16 —- Friday, January 24, 1992 - North Shore News

HOME & GARDEN
Dor t plant seeds too deep

From page 13

clay pots. Do not follow their lead
unless you have the facilities to
sterilize them with superhevated
steam prior to use.

The best containers are those
plastic seed trays used by the
growers. They are neat, tidy,
totally functional and cheap. If
you were smart, you weuld have
cleaned and saved those which
you brought home from the
garden centre last year. If not,
you can find them for a very rea-
sonable price in almost any garden
shop.

You should also find that they
carry the individual, multi-celled
inserts which can be handy come
transplanting time. They are
especially useful when you wish to
grow more than one variety per
flat.

You recyclers will be happy to
note that those hard-to-justify
plastic foam egg cartons make
great inserts — if you put
drainage holes in the bottom.
Whichever you use, you will have
to re-pot your seedlings into
larger containers before you can
move them outside.

The clear plastic covers made to
fit over these trays are an excellent

KIDS’

SATURDAY

Jan. 25-—Swing Your Partner, 10:30
a.m. music program with flutist Bever-
ly Horner, for kids 4-8 yrs. Pre-
Tegister: N.V. City Library, !21 W.
14th St., N.V.
eee
Jan. 25--Movie in French La Petite
Sirene (Little Mermaid), 1:30 p.m.,
vy City Library, 121 W. 14th SL,
eee

Jan, 25--Flutist Beverly Horner &

friend perform for kids 4-8 yrs. Folk -

songs, dancing, rhythm band, fun &
play. oar repister: N.V. City Library,
980-44:

ees
Jan. 25--Ongoing. Papier mache
Dinosaurs. Program for kids aged 6-
10 yrs., 1-3 p.m., recCenire Lynn
Valley, 3590 Mountain Hwy., NV.
Info: 984-9341,

ee e
Jan. 25--Ongoing. Saturday Storytime.
Stories & fun for kids 4-8 yrs., 10:30
am., N.V. City Library, 121 W. 14th
St., N.V. Info: 980-4424.

eee
Jan.. 25--Ongoing. Storytimes in
French. If a.m. beginners, 1:30 p.m.
French immersion students. N.V. City
Library, 121 W. 14th St., N.V. Info:
980-4424,

eee
Jan. 25--Ongoing. Cycle Right Safety
Program. 1-3 p.m. recCenire Lons-
dale. 10-13 yr. olds. Info: 988-6166.

way (o keep warmth and moisture
in during the critical germination
period. Just remember to open
them a crack or remove them en-
tirely should the heat get too high
and/or the seedlings begin to grow
near the tap.

Much has_ been
seed-starting mixtures from the
new, high-tech substances like
“*Rock Wool’’ and ‘*Grow
Sponge’' to the use of special
pre-moistened peat mixtures. For
the most part, they all have merit;
just ‘don’t get carried away.
Remember the theme of last
week's article was that growing
seeds was supposed to be a cents-
ible thing to do.

As long as your planting mix is
sterile (i.e., mo weed seeds, no
bugs and no diseases), holds
minimal moisture and provides
good drainage, it will work just
fine. Here is a soil-less mix that
works:

3 parts peat

3 parts coarse vermiculite

I part washed, medium sand

Add % cup bonemeal and 1 tbsp
of superphosphate per 4 cubic feet
(«the amount held in the average
wheelbarrow)

Never cover your seed with soil

said about

STUFF

San. 25--Ongoing. Free family movies.
7 p.m. at Corban Theatre in the Mall,
116 E. 3rd St., N. Van. Info: 922-
6180.
eee

Jan. 25--Ongoing. Sat. morning ballet
classes for youngsters aged 3-7 years,
Delbrook recCentre, 600 W. Queens,
N.V. Info: 984-4181.

SUNDAY

Jan. 26--Ongoing. Mt. Seymour soccer

team for boys 15 yrs. and under. need

compelitive players. Info: Rich, 972-
2.

eee
Jan. 26--Ongoing to March 29. Indoor
tennis for children 5-8 years from
9:30-10:15 a.m. and 9-14 years from
10:15-11 a.m. at N. S. Neighbourhood
House. Fee is $57. Pre-register. info:
987-8138.

MONDAY

Jan. 27--Ongoing to March 16.
Kindergarten Storytimes. Stories,
crafts & songs for kids aged 5 yrs.
Pre-register: N.V. City Library, 121
W. 14th St., N.V., 980-4424.

For more Coming Events see first
page of Classifieds. For arts and
entertainment listings see the
Around Town column in Wed-
nesday’s North Shore Now sec-
tion.

to a greater depth than its smallest
dimension; bury it too deep and it
may rot. To make sure you get
the maximum number of plants
from your growing space, put two
or three seeds where you expect
one plant to grow and thin them
later.

Keep your seed and seedlings
moist but never too wet. Bottom
watering is a safe method of ap-
plying water without risking an
over-watering problem. It will
also prevent the dislodging of
your seed and seedlings by heavy
overhead watering. Set your
tray/pot/egg carton or what-
have-you in water long enough to
soak up the moisture required and
then allow them to drain.

Do no: let your plants become
{oo root-bound; broccoli, cab-
bage, cauliflower and others will
never recover if they start to feel
too pinched for root-room. Re-
pot any plants which appear to be
drying out too quickly as this is a
sure sign of crowded roots.

Do not shock your seedlings by
being in a hurry to move them
outdoors too quickly. Set the flats
outdoors on warm days for about
a week before leaving them out
overnight. If the weather turns
nasty, bring them in and _ start
over.

Sow — take the time to start a
few seeds now. You won't be
disappointed come summer and it
can make a great family project to
help while away the long winter
hours.

Buying or Selling
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Call

FAIZEL KATHRADA

For details on all
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