The Goderich Signal-Star, 1979-04-26, Page 51Page 18
"Successive plantings"
ensure season -long sweet
corn supply
In this tiny plot, only 3 x 12 ft.,
this gardener planted three
blocks of sweet corn two weeks
apart. From each block he will
harvest 8 to 10 ears, enough for
six or more meals'for two people
over a six-week period.
' For long season areas, you can
plant the same maincrop hybrid
in all three blocks. In short
season areas it would pay you to
plant seeds of early, second -early
and maincrop hybrids and all at
the same time.
"Succession plantings" with
fresh crops succeeding the blocks
you harvest, are an intelligent
way to . utilize garden space.
Large blocks maturing all at once
Can be wasteful unless you are
prepared to can or freeze the
surplus.
Soil preparation is
important first step
Before sowing vegetable or
flower seeds, it is important to
make sure your soil is in good
condition, .says T. J, Blom,
Ontario Ministry of Agriculture
and Food 'extension hor-
ticulturist.
Good soil drainage is one of the
most important factors. For clay -
type soils, add strawy manure
and sand to improve water and
air movement through the soil.
Sandy soils tend to dry out
quickly and may require the
addition of peat moss to increase
the water -holding capacity.
To determine the fertilizer
metres.
Early spring is a good time to
spread manure on the garden.
Use about one cubic metre of cow
manure per 100 square metres. If
you are using poultry manure,
apply about one quarter of one
cubic' metre per 1000
metres.
If manure •is used, it is not
necessary to use.. chemical fer-
tilizer.
As soon as the ' soil is dry
enough to work, Mr. Blom
suggests-rototilling or turning the
soil- under. Weeds particularly
those which propogate by root,
rot( uire ments- of your soli; ibIr - S-ke be removed-from-the-soi.l
Bldm recommends taking soil before planting begins. -
samples for testing. Soil test
boxes are available at local of-
fices of the Ontario Ministry of
Agriculture and Food. Soil tests,
conducted by the Land Resource
Science Department at the
University of Guelph, cost $1.
These tests check levels of
phosphorus, potassium,
magnesium and pH in the soil.
Soils that are too acidic require
the addition of about 25 kilograms
of limestone per 100 square
square
Raise mowers
Raise the blade on your
lawnmower to 112 - 2 inches for a
healthier lawn. More frequent
mowing will be necessary, but
the turf won't burn as easily.
Native plants,
The Kentucky Coffee Tree is
one of Canada's rare native trees •
that will grow well in south-
western Ontario, The picturesque
tree can reach a height of 50 feet.
Keep your "green thumb"
connected to your hand
Yes - Spr.ing is finally here!
And those of you who possess
"green thumbs" (and even•those
of you who don't) will soon be
spending much of your spare
time in the , garden deciding
where_ you're .goingtoplant the
)etunias and making sure your
awn and hedges look respec-
able. When you do, remember
1.hat a garden - like any other
work area - has the potential for
serious injury. That's why St.
John Ambulance is suggesting
these guidelines .for gardening
safety:
+ Keep your work area clean
and tidy.
+ Don't use electrical ap-
pliances in a wet or damp area.
+ Store your power garden
tools in a high and dry place.
+ Never force a tool to work
faster than the speed for which It .
was' designed or do a job. other
than the one it was intended for.
+ Don't carry an appliance by
the cord, and never yank the cord'
when removing it from a
receptacle: grasp the plug, not
the wire. Keep the cord away
from sharp edges, oil and heat.
+ Keep your appliances sharp
' and clean for best and safest,
performance. Disconnect an
appliance before servicing,
changing accessories, or
lubricating. Follow the -
manufacturer's directions for
servicing the appliance.
•
+ Don't wear loose clothing or•
jewelry when operating power
tools. Never operate a lawn
mower in bare feet.
+ Keep proper footing and
balance at all times - don't
overreach.
• +-• Keep children a safe
distance away from your work
area.
+ Rake the lawn before
operating a lawn mower to
remove any objects hidden in the
,grass. Such objects could
seriously injure someone if they
should fly out of the machine.
+ Use equipment with the
stamp of approval of the
Canadian Standards Association.
A "green,ihumb" is rather nice",
to have - especially when it
remains connected to your hand.
Take a tip. from St. John
Ambulance and play it safe this
Spring when you do your
weekend gardening.
New roots on
old plants:
air layering
Some of our most suitable
foliage plants can become
ungainly as they grow too large
or out of proportion to their
surroundings. Plants like dief-
fenbachias, dracenas, rubber
plants, and large -leaf
philodendrons .._are common
houseplants in this group that can
be saved.
"Rather than discard one of
these plants because of its size or
shape, try using . your green
thumb to air -layer a good part of
thenp.lant," says R. A. Fleming,
horticulturist with the Ontario
ministry of agriculture and food.
"Air layering is like rooting a
cutting without removing the
cutting from the plant until the
roots have formed."
To propagate with air layering,
an upward cut is made through a
third to a half of the stem where
the roots are required. The cut is
wrapped in damp peat moss, then
covered with plastic to enclose
the peat moss. The plastic should
be tied both above and below the
wounded area.
The plant then can be allowed
to grow normally. In two to three
months, roots will have
penetrated the peat moss and .the
newly rooted plant can be cut
from the parent. Pot 4, and you
are ready to start all over again.
The -horticulturist concludes that
air layering is one of the simplest
ways to renew old plants.
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