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HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1983-04-27, Page 47IL Iu °Ba ield the: Horticultural Society hosts a spectacular Garden; Walk: each summer through local resident's' gardens. The Bayfield club boasts one of the highest memberships in Ontario *the size of the community. (T. Marr: photo) No need to make sacrifices Fiowersand vegetables, side by side by Bob Fleming Horticultural Research Institute of Ontario It would be marvelous if breeders.could develop a petunia that also produced tomatoes; a sweet pea that produced edible green peas or a rose that produced fragrant flowers and a bonus crop of cherries: Perhaps we couldplant develop an alyssum with flowers like broccoli, or a wallflower with a crop of brussels sprouts as a final flourish. 'The ideas may seem far- fetched, but each of these plant relations is botanically correct. Petunias are related to tomatoes; roses are related to most of our temperate zone fruits; and a number of flowering plants belong to the sante cabbage. family as broccoli and brussels sprouts. So combin- ing the flower and the vegetable garden is not such a wild idea. Last season, because of. a lack of space in the vegetable garden, I planted sweet pepper plants among the flowers. Ten plants, 45 centimetres apart, produced a bountiful harvest, of green and red fruits. The plants re- mained compact, vigorous and attractive throughout ' the season. The deep -green leaves, glossy fruit and small white blossoms added variety to the flower border. Other vegetables filled the early season voids in the flower garden. Leaf lettuce �or spinach, as an edging to the .flower border, can be harvested well into June without interfering with tender summer annuals planted in late May. • Sow beets or carrots in clumps 30 to 45 cm in diameter in early spring, to produce an attractive display of foliage - a feast for the eyes and the dinner table, Summer combinations of flowers and vegetables may be more difficult. However, a well-trained tomato plant, confinedby stakes or a wire cage, can present a good background for flowering plants while supplying .a bumper crop of fruit. Some of the new hybrid summer squash are bushy, and re- quire a square metre for pro- per development of a single plant. The large leaves, showy blooms and tender, delicious squash add dimen- sion to the flower -garden. Before you rush out to plant the overflow from the vegetable garden among the • flowers consider these points. Overcrowding the flower garden can be just as damaging to plant growth as planting too closely in the vegetable patch. Peppers in theflower garden may mean fewer zinnias this year For squash or tomatoes, you may have to sacrifice the giant marigolds you usually plant for background and late summer color. For quick return, early season, cool weather •crops cause the least disruption in the flower garden. Lettuce, spinach?, early green onion sets, radishes and an early planting of beets or carrots can be harvested before they offer too much competition to young annuals planted in early June, and before the annuals compete too strong- ly with the ripening vegetables, Water regularly during dry periods -and fertilize regularly to maintain vigorous growth and insect and disease control. It takes a little extra ef- fort, but combining • the flower and vegetable gardens fQr greater efficien- cy and productivity makes good economic sense. 4o6I801ne SPe_O,r Ien`a rela^xingi�atmoepElent among`;f Ai A YU�?Q!a F� Jus gardi g LICENCED 1JNDLP L. L. tl.0 360 BAYFIELD RD.; GODS 524211;1 OPEN MONDAY TOSATURDAY'11 Aid; :TO• 1 A.M. SUNDAY 12 NOON TO 10 P.M.. i .. ROYAL MAINTENANCE. NuleOs POWER PRODUCTS 482-9600 CLINr� i9 Albert St. across from t 1""rna 1 CHA1NSA' Jonseretls Gas pumps open at 7 am Manday-Friday. 8 am Saturday 8 am Sunday Fuil Service on...Lawn Mowers, Chain `ools and Motor Bikes. Saws. Garden J Best Selection of •SHADE TREES •FRUIT TREES •FLOWERING AND ORNAMENTAL SHRUBS *EVERGREENS •FRUIT TREES No space is wasted in intensive gardens. Coping with clay soils........ • from page 2 5 The resulting soil mix will be lighter, more open, more water -permeable, and better -drained. A frequent question from homeowners is: "What can I grow in this heavy clay soil?" The answer is, literally any plant climatically adapted to your area. Some kinds of plants do better on clay than others, but if some pains are taken to improve the tilth of the garden clay, it is surprising how effective these fine - textured soils can be for garden use. As a very general guide, pears, European plums, raspberries, currants, and gooseberries are fruits that do very well on clay soils. Vegetables, such as lettuce, cabbage, • spinach 'and rhubarb can also be, grown successfully. Under careful management, potatoes do quite well, but may be somewhat misshapen if the soil is lumpy. This tight, and often lumpy soil charac- teristic makes clay a poor inedium for growing root . crops. Today, most gardeners want to include beets, carrots, parsnips, summer, turnips and radishes in their -- production repertoire, so the amelioration of the clay by adding organic matter, and - or sand. becomes especially important for root vegetables. Perennial plants, such as garden roses and other shrubs, vines, and trees, can be surface -mulched each late fall or spring. Dig mulch lightly into the soil to provide an excellent foraging medium for the feeding root's.. Leaves, grass • clip- pings, old hay, straw, or composted garden and organic kitchen refuse . are suitable for mulch. • Baker's Nursery "Quality Merchandise and Expert Service at Fair PONS" R.R. 2 Reyfiold v482-9995 —C OSED SUNDAY—