April gardening

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April Gardening Calendar for Northern Gardeners

Set out plants of Cabbage, Cauliflower, Celery, Kohl-Rabi, Leek, Lettuce from frames.

Set out plants of Alyssum, English daisy, Dianthus, Myosotis, Pansy. Also sow in frames seeds of above and Asters, Candytuft, Celosia, Centaurea, Dianthus, Dimorphotheca, Eschscholtzia, Hollyhocks, Marigold, Morning Glory, Nasturtium, Poppies, Pyrethrum, Sweet Peas, Sweet William. Seedlings sown in March need trans- planting. Make cuttings of all house plants that will stand it, such as Geraniums, Coleus, Begonias. Give them an indoor start. Sow out- side Beets, Carrots, Cora (extra early), Kohl-Rabi, Leek, Lettuce, Onions, Parsley, Parsnips, Peas, Potatoes, Radish, Salsify, Spinach, Swiss Chard, Turnips.

Divide perennials and plant others received from nurseryman. Plant shrubs and evergreens. Plant Apples, Pears, Peaches, Plum trees, Currants, Gooseberries, Strawberries. Plant Beans, Corn and Cucumbers, Melons, Pumpkins, when Apples bloom. Give the Rhu- bard some manure and nitrate and cover with box to keep it tender.

Asparagus. Dig in the mulch and give nitrate and other fertilizer. Leave a few stalks for beetle traps. Prune hedges.

April Gardening Calendar for Southern Gardeners

Sweet potatoes should be bedded in the upper South. Plant succession crops of garden Corn, such as Kendel's Giant, Country Gentle- man and Stowell's Evergreen. Sow Onion seed very thickly in rows to make sets for Fall planting. The white Pearl is good. Sow in fairly fertile soil without fertilization as the sets should not grow larger than a marble. Take the Tomato plants from the frames with a trowel and a mass of earth and transplant into holes filled with water and pull the dry soil over. If frost threatens after they are out turn the plants over and cover with soil till the cold passes. In the garden, set them in rows three feet apart and two feet in the rows and train the single stems tied to stakes. They will be earlier and better in this way. Sow Okra seed in rows three feet apart and thin the plants to 20 in. In the rows. Sow more String Beans for succession crop as soon as the ones sown last are well up. Plant Muskmelons in well-manured hills 6 ft. Apart, and Watermelons in hills 8x10 ft. Apart. Sow Parsley early in the month. Peppers sown with the Tomatoes in February and transplanted can be set out this month. For late Pickles sow seed in a border of the Sweet Peppers and transplant later. Sow seed in open ground for late crop of Tomatoes. Sow succession crops of Beans of Bush or Snap varieties and plant Bush and Pole Lima Beans. Sow Endive and Kohl-Rabi. Set succession of Summer Cabbages. Sow Radishes of long sorts like Ghartier. Plant Squashes, Canteloupes and Melons.

April in the GreenHouse and Indoor Plants

Plants of every description will now require increased water and ventilation, and on fine days a slight shading to prevent the sun from burning the foliage. (See "Shading.") Due attention must also be paid to shifting into larger pots, when necessary, and also to increase the space, when practicable, by putting the hardier sorts out in cold-frames.

It is better to throw away a few of the older and less desirable plants now, than to risk their becoming weak and spindling by overcrowd ing. Cuttings may still be made of Verbenas, Coleus, Petunias, Ageratums, Achyranthus and all other plants intended for summer decoration ; the more advanced plants should be topped back to make them sturdy and bushy.

Tender annuals may also be sown and pricked out in boxes or pots and placed in cold-frames for later use.

On the first appearance of insects, measures must at once be taken to exterminate them, especially on Calceolarias and Cinerarias, which will now be coming into flower, and are the most showy and useful plants at this season. (See " Insects.") See that nothing suffers for want of water and keep the atmosphere moist by syringing freely.

The Flower Garden in April

April is a busy month in the flower garden. Bulbs, and all tender plants that have been covered for protection during winter, may now be uncovered and the other beds forked over and put in order to receive the spring-blooming plants such as Pansies, Daisies, Forget-me-nots, Polyanthus, etc., which may be planted out from the cold-frames as soon as the weather appears settled, thus making room to harden off the more forward of the bedding plants.

All Roses should now be pruned and tied up, and syringed occasionally with tobacco, soap or some other insecticide, to prevent the attack of the rose-slug next month ; this insect is easily destroyed while young. All vines and creepers on walls or screens should be pruned and tied up ; herbaceous plants, such as Dielytras, Phloxes, Helianthus, Delphiniums, etc., may be divided and replanted, and a planting of Gladioluses for early flowering made.

This is also an excellent season to sow Grass seed to improve the lawn, or to sow for new lawns, following it by a slight top-dress- ing of bone meal or lawn fertilizer and a good rolling to level it thoroughly for the mower.

For details see: April flower gardening

The Fruit Garden in April

All new plantations of Grape vines, Strawberries, Raspberries, Blackberries, etc., should be made without delay, and those that have been laid down during winter uncovered and tied up to stakes or trellises. Strawberries that have been covered up by leaves or straw should be relieved around the plant, leaving the covering to act as a mulch and keep the fruit clean.

The Vegetable Garden in April

Whenever the soil is in good condition no time should be lost in sowing the hardier sorts of vegetable seeds, such as Cabbages, Beets, Parsnip, Lettuce, Onions, Parsley, Peas, Badishes, Spinach, etc. ; this should be done in all cases by the middle of the month, wherever practicable, for if these varieties of vegetables are delayed until the hot weather in May, they will not be so early, nor will they produce such good crops. Asparagus and Rhubarb should also be uncovered, the beds forked over lightly and fresh plantations made when necessary. All Potatoes, especially those for early use, must also be planted as soon as possible, and small sowings made of Thyme, Marjoram, Sage, Fennel, Dill and other herbs, without which no garden is complete.

Cabbage and Cauliflower plants, Onion sets, Shallots, etc., should also be planted as soon as the weather is favorable. Tomatoes, Egg-plants, Peppers and other tender plants may still be sown in the hot-bed, Sweet Potatoes put in to produce sprouts to plant out next month, and a few Cucumbers in hills to remain there and come in for early use.

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