THE VEGETADLE GARDEN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIV, Issue 19626, 3 May 1927, Page 15

THE VEGETADLE GARDEN.

NEW ZEALAND SPINACH. BT S.T.tt. Spinach, of the New Zealand variety, is » wop which might quite easily be more extensively prown. That this vegetable is not ooltirftted more frequently in (lis. garden is dn*. I am convinced, to the fact t-hfit its merits are not realised to the fullest er.tnit. I have grown this crop for five successive seasons. As a substitute for cahfcago, or as a charge from that universally used " croon " vegetable, there is no crop which can surpass the New Zealand rpinnch. When coolcrd in f! P correct manner it provides an appetising dish. Cabbage contains a fair quantity of iron, as also does spinach. From this asnoct alono spinach could quite well be user] in plaen of cabbage. Preparing for Spinach. Tho preparation of the soil for spinach should bo thorough. A volcanic soil is very well suited for the culture of this crop, but anv soil may bo put into good enough condition to grow this crop. The Boil should ho worked deeply, and during this operation a good quantity of good etable manure should be incorporated. It is necessary to get tho soil into good " heart " for spinach is a gross feeder. The spinach plant has an extensive root iystem, and if there is not enough food in the soil in tho immediate vicinity to .meet all requirements the roots extend in gearch of further supplies. In many cases this means that the neighbouring crops are deprived of some of their nourishment. The quantity of manure which is incorporated when the soil is being prepared can scarcely be too large as this crop rejoices in a well-enriched soil. As a matter of fact it is my experience that the more gpinach is forced in tbis manner the tenderer is the herbage that is produced. This is a very decided advantage, for besides improving the quality of the crop it increases tho quantity, as the stems when tendnr may also be used. After the first preparation a light forking is all that is requisite to complete this portion of the •alture of spinach. Ss&iaiag tho Plants. This crop is raised from seed and the plantts when of sufficient size are planted eut as a rnle. If, however, the sowing is not. made until late, it is better to sow direct into tho permanent bed so that it tvj.il be unnecessary to disturb the plants tfc aO. The seed may be sown during the autumn months in shallow drills about 12in. apart. Although it is getting late ri&w yet it i:s not too late to, make a sowing. -!t was during; May that the writer sowed his seed the first year the culture of this vegetable was undertaken. It was iia a warm siuation and so the sowing was imtccessful. It would be advisable, if sowing at the present time, to also choose a warm, sheltered position. It is preferable to soak the «>eed in warm water for several hours before' sowing it as this

Boflens the tough »eed-coat and so shortens the prermmaiion period. When the gteecUings first appear iibovo the ground require protection from birds. Applications of lime may be made,, but it will be necessary to maks these at fairly frequent mtn'mls. A more permanent method .is to place -wire-netting over the need-bed, sad this is to be preferred if it Is possible. When the seedlings are large enough thsy should be thinned out to about 3in. apart in the seed-bed. This allows the plants to develop tc a good size for planting out. When about 3or 4in. across the plants are large enough to be transplanted. When they are being lif'ed out of the seed-bed groat care should ba exercised so that the roots are damaged tts little as possible The roots extend in llie soil in a horizontal direction, instead ©i m a downward direction as is usual. As this is so, it will bo advantageous to loosen up th» foil b*»tw«Vn tho rows in the seed-bed before lifting the plants. A fork is the best tool for this purpose us the hoe would be liablo to sever the Boots Planting Out,

The plants should be set out in rows about two feet apart, blowing the same dist&nco between tho plants in the rows. As spinach is such a prolific grower, the space between the plants will bo covered in a comparatively short time, by tne spreading growths. When putting the plants out care should ho taken to spread the roots out as much as possiblo instead of burying them deeply as one raiglit be inclined to do, in spite of the fact that they naturally feod near the surface, If the gardener is able to procure plants at present a planting may be made. During its development the spinach requires very little attention. As a mattei of course, all weeds should be kept down. Although the hoe may be used for this purpose in the early stages of its development, yet when the crop covers the ground hand weeding will have to be resorted to. When usmg the hoe—which (should b* of the push-hoe type—the gardener should not use the tool to any depth for fca* of damaging the roots. After the plants have established themselves thoroughly after having been transplanted. they may develop so rapidly that the food which gradually become* available from the decaying stable manure is not sufficient to satisfy their demands. If this occurs it will bo necessary to supplement the food supply bv occasional applications of artificial fertiliser. Nitrate of Sficla is a suitable fertiliser and may to applied at the rate of loz. to the square yard. If the applications be made at intervals of three weeks or so all likelihood of adjacent crops being robbed will be practically eliminated Gathering tbe Crop.

At the first picking most probably it will be necessary to pick each shoct sepnr atfly as th*ry will still be spreading over the snare intervening between the plants Later on when the space is covered ami the unrurht Intend growths are produced, it will br possible to grasp a heno.ui at t i r <, nniiPilv fIMOUt a t:rn* »nn erst it l/tir.. s. i lMi 6to 9in long, are cut. from the young eh™;* Swnl outers iriv be nwj each year. Tie shoo's may be broken oft if they a'« young and tencT. as tuej !1 th"n brittle , To prepare the shoots for conking the leaves should be stripped off. The * also may be used if they hanoen to be enough. The prepared pv.tr. *a shwnld be placed in a sancepan with very little wafer, and salt should be added. Being a succulent vegetable, spinach pro ▼idea the major portion of its cooking •water itself, the little which is synnbed being merelv to start it cooking. When boiVd until it is tender the spinach Should have a'l the moMure pressed out Of it and it is then ready to be served.