<K

Wednesday. September 3,1980

The Herald and The Lantern

Page a

Going Out • Dining Out • Time Out

So, You Think You’ve Watered

•. ' *

Your Garden Enuf!

Most of the Garden State has suffered a prolonged dry spell excerbated by skyrocketing temperatures resulting In a number of setbacks for vegetable gardeners. Even though a lot of water may have been put on the garden, in many instances it still isn’t sufficient to keep up with plant demands. Under (he best conditiohs it isn’t uncommon for vegetable plants to deyelop some strea^ frorrt insufficient moisture' THE PERIODS of such stress are brief, perhaps only a few hours in a day, and the crop is not adversely affected. However, with the extended period of dry weather this summer, gardeners often fail to supply water to ensure satisfactory plant growth. When there is no rain, young plants and shallowrooted vegetables - such as lettuce and onions - should be watered every three or four days for relatively short periods of time. Generally about on€-half to three-quarters of an inch is applied at each irrigation when using an overhead sprinkler MATURING CROPS, especially those with deep root systems - like squash and tomatoes - require irrigation about once a week during dry periods.' Deep rooted vegetables require about one to one snd one-half inches of water in a single overhead sprinkler application. One inch of irrigation water is the equivalent of 62 gallons per 100 sq. ft. of garden area. Many gardeners fail to apply enough water to do the job. THE SIMPLEST method of measuring the amount of ' Increase Your I Petunia Patch By Cutting Back Home gardeners can prolong the blooms of their petunia plants until October, possibly beyond, if they prune them back now. This doesn't mean shearing the entire plant leaving noli ing but a stub. Be selective and prune back only those shoots that are "bloomed out" with perhaps only one or two buds on them. Cut these shoots to about 2 or 3 inches from the bottom of the plant. It will take about four weeks for the plants to develop new shoots and by the middle of September you'll hare flowers to enjoy well into the early Fall. You can also extend the blooming season of nalvia (scarlet sage), geraniums, zinnias, marigolds and

waUf is by placing a few tin cans in various spots under the sprinkler. When the amount of water io the cans averages one inch in depth, you krxfcv fairly accurately how much water you’ve applied OTHER PROBLEMS include blossom-end rot in tomatoes, "firing” of leaves and poor earfilling in sweet com, browning of leaf edges in many crops, tough fiber formation in celery and other salad crops, and malformed squash and cucumber fruits wherein the blossom end of the fruit fails to develop. A bitter flavor in carrots in most cases this can be traced to the hot dry weather. ^ HOME GARDENERS have complained about nutrient deficiencies developing in certain ' vegetables, even though the recommended amount and proper kind of fertilizer was applied. These deficiencies A indicate the gardener hasn't applied enough water for the nutrients to dissolve. Plants obtain nutrients from the soil solution which can only be maintained by proper watering. When weather conditions improve, many longseason crops will resume normal production, although crops that mature in a relatively short time — 30 to SO days — may be beyond a stage where recovery is possible. THE REMOVAL of leaves from fruiting crops is especially to be avoided during a dry spell. Gardeners sometime trim leaves from tomato plants and muskmelon plants in the belief that the fruit will ripen better if they are exposed to sunlight. Vegetable crops which •produce fruit must have a good supply of leaves to manufacture the food material that goes into the fruit. The manufacturing process is called photosynthesis and the food produced is sugar. ALL THE materials produced in the plant arfe via photosynthesis from 'minerals and water absorbed from the soil. Cutting away foliage destroys the "factory" that produces the fruit. Besides reducing food material for fruit production, removal of leaves exposes the fruit on the direct rays of the sun. This will usually result in a burning or scorching of the fruit. Remember, the factor responsible for sweetness in muskmelons is the organic sugar produced by the leaves. Fewer leaves mean less sugar which means less sweetness . in

Now That The Crowds Are Gone, Meet You , *5 AT THE Golden Eagle Inn And Restaurant

Ocean front at Philadelphia Avenue, Cape May

In The Admiral’s Lounge.... Music and Dancing TO THE SOUNDS OF **

Midnight • Hour

FRI., SAT. & SUN. NIGHTS

Also In The Admiral’s Lounge. .... Dinner and Cocktails Try'Our Famous Entrees •Country Fresh Meat & Poultry •Choice Catches From Local and Distant Bays and Seas •Chefs Specials Daily •Special Children's Dinners •Sto 10Fri.ScSat; 5to9Sun.-Thurs.

Early Bird Special

SIRLOIN >""" $*795 STEAK InZ 4 s *-it\Ki»iiii . • • * I’M Nightly

Renovated Health Spa..

t

•Indoor Pool •Saunas

•Whirlpool •Exercise Rooms

NOW OPEN FOR MEMBERSHIP Public Welcomed!

Coffee Shop Open 7 AM to 3 PM Daily Ask About Onr Modified American Plan “Most For The Least” Packages OF YOU LIVE HERE. A CHANCE TO GET A WA Y WITHOUT GOING A WA Y)