GARDENING NOTES FOR OCTOBER

Ashburton Guardian, Volume VII, Issue 1678, 3 October 1887, Page 2

GARDENING NOTES FOR OCTOBER

I Continue tbe Bowlog of broccoli Early m tbe month make a final I .owing of of Incomparable white or Sulham prise eel ary, and also lowing of | curled parsley, globe savoys, Brussels sprouts, curled greens and cauliflower*. ' Make Buccesaional sowings of early white stone turnips, spinach, oress, mustard, radish, lettuce, endive and red beet,. Even onions may still be Bown ; more, however, for the purpose of dra wing green throughout the summer and autumn, and thus saving the bulbs of tae better crops, i The varieties of early and late cabbages may also be sown, and during showery weather the early spring-sown plants of eaoh may be advantageously transplanted. Carrots, parsnips, salsafy, and scorzonera may still be sown ; and now is a suitable time to oommenoe first small sowings of scarlet runners and dwarf French beans, These firßt sowings are not, however, to be relied upon; for some seasons it happens thata long season of fine weather may be Bucceeded by a single chilly night, aooompanied by a sharp frost, by which the first crops of scarlet runners, Frenoh beans, and some other tender plants are swept off; then the necessity of suocesslonal _owing6 r Cuoumbers and melons -planted on 4 hot bed last month will now require to be finally moulded ; and to render them abundantly fruitful they ought to be .topped at every second joint, and sprinkled with water on the afternoon of every warm day, cloalng them m early with a moist, warm atmosphere Tomatoes i',nd oapsiouniß, balßatnß, oocksoombs, and amaranths sown m August and September should now be gradually hardened off for planting out next month. Towards tho end of this month the out. r of doors hardy-ridge cucumbers, pumpkin gourds, vegetable 'marrows, and late tomatoes may be sown within any sheltered enclosure. All of these ar§ very tender and, where proper conveniences exist, It is the safest plan to sow them m flower-pott plaoed either m a glass frame, or within the window of a dwelling-house, until tbe seeds have germinated, and the plant* are about an iuch m height ; after which they may for a few days be gradually inured to exposure, by keeping them out during the day, and keeping them m during tho night ; and when sufficiently hardened off, they may be planted out m any warm, sheltered aituatton, and fpr a time slightly protected by a temporary covering at vi oht.0 ht. •- Strawberry pl_nt3 bloom muoh more vigorously when frequently watered during dry weather. The seed-stems of rhubarb and seakale exercise a very exhausting power over the roots, and should all be cut away as soon as perceptible ; rhubarb will be greatly benefitted by frequent heavy waterings. Some of the finest rhubarb yet grown has been produced after repeated drenohlnca with soap