Gardening

TheReview

Wednesday, March 27,1991 — A27

Garden work begins in earnest

Yesterday was a fine day, just
beautiful, in fact! “himself” went
off fishing for the day with our
next-door neighbor, Jack, so I had
the whole day to do as I pleased,
and I got such a lot done!

First I worked outside, digging
over one raised bed, and planting
half the Maestro green peas. I had
-soaked them overnight, and in the
moming mixed the seed with ino-
culant. I’ve never done this before,
but in recent years our peas
haven’t done that well, so hope-
fully the innoculant will help.

The other half of the treated
seed I planted in those six-spaced
small seeding trays. Because peas
seem to prefer being crowded, I put
two seeds in each cup, one at each
end. These I’m going to get started
in the greenhouse, and we'll see
which lot will do best, the outers
or the inners.

I weeded the delphinium bed,
and put tomato cages around the
plants to help hold them up when
they get tall.

While I was at it, I put cages
around the peonies, which also
tend to collapse, especially if it
tains while they are flowering.

It does look a wee bit odd, but if

it works, that’s all that matters! I
then got out the Dolomite lime,
and gave a goodly sprinkle to the
peas, the delphiniums, the two
types of spinach (I forgot to men-
tion planting), plus the clematis.
All of these prefer an alkaline soil.

I then fertilized the garlic plants

urea (34-0-0) which should give
them a boost as they start their
spring growth.

I then pulled out the last of the
(put in last October) with a dash of

‘| weeded the delphinium bed,
and put fomato cages around the
plants to help hold them up when
they get fall’

Census wanis to

Like their urban counterparts,
farmers are being asked to take a
few moments on June 4 to be
counted in this year’s census.

On census day, Statistics Canada
wants producers of agricultural
products to complete a census of
agriculture questionnaire.

This will be done in conjunction
with the broader census of the
population, officials said in a press
release.

“By combining information
from the census of population and
the census of agriculture, farmers
have an accurate picture of the

Garden Lovers, join a club
newsletters, enjoy special b

count farmers

ongoing viability of their opera-
tions and can respond to changes
in consumer demand,” says a
Statistics Canada news release.

“This information provides a
basis for day-to-day farm operating
decisions, and increases the far-
mer’s ability to actively partici-
pate in international trade and
supply management negotia-
tions.””

The release adds that by com-
pleting the confidential question-
naire, farmers arm national pro-
ducer groups with ammunition in
their lobbying efforts.

available to private garden clubs. Membership has its benefits.

1 Quality
ona
ae and obtain the
healthiest plants on
Vancouver Island, utilizi

the services of "Appli

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minimize pest problems and

maximize blooms and
growth. Discuss your

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na on Garden
will ee your goal.

on Nursery strives

} Orie

Snapdragon Nursery is

ighly competitive with
prices way below most
garden centres. With the
exception of price off
"Opecials” all products at
Sno on Nursery are
available to Snapdragon
Garden Club members at
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Shrubs, trees, fertilizers,
plant boxes, tools, etc.

moting healthier and more beautiful
buying opportunities and get a 10% discount usually only

patsnips, carrots and turnips to
make way for digging that bed.
Next I cut a large limb off the
crabapple tree.

It had been shading a vegetable
bed. My old pruning saw has seen
better days, and this small task
took me ages. I tried three of
“himself’s’’ saws, but they
wouldn’t work at all. At one stage I
wondered if I might do better
using the bread knife!

Next I cut the nylon-stocking
ties holding the raspberry canes
together. They are now free to
sprawl as much as they like!

The last outdoor thing done was
to dig up and re-plant a healthy
little violet plant that, somehow,
had moved itself out into the lawn.

From there I headed for the
greenhouse, where I seeded a tray
with some salpiglossis, some cos-
mos, the remainder of a package of
scabiosa, and quite a few seeds of
nolana.

I also planted several pots of
Sweet Sandwich onions ... I feel
that it is pretty late to be starting
onion seed for big bulbs this
summer, but if these seedlings are
left in a sort of clump, out in the
garden, they will make fine green
salad onions all summer long.

Then I planted more heliotrope,
covering the tray this time with
another tray, well weighed down,
in hopes of foiling that rat.

I re-potted two clivia, potted up
three white chrysanthemums, and,
heaving a big sigh of satisfaction,
headed inside for a cup of tea, and
to begin preparations for dinner.

Just about then “himself”
arrived home “‘fish-less,’’ but
pleased with the day on the water.
It was while he was on the phone
‘that I realized I hadn’t planted the
Oregon Spring tomato seeds that
were well sprouted in a little
covered styrofoam pot on top of
the water-heater.

They just HAD to go into soil
right then! I left “himself’’ snort-
ing, “I suppose we can expect this
kind of thing to go on from now
until snow falls!”

I didn’t answer him. It’s safer to
keep quiet in situations such as
these, don’t you think?

ens. Receive

3. Newsletter

A seasonal newsletter will
give lips to the amateur
gardener in garden
management and make
available special bulk buying
opportunities. Members
are invited to share their
own hints.

Join the club and receive

your membership card.

2360 Beacon Avenue, Sidney. Phone 656-5199

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2389 Beacon Ave.
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