There was a most interesting call
a few days ago that made me
realize that not everyone has been
gardening for years.

A very concemed young woman
who was fortunate enough to have
a greenhouse, asked why her
plants (which had come up beauti-
fully quite a while ago) had
stopped growing. She was water-
ing, fertilizing, etc., but, although
the seedlings looked healthy
enough, they were just sitting
there.

We discussed the possibilities; It
couldn’t be a lack of light, which
would have made the plants tall, a
poor color, and weak. Too much
sunshine seemed unlikely ... it has
rained most of the past month. She
was concemed that it might be her
potting soil mix, but she had used
“bought” sterile potting soil, to
which she had added peatmoss,
and perlite, and some bone-meal,
which certainly sounded okay to
me.

When I asked about the size of
her pots, the mystery was solved.
Her plants had remained in the
same flats ever since they had
been seeded, and must have run
out of soil in which to spread their
hungry roots. : :

This is the sort of thing that
long-term gardeners would know
about, but unless someone tells
you what to do, how is a beginner
to learn?

Now what she should do is to
soak her flats until they are abso-
lutely sodden, before trying to dig
out her small plants.

To do this finicky job I use an
old fork, one of the ones we used
to eat off. The tines seem to go
between the roots, and make it
easier to ease them out of the soil.
She said she had lots of soil mix so

‘Cy’s tomatoes are
a variety called
“Miracle” and the
literature boasts
that each fomato
will be 14 inches
around when fully
grown’

I suggested she put each seedling
in its own small pot, water it well,
using tepid water.

I should have suggested she use
10-52-17 fertilizer in the water, as
this stimulates root growth, and
cuts down on transplant shock.
The other thing she should do is to
keep her newly settled seedlings
out of the sun for several days.

Veteran gardeners can'tforget beginners |

I usually just put a single sheet
of newspaper over them. This
keeps them from wilting. When
her plants begin to grow again, she
could begin to move them outside
during the day into an area where
they get dappled sunlight, bringing
them inside again each evening.

In a few days her plants could be
moved into the sun, but will then
have to be watched and not be
allowed to dry out. They must still
be carted in each night for proba-
bly another week, before being left
out all night

When a fella’ has reached this
stage he can transplant them out
into pots, planters, or directly into
the garden. When planting out,
please water each seedling well,
using 10-52-17 again, and cover
each plant with something that
will furnish some shade for several
days, while new roots grow.

I assume that all of you saw in
Top Of The Pile the report that Les
Moore’s dahlia sale netted a tidy
$577.60. This will be divided
between the Sidney Lions/Review
Food Bank and the Canadian Red
Cross. Les was thrilled with the
sale, and wants to thank all of you
for buying his dahlias. (Moore
generously topped up the 50 per
cent of proceeds to the food bank
to $300 and says he has more
dahluas left — ed.)

I guarantee you will be dazzled
with the glorious results! Now
please watch your dahlias for slugs
and earwigs. Both these critters
consider dahlias truly a gourmet
snack.

The ground is still too cold to
plant-beans, com, cukes, tomatoes
and squash, although I suppose if
you have those deals called “Wall
*o Water” you might plant out a
tomato and a cuke or two, just to
see what will happen. Cy Relph
brought me two enormous tomato
plants, strong and sturdy as Sumo

SHOP
SIDNEY
FOR
SERVICE

Pictured here, SAM director Gerry Martin presenting
Fay with flowers and scroll in honour of her excellent
service. (Flowers by Sidney Florist). -

EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH
APRIL 1992
Fay Bridge
THE BRIDAL SHOP

Sidney is known for neighbourly. service.

Each month the Sidney Association of

Merchants recognizes one employee

whose extra effort makes shopping in

Sidney a pleasure.

See you in Sidney!

wrestlers.

They make mine look like
shrimps, although I was delighted
to see that OUR “Oregon
Springs’* are already
budding. Cy’s tomatoes are a vari-
ety called “Miracle” and the liter-
ature boasts that each tomato will
be 14 inches around when fully
grown. I told you they\resemble
Sumo wrestlers!

I’ve been asked to ask all of you
tO participate in a challenge match
between the Town of Sidney, B.C.,
and a town called Sidney, in
Ontario. All you have to do is call
the Sidney (B.C.) Town Hall on
May 27th, and tell them you have
worked in the garden, picked flow-
ers, mowed the lawn, or even
walked (briskly) around the prop-
erty for at least 15 minutes on that
date. This qualifies you as an
entrant in “Participaction.”

This year let’s whomp those
Eastern Sidney-ites! Last year they
completely wiped us out!

MAYCOCK OPTICAL

Saas SINCE 1959
= Ae. 5

DISPOSABLE
CONTACT
LENSES

Only $7500

3 Month Supply
Disposable Bi-Weekly

2 WEEK FREE TRIAL

#104 - 2376 BEVAN AVE.
Sidney Centre

655-1122

Fully
Licensed

Lots of
Parking in
the Back

DISTRICT OF NORTH SAANICH

THE FIRE SEASON begins at 8:00 a.m. on Friday, May
1, 1992 all open burning will require a fire permit

obtainable at the Municipal Hall, 1620 Mills Road, Monday to Friday,
8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

PERMITS ARE NOT REQUIRED FOR APPROVED
_INCINERATORS WITH SCREEN.
District of North Saanich Fire Prevention and Regulation By-Law #563
states:
“No person shall burn garbage, animal organic waste, rubber,
tires, oil, tar, asphalt shingles, battery boxes, plastic material, or
any similar materials which produce heave black smoke or create

a noxious odour.”
Permits are required for ALL beach fires. T.D. Towle
Fire Chief

CHRISTIE EDWARDS
We are pleased to announce
that Christie Edwards has
joined us at Magic Colour,
_ Sidney’s leading complete
home decorating centre.
Christie’s flare for interior
design will now be available
tO Our customers. If you are
planning a major renovation
_— or redecorating project we
cise iba will be happy to meet you in
your home at your convenience or at our store in
ithe evening by appointment. Just starting out and
working within a tight budget? We are experts at
putting together an attractive decor which will make
your friends say “Wow”! yet won't break the bank.
The Magic Colour Decorating Centre has been
operating in Sidney for eleven years. We offer all
items for your decorating needs, wallpaper, paint,
stain, carpet, linoleum, hardwood, flooring, ceramic is
tiles, window coverings, cultured marble, plus all j
the tools and sundries you need to make your
home a very special MAGIC place.

| Next week: “Our Contractors” - the guys who really
make your dreams come true.

AGIC COLOUR

a (Sidney’s leading complete
Home Decorating Centre).

9773 5th St., Sidney
656-2202

“INTRODUCING

.
a ¢

2500 Beacon
_ Avenue

Sidney, B.C.

656-1224
by the sea

GREEK FOOD - SEAFOOD - STEAKS - PASTA - CHICKEN

(Kosta’s Style)

(Mom’s Love It)

| FABULOUS MOTHER'S DAY
DINNER SPECIALS

(Served from 4:30 - 10:00 p.m.)
1. VEAL CORDON BLEU

2. CHICKEN OSCAR

3. VEAL SCHNITZEL
(With Kosta'’s Famous Sauce)
All Entrees are Complimented with Roast Potato or Rice, Fresh Vegetables and our.
Famous Pita Bread & Tzatziki Sauce. Also a choice of Soup or Salad

FREE
ROSES TO
ALL MOTHERS

$718

4. ROAST LAMB
(House Specialty
Homemade Mint Sauce)

5. STUFFED FILET OF SOLE
(With Shrimp and: Crab, Very Popular)

Sto sd

po eect Dena

apne

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