Getting an early PERHAPS I have been unkind to those local merchants who insist on tempting poor, unsuspecting, over-anxious gardeners. Every year they entice us with tantalizing displays of summer annuals well before we should even consider putting them out. The usual resuits are early profits for tbe industry and frustration and disappointment for the home gardener. But is my assessment of blame unfair? Certainly some of the responsi- bility must rest with the pur- chaser. After all, if there were no market, our friendly retailers would not have the opportunity to exploit it. What do you say: have I been a little hasty in my placement of blame on the garden shops? *“*NAH!” you say? Right, let’s hang ’em high. These are the people we look to for advice and good counsel. If they put annuals under our noses, most of us will see this as a rec- oimmendation to begin planting. When a subsequent late frost or spell of cold, wet weather kills them off, it is only natural and just that we blame those bandits who talked us into buying them. The very least they should do is post a prominently displayed sign urging caution. Something like: “Warning: Protect from frosts and cold, wet weather. Plant at your own risk. Earliest suggested planting date: May 1.”’ Geoff Tobiasson OVER THE E GARDEN GATE The dates could be adjusted to allow for the different hardiness tatings of the various plants. eg: pansies, April 1; snapdragons, April 15; petunias, April 20; im- patiens, May 15, etc. Having said all this, why should the garden centres go to the risk and expense of carrying an early supply of bedding piants? We need them to allow us to get an early start on our planters and hanging baskets. If you want your hanging baskets to be the envy of your neighbors, you must either spend Friday, March 27, 1992 — North Shore News - 17 start on hanging baskets an arm and a leg later in the season or start your own now. Let’s have a look at some of the things you should know about getting off to an early start. First, let's forget the plants and talk about containers. If you want lush, healthy-looking baskets and planters for mid-summer and beyond, choose a container that is big enough to support this growth. The means big enough to hold sufficient amounts of plant- ing soil. The soil in your planters can be considered to act as a reservoir for the water and nutrients that your plants need for proper growth. Acting much like a sponge, it will soak these materials up in residual amounts, then dole them out to the roots of your plants over time. This time will get shorter as the days get warmer and your plants get bigger. Long balcony planters, such as those seen gracing the railings of our North Shore apartments, should be at least 10 inches wide and 12 inches deep. Free-standing patio pots and patio planters should be at least 12 inches by 12 inches and 12 in- ches deep. Although weight is a problem, we must try to give our hanging plants the same amount of root room. You have all seen those silly lit- tle eight-inch plastic pots that can look quite good at the beginning of summer. Well, how many of you have seen any that are worth 44... you must either spend an arm and a leg later in the season or start your own now. 99 looking at by summer’s end? If they ase still up and hanging, the plants within them look thin, sickly and totally stressed out. Not enough root room. Plastic pots should be at least 10 or more inches in diameter, especially if hung in full sun. Hanging cedar tubs are better because their thicker walls r