HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1977-04-14, Page 41Now is time for h
Bright spring weather is the
"call of the wild" for home
gardeners, and according to an
Ontario Ministry of Agriculture
and Food horticulturist, it's time
to start thinking about planting
early vegetables " and starting
transplants.
"Just as soon as the frost is out
of the ground and the soil is dry
4r enough to prepare, the cool
weather vegetables can be
planted," states R. A. Fleming.
"Radishes, which will germinate
and grow even in quite cool
weather, are a good indicator
The old
• board trick,
crop Lettuce, carrots, spinach
and garden peas can all be sown
as soon as the ground can be
prepared."
He suggests that before
seeding, a light application of ,a
fertilizer high in phosphorus will,
help the seedlings' growth. With
transplants such as cabbage and
cauliflower, he recommends
sidedressing with a good fer-
tilizer to encourage new growth.
Mr. Fleming cautions gar-
deners about being over=anxious
when it comes to starting their
tomato of d pepper transplants.
In warm, heated homes with poor
light conditions, the plants tend to
become weak and spindly when
they're started too early.
"The second or third week of
April is early enough to sow the
seed of your favorite varieties.
By the time the seedlings are
ready to transplant to flats or
eadstart in
garden
individual pots, the warm days of ventilated area during the day." stocky, healthy plants ready to be
May will permit the young plants Transplants grown this way will planted outdoors at the end of
to be set in a bright, well- not be Targe, but they will be May or early June.
Try propagatingplantsforgifts
Slips from your favorite suggests cutting a pice of stem
houseplants when planted in with a leaf to help the plant root
attractive containers, make more quickly.
inexpensive gifts for people who For coleus, Wandering Jew and
like plants. the ivies, he suggests cutting the
R. A. Fleming, Ontario tip of a healthy plant which has
Ministry of Agriculture and Food three or four leaves.
horticulturist, says November is Cuttings should be rooted in
a good time to start propagating perlite and peat moss (50-50) or in
plants for the festive season. a mixture of coarse sharp sand
and peat. Beginners should avoid
using vermiculite as a rooting
medium because it may pack and
remain too moist. The rooting
medium should be kept moist
enough to hold together,
throughout the rooting process.
Page 11
Coleus, fibrous or pot begonias,
Wandering Jew, and English or
.German ivy are some of the
many plants which can be
propagated from slips.
Begonias can' be rooted from a
single leaf; but Mr. Fleming
Optimum temperatures range
from 18 - 20 degrees C or 65 to 68
degrees F. Although the cuttings
require plenty of light, direct
sunlight is notnece"sary.
Growth rate of the cutting
depends on the type of plant you
are propagating. The.,, ones
mentioned above should be
started in November to be ready
for Christmas. To help speed root
growth, Mr. Fleming suggests
butting a plastic bag over the
utting and container to keep the
humidity high. Root hormones,
available from garden centers,
will also help stimulate growth.
.
BOARD
TRENCH
- SAND
Dig a shallow trench and trickle it
full of water; let it soak in. Pour a
shallow band of sand or vermicu-
lite down the bottom of the fur-
row. Scatter seeds thinly on the
sand, then cover them lightly with
more sand and vermiculite.
Cover the trench with an old
board and Presto! A hotbed! Seeds
sprout quickly in the warm, moist
cavity under the board. Peek un-
der the board every few days and,
when sprouts just begin to poke
through the sand, •prop up the
board with a block to admit air.
After two or three days, remove
the.' board. Even in hot, dry
weather you can get a good stand
of flower or vegetable seedlings
with this tried and true method.
Can you speak
petunia' language
A "double grandiflora" blossom,
'Blushing Maid' Hybrid
"single grandiflora" blossom
*
A "single multiflora" blossom
Single, double, multiflora, grandi-
flora . . . what does it all mean?
Really, it's not at all mysterious.
Seed breeders use these terms to
help Lump similar varieties of
petunias into groups:
Most petunias. have "single"
blossoms. This means they have
only one layer of petals. "Double"
blossoms have two or more layers
of petals. Some fancy double
varieties have waved and frilled
petal margins and resetnble
powder puffs.
Multiflora petunias have me-
dium sized blossoms and lots of
them. These varieties withstand
heat and humidity well. You can
buy double or single multifloras.
Grandiflora petunias have
large, rather ornate blossoms but
not as many as the multifloras.
Varieties come in single or double
blossom forms and in compact or
spreading plants.
Also see our "Snapper" mowers
complete lawn mower servicing
MARINE
& SMALL
ENGINES
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