GARDENING NOTES

New Zealand Tablet, 3 November 1921, Page 31

GARDENING NOTES

(By Mr. J. Joyce, Landscape Gardener, Christchurch.)

WORK FOR THE MONTH OF NOVEMBER. The Vegetable Garden. The wet weather experienced in most localities during the greater part of October has retarded gardening operations to a very considerable extent, and, as a consequence, much work will be necessary this month to make up for lost time. With the warmer and sunnier weather generally experienced in November the vegetables required. Peas, broad beans, kidney, or the soil will be in suitable condition for the sowing of all French beans, turnips, spinach, lettuce, and radish should receive early attention, and, if not already sown or planted out, onions, parsnips, and carrots, leeks, vegetable marrows, pumpkins, and cucumbers. The planting of a few tomato plants may bo ventured, and at about the middle of the month, when the danger of frosts may be considered past, the main crop should be planted out. This also applies to the main potato crop while the earlier one will require constant moulding up as a precaution against a touch of frost. Asparagus will be in season now, but in cutting it the weak shoots should bo left on; these keep up the growth of the plant. A too severe cutting of asparagus weakens the plant for the next season’s crop. It is well to . keep on sewing a little cabbage and cauliflower seed to supply plants for successive crops, and these should be planted out as required. Brussels sprouts and kale are valuable in providing a supply of vegetables when most other kinds are scarce, and should thus receive attention. This also applies to brocoli. Rhubarb will be plentiful by now, and in gathering it care should be taken to allow some of the stalks to grow on otherwse the strength of the plant will be impaired. It is a mistake to strip the, whole rhubarb plant at one time, and clumps which have been covered over during their growth to maturity should now have , the covering removed when the supply is exhausted, so that the plants may have a chance to renew their growth. Keep the dutch hoe constantly employed among the crops when the weather is fine and the soil dry. It is well to be prepared for late frosts by having* material on hand to protect tender plants. The Flower Garden. —Keep planting out the required bedding plants, and sow in patches, but not too thickly, a good collection of outdoor hardy annuals. These latter may be thinned out later. Now is the time to plant gladiolas and dahlias; old plants of the latter require to be dug up, separated by being cut with a sharp spade, and replanted, each clump having a portion of the old stalk attached. A' neat stake should be driven down through dahlia plants for the purposes of support. It would be well to attend to chrysanthemums by reducing the clumps and thinning out the shoots where they are growing too thickly. Although most of the spring bulbs will by now have finished flowering, the foliage should not be cut away but allowed to grow, as by so doing the bulb is ' improved and strengthened. When the foliage of bulbs withers is the time for digging them up and storing them for the next planting season. Flowering shrubs which re-, quire pruning may be thus attended to when the flowering has ceased. An early pruning is desirable, as, with renewed growth, the shrub will bo in better flowering condition on the following season. Do not allow the weeds to take possession of the beds and borders, but keep the hoe employed on all available occasions when the weather is fine raking is not necessary, the c sun will soon wither up the weeds. Mow and roll the lawn at least once a week; the grass will be growing very fast now so that to ensure a good sward frequent and thorough rolling is essential.