THE WEEK’S WORK AT A GLANCE

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 200, 12 November 1927, Page 26 (Supplement)

THE WEEK’S WORK AT A GLANCE

THE VEGETABLE GARDEN This is the most absorbing, healthful and remunerative branch of gardening as the products are much better than the shophandled and wilted articles offered by the various stores and will result in good health and a bigger banking account. Sowings of cucumbers, marrows, pumpkins, citron, rock and water melons should now be made. Never be tempted to buy plants of these as they receive too big a shock in the carrying home and transplanting. If a packet of seed is sown they will soon succeed the Plants. Between the rows of peas and beans thin drills of radish, spinach beet and lettuce may be sown. 'When used as companion crops much space can be saved in the smaller gardens. Continue planting out tomatoes, cabbage, kumeras, cape gooseberries and lettuce plants. Earlier tomatoes already established will require close watching. Remove all side growth as it forms to prevent weakening the main stem. Sow* seeds of broccoli, Brussels sprouts, borecole, celery, capsicum, lettuce, swedes, etc. If green crops are to be ready for winter use, do not neglect to sow this month. Broad beans should be sprayed with lime and sulphur to prevent rust. When preparing this mixture do not forget to apply it to the potato crops and kill two birds with the one stone. A drill of American sweet corn could be set round the pumpkin and marrow' beds. This protects the tender foliage from the winds and weather. Spray apple trees with arsenate of lead to check the codlin moth. Lime and sulphur should be applied to the peaches and nectarines for curly leaf. The strawberry beds should be laid with clean straw’ to keep developing berries off the soil. Backward plants can receive a weak solution of nitrate of soda round the roots. THE FLOWER GARDEN All spring .flowering trees such as lilacs, viburnum, guelder rose, etc., should have a light pruning back to allow the bushes to throw out new growth. Old violet beds should be lifted and the new’ runners planted out to 10 inches apart. If this is done every year the blooms would be much finer and the foliage less harbour for slugs. Small hydrangea cuttings should be lifted and potted for using in the house when in flower. These make excellent table decoration and nearly every gardener has a few' cuttings struck in some odd corner. Daffodil and other spring flowering bulbs are now looking very sick. Carefully remove the bulbs with a spadeful of soil and heel in some odd corner until foliage has died down. This will make room for summer bedding plants. Flower seeds to sow now:—Celosia, portulacca, sunflower, zinnia, petunia, phlox, lupins, hunnemmania, salvia, verbena. Flower plants to transplant now:—Cineraria, asters, petunias, poppy, antirrhinum, lobelia, phlox, calliopsis, delphinium, chrysanthemums and dahlias. Sweet peas are now commencing to flower freely. Constant applications of potash, ammonia and superphosphate in liquid form will prolong the flowering period and give colour to the blooms. Roses are now showing plenty of buds. Thinning out is essential if large blooms are required. Pick off the side buds and spray with blackleaf 40 to kill aphis and spider that may appear. Delphinium clumps are now beginning to throw their flower spikes. Protect them from slugs and use liquid manure each week. This will produce spikes that even the professional gardener will be proud to exhibit.