HOME GARDENS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 15, Issue 85, 21 August 1950, Page 6

HOME GARDENS

(By J. S. Yeates, Massey Agricultural College;

PERENNIALS FOR SPRING . PLANTING Last week we discussed some of the points in planting a border in which to grow perennials, together with some shrubs and annuals. The present being a suitable time of the year for planting them, a few of the outstanding perennials are briefly mentioned. Delphiniums come into this group, though they are best planted in the autumn. They need deep, rich welldrained soil, free exposure to sun but at the same time good shelter, on account of their height. They need plenty of moisture in the summer. They do not particularly need lime, though often supposed to. Slugs are very fond of the young shoots. Coarse sand about an inch deep at the surface of the soil around the plant is one protection. The metal-fuel bait is another method, which I shall deal with in a week or two. Delphiniums grow from four to six feet in height and have their main crop of flowers in J anuary-February.

Lupins are a similar perennial (best-known types are the Russell lupins), which make a fine early summer display (November-Decem-ber). They grow about four feet high. In the spring they can be grown from seeds, or from young shoots cut off old clumps with a piece of root. These cuttings can then be rooted in a box of sand in a frame or glasshouse. * Alternatively you may buy seedlings on rooted cuttings. The latter may I %i of named varieties of definite colours, while some of the seedlings will turn out poor types fit only for the rubbish heap. The seeds need to be nicked through the outer skin, or rubbed with a file or glasspaper before they will soak up water and germinate. They may be started now in a frame or glasshouse or sown in place in a month or so. Lupins need a deep, rich, well-drained soil. They are really first-class where a bold colour display and attractive foliage are wanted, but the}'- do need a fair amount of room.'

Dahlias and chrysanthemums are two more tall-growing, bright types grown so much as hardly to need description. They are both planted in the spring and, monotonous though it sounds, do best in deep, well manured soil. In fact chrysanthemums are shallow rooting, but they need good, well-worked soil for best results. Plants of both are set out in October-November. Dahlias flower mainly in FebruaryMarch, chrysanthemums in MarchApril. One reason I do not grow dahlias in my own garden is virus disease. Dahlias are carriers of many types of virus diseases and until we know more about the problem it is asking for trouble to grow them close to susceptible plants such as the auratum lily—which is my particular favourite. The commercial varieties of dahlias have mostly if not all become very badly infected with virus, but if we raise seedling dah-

lias away from diseased plants, then we secure disease-free plants. The seed can be sown in a frame or glasshouse in the next month, the plants set out in November, and many will flower next autumn. Now for one or two lower-grow-ing types .for spring planting. Perennial phlox are available in a wide range of colours and shades, and their popularity is obvious from the large numbers one sees growing in nurseries. To grow and flower them to the best advantage you need a soil in really good heart and one that is moist in February, at the time when the plants should be at their best. The plants in the garden should be dug up in the spring every year or two years, broken up, and the younger pieces planted in new soil or in the old soil after it has been well worked and manured. By “manure” I mean organic matter of some sort—rotted stock manure, cqmpost or the 'like. I shall deal with more perennials next week.

Regal lily seed should be sown in the next month. The easiest method is to mix the seed quite thick in a pot or jar of damp sand and keep indoors. When small roots show on a good proportion of the seeds, sow sand and seeds in a drill about three-quarters of an inch deep. Fill the drill with sand. The sand will have few or no weed seeds in it, and that saves a lot of weeding. Next week I shall deseeds.