16 - Friday, September $, 1988 - North Shore News

LIFESTYLES |

Grow daffodils
all winter long

IT USED to be that daffodils
(narcissus), those sunny harbingers
of spring, were only available dur-
ing their outdoor blooming season
— from March through May.

Now, however, techniques have
been developed that bring them in-
to our homes as cut flowers as ear-
ly as December, just in time to
brighten up the bleak days of
winter. Even more recently, we
have been able to buy pots of pre-
forced daffodils, either almost
ready to bloom or just beginning
to sprout and flower-lovers have
been able to enjoy the pleasure of
watching them spring into bloom
on acool windowsill. ~

In addition, many gardeners
want to try their hand at forcing
daffodils themselves for winter
bloom. Although there is nothing
difficult about this technique, ‘it
does require very cool conditions
that not 2il of us — especially
apartment or con-
dominium-dwellers — can provide.

That is why it is so good to
know that there is a narcissus that

Don't overioad freezer

WHEN STOCKING up on food
supplies and goodies, be careful
not to overload refrigerators and
freezers for they operate best when
filled to the correct capacity,
allowing cool air to circulate
around each item.

‘“‘Today’s refrigerators and
freezers consume less energy than
ten years ago, largely because of
improvement in design and insula-
tion,’? says Roger Lane, Chairman
of CSA’s Technical Committee on
the Performance of Major Elec-
trical Appliances.

But there are still ways you can
increase your refrigerator’s and
freezer’s energy efficiency and save
money:

e Buy the smallest refrigerator
or freezer that suits your present
and future needs.

¢ Never place a refrigerator or
freezer next to a source of heat.
An electric range is an obvious
source of heat, but such things as
hot air vents and sunlight are often
overlooked.

* Allow 25 mm (one inch) of air
space on both sides of the ap-
pliance and at least 76 mm (three
inches) at the top and back.

* Vacuum dust and cobwebs
from the bottom and back of your
refrigerator box every couple of
months, remembering first to
unplug the appliance. Condensers
are located here and must be able

everyone can grow, anywhere: the
Paperwhite narcissus.

All you need is a dish at least
four inches (10 cm) deep, some
clean gravel and, of course, top-
quality bulbs. Plant as many bulbs
in the dish as will fit without
touching, placing them so that the
bottom half of the bulb is com-
pletely covered with gravel.

Then add ordinary tap water un-
til it just touches the bottom of the
bulbs. That’s all: there is no need
for cool temperatures or even
Storage in a dark place. Simply
place them on a windowsill and
watch them grow.

Within days, green sprouts will
appear and only four to eight
weeks later the tall flowering stalks
will be covered with beautiful
white, highly-scented blossoms.
For a longer show, put the bloom-
ing plants in a cool place at night
(approx. 16°C).

Unfortunately, after the flowers
fade, there is no use keeping the
bulbs: they are too tender to
bloom again in Canadian gardens,

to get rid of the heat the
refrigerator produces.

* Open doors only when neces-
sary and never leave doors open
for long periods of time, for ex-
ample, when loading groceries.

“The refrigerator is one of the
safest and most efficient kitchen
appliances,’’ says Lane.

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