Gardenias Notes

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 20168, 9 June 1928, Page 6 (Supplement)

Gardenias Notes

(BT

ALKANET)

KITCHEN GARDEN

Although we are having winter weather it is still quite mild and although we have had quite a lot of rain the soil is on the whole still workable. It may be a bit wet in some localities but as long as it is dry enough to let the tools slip freely it may be worked with good results. Do not use rusty tools, they make the work twice as hard. A little lubricating oil rubbed on with a cloth after the tools have been used will keep them smooth. The tools should, of course, be kept inside and not where they were last used. This is a bad habit and sometimes a difficult one to break off. The weather has brought all manuring crops along in great style and in a good many places they arc already ready to be turned in. Onions should be sown if the soil is suitable. The soil, however, must be fit or the seeds will not come up. Broad beans may be sown at any time now. Early sown plants shoulcl be pinched back to make them branch out. In very sandy and warm localities the first early peas should be sown now. In heavy land they may be sown but. on ridges only or else they will not be satisfactory. A warm position must be chosen. Turnips may be sown now. also silver beet. f ?.bbag<* in. can; no/rf- 'Lv'ikl be U 7.ns; :or lj If .'•■‘i.at-- are ■d'--’l't-'e lie* tna? .-■tiisr be privaed out to be tfuAsplaii.cd later or else planted straight out into thc-ir permanent places. To grow them successfully at this time of the year the soil must be well worked and in a position to get every possible bit of sun. Rhubarb. —This vegetable is capable of giving a very large crop if treated properly but it. very seldom is allowed to do so.

To do really well it should be replanted every second year any time during the winter. Allow three or four feet of space to each plant. Before the plants arc put in dig holes about IS inches deep and, if possible, fill them with manure. The manure should be rammed down into the bottom of the hole and then the soil put on top of it. The plants may then be put in. Small plants with one good crown are satisfactory. Plant about three or four inches below the surface. The plants will grow reasonably well the first season but the leaves should not be pulled until late ir summer when it is well established. The following spring it may be pulled, whenever the stems are large enough. The following winter it should be broken and the root dug up and divided into small plants and started again as they were the first year. To ensure a continued growth of shoots every spring, two sets should be planted, so as the supply should be plentiful and each spring the old block should be dug I up, divided and replanted and all surplus roots should be discarded, unless other use can be found for them. This is in regard to spring or summer rhubarb, but tine variety that is used for winter or very early spring use, should be planted in spring. They need not be more than one foot between plants and two feet between rows. The poorer the soil, the more space the plants will need. This variety of rhubarb should not be used during the summer, but kept for winter use only. If the soil is treated well enough and worked deeply before planting, and the locality is net too cold, stalks should be available right through the winter. Where very suitable soil is available, it may be raised from seed and it v/ouid give a good crop of stalk the first season, but whatever variety of rhubarb, whether planted or raised from seed, should be removed every spring. It should be dug and divided and small plants planted. and only small plants are necessary, rhe remainder should be discarded. Neither winter or spring rhubarb should be planted in the same place, unless a few years have, elapsed in between.

It is now the time for planting small fruit trees- Currants should be planted. They transplant freely, and usually grow well. They should have a space of at least four feet square. They may be grown anywhere, but do better on heavy land than light-. Gooseberries, however, are even easier to grow. They will grow anywhere, except perhaps on very dry. sandy lan<:, bii; even on sandy lam! they will grow surprisingly well. No garden should be without a gooseberry bush. They are the first berries ready for use in spring and the bushes can be put into any available corner and will do well. They will, of course, do better if given plenty of space, between the newly planted fruit trees is an ideal place for them. They should not be allowed to be too old, say, six to eight years is quite a good age to replant them, unless they have been kept pruned regularly, and then they may last a little longer, but it is a good policy to replace as soon as the size of the fruit starts to shrink.

Work in the vegetable garden at present will consist merely of preparation. Any land not turned over should be turned over at the earliest opportunity to give the sail full benefit of any

frosts that may come along. This is very beneficial, especially with stiff land.

Onions may be sown for spring transplanting. Early plants may be planted out if the soil is suitable. Broad beans may be sown any time now. They may not forge ahead very much just, now but they will nevertheless be earlier than later sown rows.

Lettuce may be sown now if a really warm spot is available. Transplanting is not recommended. It is best to sow in rows and thin the plants out. later to give them the required space. Sow only the winter varieties.

Turnips may be sown any time now but warm soil is necessary if they are required to grow quickly.

If old blocks of rhubarb are available they may be lifted into a vinery or glasshouse. They may either be heeled in in the soil or put in boxes of soil. Keep them reasonably moist but not wet or they will become too cold. They will soon sprout out and will be a welcome change during the winter. They will, of course, come on more quickly if the glasshouse is artificially heated but this is not necessary.

THE ORCHARD

Lemons are probably the most profitable fruit gr:.«»r. Th \v do not. i ; ke Gi *-r i’r.iu'. iu . n off ; I D **’ I gLiV-’r If •<, !. iT;Oa t.u? is ir- I g/O’-ving oidei ;r w;li i.vir teady io.- use nearly ail tut year round. £ Locally lemons arc a little slow tS start growing but not excessively so.' This depends a good deal on where it is planted. It docs not like excessive moisture and must be well drained. It will not bo a success if its roots reach standing water and it must be sheltered from the prevailing winds. It will do well if planted on the sunny side of a border fence or on the sunny side of a living hedge, it must, however, be eight or ten feet away from the h?dge trees or it will be in a draught and that is very bad for it. Lemons like, to live well and they like manure but it should never be given to them when they are planted unless it is at least a foot away. Lemons will do quite well in sand but before they are planted a hole should be dug four feet wide and at least two feet deep. This should he filled with manure or old vegetation. This should be rammed down to the bottom of the hole, the soil put back and the lemon planted on top. Always stake lemons when planting i or better still, drive in three stakes j round the tree just far enough away to ; miss the foliage and then wind round ' a piece, of scrim or sacking. Do not ; wrap it all round. Leave the side towards the morning sun open. If this protection is left on for about 12 •nonths the tree should then be sufficiently established to take care of itself. It the soil is wet and drainage difficult the lemon may be planted above the surrounding soil by making a mound 12 to IS inches high. Providing the situation is satisfactory in other respects it should do quite well. A lemon grown on its own root is more satisfactory in such a position than one on a seedling stock. Seedling stock goes right down into the soil while cutting rooted plants have nearly all their roots on the surj face. AV hen planting lemons do not prune them. *AVhen lemon trees are I bought they arc generally balled up in sacking. This should not be removed. | It will soon rot away and it helps the plants to transplant freely. Raspberries.—This very desirable small fruit is not grown much. Raspberries should not be allowed to stay in the one place for more than three years. They crop best on heavy land but they will do quite well in the average garden soil if treated properly. They take up space, of course. This is very often why they are not grown in small gardens. Three feet or, if possible, four feet should be allowed between the rows and about 12 to 15 inches between each plant. The first year no crop to speak of should be expected but the second year there should be four to six canes on each plant and*'they should crop well. No elaborate tying is necessary the second year. Just tie the bundle about 12 inches from the top. As the canes only crop once six or eight new ones should be allowed to grow but all others should be kept cut-back. This is very important, especially on light land where they are inclined to become a weed if not kept under control.