The VEGETABLE GARDEN

Press, Volume XCVIII, Issue 28866, 10 April 1959, Page 3

The VEGETABLE GARDEN

It is important to get on with autumn sowing of vegetable seeds while conditions are good so as to get the seedlings well established before the winter frosts come to assail their root hold. Onions, of course, should have top priority, because those sown now will provide well ripened*, hard bulbs by next harvest time, and also furnish good plants for transplanting in the spring. Spanish. Pukekohe, Ailsa Craig and Giant Rocca are recommended. While onions are not deep rooting plants, they must have a rich, well-drained soil, and they benefit from lime, soot and wood ash while growing. Other seeds to sow now in-

elude early cabbage, lettuce—Neapolitan or all the year round—silver beet, carrot, spinach, parsley and turnip. Broad beans are another crop for present sowing. Although these are sometimes affected and the tops killed by early frosts, they are a worth while crop in spite of this handicap.

It would also be a good thing to sow a row of early peas, selected from English Wonder. Earlicrop. W F Massey, or Greenfeast.

Give winter greens a look over. If. these are affected by aphis, spray with nicotine. Celery and leeks growing well may need an earthing up and watering with liquid manure. Gather and dry herbs for winter use. Mint and sage are useful even when dried.

Among The FRUIT TREES

Preparations for strawberry planting may be started. The position should be sheltered, but otherwise in the open, and not too hot. Being surface rooters, strawberries are liable to be scorched until strong growth is there to shelter the roots A good covering of farm manure or old compost should be dug in some time before planting. Most mid-season apples and pears can now be picked and stored. It is not advisable to paper line the cases, as th*? more exposure to the air the better they will keep. Indeed, protected from rain and frost outside, under trees is a very good place for the present. Such late sorts as Lord Wolsley, Sturmer, Granny Smith. Delicious. Alfriston, French crab apples, and Winter Cole, Nelis, and Napoleon pears can safely be left on the trees for a week or so longer. It will be wise to examine apple trees for woolly aphis. The little white clusters will be found on the inner branches and can be destroyed by finger and thumb or the application of a hard little brush dipped in red oil. Gather up fallen leaves of all kinds for conversion into compost. Apple leaves and dropped fruitlets can be excepted, as these can be lightly dug into the ground.