The Garden

Southern Cross, Volume 17, Issue 26, 9 October 1909, Page 10

The Garden

NOTES FOR OCTOBER. VEGETABLE GARDEN. Steps should be taken as early as possible to clear up arrears of work left over from last month, also to see that preparations are made for a full supply of vegetables for the season, for in gardening one has often to look many months ahead for results. To this end the main sowing of carrots, parsnips, beat, spinach, turnips, onions, peas, and broad beans should be put in first opportunity, also preliminary lots of savoys, curled kale, Brussels sprouts broccoli, etc., for use during the winter months. To secure a constant supply of radish, lettuce, and other salads, small sowings should be made at intervals of two or three weeks. Main crops of potatoes should also be planted now, and may safely be cut if too large to plant whole. It will be found good policy to fill up with these all spaces not likely to be required for other crops. Two good varieties for this purpose are Carter's Abundance and I p-to-Date, both white rounds of lirst-class quality in every way, and they will be found very desirable changes from the old Derwent. It will also be advisable to prick off the more advanced celery plants when large enough, in shallow boxes or cold frames so as to get them into a fit state to transplant into trenches at the end of next month, as a first crop. Sow cucumbers, vegetable marrows, pumpkins, and celery on hotbeds, and prepare hotbeds for cucumbers and melons. Tomatoes, under glass, should be allowed about two feet between each plant, and the ground supplied with plenty of old stable manure. To protect potatoes from frost, which may be expected at any time, those through the ground will require to be earthed up. For the same reason the sowing of French Beans and scarlet runners should be deferred till later in the month. FRUIT GARDEN. As this is the month when storms and destructive white frosts do most harm to fruit trees just setting their buds, as much protection as possible should be given them. Remove weeds and dead leaves from strawberries, and apply mulching of stable manure between the rows to keep the plants moist during dry weather. Avoid cropping too near fruit trees, a& they require all the nourishment they can get, and cultivation too near the stem destroys the surface roots, on which the productiveness of the tree mainly depends. FLOWER GARDEN. Flower Garden. Geraniums and

other pot plants require strict attention as to watering, and about once a week a good watering of clear liquid manure will greatly benefit them. Forward plants require shifting into the large pots, having some well-prepared mould ready for the purpose. When transplanting cut back all hard-wooded plants, such as geraniums, fuchsias, etc., to induce bushy growth, while the cuttings may be utilised for stock purposes, inserting them fairly thickly in pots or boxes, and placing in a shaded but warm place. Sow seeds of all hardy annuals and perennials out of doors, and on hotbeds half hardy varieties, such as asters, stocks, marigolds, verbenas, lobelias, etc. Plant carnations, pansies, phloxes, etc., for border decorations, and at the end of the month verbenas, fuchsias, geraniums and dahlias. Plants of all the above will shortly be on sale by our local florists, and growers who have not conveniences for raising and propagating these, will perhaps find it to their advantage to get them in preference to sowing seeds.