The Citizen, 1999-05-05, Page 19THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY, MAY 5,1999. PAGE 19.
J-forne Garden 1999
Parsley grows happily alone
Continued from page 18
newly planted seedlings from
bright sun the first day or so while
they adjust to the shock of trans
planting.
Planting Parsley in Containers
Parsley grows happily in the con
tainer alone, with other herbs or
with flowers, as long as it gets
enough sun. Use one that is 12
inches or deeper. Be sure it has
drainage holes. Fill it with mois
tened soilless potting mix to within
two inches of its top.
Mix in some granular slow-act
ing fertilizer or plan to water plants
once a month with a dilute general
purpose liquid fertilizer. Water
often to prevent container plants
from drying out during hot summer
days.
Caring for Parsley
Young parsley plants need regu
lar watering-until they become
established. Then those that are in
soil rich in organic matter and are
mulched will need watering only
every week or two. Those in poor,
unmulched soil or in containers
need frequent watering-possibly
ture and discourages weeds.
Harvesting & Storing Parsley
Begin harvesting parsley when it
produces leaf stems with three seg
ments. Harvest the larger leaves at
the outside of the plant first, leav
ing the new, interior shoots to
mature. To encourage bushier pars
ley plants pick only the middle leaf
segment of each main leaf stem.
Store freshly picked, moistened
sprigs in the refrigerator in a plastic
bag for two weeks. Freeze chopped
leaves in plastic bags or blended in
water or meat or vegetable stock
and frozen in an ice cube tray up to
six months.
Parsley also dries well in a regu
lar or microwave oven, although it
loses some flavour. Store dried
parsley in an air-tight jar for up to a
year.
Parsley worm: Friend or Foe??
Parsleyworms are large, striking
ly coloured two inch caterpillars.
Green with yellow-dotted black
bands across each segment, they
emit an odour and project orange
horns when startled. They feed
voraciously on parsley foliage,
that you can spare, such as carrot,
dill, parsnips or common weeds,
wild carrot or Queen Anne's lace.
5 Steps to Growing Parsley
Seedlings Indoors
1. Soak seeds overnight prior to
planting to improve
germination.
2. Fill flat shallow boxes, peat
pots or seed staiting equipment
with moistened seed starter mix
or other sterile, soilless
medium.
3. Sow seeds about an inch apart
in the shallow boxes or two to
an individual pot, and cover
them with a 1/4-inch layer of
the moist medium.
4. Keep them evenly moist and
maintain soil temperature of
about 70°F. Expect sprouts in
14-21 days.
5. Set fluorescent lights two
inches above the newly opened
leaves, adjusting them to
•maintain this distance above the
top leaves of the seedlings as
they grow for four - six weeks.
VYE GUARANTEE IT!
LARGE SELECTION OF
INSTOCK WALLPAPER I
[ideal; paints
daily if it is sunny.
Spread two - three inches of
some organic material such as
chopped leaves, hay, or straw on
the soil around parsley plants when
they are about six inches tall. This
mulch helps the soil retain mois-
leaving only bare stems.
Before destroying a parsley
worm, be aware that it is the lar
vae of the black swallowtail but
terfly. To preserve both it and
your parsley move it to another
member of the parsley family
53 Victoria St. S., Goderich
Do it yourself or hire a pro?
(NC) — The dilemma of
whether to tackle a home improve
ment job yourself, or hire a profes
sional tradesman, is familiar to
every homeowner considering
plumbing, electrical or carpentry
work.
Mike Dennis, president of a
faucet manufacturing company
points out that although there are
many projects homeowners can
now carry out on their own, it is
important.to know when to draw
the line, especially if costly mate
rials are involved.
If you don't have a large budget,
you can easily update any kitchen
or bathroom with paint, wallpaper,
window coverings and faucets, all
of which can be found at your
local hardware store, home centre,
warehouse outlet, lumber yard or
plumbing showroom/contractor.
"When selecting a faucet from a
retail supplier, pay special atten
tion to the faucet's connections,"
says Dennis. "Threaded connec
tions are easier to work with .for
the do-it-yourself jobs. It is also
important to chose good quality
products so you won't be doing the
same job year after year."
To upgrade your existing faucet,
replace a standard size faucet with
a high arc two-handle or single
lever faucet. Chose a new finish
such as a platinum or satine that
blends well with the brushed look
of today's stainless steel appli
ances. Add a new colour to the
bathroom with the luxurious look
of a black opal faucet.
Know your own limitations —
know when to call in the profes
sional:
• Major plumbing projects
(installation of new pipes, drains,
sinks, and showers)
• Installation of new flooring
• Installation of ceramic or gran
ite countertops
• Toilet installation
• Electrical work
- News Canada
Adding a splash of colour
updates bathroom decor
NC) — "Don't underestimate the
power of colour" is a phrase interi
or designers have been exclaiming
for years. Colour has the ability to
influence our moods, and brighten
any tired living space.
Take the bathroom, for example.
Many renovators and decorators
are now using the power of colour
by adding daring shades to the
walls and replacing standard
chrome faucet fixtures with
fauc ets boasting new hues and
stylish finishes.
With recent advancements in
technology, it is now simple and
affordable to introduce a new look
t ) any bathroom by updating
faucet fixtures.
Manufacturers offer a selection
of faucet finishes that enable
homeowners to customize the look
of their bathrooms by mixing and
matching a wide range of* colour
and styles.
"With all these options, home
owners can easily find a finish that
adds style and colour to any bath
room," says Mike Dennis, compa
ny president.
New finishes include platinum,
black opal, classic gold, satine and
polished brass which compliment
most contemporary decorative
styles. Many use a LifeShine tita-
nium-strengthened finishing
process. All finishes are guaran
teed not to tarnish, corrode or dis
colour, adding practicality to style.
-Newt Canada
V
Cable***
• Galvanized Aircraft Cable 1/16" to 3/8"
• Wire Rope 3/8" to 3/4"
• Stainless Steel Cable 1/16" to 1/4”
• PVC & Clearcoated Cable 1/8" to 3/16"
Rope...
• Polypropylene - 1/4" to 1/2"
• Nylon • 1/4", 1/2", 5/8", 1"
• Hemp - 1/2”, 3/4", 7/8", I"
Chain***
• Grade 30 -3/16" to 1/2"
Wid ranya of tbimblu, tkodrlei, ciblt clomp, etc.
Abort on itock item... other tuti id frdoi
miliblt by odor.
53 Victoria St. S., Goderich
524-9671
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