THE VEGETABLE GARDEN

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIV, Issue 80, 16 March 1934, Page 15

THE VEGETABLE GARDEN

Most vegetables planted last spring Aave now matured and the plots occupied by them should now bo dug over Mud enriched with some profitable fertiliser. All spare ground not being ’Used until the winter should be planted with green manuring crops for digging u later. One has the choice of lupins, Dats, mustard and rye. Most root crops for winter use can •till be set: Carrots, beet, radish, kwrsnip, turnip and swedes. Sow in Ur ills and thin out as required. Winter greens are necessary in every (jaiden and sowings of silver beet and ►poach may commence now. Celery •nay still be planted if not already in. Onion seed has now been harvested Rad ground should be prepared for this }iou»ehold crop. Make ready a bed that ms been used for some leaf-eating crop. ■ jbow either Brown or Straw Spanish • Varieties. Broad beans may be set as soon as the ground is ready. Early plantings •re advisable as they mature before the gust or bumble bee affects them. Shallots and garlic may be planted during this month. CLEANING STRAWBERRY BEDS. Now that the strawberries are Inished the old beds will require some attention. The straw litter should be gathered up from between the rows and the weeds pulled out by hand, and gnv runners not being made use of cut Older leaves decayed and turning fallow should be cut away and the lants left healthy and clean. This done, the soil should he forked over, rare being taken not to damage the roots. A light application of manure may then be applied among the plants Vo encourage them in growth and help to make the fine fruiting crowns for the next season. The gardener often finds that many of the older leaves and perhaps some of the young ones are sickly and much spotted. This is caused by leaf spot fungus and is a trouble that occurs in most beds at some time or other. When only the older leaves are affected, very little harm may be done to the plants, hut should the younger leaves he attacked the next season's crowns are weakened. The remedy of picking off •11 spotted leaves and burning them •hould be then carried out