THE HOME GARDEN

Hutt News, Volume 19, Issue 10, 8 August 1945, Page 10

THE HOME GARDEN

AUGUST WORK BASIS OF SUCCESS (By D. K. Pritchard, Instructor of Vegetable Culture, N.Z. Department of Agriculture, who writes for the Home Gardeners' column in the "N.Z. Journal of Agriculture.") August may be looked upon as the cultivation spring-board for the coming season's vegetable-growing activities. Much of the success achieved will doubtless be due to the work carried out during the month. When , selecting sites for different varieties of vegetables rotation of crops should be considered as essential not only fof the production of the best vegetables, but for maintaining the soil in the healthiest pos sible condition. Beds for carrots, parsnips and celery should be as far removed as practicable from the areas previously occupied by these crops, which are attacked by the car rot rust fly, preferentially in the order mentioned. Club root is sure to become established in any soil where plants' of the cabbage family are grown successively on the same area. Crop rotation is also a means of protecting the soil against depletion of so-called rarer elemments, which, though present in the soil in small quantities, are nevertheless essential for high quality vegetable production. Potatoes All preparations should be made for planting potatoes as soon as the risk of serious damage by frost is past. Seed should be properly boxed and kept where there is plenty of air circulating, so that developing shoots will not become spindly and Aveak. - Such growth cannot be expected to produce an abundant; crop of healthy tubers.

Cauliflower Early London is a variety of cauliflower suitable lor early spring planting. If it is necessary to buy plants, an effort should be made to obtain this variety. plants set out in good, rich soil, and grown without a check, can be harvested before Christmas. Onions Autumn-sown onion seedlings should now be ready for setting out. Early planting is essential for the production of bulbs which will store in good condition for the maximum length of time. Owing to the long time this crop occupies the ground from planting to maturity, a slow acting fertiliser is best and bonedust is most popular among commercial onion-growers. It is best applied 2 to 4 weeks before planting, and should be broadcast at the rate of 3 to 4 ozs. per sq. yd., afterwards being well forked into the soil. The seedlings' roots should be trimmed to Kin. long before planting, and these merely pressed into the soil. The small bulb should not be buried, particularly on heavy soils, as this will restrict bulb development. " Shallots August, generally, is also_ tne month when shallot bulbs may be set out. If the soil in which the crop is to be grown has previously received a substantial dressing of farnjyard manure, no further application of fertiliser will be necessary. In the absence of this manure a light dress ing of blood and bone 2 to 3oz. per sq. yd. well woxiced into the top soil will give good results. Rows are usually 12in. apart with 8-in. spacing between the bulbs.

Cabbage In favourable localities cabbage plants of the Golden Acre variety may be set out towards the end of August, although, as a general rule, September is the best month. It will be much better for the young plants if the ground is prepared two or even three weeks before planting.. Home gardeners who desire to have a continuous supply of cabbages would do well to secure plants. If seed has not been sown, bought plants can be "heeled in" until required , later. To "heel in" plants a trench is made in which the seedlings are placed at the same depth as that at which thlfy were grown from seed. When being placed in the trench the plants should be separated and soil pressed firmly against the roots. Seedlings which have been heeled in should not be pulled; when being removed for transplanting they should be eased out of the trench with a hand fork and re-set with as much soil as possible adhering to tlie roots. Spring Cabbage. After cold winter weather, particularly if soil conditions were such that not much cultivation could be done, weeds may have become prominent among spring cabbage, and the plants may lack that vigorous growth and dark green colour are always indicative of healthy cab bages. Under these circumstances hand weeding is desirable, and the bed should be thoroughly cleaned up before any nitrate of soda, either dry or as a liquid manure, is used. Several applications may be made at 3- or 4-day intervals during August, after which no further nitrogenous fertiliser in any form should be used The remarks 011 spring cabbage are also applicable to silver beet and leeks.