Cinerarias And Herbaceous Calceolarias

If the advice to keep these plants in cold frames through the summer has been followed, they ought to be strong and sturdy now. They may be kept in the frames for a week or two longer if thick mats are placed over the lights at night in cold weather, but the sooner they are put into a heated house the better.

Lifting Dahlias And Carinas

We expect to have Dahlias in beauty for the early part of October at all events, and we hope that absence of frost will permit them to go on flowering for the whole of the month, even into November. But if a cold spell should lay them low in October, we bow to the inevitable with a good grace. It is usual to lift the roots and store them in a dry place for the winter, but many amateurs, presumably because they are short of both time and room, leave them in the ground. Sometimes the roots rot in the soil, often they grow again in spring. Much turns on the character of the soil and the nature of the winter. In a heavy, damp soil and a cold locality, more losses might be expected than in a light, drained soil in a mild district. If it is decided to lift the rootstocks, they should be taken up a few days after cutting off the tips, and stored in a dry, frost-proof place. Cannas ought to be lifted and stored in all cases.

Fig. 77. - Lifting Dahlias.

a. A cluster of tubers lifted and the stems cut off 1 ft. above them.

b. How to store the tubers.

Gladioli In Autumn

The splendid Gladiolus wanes towards the end of September, and the foliage begins to ripen off even if there is no frost. When the leaves turn yellow the plants ought to be taken up, and the stems removed from the corms. It may be found that new corms have formed on the large ones, and in this case the older part can be broken off and thrown away; the two portions part from each other quite readily. The new corms can be stored in a dry place free from frost for the winter, and replanted the following year, when they will probably bloom. There may be small separate corms around the larger one. These should also be stored, as some of them will bloom the following year, and the remainder a year later.

Fig. 78. - Lifting Gladioli.

a. Removing soil from corms.

b. Corm prepared for storing.

c. Flower stem cut off well above corm.

Zonal Geraniums For Bedding

If cuttings of Zonal Geraniums were inserted in August, there will now be a stock of young plants, because the cuttings will have rooted and made top growth. The care of these plants through the winter is one of the difficulties of the bedding system. The plants are tender, and would be killed if caught by frost. On the other hand, if they are encouraged to grow in a warm house they soon become so large that they outgrow the accommodation. The only thing that the grower can do is to keep them as cool as is consistent with safety, and give no more water than is necessary to prevent them from flagging. If they were struck in the open ground they should be lifted and put close together in boxes or pots. A cold frame will not do for them. Old Geraniums with woody stems will endure several degrees of frost, but young plants with soft green shoots are easily injured.