Evening star., 1943-11-14
Sow Seeds Now
By ". II. Y0unqman.
Garden Editor.

Some flower seeds may be planted
IN the early fall; the seeds germinate
and the tiny plants live over winter,
making a strong, healthy growth
much earlier than is possible with
spring -sown seed. The annual lark
spur Is good example of this type
of seed. Spring-sown seed are slow
to germinate and the plants do not
have a long enough period in which
to make their growth before hot
weather puts a stop to their prog
ress. Self-sown larkspur seedlings
in many gardens spring up as if by
magic and put to shame the care
fully planted beds put out in April.
A second group, consisting of
those which should be sown late in
the fall so that they do not germi-
nate until early spring, contains a
great many of the less hardy spring
flowers. In this class We find the
annual poppies, the California poppy
(Which is not poppy and many
others. They should be planted late
in the fall so that the warm Novem-
ber sunshine will not bring them
into unreasonable growth. This
group semmingly was tough, imper-
vious coats and will benefit by the
winter freezes and the long exposure
IN wet soil. Strangely, winter plant
ing is about the best way to secure
a good stand from this group. Por-
tulaca, real hot-Weather plant,
normally gives very poor germina-
ton from spring paintings, but when
planted in the late fall does very
well. The California poppy seldom
terminates we'll when planted in
late April or early May, but when
planted in the late fall or very early
March makes a fine showing in the
border. When self-sown, the seed
llngs are usually too thick and must
be thinned for best growth.
Some of the so-called tender an
nualS, IN this area at least, are not
SO tender. 1t is not at all uncom-
mon to have volunteer zinnias come
up in the garden. Even marigolds
will self-sow and grow if protected
by grass and weeds. Snapdragons
are considered half-hardy, but they
do very well from late fall seedlings.
1t should be noted that those having
very small seed, such as poppies,
snapdragon and petunias, should
have a mulch, otherwise the seeds
may be carried too deeply into the
soil. BY covering the bed with pro-
tective mulch after the first freeze.
they are more or less protected from
this fate.
Another reason for late fall plant
ing over early spring planting is
that we seldom get the ground
ready for March sowing, the
weather is so unpleasant and it is
convenient to wait until it is too
late. In the fall the soil is easily
prepared, we have plenty of time
and the job can be done under more
pleasant conditions. The main diff
Guilty is to get the seed: if local
stores do not have it try a mail or
der house. BY all means SOW those
seeds this fall; there won't be time
next spring when the Victory gar
den needs every minute we have to
spend in it.
The seed bed for fall-sown seed
should be just as carefully prepared
as for spring planting. The soil
should be we'll dug, compost mixed
with 1t and the whole carefully
raked until it is smooth and we'll
pulverized. Now that the soil is
moist this should not be much of
chore. Turn the crabgrass and
weeds under where they will rot
and improve the soil during the win
ter. Chicken or any animal manure
that may be available should be
turned under so that it will be we'll
decayed by spring when the plant
roots seek food and moisture.
The degree of success which a
gardener may have from fall seed
ings is affected somewhat by the
drainage of his soil. Seeds will live
over winter much better in sandy
soil or one that is well drained than