GARDEN NOTES

Digger (Invercargill RSA), Issue 41, 24 December 1920, Page 13

GARDEN NOTES

THE VEGETABLE G ARDEN. Tlie principal crops of vegetables will be coming in soon, and for some time peas, beans, cauliflowers, carrots, cabbages, and other things will all be in at once. Abundance at one season and a dearth at another. It is no great trouble to produce lots of vegetables during the summer months, but to have good vegetables and a plentiful supply of them all the year round requires a considerable amount of forethought and skill. We will presume that a gobd supply is provided for the next thr.ee months or so. The next thing is to secure a supply for the winter and spring. We will suppose that such things as parsnips, intermediate carrots, beetroot, and onions are already in, as previously advised. The next thing should be a good plot of c.elery, and leeks may be planted in the same manner, but they do not require so much moisture as eelery. The next and principal crop is cauliflower, broccoli, savoy, curled kale, Brussels sprouts, and a good garden sw. ■ r green or purple-top tumip, the latier .or standinig tbe winter. If the swedes aie not in already, no time should be lost in getting them in, also the turnips. Brussels sprouts should be got m at once to secure good sprouts. The next to be planted is autumn giant cauliflower, in good rich soil ; then con.es the broccoli, some of the late autumn late Queen or Latest of All to follow. These will carry you until well mlo the varieties, then Winter Mammotb. with spring. , Curled kale is very highly appreciated for winter use, especially after it has had sharp frosts. It is something like parsnips in that respect, being improved with frost. Garden rubbish is apt to accumula,te in odd comers and become offensive, especially from cabbages and caulifiowers. They give oif the most obnoxious odours that might become quite offensive to one's n,eighbours. Therefore get rid of them. The best and most profitable way to do so is to put them into the bottom of the trencb and dig them in. In preparing .ground for future crops not only do they ceAse to be a nuisance, but become a valuable manure. Tbe sowing of French beans for succession shguld continue, but be sure not to sow too thickly — 2in or 3in Ibetween the seeds is quite thick enough, as a finer crop and better beans are procured than if sowii thickly. Sow peas for succession, but the kinds sown now should be of the early kinds, so that the crop will be matured bc-fore the early frosts occur, which generally make their appearance about April, and sometimes earlier; so it would be useless to sow the tall kinds that are much longer in maturing. . Plant out leeks in trenches, also cel.ery in showery weather. Potatoes, where there is a good crop of an early kind, may be lifted without waiting for the tops to die down. The tender skins will be da,maged if this work is done roughly, but they will soon harden and ripen in the store. as well as if left in the ground. The advantage gained by this early lifting is twofold, Firstly, if they are wanted for seeds for next early spring planting^ they are better for sets from the early lifting than they are from those left in the ground until the tops die down ; and, secondly, it gives very suitable ground for the early planting of winter greens, such as broccoli for coming in in late autumn, winter, and spring, also savoys, curly greens, and Brussels sprouts. All these are better and finer if got in in early January than if left until later on in the summer, as late planting does not give them time to g,et sufficiently advanced before winter sets in. THE FLOWER GARDEN. Gladiolas are very liable to be damaged by high winds ; therefore it is necessary that they should be staked singly, or if they aro in rows they may have a stake at intervals or at the ends of eacli row, with good stout material run around them to hold up the heads of the flowers.. Wallflower may still be sown. Sow in shalicw drills 6in apart in good free loam, thin out the young plants to 3in apart, and transplant the thinnings, and when they are strong lift and plant them with the trowel, taking a ball of earth with them. By this they start into growth right away. Sow also aquilcgia for next season's flowering. THE TOMATO-HOUSE. As the fruit becomes well a-dvanced, increase tbe ventilation, a,nd do not give them quite so much water from the time they are beginning to ripen, but do not let them suffer for want of it.