GARDENING NOTES

New Zealand Tablet, 10 March 1921, Page 37

GARDENING NOTES

*.v . wr ‘ i -‘A r " (By Mr. J. Joyce, Landscape Gardener, Christchurch.)

WORK FOR THE MONTH OF MARCH.

The Vegetable Garden. The cool days.of autumn, when most kinds of vegetables will be coming to maturity, will render garden work more pleasurable than during the heat of the summer season. The gardener's duties now will mainly consist of hoeing the soil to keep it porous, and eradicating weeds, a process which will help backward vegetables to mature before the severe weather of winter sets in. Keep sowing and planting—a little at a time to keep up a supply for the coming monthscauliflower, brocoli, and ■ savoy cabbage. It would be well also to make a sowing of winter turnips, lettuce, and spinach. . Mould up celery, taking care that the soil does not get into the hearts of the plants ; this may be effected by tying up the plants with some soft material before moulding. Clear away all superfluous growth from tomatoes to give the fruit a chance to ripen; it is not necessary to remove all the leaves, as is often done. Pull and harvest the onion crop as it ripens, and sow the autumn, crop in well-prepared soil. Onions should be left on the ground for a few days before storing ; exposure to the weather firms and ripens them, and adds to their keeping qualities.

The Flower Garden.—Everything in.,the .flower garden should now be looking at its best, and the lawn, provided it has been well tended during the summer, will be showing at its best. Most of the tall-growing plants will now require to be tied up and staked. Cut away all dead blooms and thus prolong the flowering season. A start should now be made to plant geranium cuttings, using hardy mature shoots;*the soil need not be rich, but plenty of sand will be found beneficial, together with a limited amount of watering. Potted plants should be cut back and the cuttings used. Bulbs, such as narcissi, hyacinths, and tulips, may now be started. The soil will need to be well dug. and if it is poor apply a little well-rotted manure, As a rule, manure must be kept away from the bulbs, and when used at all it must not'be fresh or heavy but about the consistency of earth. Cuttings of pink picotees and carnations may be planted in shady corners, using plentv of sand and a gentle watering, and seeing that they are firmly inserted in the soil. Plant rose cuttings thoroughly firm about 6in in the ground. ,To grow good dahlias an occasional application of liquid manure is essential. ■ Hoe frequently among the beds and borders, and mow and roll the lawn regularly. Hedge-clipping must now be attendee? to. The Fruit Garden.—Continue nicking apples and pears as they ripen, and store away in a cool room, taking care to reject any bruised ones. Pears should be picked before they are really ripe, .or thev will not keep any length of time, and thus should be disposed of as soon as possible. Prune away all the young growth from apple and pear trees to allow the air and sunlight to mature the fruit. Gooseberry and currant trees may now be pruned, and all undergrowth of raspberries cleared away, leaving about six good strong canes for next season's bearing.