Gardening Notes

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 20127, 21 April 1928, Page 18 (Supplement)

Gardening Notes

KITCHEN CARDEN Strawberry plants are not grown in the average garden as much as they should be. They are looked upon as difficult to grow as some of the varieties are not very amendable to cultivation unless they are in soil that suits them. Others however will grow almost anywhere providing lhe soil rs not too dry. All strawberries like moisture. Heavy clay land is the best for the difficult varieties and maiden soil for preference. If ordinary garden soil is well prepared, however, it will grow strawberries well enough for all ordinary purposes. To provide moisture during the summer the bed should be trenched when it is made. A crop of green manure may be turned in two or I i.hree weeks before the plants are put in. Cow, horse or sheep manures are suitable for strawberry beds, the first mentioned for preference. Bonedust may be used if the others arc not available but the working up of the soil is as important, if not more so than the manuring. Put the plants out in rows, 18 inches apart aud allow six or eight inches between each plant This way of planting gives more room for working among the rows than planting them in beds. The beds are usually about four inches wide with four or five rows of plants with about eight inches between each plant. This method is generally used where space is very limited, but as the plants are very crowded lhe beds must be specially well prepared. When planting, care must be taken not to double the roots as this delays growth. It must also be born in mind that the manure must be dug well down 1 so that it does not come into direct contact with the roots. This would also retard the growth. Some varieties will send out too many runners. These should be cut off until the fruit has been picked. Strawberries are at their best the first year after they are planted. The second year they bear less fruit and after that they should be discarded. It is not advisable To grow strawberries in the, same place for at least three years after, unless Lhe soil is removed and fresh put in its place. It is much easier, however, to select another spot for them. For n small kitchen garden a bed or a few rows (which jever system is used) should be planted each year so that a fresh bed is planted each year and an old one destroyed. The beds should be kept quite free from weeds and just as the plants are blooming it is advisable to cover tho ground with /j some straw, pine needles or any other matter to keep the berries off the soil as heavy rain may make the fruit unI suitable for use if it is not protected. I Thi.-A applies especially to those planted lin light land. Small lots should be ! protected from the birds with some 1 wire netting. It wil] servo tho pur- ' pose if nailed on to a frame made oi ; eight inch boards. I’so the very small ■ wire netting or the birds will squeeze | through. I’lic frame may be used for i tl.e rest of the year to cover seeds as I the strawberries will only need jj. while they are ripening. Where it is pro posed to grow strawberries for sale, unless the soil is very suitable indeed. ; it is necessary to have five acres of , land in order to grow one acre or I strawberries every year. Half an acre of new plants should be planted each ; year. This should be allowed to crop ' fox- two years and then turned in. lu 1 this way one bed will be planted each I year and one destroyed. This will allow ■ the soil to have, a good rest before its ' turn comes round to he planted again. Hither crops may be planted in between ! times, but if this is so a couple of j green manuring crops should be turned , in the year before the land is due to i bo planted in strawberries again. Lt is I rather hard to give definite advice on I v\hat varieties to plant as conditions ' vary considerably, but the best way is i to try a few of each main commercial variety and then keep the most successI fid. As a rule, however. it. is quite easy to find out by inquiry which i ; sorts do best in each locality. i The peas and beans arc now just j I about finished. Feas may still be ! grown but they must have a warm j sandy spot. The cabbage ami cauliflowers, etc. are beginning to grow again ami shou? I ; be helped along with a. small dressi-ng 1 of “super. ■ ' Keep the soil cultivar-<t and as free from weeds as possible. ] This applies especially to those plantiyf j »ii light land where winter weeds usual- ! Iy flourish exceedingly well. Seeds of both cabbage and cauliflower should be , sown now. They may be attacked by the fly and as a precaution should be covered with scrim until they get n start. Vse oniy early varieties. If plants are icady now they may be planted out, but the soil must be well piepared. Curiol'- may bo sown in light warm spots. They shou’d be thinned out as Soon as i Legible to give them plenty of room. | Turnips also should I■■ sown and placed out as soon as possible. A warm place is essential for planting at this time of the year. Lettuce should be planted on ridges but (.nly hardy w ter varieties should be pfanted. Silver beet may b? .own and trans- | planted any time m w but should be | treated we’d to induce growth. Onions may be sown for early spring planting as well as for use as spring! I

avoided. Simple and nourishing food J such as milk, eggs, butter, fish, wholemeal bread, fresh fruit and vegetables, should be taken, ft is well to drink plenty of cold water between meals, as constipation must be guarded against. Exercise in moderation in the open air, especially walking, is beneficial.

1 (BY ALKANET). ’ I j

onions. Onion bods for use as spring onions may be given fresh manure, but fresh manure should not be given to cnioEs that are to be transplanted. All spaces iiould be dug and whorl possible sown with manuring crops. Potatoes should be. up by now and where quantities are to be stored, shouli'l he pitted. This is tie time tc break in new land. It. should oe dug or ploughed according to ’ne ana This is the time for trenching. Deeply worked land will give early and better crops than land that has been forked shallowly. It will also be able to resist the dry summer better. Important as it is to add manure to land to keep it in good condition, it is quite as important to work the land well, in some instances more so, especially in heavy land, which if not worked deeply will only be fit for late sowing or planting and will feel the effect of the dry conditions very quick!/.