HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1975-04-24, Page 31Build your -own
By Keith L. Priest
Ontario ministry of
• Agriculture and food
odern houses' with lteated
ments are not suitable for
vegetables and some
of controlling tem -
and humidity is needed.
your own storage room
UUficult and would be a
Minter project.
are some suggestions on
action:
t a - location in the
basement along an outside wall.
You will need a window or an
opening in the outside wall to
ventilate and to cool the storage.
If you can make use of a corner,
,two of your walls are already
built. A storage 6 by 6 or 5 by 8
feet will hold a surprising amount
of produce.
Construct the walls with 2 by 4
inch studs, sheathing on eithe
side and 3' inch insulation' batts •
between the studs. If there is a
vapor barrier strip on the in-
Wax Bean Goldcrop, Bronze Medal Winner, 1974 All -
America Selections.
Prepare lawn for summer
Sometimes cultivation of a soil -
bed early in the year is difficult
because the groundisso wet.more
seedbeds are generally
satisfactory if plowed, disced, or
rotary tilled than if left un-
cultivated. Try to take advantage
of a dry spell for preparing the
soil, mixing in fertilizer at the
same time.
At least scuff the soil,surf a e on
n
a reasonably dry day, g
scratch 'marks into which seed
can settle. Powered thinning
machines can often be rented to
accomplish thisoairy easily.
with
A chunky il
crevices into which seed can
settle is ideal. It will accept rain
rather than causing it to run off.
A mulch gives added protection
against seed and soil wash.
• Straw, a few straws deep,
excelsior matting, or burlap
nettings available in many
garden centers are typical
mulches which retain soil
moisture and encourage quick
sprouting. The seed should be
spread uniformly before the
' 'mulch is applied.
Bluegrass -fescue seed blends
or those containing` perennial
ryegrass are typically snw
CLINTON NEWS•xtECORA.THURSDAY, APRIL 24.1875—PAGE 11B '-
home vegetable storage
sulation it should face the outside
of the stud walls. -Another method
is to use 2 inches of polystyrene
held in place on the inside 'with a
strip of wood, rather than using
sheathing on the inner side of the
stud wall.
Don't forget to insulate the
ceiling. The basement foundation
'wall should also be insulated on
the ,inside, down to 2 or 3 feet
below the outside grade level, or
bank up earth on the outside of
the wall.
A door, framed with 2 by 2 inch
material, can be -fitted -in -one of
the constructed walls. Each side
can be faced with sheathing and
the center filled with insulation.
The door should be fitted tightly
and secured with a latch that
holds it firmly closed.
,. A cement floor should r be
poured with a raised edge to hold
about three pounds to the
thousand square feet, colonial
bentgrasses at about half this
rate. Seed is distributed most
accurately with a lawn spreader.
The cyclone type casts seed in a
wide arc and covers ground
faster.
After seeding iscompleted "all
systems should be go." In spring
nature is almost always
charitable, with enough warmth
and moisture to trigger vigorous
sprouting. But if rains fail, you
will have to water.., Watering is
best done lightly and frequently
until the grass is up,, after which
it can taper off as the seedlings
root more deeply. Some weeds
may appear from seed in the soil.
Most of these need not, prove
worrisome because they
will
disappear after mowing begins.
Others can be cleaned up with
weed killers later, after the turf
has had a mowing or two. Use 2,
4-D combinations for broadleaf
(i.e. non -grassy) weeds, and
perhaps a crabgrass preventer.
Mowing should start when young
turf reaches about half again
what will be its customary
mowing height.
Good seed gives a good start
If you're planning to grow your they do not require sterilization
next flower or vegetable garden Seeds for many annuals; such
from seed, be sure to buy your as tomato and petunia, can be
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ticultural specialist with the of the growing medium or "by -
Ontario ministry of agriculture dropping it in • rows. After
and food. Check that seed stock at covering the seed with about one -
gardening outlets has been stored quarter inch of soil -less mix,
under proper conditions. moisten the area thoroughly with
If you must store your seed for tepid water. Cover the containers
a few days before planting, with plastic to ensure a warm,
remember that seeds are living hum4d environment for ger- 1
things, requiring a relatively mination.
moist atmosphere and moderate The newly seeded containers
temperatures. should be placed in a warm
• A commercial soil -less mix is a location. After the seedlings have
good choice, as a germination appeared, permit them to grow
medium. Such mixes often orr two to three "weeks before
contain peat moss, vermiculite
transplanting to larger con -
and perlite, as well as a small p g
amount of fertilizer. Moreover,
water to Maintain the humidity.
The easiest way to cool down
the produce is to open ther'window
(now enclosed in the storage
room) as long as necessary. to
lower the temperature. The
window' should be screened to
keep out insects and covered to
keep out the light.
A better, more dontrollable
method of cooling is to' replace
the window with a wooden duct
arrangement. Cold air should
enter by a wooden duct which
extends down the wall toward the
floor. Warm air near the ceiling
can exit via a short duct leading
through the window or opening to
the outside. Both of these
openings should : have an ad-
justable cover to control the flow
of air. Screening the outside end•
will keep out insects.
Shelves or bins can be added to
suit your needs.
The operation �� ventilathe ors
e
involves opening
when outside air is
celdrer than
the storage temp
e
length of time involved will
depend on the ventilation and on
how cold it is outside. Close the
ventilators if the outside tem-
perature rises above the storage
temperature. The use of a goodd
thermometer hung
nearstored produce will greatly help.
The humidity can be
reasonably high by P
water on the cement floor to keep
it damp.
The finished storage does not
'have to be fancy; it's not ex-
pected to win prizes, just store
your vegetables better. But to be
effective, it needs your
el in
controlling temperature
and
humidity.
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