VEGETABLE PLOTS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20490, 15 February 1930, Page 5 (Supplement)

VEGETABLE PLOTS.

'ABUNDANCE OF. .WORK*

The change to fino weather and drier conditions will necessitate moro careful attention being given to growing vegetable crops. After such a long season of moist, humid conditions, the ground dries up very quickly when such crops as late-sown peas, dwarf and runner beans, lettuco, marrow and similar crops quickly feel the effects of a dry spell.

Mulching is tho best method of treating such crops, as it does much to conservo moisture, lessen the labour of watering, and in maintaining healthy growth, especially if thQ mulch is applied while thero is plenty of moisture in the soil. But while most crops aro assisted by this treatment, tho moro surface-rooting varieties, which are the first to feel the effects of dry weather, are naturally most benefited and their season of usefulness prolonged by this treatment. Although mulching may not altogether preclude the necessity for watering, it certainly assists to retain a moro genial moisturo at tho roots.

For mulching purposes, where stablo manure is not obtainable, tliO' grass clippings collected from tho lawn inako a useful substitute for tho purpose. Next to mulching, keeping a nico looso surface by deep hoeing, assists to prevent tho rapid loss of moisture by evaporation, and subsequent cracking, and also admits the warm,' moist air to the roots and assists growth. With crops that are in tho small seedling stage, hoeing certainly has to be carefully performed, as it is sometimes difficult to distinguish between weeds and the crops sown, so that hoeing should not bo done too close to the rows. The tliinningout of tho crops should bo done as soon as the plants are fairly up and begin to show their rough leaves, as tho work can then bo done without loosening or injuring tho plants left to form tho crop.

SEASONABLE SOWINGS. Advantage should still bo taken of favourable conditions to make a further sow* ing of peas and dwarf beans, while for winter and early spring use make sowings of carrots, parsnips, turnip-rooted beet, silver beet, spinach, lettuce, turnips, swedes and parsley. Also plant out celery, cabbago, cauliflower and other colworts. Carrots and parsnips sown now will come into uso during the winter. They are both excellent winter vegetables and can be grown in almost any garden soil that has been deeply and well worked. Deeplyworked soil, however, all root crops must have, if clean, well-grown roots are to be obtained.

Many of the leaf crops, such as cabbages, cauliflowers and other colworts, spinach, lettuce and similar crops, are mostly heavy feeders, and for these the land cannot well be made too rich, while a good supply of moisture must be maintained.

TOMATOES AND DISEASE. Although so many of tho early planted tomato crops suffered so severely from disease as to bo rendered almost useless, most of the later planted crops that have received reasonably good treatment, aro growing and cropping freely. Spraying, however, must in no case be neglected, as this is not only necessary to keep fungoid diseases under control, but is equally necessary for tliQ destruction of caterpillars that play such havoc with the fruit if left undisturbed. A littlo arsenate of lead, mixed with tho Bordeaux mixture, is tho most effective means of destroying these pests. Keep all side-shoots closely removed as soon as they make their and the lops of tho leaves should bo shortened back when the bunches aro formed, to allow tho sun to penetrate and ripen tho fruit. A good mulch and an occasional application of good liquid manure will bo beneficial at this stage of their growth.

LIFTING OP POTATOES. Attention must bo given to the lifting and harvesting of potatoes and other matured crops Potatoes, especially, should bo dug immediately they aro ready for lifting. Onions and shallots, too, should be pulled as soon as the bulbs mature and tho tops turn yellow and shrivel up near tho bulb, allowing them to remain on the ground with tho roots turned upwards for a short period until they are well ripened when they should be stored in a dry place. Keep a closo watch upon rock and watermelons and similar trailing plants. ft is at this timo that aphis usually attacks tho plants, and unless means aro taken to keep it in check, they increase so rapidly as to soon check ail growth. Spraying with black leaf 40 solution is an effcctivo remedy for most aphides v _

VACANT GROUND. .All vacant ground should bo deeply dug or, better still, bastard trenched at tlio same tiino burying spent annuals and harmless weeds, forking out convolvolus, sorrel and docks. Turning the ground over now exposes it to the sweetening effects of the atmosphere and by a surfaco application of agricultural lime it should be in excellent condition for further cropping*