The Year’s Vegetable Seed

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30846, 3 September 1965, Page 6

The Year’s Vegetable Seed

The question of what and how much vegetable seed is necessary for the year can be determined without too much effort on a piece of paper. Calculation of the area devoted to vegetable cropping is first required. Then compile a list of all the most important regularly grown vegetables such as cabbage, lettuce and tomatoes, for instance, and, armed with an approximate guide of yields for a given length of crop row and some knowledge of usual family requirements, it is possible to estimate how much actual space can be devoted to a particular crop. Again, reference to a sowing guide will indicate roughly how much seed is required. Some space in the allotment should be allocated to less

essential plantings such as salsify, yams or whatever takes the fancy. Seed from previous yean has a variable viability. Much depends on how old it is, whether it has been touched by vermin and how it has been stored. Some indications of seed viability are given below: — Beans, two to three years; beetroot, five to six years; brassicas, four to five years; cucurbits, four to six years; lettuce, four to five years; parsnips, sweet corn, onion, one to two years; leek, peas, carrots two to three years. Storage is best in a cod, damp-proof place, preferably in a metal box and only the best should be purchased as it is usually certified. Many types of seed, such as

sweet corn and peas, can be bought already treated with a seed-protectant dressing such as captan, organo-mercury or thiram. This can prevent seed rotting in the soil and also damping off of seedlings. Below is a list of vegetables, seed quantities and approximate yields per 50 feet and also a seasonal planting guide and approximate indication of the length of time each takes to mature. However, many factors contribute to successful cropping such as soil type and fertility, climate, moisture availability, and pest and disease control. It must therefore be realised that the figures quoted concerning yields and maturity period are intended as a rough guide only.

Seed Quantity for 50ft Yield from 50ft Seed to Maturity 8owlnf Period Beans, Broad .. 1 pint 75-1001b 160-190 days April, August Dwarf .. .. i Pint 25401b 75+ October-January Runner i pint 35-501b 75+ October-December Borecole .. .. ioz 804201b November Broccoli ioz 50401b 100+ November Beetroot .. .. 1 40401b 60+ August-February Brussel Sprouts 35451b 120-180 November Cabbage I 50401b 90+ July-April Carrot 35-501b 90-120 August-January Cauliflower I 35401b 80+ August-January Celery s 70 inches 130+ September-October Cucumber .. I 501b 80+ October-November Endive i 50 heads 115+ September-J anuary Garlic lib 25-30 80+ July-September Kohl rabi ioz 30401b 75+ August-January Kumeras 40 slips 804001b 150+ October Leeks ioz 100 leeks 200+ August-October Lettuce ioz 50 heads 60-90+ August-February Marrow ioz 50-70 marrows 90+ October-November Melons i 50-701b 120+ November Onions ioz 561b 150+ August-September Salad l-2ozs 65+ August-December Parsley 1 120+ September-January Parsnips i 80-120 100+ September-Decembc Peas 1 pint 5040 70-120 August-January Potatoes Early .. 6-7Ibs 80-120 95+ September-October Main .. 34 150-200 150+ October-November Pumpkin ioz 3040 120+ October-November Radish i 200-250 roots 25+ August-February Shallots 341bs 20401b 90+ July-September Silver Beet i 40-751b 60 August-December Spinach i 2540 50 July-Sept March. Squash i 3040 squash 120+ October-November Swedes • i 1001b 100+ December Sweet Corn lib 100-150 cobs 150+ October-November Tomatoes ioz 100-2001b 90+ October Turnip ioz 20401b 50+ August-November