The VEGETABLE GARDEN-

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28801, 23 January 1959, Page 3

The VEGETABLE GARDEN-

Celery should now be planted in a specially made trench. It gives good results where right conditions are provided. It is not much use planting celery on the flat, unless it is wanted only for flavouring purposes. Celeriac, or turnip-rooted celery is a good substitute where flavouring only is required. This grows quite serviceable, round roots which are excellent for cooking and flavouring. For salad purposes, however, one or other of the well known kinds of true celery are advised. Plant winter greens—savoys, broccoli, drumhead cabbage and Brussels sprouts. The areas on which early potatoes or peas have been grown -Will be ideal for these plants; especially if compost or farm manure is dug in when planting- Do not crowd these plants closer than two feet apart, with two feet and a half between the rows. Leeks should now be planted. Besides being .an appetising vegetable, they are easily grown and. stand well through the winter months. Curled kale is a worthwhile vegetable for the end of winter, and, like sprouting broccoli and koh] rabi. is not sufficiently well known in most gardens. Many useful vegetable seeds can be sown now. These includesalad crops—lettuce, radish, mustard, cress and parsley, while silver beet, turnip, spinach, eVen red beet and carrot could still be sown and would provide useful roots for spring use. Final thinnings of growing crops of beet; carrot, parsnip and

turnip should be made. All these i should have a space of three inches between plants. Attend to tying up and pinching out of tomato stems. Where four or five flower clusters have developed, pinch off the top as the reduced number of clusters will be enough for any plant to carry. Continue weekly watering with liquid manure as advised last week, and watch for signs of disease, such as a blackening of the upper leaves. Bordeaux is the best spray to apply, even if no disease is apparent. Bottom leaves can be taken off when they are yellow or are hiding the Iqwer cluster. Blight controls are necessary at this time of the year. Dust derris on cabbages, spray potatoes with Bordeaux, and carrots with nicotine sulphate. Slugs are not bad this season, but where they are found to be present, spread a poison bait round the plants. With the season of dry weather, syringing of all crops with the garden hose will help to maintain their vigour and growth. Lettuce, spinach, beans and all leafy crops demand a moist condition for good results. It is surprising how weeds pop up between plants and more surprising still the speed with which they can. if not tackled promptly, form seed heads. Eternal vigilance is called for if the gardener is to avoid testing the truth of the old saying that “one year’s seeding means seven year’* weeding.”