Garden Notes - Planting Asparagus

Planting Asparagus

For heavy and stiff ground make a trench a foot deep and 2 ft. wide between the beds, which should be 3 to 4 ft. wide for two rows of plants. Set 4 in. deep from the top of the two prepared ridges, with the roots spread on each side of ridge. Asparagus roots are soon injured if exposed to the atmosphere; plant quickly. Plant in rows 18 to 24 in. apart, 9 to 15 in. from edge of bed, and leave 18 in. between each plant in the rows. The plants dislike a damp close subsoil, or water legged ground.

Treatment of Bulbs after Flowering

Spring flowering bulbs such as Tulips, Narcissi, Daffodils, Hyacinth and crocuses often have to be lifted before the foliage has quite died down. In such cases they should not be simply laid aside uncovered as at B. A shallow trench should be dug in a light, well drained soil, and the bulbs laid in it and covered over until the foliage has quite died off (A). this usually takes about a month, and the bulbs may then be stored in a cool, dry place until next season.

Depth for Planting bulbs

Small bulbs as Anemones plant 1 ½ in. deep. Crocuses 2 ½ in. and Snowdrops and Scillas 3 in. deep; set these bulbs 2 and 3 in. apart. Tulips and Hyacinths 4 in. and Narcissi 4 ½ in. deep, and 6 to 8 in. apart. Lilies 5 to 6 in. deep, except Lillium candidum, which should not be set deeper that 3 in. Use a blunt ended dibber. Place a little silver sand in the hole for the bulb to rest on-this encourages root formation.

Preparation of Geranium Cuttings

In February and March cuttings may be taken from Geraniums potted up from the flower garden the previous autumn. The stem should be cut cleanly just below a pair of leaves, so that the cutting is about three or four inches in length (A). The lowest pair of leaves must be removed, as shown at it. The cuttings may then be planted in light sand soil, a little sand being worked in with each cutting to induce root productions, and to protect from damp.

A Marrow-Bed

Vegetable Marrows require a warm, sunny situation and a little bottom heat. The seeds should be sown in April, and forwarded under glass until the end of May, when they may be planted out. The usual type of Marrow bed consists of a heap of fermenting manure covered with turves, or soil. The first planted out it is wise to protect the plants with hand lights, or by sheets of oiled paper supported on a flower pot in the center, and with the corners held down by stones.