VEGETABLE CROPS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20620, 19 July 1930, Page 5 (Supplement)

VEGETABLE CROPS.

WINTER'S LIMITED WORK. Another week, and still the ground is too sodden and cold for sowing and planting without tho risk of failures. Much, of course, depends upon the character of tho soil, and tho cultural methods adopted In light, deep, alluvial soil, for instance, greater success with early crops is invariably attained than on land of a stiffer retentive nature. Situations, too, vary greatly in its adaptability for growing early crops. In some of the most favourable positions many of tho more tender crop? can bo successfully grown almost throughout tho whole winter. Success in vegetable culture depends in a very large degree upon the condition of tho soil and tho cultural treatment given during the growth of the crops. Vegetables make heavier demands upon tho soil than most other plants, and where successional crops are sown, and continuous crops have to be maintained, plant food must bo kept supplied to the soil, as well as rniinurial assistance judiciously applied. Where this, and good cultivation is practiced, there is no reason, even in small gardens, why a supply of such crops as cabbages, cauliflowers, turnips, carrots, beet, silver beet, spinach, celery and leeks should not be maintained throughout the winter. For raising young plants of cabbage, cauliflower, lettuce and onions, required for later transplanting, slightly-raised beds are still an advantage for sowing. Early sowings of such crops as carrot, turnips, beet and spinach, will also succeed better upon raised beds. In making successional sowing, however, the period the various crops require to develop must be taken into consideration. Such crops, for instance, as carrots, parsnips, beet, onions, cabbage, cauliflower, etc., whoso season of usefulness extends over a fairly long period, will not require the same successional sowings as with peas beans, lettuce, spinach, turnips, radishes, mustard cress, and others that mature moro quickly, and that require to bo sown at intervals of a few weeks to maintain a succession.