WARTIME GARDENING

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 66, 19 March 1942, Page 9

WARTIME GARDENING

FEW days ago I asked a nurseryman what he would do, supposing he was the ordinary casual sort of chap, if the soil in his garden was so dry that the spade bounced off it and he \\ anted to grow some vegetables lor the winter and produce a few flowers for his wife's vases; not nlav VT S ki mark et garden, nor a display of blooms like Albert Park. of F °t'ho ha o 1 feel s \i ro - is the desire man f age householder—the Sp) ? t leisure time is not unlimited, but who wishes, by the expn2rix Ur t° of a reason able amount of ho 'i Produce a garden of which he need not be ashamed when his elatives call on Sunday afternoon. Actually the number of all-out enhusiasts are few. By this I mean the fellows who rise at unearthly nours and slog in with a spade, then u i .home, cram down their dinner and have another session until dark it is questionable, indeed, if such lanatics derive the full measure of enjoyment from their gardens' whether they are not slaves to the beauty they are striving to create.

Many of those householders who Have secretly been pleased at the dry spell because it saved them the

trouble of cutting their lawns would accept the position philosophically and wait for rain. But there is a considerable school who are anxious to be up and doing, for there is no reason to presume that vegetables will be any cheaper tharr they were last spring, and they weren't cheap! The only thing for it, according to my nurseryman friend, is to make some sort of impression on the ground, even if it is just to ruffle the surface with a mattock or peck at it with a spade. Then turn the water loose—as much as can be spared. If there are no restrictions leave the hose turned on all night. Then turn the soil over and, theoretically, it crumple up to that fine creamy tilth necessary for sowing seecfe and planting seedlings. Not all soils respond, as the writer can testify, but short of courting an attack of lumbago by wielding a lusty pick, this is about all that can be done until there is an adequate fall of rain. i

Stock vegetable crops for the average householder at this time of the year are cabbages, and cauliflowers, silver "oeet, neeirooT:, spinach, turnips, swedes, leeks and carrots. Most of these are easy to grow, requiring

little special attention and manuring. Moreover they have the virtue of being suited to a wide range of soils. But with these safely planted and ground still available, there is no reason why some of the less usual vegetables should not be planted. Broad beans for instance, can be planted in the autumn, also lettuce, which although It may take longer to grow than in the summer, makes an excellent vegetable when cooked. Then there are Brussels sprouts which, though they do best under cold conditions, can be induced to grow really well in Auckland if given the same conditions as cabbages. Borecole, better known as Scotch kale, is nutritious, and easily grown and prolific, while for garnishing stews there are red and white eschalots, chives, tree onions, potato onions and garlic. Those with an abundance of the larger types of onions saved can sow a row for pulling as spring onions. And there are even varieties of peas that can be sown for picking in the early spring. Yours for a better garden, —W. GORDON.