Garden Notes

Southern Cross, Volume 2, Issue 1, 7 April 1894, Page 12

Garden Notes

NOTES FOR APRIL. (By Murihiku) Vegetable Garden: The operations of last month as recommended in notes for March should be continued as regards weed-killing, rough digging vacant plots, and otherwise Peeping the ground titty and in order. Cabbage plants for winter and early spring use may still be planted, but should be got in as soon as possible. Sowings of cabbage and cauliflower for planting out in spring', and spinach radish, lettuce and salads fot winter use should be put in without delay ; the first named if under cover so much the better. Potatoes may now be lifted and pitted, but should not be treated when in a wet state, as excessive dampness retards their keeping qualities. Continue to earth up celery as required. The- early crop should now be ready for use, and if treated as directed in previous notes, fine heads of well blanched celery should be the result. Shallots and potato onions may be planted in small quantities this month; the former will be found very useful to cut green or for early spring use. Fruit Garden :—The planting of strawberry plants as recommended for last month should be proceeded with. Old beds will be benefited by having surplus runners removed, saving those required for use by heeling in elsewhere, and otherwise attending to the beds by weeding, etc. Late sorts of apples and pears may be gathered now and stored away on shelves without beingwiped or bruised in any way. Flower Garden: —Now that frosts have become general it is useless to attempt protecting by covering out of doors anything of a tender or halfhardy nature, so that if it be desired to save any favourite they should be removed under cover at once. Gather flower seeds and clear away decayed annuals and flower stalks from the borders. Chrysanthenums will now be showing their flower buds, and will require a slight protection from frosts and excessive rains, if good blooms be desired. A canvas overlap of two feet at the side of the house (northern exposure preferred) will afford sufficient protection, and the results will amply repay the extra trouble involved. This and next, being the most suitable months for planting spring and autumn bulbs and tubers, preparations may |be made for the work. The best results are obtained from bulbs planted in soil of a sandy nature, and if your gai’den be otherwise, a little sand should be added to the compost when planting. Now is the time also to plant out for early spring and summer flowering such old favourites as Antirrhiniums, Auriculas, Campanulas, Gaill-Cardias, Polyanthus, Sweet William. Separate beds of this put the garden will give magnificent results at a time when flowers are scarcely obtainable. Seedlings are the best for this purpose, though offsets from old clumps answer the purpose fairly well.