In September the harvest begins; plants and gardeners alike reach the apex of the season’s activities. Make arrangements now for whatever fruits and vegetables you intend to store. Potatoes should be thoroughly dried before they are stored. Unless they are dried in a dark place, they will become green and bitter.
Humus And Soil Fertility
There is still no substitute for humus as the basis for soil fertility. On areas vacated by crops sow rye or rye grass. Clover, too can still be grown except in the more northern areas. The perfect cover crop combination, which will give the maximum in humus next spring, is composed of four pounds of rye grass and one fourth ounce of white or alsike clover, sown over a 1,000 square foot area. In addition to adding humus to the soil, a cover crop will prevent the loss of soil nutrients, erosion and soil washing.
Strawberries
Strawberry runners which have been rooted, either in pots or in the strawberry bed, will fruit next year if they are set out now. In the case of everbearing strawberries which are still fruiting, a new bed will be needed.
Fruiting is a heavy drain on the plants and many will die through the winter. With all strawberry types, select runners front the best plants and do not allow additional runners to form. Strawberries are now developing the buds for next year’s crop and require plenty of water and fertilizer. In a poor, or dry soil growth will be poor.
Disbudding Chrysanthemums
Disbudding is begun on chrysanthemums as the buds become more prominent. Those varieties which should be disbudded are the larger pompons and singles, the large incurved varieties and the decoratives. The button pompons, cushion and similar types, which send up many stems and small flowers are not in the disbudding group.
The purpose of disbudding is to direct the energy of the plant into fewer but larger flowers, rather than many small ones. Disbudding is regular practice where chrysanthemums are grown for show and exhibition purposes.
To be effective, disbudding must be done when the buds are tiny. In most cases the terminal or leading bud will give the best flower. When the terminal bud is well formed and clear of other buds. which are clustered around the terminal bud and farther down on the stem, the latter are removed. In the very young stage, a mere bending over with the finger and thumb will be sufficient to remove a bud and its tiny stem. When flowers are to be entered in a show it is especially important to remove the stem for a tiny stub will jeopardize the chances for a prize.
Chrysanthemums should be staked against September storms. The foliage, too must be protected from late attacks of disease and insects.
This is a good time. too, to dig up and pot any chrysanthemums for the home. or to plant them in other locations in the flower garden where color is needed. Choose a dull day or an evening to do any such moving. When the plants are potted or set in place in the garden, water them thoroughly and provide a little protection from sun and wind until the roots become established. When this is done with care there will be no check in either quality or quantity of flowers.
by J McKean – 61223
