The Rural Voice, 1982-04, Page 30Is your kitchen ready
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PG. 28 THE RURAL VOICE/APRIL 1982
GARDENING
Plan your garden in advance
BY SHELLY PAULOCIK
Now is a good time to plan the lay -out of your garden.
Consider what crops you will grow. what space they require,
and where to put them. Obviously. tall crops such as corn are
best at the north end of the garden where they
won't shade their neighbours. Likewise, #
climbing plants can be grown on trellis or
poles on the garden's edge. To facilitate the
use of equipment such as power tillers or
tractors keep perennial flowers and vege-
tables together in one area. Above all, plan
your garden with a view to crop rotation. By
moving the location of a specific vegetable,
and close relatives. like broccoli and
cauliflower, on an annual basis you discour-
age a concentration of pests and diseases. Try
to alternate the type of crop too, to vary
uptake; thus you might follow a root crop like
parsnips (which need potassium and
phosphorus) with a heavy -feeder like cabbage (which need a
lot of nitrogen). At the same time, the root crops tend to loosen
soil. encouraging the growth of succeeding crops. Legumes.
beans and peas, increase the amount of available nitrogen and
play a valuable role in rotation. If space is at a premium.
optimize your use of it by interplanting crops, succeeding early
crops with later plantings. and using wide -row planting. Don't
feel compelled to separate flowers from vegetables. Many
flowers, including marigolds. calendulas, and nasturiums, are
good companions for vegetables, discouraging insects and
stimulating growth.
Meanwhile, your indoor seedlings need your care. Continue
to fertilize them in frequent but light feedings: usually every 10
to 14 days is adequate. If you have your containers under
fluorescent lights, move the containers from the ends to the
center since the light intensity decreases at the tube ends.
When watering use lukewarm water to prevent undue shock to
the plants. If humidity is low and plant leaves curl or begin to
brown, increase humidity by setting containers on trays of
moist pebbles or vermiculite, or keep a kettle on the wood
stove.
In preparation for planting. begin to harden -off your
transplants a few weeks beforehand. First the tender plants
must be toughened -up. This is done during the first week. by
witholding fertilizer, and reducine the temperature and the
water. Then gradually introduce ti,r transplants to the outside
climate. Set the plants outside in a sheltered position where
they'll receive a few hours of filtered sunlight. Over a period of
7 to 10 days increase both the time and intensity of sunlight
until the plant is in full sun for the entire day. Plants must be
protected from the wind as well. Be sure to keep plants well
watered. for both the sun and wind can dry the soil out easily.
When the time is right for planting. set the plant out in tilled
soil. Firm the soil in and around the plant's soil ball. water
well, and be prepared to protect plants from excess or freezing
temperatures.
Next month - pruning and transplanting trees and shrubs.
Shelly Paulocik graduated from the University of
Guelph in 1979 where she majored in horticulture. She
manages the Garden Centre at the Belgrave Co-op on
Highway 4.