WORK IN THE GARDEN

Pahiatua Herald, Volume XLXII, Issue 15467, 30 September 1943, Page 4

WORK IN THE GARDEN

WEEK BY WEEK USEFUL HINTS AND NOTES. The “Herald” proposes to lesumo its weekly Hardening Notes. Hardening is of particular interest to readers at the piresent time, particularly in view of the national pmblicity given to th© “Dig for Victory” campaign. We invite notes and hints on gardening, and would be pleased to answer any enquiries received noni readers on piroblems which may arise in their gardening activities. oepniemuer is a month of hara work, as cold winter is past, aud spring is here. Seed sowing ami planting is the order of the day, tiiougu there is no immediate hurry for such seeds as piarsndps and French beans. Even at th© cost of Ooing late, home gardeners would wed], advised to ensure that tneir ground is well pirepared before rushing into sowing and planting. Short-horn carrots for summer use can safely be sown now in wellmanured soil, ltakc. the ground first to a fin© tilth, draw a drill with the lioo, and fill it with some half-and-lialt fairly dry soil and mature oomp.ost, winch should be first sifted. Lie-mark the drill by pressing tno rake iiandlo into th© soil and sow the seed in groups oi three or loui seeds two inches ai>arc, and interspersed with radish seeds, sowing tlie turnip-rooted variety of J adish Fill the drill with mor© of the sifted material, and make firm. Small sowings can also b© made of turnips, silver beet, spfinach, lettuce, mustard aud cress, onions, main orop> cabbage, cauliflower and dwarf green peas. Sow under glass, tomatoes, lettuce, silver beet, onions, main crop cabbage, cauliflower and brussels sprouts. Make small plantings of silver beet, lettuce and second early cabbage. If there are two vegetables most suitable to successioiial sowing, they ar© lettuce and radish For th© ordinary kitchen garden, small sowings of these valuable salad necessities should be made every fortnight. Plant early potatoes, choosing a warm ra sed plot, which will nevertheless be shaded from the early morning sun so that frosts will have a chance to thaw before the sun leaches them. Take out a trench and put in a good layer of well-rotted, compxist, mixed with the general fertiliser to which an extra portion oi sulp»habo of potash can be added Plant eight to twelve inches apart, m rows 24 to 30 inches apart. Cure must bo taken not to break off th© green shoots during planting, and the soil should be left loose. Take every opportunity to prepare the ground for later sowings and plantings and turn in green crops. But where th© latter are dug in, allow at least one month before planting and sowing as ill© pirocess of decay and fermentation makes demands on the soil activities which interfere with the nteds of th© growing plants. Auy carrots and parsnips remaining over th© winter should be lilted now, and the ground turned over and given a dressing of lim© or of matured compost. Replant rhubarb in a bed already piepared, with the crowns just level with th© surface, with at least two feet between plants tjnd three feet between rows. Dust quick lim© over garden and paths to kill slugs and. snails, which are very destructive in the early spring. Tiier© is always plenty to do in tho flower garden in September and many seeds and seedlings may be sown and planted now to give colour and display in late spring and early bummor, Aquilegia seeds and seedlings pflanted now in a §hady position will bloom before Rummer. For-get-me-nots also will be ready before spring is over. Other flower seeds and seedlings for sowing and planting now to give effective displays in summer are autirrliinium, chrysanthemum, calliopsis, clarkia. godetia, and nemesia.