BLANCHING VEGETABLES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20242, 30 April 1929, Page 5

BLANCHING VEGETABLES.

CROPS TO BE TREATED. Apart from celery (mentioned recently ) Micro arc other crops which require to he blanched. Endive is one of these Blanching should be commenced as soon as tlio plants have made a fair amount of growth. .As tho wliole «£op will net be required at one. time the blanching of tho plants should bo carried out in succession, or two or three may be treated each week.

To blanch endive tho foliage should be flattened out from (he centre and a piece of slafe or wood placed on the plant so that only the ends of the leaves urv showing. .All tho central, covered portion will be bleached in a fairly short time and ready for use. ...

Tho leek is another crop to which blanching is applied, the object in this case being to increase the useful portion of the plants. Except when the plants have not attained their full size the only part that can be used is tho " stem/' which is formed of the fleshy bases of <llo leaves. 'J'lic top part of tho leaves is too tough to be used. By increasing the amount of the fleshy part the crop is augmented. It will be remembered that leeks -are planted about five inches deep, either m a trench oi in dibbled holes. This, as the soil fills in around them, gives a stem of fivo inches which may bo increased by drawing up moro soil around the leeks at suitable intervals when Iho soil is in a favourable condition. Tho same precautions with respect to keeping the soil out of the centres of the plants and earthing up with wot soil, should bo taken as when dealing with celsry.