When growing vegetables from seeds and the new plants poke their head out of the soil, transformation begins.
The secret of success with strawberries comes in planting and getting the crown (the solid center portion from which the leaves arise) even with the surface of the soil, and the soil packed firmly about the roots. This is done by pushing a spade or large flat trowel vertically into the soil and inserting the roots in the bole behind the tool with a downward flip so that they are spread out in a fan shape. The tool is then withdrawn carefully and the soil pressed firmly against the roots with the foot. If the soil is dry at planting time, each plant should be watered with a half pint of water.
Because most Georgia soils are rather heavy, the Father of Georgia Dalhia growing Conrad Faust went to great length to incorporate quantities of humus into his garden. Over the years he built up an ideal soil by adding leaf-mold, stable manure and peatmoss, in addition to which he plants his entire plot to a green cover crop after the tubers are dug in the fall. The cover crop, which may be of rye, vetch or Austrian winter peas, is plowed under in the spring in time to rot and mellow before dahlia planting time.
Layering is a safe, sure, simple way to increase many types of plants, and particularly the climbers and danglers with which this book is concerned. The first requirement is that the plant have long, lax or drooping stems – which vining plants do. The rest is easy, because the stem is not severed from the parent until the new plant is well rooted and can survive on its own. Humidifying devices, bottom heat, and close protection are seldom called for.
Most Enthusiastic gardeners agree that gardening is a grand adventure with thrilling experiences at almost every turn. Yet as I look around among my gardening acquaintances. I am amazed to find that many miss much of the joy of their hobby by limiting their activities to the few short months of summer.
The four major characteristic of any gardening design are: shape, form, perfume and color. The last is usually ignored by most gardeners, which can lead to a very dull garden. Even So the vast majorities of gardeners either omit it from their plans, or (worse) group together plants that clash and offend the eye. We would be unlikely to paper our walls with a pattern incorporating flowers of red, blue, green, violet, yellow and orange, all fighting to outshine each other, but that is just the effect that many people create in their gardens.
Young or newly transplanted vines are more likely to survive their first winter in a cold climate if they receive some special protection. Questionably hardy vines, or those planted in exposed areas, may need protection every year of their life. In any case, a vigorous, well-grown plant has the greatest chance to resist winter damage.
Ideal plants for those value fragrance rather than color, are the scented-leaved geraniums.
English children chant the phrase “Remember, remember the 5th of November” – Guy Fawkes Day to them – but we could change that to “Remember, remember the chrysanthemums in November.” At any rate my greenhouse is full of bloom right now and I hope yours is, too, for they bring much warm color to an otherwise drab month.
Home gardeners find that rooting scented-leaved geraniums is not always easy. Often they have a favorite plant they want to propagate and after several attempts meet with failure. Among the many kinds, some root very easily, while others are very tricky.