GARDEN NOTES

Manawatu Times, Volume 69, Issue 44, 24 February 1944, Page 3

GARDEN NOTES

(By Ngaio.) We have been AA-arned over and over again recently that vegetables will be short during the coming winter; so many people, gardening for the first time in this extremely difficult season may feel thoroughly discouraged at the sight of their potato crops and decide that the game isn’t Avorth the candle and not bother about Avinter fodder. This will not do at all; Avith further rationing highly probable it av;11 be more than necessary to provide substantial additions to the larder. Noav that rain lias come the ground should be very responsiA’e to the gardener’s efforts; seeds avLH come through quickly, leaf crops begin to grow, root crops swell out and altogether things should bo easier in the garden for some time to come—those Avlio fail to stock up noAV, will miss the season and no doubt haA'e deep regrets later. One vegetable which will be useful as a meat substitute later is the seed of the runner bean; don’t be too generous in giving aAvay surplus supplies—leaA’e the pods on the vines to ripen off, and harA’est them in the autumn—they can be made into delicious and sustaining meals by long sloav cooking, in the casserole accompanied by pork or bacon, tomato sauce etc. Pumpkin can bo put to many uses besides being boiled or steamed as a xegetablc; see that your plants are handfertilised to ensure a good crop and see that they do not lack Avater—if you AA-ere Avise you have marked Avhere each pumpkin Avas planted with a stick so that you know just Avhere to administer water, it is hard to tell Avhen the plants are Avell grown just Avhere they begin. Tomatoes are important as there are different Avays of preserving them for Avinter use as Avell as their being a necessity for sauce-making, chutney etc. When the plants have produced five trusses of fruit or blossom, the tops should bo pinched out, as this is quite enough fruit for them to develop properly —they will gain quite a height in conditions which suit them but this is not much, if any, advantage, as they are more liable to be knocked about by rough Aveather; spraying with bordeaux once every ten days or fortnight is necessary as a precaution against blight Avhich is rather preA’alent this year, a black rotten spot appears on the fruit and any plants so affected should be pulled up and burnt. As the ground is so warm sweet corn will germinate very quickly, and if the weather continues favourably, a late crop should be obtained; this is another vegetable which is a meal in itself so it is Avorthwhile trying for another crop.