GARDEN NOTES

Chronicle (Levin), 5 October 1946, Page 7

GARDEN NOTES

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Tlic lasl ut'ck sliownl i jn i t c (lefiniti'l v llial tlni flangiMnti: jicriml inot yct over and teiider plants put oul nou are a risky proposil ion. Tliere are soine vegetables w ai- is ^liouiil l>e delayed a Jiltlo wliile. ani'.ny thexn being nuirnnvs, punipkins and ein-uniiters, and tlio.se wlio grow eape "iio.Nfdterries .sliould also stay their liands. The three vegetables mentioned rau be slarled iu boxes if they are kept und-'r eover at uiglil. I'leiitv of liallrotted strawy iiialerial sliould l»e put in the boxes il pos?>ible and eovered witli good .soil. It' the seeds are planted at least ua ineli ajiarl they will liave rouni to grow and grl their roots into the straw, and wiien lliey are ready lo go out into tlu-ir penuaueiit positiuns they "vvill suffer very littlo l»y the niove. To eeononiise 111 spaee, most people these davs grow the lnn.li or 11011running type oi' niarrow, whirh is a very satisfacl ory oue to liave. Wellmanured ground, incorporating plenty oi' moisture-liolding material. is neressary i'or good marrows and they niust never be allowed to be short of water at uny stage of their growth. Where it comes to a elioiee between the greeneoloured marrows or the eream ones, it eannot be said that one kiud is superior to the otlier, but it is often said that the eream ones are the best to eat in the young stages during the summer and the green ones are the better keepers for the winter. « A busli pumpkin 1ms yet to appoar on the seene, and those who wisli to g'row tliem must liave plenty of spacc •fop

1hem to raniblo over. If thev are to I grow over bare grouiul short sticks shonhl be jmt in every here and tliere i'or ihe tendrils to fasten 011 to and ; stu" ihe plants from beiug bufl'eted ai'oof by the wind. lf they are growing o\ er wasle gronnd they will find ; s'nm thing i'or themselves to support tiiriu. .Mu>t people like a good dry-fleshed punipkiii whirh will keep wellr there are two varieties whieli are excellenl in tlit->e respects — Queeuslaud Blue and ■ Triundde. Botli liave a very good I flavour and are not watery at all; tlic i f'nrmer is perhaps the better for smalJ | I'amilie-- and ihe latter where largr j fruils are n'quired. ( 'nru niber.s are grown undor similai rondilions lo marrows and pumpkim and reijnire warinth, slielter and mois ture. The varietv knowu as Crvstal Apple is easier lo grow than most and as the fruit s are not parlirularly large thev rau be rompletely used up at oiu I meal. The long green ones often liavt : to be cut and kept, and the, retained portion bcromes dry and flabby before it gets nsed. ' Cape gooseberries like a long periot oi" growili and sliould be put in as sooi as eonditions seem favourable. Other wise the fruit will not have time ti. rijien before the winter and will bc liable to drop off in an immature state These plants produce a mueh bettei rrop iu their seroud season, but aftei that they sliould be discarded and fresli ones put in.