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Posted on 10:55 AM by Wanto and filed under
By John Maddox
Light sandy soils are usually lacking in humus, and by virtue of the lack of humus, and in consequence of the porous nature of the soil itself, are also lacking in moisture retaining properties. Because of these disadvantages, added humus forming materials and mineral salts are not retained as well as in heavy soils; nitrates in particular are soon exhausted.
A double row of runner beans, run up stout bean-sticks, desired, sweet peas, grown naturally in similar fashion to runner beans, will serve quite as effectively provided that they are well watered and constantly gone over to remove dead flowers and seedpods-this will help to prolong the flowering period and, of course, the life of the screen.
Either of these may be sown direct into the open ground, though in the case of the sweet peas it is probably best to treat as half-hardy annuals and sow into pots in January, germinating under glass, and planting out in April. Alternatively, wattle hurdles may be used as a light fence.
Fortunately sulphate of potash is an ideal medium, though quick acting it is not easily washed out of the soil and is therefore available over a long period. This can be applied at the rate of 2 ounces a square yard when digging or it may be incorporated with the soil when planting. Wood ash is another very useful source of potassium, but it must be applied in large quantities to be effective.
As it may not he possible to avoid siting the dahlia border in a frost pocket, and sometimes the whole garden may seem to attract frost, the effects can often be reduced by careful screening. Frost tends to roll downhill and to concentrate in hollows and against solid barriers.
Therefore, if a solid barrier, such as a close boarded fence or even one constructed from wattle hurdles, is erected on the side from which the frost tends to come, and the fence on the lower side of the garden is constructed of more open material, there is a strong possibility that frost damage will be minimised as the low, ground frosts, which are the dangerous ones to dahlias just planted, will tend to pile up on the outer side of the close boarded fence, while the frost that develops inside the garden will flow through the open fence to a lower level.
A double row of runner beans, run up stout bean-sticks, desired, sweet peas, grown naturally in similar fashion to runner beans, will serve quite as effectively provided that they are well watered and constantly gone over to remove dead flowers and seedpods-this will help to prolong the flowering period and, of course, the life of the screen.
Either of these may be sown direct into the open ground, though in the case of the sweet peas it is probably best to treat as half-hardy annuals and sow into pots in January, germinating under glass, and planting out in April. Alternatively, wattle hurdles may be used as a light fence.
Fortunately sulphate of potash is an ideal medium, though quick acting it is not easily washed out of the soil and is therefore available over a long period. This can be applied at the rate of 2 ounces a square yard when digging or it may be incorporated with the soil when planting. Wood ash is another very useful source of potassium, but it must be applied in large quantities to be effective.
As it may not he possible to avoid siting the dahlia border in a frost pocket, and sometimes the whole garden may seem to attract frost, the effects can often be reduced by careful screening. Frost tends to roll downhill and to concentrate in hollows and against solid barriers.
Therefore, if a solid barrier, such as a close boarded fence or even one constructed from wattle hurdles, is erected on the side from which the frost tends to come, and the fence on the lower side of the garden is constructed of more open material, there is a strong possibility that frost damage will be minimised as the low, ground frosts, which are the dangerous ones to dahlias just planted, will tend to pile up on the outer side of the close boarded fence, while the frost that develops inside the garden will flow through the open fence to a lower level.
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