HomeMy WebLinkAboutThe Goderich Signal-Star, 1985-04-24, Page 38G
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If you've decided to take the plunge iWo
the world of Hardening, congratilla400.,0a
Mali* the naithons of other .people aerosa; he','t
gouptty.wlio grow for recreation;
for beautit4
display J014161' the edible harvest. • r"
Just a few basic guidelines will launch you
well on your way to a healthy, happy growing
season.
W HERE TO GROW
When the urge comes to plant -- there is
always somewhere to pant! Outdoor beds are
the most popular...but even a lack of ground
space needn't hamper you. Try hanging
•'aS •n;fd.
basitets:7pl W9O4 OOokainers„40
:htjaderaor edgings wndoWbinceS,..let.yOur
iniagination min wild...Vireo 0 gingle„b0g
eotrunereial iniXis ideal used as a 'prIlaw
—Santee% just_ cutslits. inlitel90.0tidalcigkof
the bag and plant. Soon you'llbe the Oland—
owner of a veritable mass 01,hlooms or an
edible garden that's easy to -Move from place
to place.
Ifyou do ha Imtlice room to start your garden
in a bed -- staR small. Many a 'first-time
gardener has started out encouraged, but had
his spirits dampened by the overwhelming
reseal:4y axii*ge Sot A 15 by 25 -foot
be . very adequate for a IOU -blown
vegetable garde% given an efficient layout.
AII0051,4Y00.1/,004Pla is a stai-warailiP-
per, demanding smor more hours of full sun
each day for a .bountiful harvest. An
ahuadanctrof shade Don't lose heart -- there
„ are a multitude of shade -loving flowers to fit.'
your needs.. and leafy vegetables such as
lettuce will give you a harvest if there's even a
bit of sun. A variety of vegetables are quite
adaptable for container growing Where you
do have sun.
Every good gardener should embark oo his
or her journey with a Shov4.4, rake, hoe. and a
few good seed- catalOgs, These colorful
editions wW lift your spirits in winter, give
you endless good,ideas on planting and offer
just about all the information you,'11.need to
know.
Early season cold -trent plants such as
pansies and peas ean go into the ground as
soon as it's workable, but save warm season
varieties such as tomatoes and impatiens
until danger of frost is past and soil is warm (a
frost -zone chart is the best source, found in
most seed catalogs and in garden centers). -
A trip to your nearby garden center will
leave you brimming with dozens of new and
helpful facts and inspiration galore. Keep
your eyes open for posters and signs right
along with the bedding plant displays. Plant
labels, usually stuck into every pot and pack,
are good information sources, too. And if you
still have a question in the back of your mind,
speak- right up. Garden center personnel
know just how mind-boggling the task of
planting can be, especially for a first -timer.
They are more than willing tdpatiently aid in
your selection.
W HAT TO BUY
Choose Fl hybrids where given a choice.
They provide hybrid vigor, which brings more
and bigger flowers, improved disease resis-
tance and other attributes which assure you
of greater satisfaction all summer long. Such
hybrids as 'Cascade' petunias or 'Champion'
tomatoes are a far cry from their pioneering
forebears.
Be sure to buy only healthy, compact
transplants -- avoid stretched, leggy offer-
ings. And be patient m your search" -- a
tender, young "greenie" will give you better
results in the long; run than that tempting
plant that is already showing its colors.
Prepare and water the soil ahead of time,
whether you've planted in a pot or bed. Dig
and cultivate the soil, adding a welcome (and
many times necessary) dose of organic matter
like. peat moss, leaf mold or homemade
compost. Then figure out how farapart to dig
planting holes --,your seed catalogs will come
in handy here again!
/ 11 you plant from flats, pull the plants apart
gently. Don't squeeze the soil or you will
compact it and trap the roots inside. Plants in
pots or packs should be removed one by one
to avoid drying out. Set each plant into its
planting hole -- just a little bigger than the
root ball - and firm the soil gently around by
hand to remove the air pockets. Water
generously. After the . soil settles below
ground level, add enough dry soil to even out
the plantings.
Some plants recover remarkkbly from an
oversight in watering; others can be set back
badly. For best results, a deep soaking is far
better than frequent light waterings. A good
rule of thumb: when you water, water well,
and let the soil dry out slightly between
waterings.
Get after weeds, too. The- y'll rob plants 6f
precious sunlight, water and soil nutrients.
In general, most garden plants can get by
without fertilizers, especially flowers. Pre-
conditioning the soil with organic matter is a
big step in the right direction. For season -
long maintenance, a good, .all-purpose
fertilizer will specify 10-10-10 or 5
-10-10 (percentages of nitrogen, phosphorus
and potassium in that order) on its label.
WHATTO GROW
W here, oh where, should the beginner •
begin amidst such a bounty of fruits and
vegetables? The list of can't -miss choices is
long enough to let you have the final say.
Planting, sun -worshipping plants in the
shade and shade -lovers in the sun is a
common beginner's error, so look before you
lean:
(Continued on Page 8)
I G
criday April 26th for another season of sales
& service of quality lawn & garden products.
MAKE YOUR YARD
OR GARDEN A AND THEN
SHOWPLACE.. LIGHT IT UP!
For your garden we suggest:
VEGETABLES:
vegetable seeds
asparagus crowns
tomato plants
bedding plants for
vegetable gardens
So -Green Garden Magic
Fertilizer 4 - 10 - 12
FLOWERS:
• annuals
• biennials
• ground covers
• perennials
• bulb -gladiola
* Potted Rose Bushes
-climbing roses
-Hybrid Tea
-floribunda
FRUITS:
Small Bushes
•strawberries
• raspberries
• blueberries
•gooseberries
•red & black currants
TREES:
•apple
•peach
• apricot
•pear
•cherry
For your yard we suggest:
Fertilizers
Lawn grass seed
Chemicals
Weed -N -Feed
Killex
So -Green Lawn Pro
Nursery Stock
•evergreens
•flowering shrubs
•ornamental & shade trees
EAR
0
flRD
SPEC
Otf
ekrOttictinilterir
,
SATISFACTION GUARANTEED
martin's
market 524-8024
4 miles east of Benmiller Rd. on Highway No. 8
sr
.1;
os,
After you've spent the time and effort on
making your lawn & garden look so good,
SHOW IT OFF! Light up your yard in the
evening with Landscape Lighting
-Canadian made
-Economical to run
-Anyone can install their own
(no electrical expertise needed)
Constructed of quality ' aluminum. In
Ground mounting, single stem, single or
double side. Start with one and add-on
easily.
ALL YOU NEED IS:
-a 12 volt transformer
-the lights themselves
-wiring cable (sold by the metre)
FREE CABLE with any order
taken between now and
Mother's Day.
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