Evening star., 1952-03-02
This Week
in the
Garden

dry enough to be worked. These
crops which include potatoes, peas
radishes. lettuce, spinach, kale
mustard. etc.. must be planted in
March if they are to mature ahead
Iof hot weather. Even with this
early planting they occasionally
mature during a period of hot
weather which ruins the quality
Early planting and abundant feed
ing is needed if they are to re-
ward the gardener with acceptable
quality haryests.
Cabbage, broccoli and onion
plants may also be set out pro-
Ivided they are properly hardened
before exposure to March winds
and cold. Onion sets, of course, do
not need hardening before plant
ling.
The early garden should be
planted on well-drained soils to
avoid loss of seed. Even though
the ground is reasonably well
drained, experienced gardeners
usually treat the seed with a dis
|infectant. Disinfectant, usually a
Imercuric compound, should be
selected for the particular kind of
seed. since most of the CONNER
|cially available products are not
equally compatible with all kinds
of seeds. This information is
usually given on the container.
Uncover fall = planted roses
whenever cool, cloudy weather
permits. To uncover at one
time on a bright sunny day is to
expose the tender bark to Sunburn
Uncovering over a period of a
week or more is a preferred prac-
tice where time permits.
Fertilize the daffodil beds with
a 5-10-5 mixture. If the foliage is
above ground it will pay to wash
the fertilizer from the leaves tc
avoid injury.
Bone meal is safe plant food
that many wish to use on flower
beds and lawns, but it is slow ir
decomposing and thus the plant
food contained nitrogen Up:
per cent, phosphate 1914 pei
cent? does not become available
for a considerable time after ap-
plication. The use of Superphos-
phate gives almost immediate re-
suits and is less expensive. How
ever, in soil preparation, especially
for roses, iris and daffodils. the
use of bonemeal in the lower
spadings is advisable since it pro-
vides plant food for a much longer
time than will the superphosphate
SWeetpeas are looked upon a:
a must by the home gardener
from the Middle West. Unfortu-
inately. they are rarely a successful
crop in this area. probably because
of our soil conditions, since few
will contend that the tempera-
lures or the humidity are much
higher here than in the corn belt
While we have had several gooC
rose pruning demonStrat tions, We
need not rush to get this task
finished. Mid-March is not toe
late. and in case of a late killing
freeze. it is better to prune after
than before.
| In going over rose beds a con-
siderable amount of saw fly DAM
age (cane borer) has been in evil
dence. The canes infested by this
pest should be removed at least
as far down as the tunnel goes. Te
avoid further injury paint the
ends of all canes with a tree dress
ing or some other coating. Do not
use paint containing turpentine as
it Injuries the growing tissues.
If the lawn has not been fer.
tilted it should be within the next
few days. Early feeding is easier
since when applied before the new
growth starts there is no problem
of washing the fertilizer from the
foliage to prevent burn. The lawn
specialists recommend IS to IS
pounds per 1000 50. #. of area
For spring feeding use a 1864
mixture.
If you have number of tiny
glad corms (cormels) it is not too
early to plant them as you would
peas. Planted at this season they
will usually produce as we'll as
good sized corms for next years
use.
Most lawns need lime every
or 8 years, not to Sweeten the soil,
but to supply the calcium needed
by the growing grass plants. A
ground limestone or pulverized
Ioystershell are the best sources of
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