GARDENING NOTES

New Zealand Tablet, 2 December 1920, Page 18

GARDENING NOTES

(By Mr. J. Joyce, Landscape Gardener, Christchurch.) WORK FOR THE MONTH OF DECEMBER. The Kitchen Garden. —Now is the time to plant out a good supply of cauliflowers, broccoli, and kale for winter use. Brussels sprouts, too, if planted during this month, null come in useful when other vegetables are scarce. These require plenty of room in the rows, while strong soil is necessary for a. good crop. All this variety of vegetable must he kept growing by using plenty of water during dry weather; if neglected in this respect they are liable to succumb to attacks of blight. The main crop of tomatoes should he planted out as soon as possible, also vegetable marrows, pumpkins, and cucumbers. All these require an abundance of manure, and an occasional watering; the leading shoots should be stopped so as to aid the growth of side shoots, which, usually produce more fruit. Another sowing of peas, broad-beans, kidney-beans, and scarlet-runners may be made at once. Hoe and thin out onions, parsnips, and carrots; sow a. good bed of turnips, also lettuce and radishes in well-manured soil. Keen the Dutch hoe constantly employed amongst the crops during fine weather, and thus check the growth of weeds. A reader of these notes has written to me from Onhir. seeking information regarding the successful growing of asparagus, explaining that, having twice planted a bed tin l result is not, satisfactory, the plants coming awav very spindley. I may say, in replv. that ties is usually the case for the first two years after planting, and patience must be exercised for at least three veers before the grower may enjoy the (mils of bis industry. The roots should he two or three years’ old when planted; if seed is sown the. period will of course he proportionately longer. Vsnaragus must, lie planted in a l>erl trenched three suits deep, and filled in with well, rot ted manure. The hod most he kept clean, and top-dressed every winter Spring is the host time for phantom- asparagus, and the plants should lie spaced about IS inches apart. The Flower Darden.—Tim hi”’i will now reonire eleso a Mention to produce the lies) ejects, Ereonent mowing is essential, and rare must.’ he taken to eradicate weeds, ■'ll heddimr out should ho finished us earlv as possible, f'bake dahlias, and thin out the shoots if too many am showing. Cut hack out-door grown chrysanthemums to keen them strong and bushy. Clip the garden hedges now while the shoots are young and tender, and a much better job will he the result as compared with later operations. Snray roses to keep away the green fly, which, at this stage of their growth, often infest them. The general work of tho garden will now consist of hoeing to keep the soil loose and clean, and watering when necessary. The Fruit Garden. —All superfluous growth should be pruned away. Red and black currants will need shortening if they are making luxuriant growth. Gooseberries would also ho benefited by having the crowded shoots clipped back from the centre of the bush. When it is intended to plant a, new bed of strawberries, the young runners should ho encouraged to grow strong and healthy by means of frequent watering and a sprinkling of fine rotted manure. Usually the best plants to select are the two atached next the parent plant. Thin late grapes and stop the leading shoots about two eyes beyond the bunch ; one branch to each shoot is sufficient. If mildew appears, use sulphur.