FLOWERS FOR THE WINTER

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 6, 22 January 1937, Page 15

FLOWERS FOR THE WINTER

If we wer© asked for a vote on the most popular annual, it certainly would rest between the Iceland poppy pnd the eweetpea. Iceland poppies, like our beautiful peas, hav© undergone a wonderful improvement since they wero first introduced into our gardens. Hybridists hav© suceeeded, far beyond their most" s^nguine expectations, in converting what was once an ordinary flower of insigmfieant appearance into some of the most beautiful flowers of the present-day subjects. These charming plants are not at all difficult to grow, and supply an enormous amount of cut flowers for late autumn and winter. Many gardeners complain about the , poppy seed not germinating. This is a mistake, as Iceland poppy seed will germinate readily, but is easily scbrched if the full rays of the late summer sun makes direct oontact with it. *For this reason seed beds should be protected during . the germinating period, and for some time after, until the young plants are able to stand the sun and heat of the surface soil. Just as the tiny seed opens out and the young seedling appears is the most critical time in the life of a plant, as the heated eoil roasts the tihy germ before it has gained sufficient strength. For this reason the seed beds must be protected. Any one who is fortunate enough to have a glass-house has very little difficulty in raising the seedlings. We are all agreed that the hardier the plants are raised the more likely are they to succeed when planted out in the open garden. As soon as the young seedlings are big enough to handle they should be pricked out into a nursery b.ed into soil of a little richer quality. Spaced about three or four inches apart, the youngsters soon develop fibrous roots and progress rapidly. After this stage is passed very little difficulty. is experienced "with them, and few casualtTes will occur during the transplanting operation. Iceland poppies will grow in almost any class of soil, providing that it has been sufficiently enfiched. A light loam suits them admirably, but many beautiful flowers are produced on the heavier class of soils. Coming into bloom at a time when fchere is a general scarcity of flowers enhances their !value. Though the aarly sown seed will produce plants that vill flower for a considerahle time, it w not a wise policy to restrict the sowings. It is only natural that the long strain of flower production would ekhaust the "plants. Later raised plants should be planted to take the place of those that flower from the late autumn and early winter months.