GARDENING NOTES

New Zealand Tablet, Volume LII, Issue 42, 4 November 1925, Page 53

GARDENING NOTES

WORK FOR THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER. ' The Vegetable Garden. The past month was a fairly good one for gardening operations, although the cold snap and heavy rainfall towards the end, beneficial no doubt to early vegetables, may have occasioned a setback to tender seedlings. This is a lesson to gardeners that they should profit by regarding probable weather conditionsnot to be in too great a hurry in putting in their tender early crops. It is always advisable to delay putting out plants such as tomatoes, cucumbers, pumpkins, marrows, French beans, or a quantity of early potatoes, and thus be on the safe side. Very often all this class of vegetation gets destroyed by late frosts which frequently occur as late as the first week of November. It is wise, therefore, not to venture too much. A small quantity, however, may be put in, and the chance taken of the weather conditions turning out satisfactory, delaying the main crops until all danger from frosts is pastgenerally about the middle of November. Most of the plants can be kept growing in pots or boxes, and thus but little time is lost and probably something gained, ultimately. Always keep in mind the rotation of your crops by sowing a supply sufficient for the regular needs of the, household ; among other vegetables peas, beans, turnips, spinach, lettuce, radish, cauliflower, and all the cabbage tribe savoy, brocoli, kale, and Brussels sprouts. It is a mistake putting in too much or too many at a time; the supply should be regulated by the demand. ; Seed plots require to be protected from the small birds, which arb .very troublesome in the early part of the season especially. Wire netting forms , the best protection both for seeds and young shoots, or black thread may be stretched along the, rows. Sow kidney beans towards the end of the month.or even later if desired .as the slightest frost destroys them. The Fruit Garden.—Newly planted trees or shrubs will ’be all the ' better ‘of a good watering if ; the- weather happens to be dry for a lengthy spell. A cavity should be left around each tree to hold ! the water so that it may penetrate to the.roots, otherwise watering, is a waste of time. . Many .people adopt just the opposite courseV ’ they pile’ the soil high up around' the stem like ‘ a cone which tends to throw' all the moisture from- rain or other sources away from the tree. v If newlyplanted trees are blown about they ought to

be staked, as rocking to and fro in the wind v will injiire them. * Late; vines should be attended to by stopping the lateral shoots on© or two eyes beyond the bunch of berries. Do not attempt to tie back the lateral shopts for some .time yet, as they are so soft and: succulent that the least handling will cause, them to snap wait until they grow toughand hardy. Keep, the floors of the vinery damp in-hot weather ; give top air and avoid draughts. Keep a lookout for mildew, and if it should appear give the affected parts a dusting of sulphur. Shut up the ventilators early in the afternoon so as to keep in. a nice warm atmosphere during the night; and do not open too early in the morning—about 11 o clock will be time enough—afterwards sprinkle the floor with water which should be left standing in the lions© all night. There is much work ahead for' the nit-grower in seeing that the fruit is properly thinned out. When trees bear a- heavy crop they should be attended to at the propel time. W hen the fruit is set, spraying for the codlin moth should commence, the eggs being laid in the hollow of the fruit just at the point where the bloom is attached before dropping off. * Keep the ground cultivated around the tree, or better still, cultivate all the ground of the orchard.