Clinton News-Record, 1984-04-25, Page 69Pule 23
Vegetables are doing exotic in many gardens
Enthusiastic home gardeners often look
for the challenge and excitement of growing
something a little different than the popular
vegetable crops such as tomatoes, peppers,
peas, beans, beets, and carrots.
If we follow Webster's definition of exotic
as "excitingly different or unusual," then
there are several possibilities for those who
are willing to reserve a small section of
their garden for experimenting with the
unusual, says Horticulturist Ian Smith of the
Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food's
plant industry branch, Vineland Station.
Artichokes are becoming increasingly
popular. The perennial artichoke produces
large, globe -shaped, scaly flower buds
which are cut and used while they are green
and unopened. Seeds should be started in-
doors about six weeks before planting in the
Vermiculite
and perlite
garden.
The Jerusalem artichoke is a tuberous -
rooted sunflower propagated by setting out
the small knobby potato -like tubers. At
maturity, six weeks after the last flowers
have faded, dig out the large tubers, the car-
bohydrates of which convert into a natural
sugar. But don't plant Jerusalem artichokes
unless you have a large garden because they
can become a real weed nuisance, he says.
Chinese cabbage in its many forms, is be-
ing planted more frequently. Most popular
are Wong Bok, an elongated, semi -firm type..
somewhat resembling Cos lettuce, and Bok
Choy or Pak Choy, a loose-leaf type.
Chinese cabbage tends to bolt easily if
planted early, so it is best to start seed in Ju-
Iy. -Otherwise, treat it as you would regular
Vermiculite and perlite. If you're into
gardening you will have heard of these two
prodhets, but may not know how to use
thelri.
Yoh will find all sorts of . uses for
Vermiculite. It's a shiny, granular, tan
colored materialthat soaks -up a. great deal
• of water. You mix it with peat moss to make
potting soil. Vermiculite comes from ore
that is heated until it expands like popcorn.
Perlite is a fluffy white material that
doesn't hold much water. Perlite is added to
soil Mixes to make them drain faster and is
especially valuable for light -weight soil to
fill large containers.
Both Vermiculite and Perlite are sterile -
free of the organisms that can kill plants.
You can buy both products in bags, but
specify liott'icufturai grade. Don't -try .to
grow plants in the industrial grades of these
two products.
Most soil in planter mixes contain
Vermiculite, along with a bit of lime and
fertilizer. These artificial mixes grow better
plants than garden soils.
For everyday uses such as filling pots, use
the soil right out of the bag. But when you
start seeds indoors the soil needs to be
pasteurized.
Moisten the mixture. Preheat the oven to
120 degrees. Heat the tray of soil for about 45
minutes to kill the fungi and bacteria that
can attack seedlings. Seal the leftover soil in
a plastic bag. Then water your baby plants
with cool boiled water because tap water is
not sterile. °
These little precautions can make a big
difference in the health of your seedling
plants.
Vacuums that will
make a clean sweep
.._........e There are also many other exotic "Greens" of all types, long popular
cabbage. many exotic "Greens" of all types, long popular in the
Chinese vegetables you may wish to try — southern States, have become more corn-
white
ornwhite radish, broccoli, okra, beans, melons, mon in northern gardens for early spring or
etc., which are also known and sold by their fall crops. Examples are collards and
Chinese names. mustard greens, the leaves of which nor -
Celeriac or knob celery is grown for its mally are boiled to complement various
swollen roots or knobs used for flavoring meat dishes.
soups and stews. It needs about four months The leaves of celtuce are also used as
of cool growing weather, deep humus -rich "boiling greens", while the spear -like heart
soil, and a steady moisture supply. Use 10- may be eaten raw. Celtuce is so named
week-old transplants and set about 30 cen- because it combines the uses of .celery and
timetres apart. lettuce.
Something similar. tont.. belonging to the There are many other "exotic" crops you
cabbage family, is kohlrabi, or stem turnip. may wish to try, such as endive, escarole,
Kohlrabi grows quickly and prefers cool chicory, okra, New Zealand spinach,
weather. It forms a knob -like above -ground vegetable spaghetti etc. Try a few of these
swollen stem which should be used while unusual crops each year. Challenge, excite-
still_small, about seven _cm.to 10 cm in size. ment, and satisfaction are your rewards.
Now's the time to get growing! Come in to Verbeek's
Farm and Garden Centre for our 10 Da
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A vacuum cleaner represents a major
purchase from .the household budget, so it is
wise to consider your own particular needs
carefully.
There are three basic types, each with its
own strengths and weaknesses. .
The cannister type deans by suction only
and performs best on bare floors and above -
the -floor cleaning.
An upright machine uses brush and beater
action along with suction and does the best
job ofcleaning carpets. Neither will effec-
tively do the job of the other, says Textiles
Specialist Margaret Loewen of the Ontario
Ministry of Agriculture and Food's rural
organizations and services branch.
A compromise or all-purpose cleaner is
the combination two -in -one power nozzle
type.. As you clean carpets with the power
nozzle or power h lad, the cannister section
of'this machine follows along behind. But if
rooms are small or overcrowded this type of
vacuum cleaner can be awkward to use.
Loewen says a wise choice depends on
deciding which types of cleaning .you do
most - bare floors and above -the -floor work,
or carpets and rugs.
Analternative, if you have the storage
space, is to buy two machines, an upright
and a cannister type, which can be an
economical choice as well since both can be
purchased for about the same price as a
combination model.
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