YOUR GARDEN AND MINE

New Zealand Listener, Volume 3, Issue 71, 1 November 1940, Page 42

YOUR GARDEN AND MINE

By

Ann Earncliff

Brown

(No. 49)

newly planted will be showing some growth soon, but no stems should be cut the first season. Even in the second season a very light crop should be gathered. Well established beds can be kept cut for about eight weeks, care being taken to keep all stems from running to fern. Keep the surface carefully hoed and free from weeds. I know a gardener with a limited space for flowers who combines the utility of the asparagus with the beauty of her cosmeas, which she plants out fairly early between the asparagus roots. The combined effect late in summer is certainly highly decorative, but I should prefer to leave a clear run through for a hoe. However it is an idea for conserving space and providing cut flowers, for the cosmea, now obtainable in shades of rose, pink, white, and yellow, is exceedingly useful in the vases. Although some gardens are a little backward, having had rather more rain and less warmth than they require at this time, most garden soil should be in good condition for planting almost all kinds of vegetables. Keep the hoe going between rows of vegetables already up. It is easier to destroy seedling weeds than to struggle later with large crops of these, and your vegetables will receive a two-fold benefit: the stirting of the soil allows light, air and warmth to penetrate while conserving the moisture necessary for growth, and avoids competition with the weeds for a share of nourishment. \ SPARAGUS beds which have been

Where conditions are mild, a few rows of dwarf beans and butter beans can go in as well as vegetable marrow and pumpkin seed. However, it is better to delay these where frosts are likely to catch the young plants. At this time the seed pops through fairly quickly and the early bean in the South Island is not always a lucky bean. Every year it happens that the birds beat the gardener who means to protect the new sown peas "to-morrow." Do it to-day. Whether you stretch cotton or cover with wire-netting, place the protection over and don’t risk the annoyance of finding your sprouting peas up and out some morning. Dahlias should now be sprouted Nicely. They appreciate being planted where they will be sure of a fair supply of moisture, some shelter from strong winds, and a firm support from well driven stakes. Ground which is to be used for dahlias should be well manured and deeply dug in the autumn, Dahlias are gross feeders, but repay generously for their keep by their gorgeous colour display through late summer and autumn — right till the frost comes. These flowers, native to Mexico, now accommodate themselves to all climates and situations, high on the slope of a hill or at sea level. Dwarf varieties are effective massed in flower beds. "Princess Elizabeth" (crimson scarlet), "Coltness Gem". (vivid geranium), and Purple Robe are good for such an effect. Pompom types come in all the best known dahlia shades. "Little

Beeswing," a yellow variety edged with red is specially noteworthy. The Cactus dahlias look well in a mixed border where they keep welcome colour till the frost takes them. You will find "Redpole" and Edgar Jackson (a coral shade) useful in this association, Star dahlias are a type evolved by a British firm and are outstandingly lovely in the house.