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The Goderich Signal-Star, 1977-04-14, Page 48Pop u A GRAND GARDEN SPOT: This indoor garden, say authorities at the American Association of Nurserymen, is ideally located to keep plants happy. Its northern exposure provides just the kind of light needed by tropical foliage plants—many of which are now common- ly adapted) for indoor growing, and most of which react very poorly to direct sunlight. Subjected to more that filtered light, they can suffer thin, soft new growth, making their leaves turn yellow. Mail order plants need help If you've been anticipating plant mererial ordered through one of the mail order seed houses, take heart; they'll be arriving soon, says Ontario Ministry of Agriculture and Food hoe- ticulturist,D.B. McNeill. "The plants are usually well - packed and, barring any'unusual delays, they should arrive in good condition," hp says. "If by chance tho. plants do arrive in a dry condition, remove them from the package and plunge them into a tub or pail of room -temperature 5w� water for approximately 24 hours. Then plant them im- mediately." Occasionally, it is not con- venient to plant immediately on arrival of the material, the horticulturist says. If' this is the case,,, he suggests that gardeners simply bury the plants -in the g4rden until the permanent location is ready. The main idea is to keep the roots cool and mpist until plan- ting time, which ideally is as soon as they arrive. Food gardening for fun Lynn Baumann, a Girl Scout from Virgin:a, in qualifying for* her Food Raisers Badge, did an excel- lent job not only of gruwing vege- tables but also of recording the value of the harvest. The National Garden Bureau sent us her story "To qualify for a Girl Scout 'Food Raisers' Badge, 1 assisted my pa?t'tats with our family garden. This included planning the space "available, planting, care and record keeping as to the cost in• volved (seeds, etc.), and the retail (store) price of the vegetable at the time of harvest. "The following must be taken into consideration, when reading the following char • The "Average Market Value" is an accumulative total and repre sents the total store price at the time of harvest. For example: bell peppers at the time of the first picking were selling for approxi- mately two for $.35. As the season progressed, future pickings were valued lower. All vegetables were grown from generally available varieties. Be- cause of limited space, package re- commendations were not followed exactly. For example: Two rows of beets were planted 4 to 6 in. apart, leaving approximately one foot walking space, and then two rows of turnips were planted 4 to 6 in. apart. As each vegetable grew, the rows were thinned. The plants that were thinned out were used for tur- nip and beet greens and the small beets were pickled. We also froze greens for later use. • Carrots and radishes .can be planted in the same row at the sarne time. As we completed the first radish harvest, the carrots were just beginning to grow. • Eggplants and zucchini squash were planted in "available space" — corners, etc. • When one row of vegetables was harvested, a different vegetable was planted. This allowed contin•• uous use of thesoil. • Tomato—peppers--cabbage— eggplants • vtere•started from seed indoors and transplanted to gar- den. Many surplus plants were given to friends. • Many half -packages of seed were left over and will be test• sprouted to determine if they can be used next spring. • The chart does not include the cost of canning or freezing. Many vegetables were either canned or frozen. Also, the cost of water (from the pump) is not included, The labor, spading, and weeding could be considered an extra bene- fit as it offers good exercise and is a pastime. • Another source of savings and convenience is our compost, pile. All grass clippings are placed in a 2•ft. wide, 6 -ft. long, 4 -ft. high chicken wire bed. Each fall this compost is spaded into the soil. This method saves many plastic garbage bags or putting the clip• pings in garbage cans. Also, be• cause my father fishes often, all fish cleanings are buried in the garden. If vegetables are already planted, the fish remains are buried in the walkways of the garden and are completely deteri- orated by the next spading. • Many pounds of vegetables were given to neighbors and friends and, unfortunately, I did not record the weight of all these "give-aways." Also, some of the succession plantings of carrots, radishes, etc. were unrecorded. OBSERVATIONS: • Our garden yield was leu than last year due to wet weather. To- mato plants died than in previous much due cessive moisture. ye es gar profitable, if labor is oat sidered. no • Family preferences roust s}dered in regard to vett planted. g • Cabbage will not •be again, as the plants require much space and care. They, purchased at the store at a very price. • Broccoli was grown from planted in the garden, width an error. Seeds should le1 indoors and- transplantedtogarden later We had no h able crop, • Cantaloupe and wale plants apparently drowned excessive rain. • By canning and freezin g. family garden produced enoolh last all winter. • For maximum yiela from areas, a different vegetable be planted as rows are h This gives continuous use °fill • Fresh vegetables picked your own garden seem to taste ter than those purchased from store. • Record keeping is the most ficult part of gardening 01 have concluded that the and enjoyment are rew enough that we will not records in the future." Lynn Balfmann and her•mother in their family vegetable garden. 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