The Home Garden

Hutt News, Volume 16, Issue 4, 24 June 1942, Page 7

The Home Garden

(By D. K. I'ritchard. Instructor of Vegetable Culture, N.Z. Department of Agriculture, who writes for the Home Gardeners' column in the "N.Z. Journal of Agriculture.") (iOLUKN ACRE CABIiAOE Mid-July is the time for sowing seeds of this desirable variety of summer cabbage. It is a moderately sized, round, compact headed cabbage of the Copenhagen Market type. Is short stemmed and when cut young has few large outside leaves. The seed should be sown in boxes, and, unless it is intended to transplant the young seedlings before setting in the garden, the boxes must not be less than six inches deep. The seed should be sown in rows, and for sowings made dtiJng this season of the year it. is bettei to allow three inches between them. If unsterili'sed soil is used, as soon as the young seedlings appear it is particularly necessary lhat the soil between the rows should be kept well stirred. This will assist in preventing an outbreak ol' damping off which might result in the destruction of the entire box of plants. Should it appear that, with subsequent growth, the seedlings wili be overcrowded in the box, they are best thinned out, and if desired, the thmirings may be transplanted e'lseV'here. Thinning out of the plants, as suggested, will lessen the danger of attacks ol ! mildew which may be recognised by the appearance on the plants of a grey, slimy mould which renders them untit for setting in the garden. LETTUCE Early sowing of lettuce seed, if not already made, should be attended to without delay. Webb's Wonderful and Success are recommended varieties. PEAS ' In a sheltered part of the garden and in good fertile soil peas may be sown now. When these conditions do not obtain, the ground should be dug deeply and thrown up roughly so that it may receive the full benefit of exposure to frosts and severe weather. When, ultimately, the soil is being prepared for sowing, it will more easily be reduced to a line tilth suitable for

receiving the seed, and lor subse quent growth. In order to ensure some measure of stability for the young plants, the seed should be sown in a shallow trench which may be made with a hoe. Sow the seed at the rate of four to the foot and thin to six ipches apart. Press the seed an inch into the soil and cover the mixuro with 2 parts of sieved soil and one part sharp sand. Along the trench, th'row a few handfuls of burnt lime. This will prevent the birds from digging for the peas, and subsequent applications will protect the seedlings from destruction by slugs and snails. The trench should not be filled in after planting the seed. This will be done when cultivation is being attended to. A suitable fertiliser for peas may consist of blood and bone, 2 part : ; superphosphate, 1 part, by weight, mixed before applying. Best re.-.tilts are likely to be obtained if this mixture is applied 10 to 14 days before planting the seed. A trench should be opened and the manure scattered along it at the rate of f> o/.s. to 15 feet of row. Before raking the soil over, a peg should be placed at either end of the trench, so that it may be opened again in the same place. When the young plants appear no hesitation should be made in applying burnt or hydrated lime to prevent slug damage. This is best applied in the evening and will not injure the young plants, Vanties recommended for early sowing are Earlikrop, Utility and W. P. Massey. TURNIPS. A small sowing of these may now be made. They should be used as soon as convenient sized bulbs have developed. All that may be necessary by way of fertiliser is a light dressing of superphosphate. CARROTS In view of the attention which is being paid at present to this particular crop, the first; favourable opportunity should be taken advantage of to make ;ui early sowing of seed. If the proposed site is lowlying or badly drained, it would be an advantage to make up a raised bad in which to sow the seed. This will provide the necessary drainage, assist in the early warming of the soil, thereby contributing to quicker germination and earlier maturity, and will prevent the seed from rotting through excessive moisture in the soil. Successional sowings may be made and the roots used when

young. It. is frequently stated that, young carrots are a more valuable food than older carrots. The same manurial treatment as for turnips is recommended. Varieties recommended are Earlykrop and Market Garden. llllOAl) BEANS These thrive best in a good, heavy loam soil, well drained and rich in organic content. The seed i-.hould be .sown in "staggered" rows, 2ft. Gin. apart., in a shallow, flat-bottomed trench, the seed is best placed to f> inches apart, in a zigzag manner; this is what is meant by "staggered" row,'. When

the plants have attained a heigr.- of ti inches, the soil should be drawa towards them to afford supply. At three feet high the top "J inches of the plant may be removed. Tins will induce early maturity oi the crop. 15KKTKOOT A small sowing may be made at any time when the soil is in suitable condition. Successional sowings I should 'follow at suitable intervals as required. ('Si 10SS Cress (Lepidium Sativum) is a popular European salad plant. it. is an. annual, one of the best ior early salad use, and is easily grown. It will grow well in a moist, fertile snl. Good fertility is necessary to produce crisp leaves. It is recommended as a summer vegetable. It can be sown now. but from sowings made in early spring good cut-: tings may be obtained in from lour to five weeks .liter sowing. In vitamin content it compares favourably Willi leliuee. It.\ !>!SH Seed may be sown almost any season of the year, and as an addition to cress will be useful as a salad. For early sowing select a sheltered part of tlio garden with a sunny aspect. ' Long Scarlet is the variety recommended. It is not suggested 'hat cress or radish might talo* the place of vanelies thai may be considered of greater domestic utility value. Generally, the physical and economic. value of vegetables is now recognised as never before. This is due, in the physical sense, to the continuous propaganda of food nutritionists and especially to the infkience of many eminent nutrition

authorities, among whom is Sir John Boyd Orr, of Great Britain. Economically. home garden vegetable growing will at aii times amply repay the labour expended on it. Admittedly, justifiable encroachments 011 the spare time of most home gardeners will limit to a very considerable extent efforts to produce the vegetable requirements for however, and in view of national 'contingencies which may arise, it is suggested that, every opportunity .should be taken advantage of, to maintain-—as far as practicable— liiaximuni vegetable production in the homo garden. The aim should be, not large plantings of any one variety, but rather small successional sowings of seeds for the production of immediate requirements, until the time for main crop preparations. The principles involved in successful crop rota.Lion should be studied. It is not considered desirable that, tomatoes and potatoes should follow one another on" the same piece of ground. Neither should a crop grown for root, production be followed by crops which may be similarly use. Thus carrots; should not succeed parsnips, turnips, or beet. And last, crops which occupy a part of the garden for a long time should be followed by quick maturing varieties. In planning Lhe garden for next season's operations, it. is not only desirable, but necessary, that the foregoing remarkM suomd constitute the basis of the la \-out. Judicious crop rotation will go a long way towards, it' not prevention, at least amelioration of many garden troubles. ,