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HomeMy WebLinkAboutClinton News-Record, 1983-04-27, Page 50frnr rnarkrr . of line fnod*..i J fleoL. When in doubt, plant a begonia. Come sawn, shade, rain or shine, the adaptable fibrous -rooted begonia is sure to bloom. No other flower can claim this ver- satility. This warmth loving species can be found in native habitats around the world. Unlike many flower- ing plants, the wax begonia does not have a true rest cy- cle, which means that blooms appear as long as heat is sufficient for the plant to produce its buds. Plant breeders have been improving begonias for well over 100 years. Now beautiful begonias are available in sizes suited for outdoor displays as well as compact containers. Blooms have continued to increase in size, even for tiny plants. Red, white, rose, salmon and bicolored blooms ranging to s re rea two inches in diameter are now available Leaves of fibrous -rooted begonias are Just as m- teresting with choices of bronze -red or green to con- trast the blooms. Gardeners in warm, humid climates who plan to grow begonias in sun will find greater resistance to weather from varieties with bronze leaf color. The red pigment pro- tects the leaf much as suntan cream protect4,l)uman skin. Most prominent among begonia virtues is sun -shade tolerance. Here the green - leaved varieties such as Glamour begonias thrive, with huge blooms offset by vivid emerald foliage. New Glamour Salmon Picotee is an outstanding salmon and white bicolor for containers as well as bedding display. Picking a variety for a container involves some Cap' g with By R.J. Hilton University of Guelph There are several districts in Ontario, including Huron County, where the most common sight in the upper layer of the soil horizon is clay. In this type of soil, partic les are very small. The usual kinds of par- ticles in our mineral soils are sand, silt, clay, and a non- mineral component called organic matter. Since clay particles are about 0.002 mm or smaller, y to decision making. Container size is a very important con- sideration. If your begonia wall be planted in a good siz- ed container, make sure yuu select a variety such as the Glamours or other 10 -inch varieties to match planter with display. A very dwarf begonia looks lost in a large pot. Small 6 to 8 -inch high dwarf begonias are adap- table to containers no larger than 5 inches in diameter. Red Mars and pink Venus are both members of this class. Create attractive mounds of border color with these compact introductions. Shrub borders brighten with the addition of begonia plantings. A living carpet of the larger 10 -inch Glamour varieties adds summer in- terest in foundation plan- tings, or under ornamental ywhere trees in the home landscape. Plantings in these locations are viewed from a distance away and the 10 -inch varieties are necessary for visibility. Begonia seed is among the world's tiniest. Over two million seeds are needed to make up an ounce of this high-value commodity. Some special requirements are necessary to germinate begonias in home conditions. Keen soil temperatures at 70 degrees. F, and make sure humidity is kept high during the two to three-week period of germination. Begonias increase in popularity yearly, and most garden centre suppliers have a good transplant variety of sizes and colors. The transplants move easily from the purchase container to the garden when planted uron's clay soils any clay soil type will be regarded as fine -textured. Straight clay is the finest, and consequently the most difficult to manage. When discussing the kinds of garden plants reasonably adapted to clay soils, I recall one farmer's comment when asked when would be the best time to plow a certain clay hayfied. "Well," he said, "judging by the rain we've had, and the fact that it's the middle of May, I'd say about 2:30 p.m. on the third consecutive day without rain." Many homeowners who garden in clay will know what he meant. The fine soil particles break into Targe, brick -like clods, if the garden plot is dug or tilled when it is a little too wet or too dry. However, clay soils have some real advantages. They hold moisture and fertility much better than sandy soils. But their finicky characteristics, when it COMPARE & SAVE GODERICH Highways No. 8 Lawn Fertilizer 2O Kg 7-7-7 OR 10-6©4 BAG Super Lawn 20-5-10 1O Kg BAG ed `ri` Feed 1064 10 Kg :i AG Crabgrass Preventer 12-3-5 10 Kg BAG Garden Fertilizer 4-12-8 ALSO AVAILABLE 10 Kg BAG 3.99 6.99 4.99 9.99 2.99) Garden Seeds, Peat Moss, Rose POTTING SOIL TIP \SOIL U RE 2.99 N NAME SEED ® I __�19 LITHE RAPID GRASS SEW 9°0g 3o99 All Purpose LAWN BushesSEED 2 Kg 3, 99 comes to breaking down into good tilth, leads us to look for means to improve the per- meability. This can be done by incorporating organic matter, sand, and sometimes ground limestone. Successful gardeners, whose home grounds are clay, will save grass clip- pings, autumn leaves, and similar organic materials to use in a compost. This is forked or tilled into the soil. Tum to page 27 after sods have warmed. Transplant or place m con - tamers out of doors at the same tarn as peppers and eggplants and watch the begonia speed up flower bud development. Pink Avalanche bred for hanging baskets, brings still another display to sun -shade locations. This recent in- troduction, bred for hanging baskets, gine .y drapes its container with bright pink blossoms. Make sure to purchase started begonia. at the start of warrn weather. These popular annuals are sellouts each year! Choose your color. Soap beans are available in green, yellow wax, and purple pod colors. The purple pods bite dark green when cooked. INSTANT SHADE! How Long have y®u waited for a small tr': e? And are you still waiting? C:: II as we have the answer°! Here's a lovely family residence. tastefully landscaped, but needing only a shade tree or two to give it that added touch of "home` . 11:18 J ...minutes later, the Tree Spade, with tree, is bade an the seeno. Machine is yui'ckly positioned over the previously dug hole, ready for lowering Into the ground. A clean, tidy. no vness, no worse Add privacy. colour, beauty. round ewjoyvasaant. Environment for birds and wildilfe. Protection from cold winter winds summer sawn. 1 ®®� i First step towards® "instant Shade," Tree • Spade removes a cone- shaped "wedge" of earth from the spot selected for the tree... 11:24 instant Shad©I Tre© ball fits perfectly. And. what a difference the n©w shade makes. planting process. shade and year end hot R®/© N 2 Sr A F WTH 482-3229 Lund cup Design--TreePruning