Evening star., 1952-04-27
This Week
in the
Garden

Many experienced gardeners
have made early paintings Of
beans. tomatoe plants and sweet
corn. If a late frost gets them.
the gardener is out only a few
pennies. but, if they are not caught
by the late frost, the earlier har-
vest is worth a lot, This is not
as big a gamble as it sounds. be-
cause few plants can be protect
ed without too much effort. The
tomato plants may be covered
with newspapers held in place with
dirt: the beans and sweet corn
may be covered with fruit Jars.
It is temptation to plant all
of the summer flowers and vege-
table crops whenever we have q
warm day in late April. Actually.
the condition that determines the
success of the early sown seed is
the soil temperature. When the
soil is warm enough then the seed
should be SoWn. This will vary
with the season, the rainfall and
the type of soil.
In a cold soil, tomato plants Just
stand still. Sweet corn and bean
seed may rot unless protected by
disinfectant, such as a mercuric
compound. Such materials are
readily available from the seed
stores and all early sown seed
should be treated.
On Of the tests of q good DAFT
fodil is it's ability to survive our
hot, moist soils during the summer
time. Many otherwise good vari-
eties fail in this test and the in
terested gardener might we'll check
on this point before investing too
heavily. At the Takoma show of
the Daffodil Society and Coop
Grating clubs, a most attractive
white, large cup named Slemish
was noted as being rather striking.
Upon checking, it was found that
two growers had tried the variety
twice and lost it the second year.
A rather positive proof that it il
not for this area.
Petunias and many others Of
the summer Towering annuals
may be set out now. Give the tiny
Seeding plants plenty Of space so
that they may make the desired
growth. A foot is the minimum
spacing: some need Is inches,
Others 18, and a few "a inches if
they are to develop into a broad.
Well-branched Towering plant.
These plants not only need space
to develop branches, but space is
needed If air is to circulate freely
5 ABOUT them, not to mention space
Tor the cultiavtor and the flower
cutter.
); Last weeks high temperatures
cut short an excellent daffodil dis
play. The daffodils that were pro.
!, tected by trees. however, were able
to take the hot sun and will con.
tlnue to bloom for several days.
This is important in selecting sit
uatlons in the garden for future
, paintings. Some varieties, the
early yellow trumpets. for exam
, pie. should be given a warm sunny
situation for early bloom. For late
bloom, the small red cups need a
shaded situation so that the flow
erlng season will last until the
tulips take over.
The much talked Of pink daffo.
oils are still to show enough color
to impress many gardeners. How
ever, at the recent daffodil show.
!. there were some pinks that were
apprec1able to the not too sensitive
eye. No doubt, within a few years.
there will be still better offerings.
In the meantime, it may pay the
experimenter to try special feed
ing Tor his "pinks." Scotch SCOT
and blood meal are oftentimes
used to intensity the color of red
roses, maybe they will put more
pink into the pink daffodil.
The Towering crabs (crab-
apples) have been putting on an
excellent showing in the WASH
1ngton area. They are a most
! worthwhile spring bloomer, but
because OF the variation in habit
! OF growth, 1t is we'll to check tho
j height at maturity. There are four
varieties planted around the PEN
! tagon. many more in Anacostia
Park. and it is hoped when the
National Arboretum is completed
and open to the public, that a
comprehensive display will be
] available to Washington garden
ers.
Beets are the best indicators OF
!! soil acidity. If the soil reaction is
below PHI 5.8. the beet leaves will
be small and twisted. the beets a
dark red color, and the roots will
be small, knotted and inedible.
Apply ground limestone to bring
the soil test up to 6.5 PHI for beets.
higher for onions. cabbage and
broccoli.
il Pink Doewood, $500
| About 2R' and Many Other s,zes