Sow runner, French and butter beans for successional crops. Make frequent sowings of summer spinach between the rows of peas. 1 Remove the flower stems from rhubarb as soon as they show. Sow marrows, pumpkins and cucumbers out of doors. The Orchard Apply the Bordeaux spray to the apples at " greentip stage " to combat scab and brown rot. Keep the bush fruits free of weeds; once perennial weeds become established in the stools they are hard to eradicate. Spray the black currants with lime sulphur to combat " big bud mite." Peach and plum aphis is in evidence; spray with a good insecticide before the foliage becomes curled. Do not spray fruit trees while the blossom is open or it may fail to set. Lemons should be sprayed with Bordeaux before the blossom opens to prevent verrucosis; spray again after the main blossom has set.