VEGETABLE CROPS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVII, Issue 20722, 15 November 1930, Page 5 (Supplement)

VEGETABLE CROPS.

NECESSITY OF WARMTH. More unfavourable weather for the sowing and raising of many of the more tender crops, such as cucumbers, rock, water and pie melons, kumaras, sweet corn, eggplants, haricot beans and other tender crops has seldom been experienced, lri ordinary se.Ysons many of theso crops sown in October arc successfully raised, and are often well advanced in growth by this time. This season, however, even where raised under the most favourable conditions, the plants havo had little chanco to succeed, for almost from the time of sowing the seed until tho present the, heavy rains and cold state of (he soil has proved anything but conducive to healthy growth. With heat-loving subjects little is gained by sowing or planting until there is plenty of heat in tho ground, as nearly all of theso require to be grown without cheek from tho time the seedlings are raised. In such seasons plants raised early in the present month, when more favourable conditions prevail, will often overtake and produce more healthy, vigorous growth than those earlier sown. All earlier-sown plots should bo carefully looked over, and, when any of tho seeds have failed, be resown, while even sickly plants are belter to be pulled out and fresh seed planted. Such crops as kumaras, egg-plants, Capo gooseberries, capsicums, tomatoes, sweet corn, lima beans, and similar tender crops may be sown and planted any time up to the end of the present month. In the cultivation of spring and summer crops, not only does tho "ground require to bo deeply and well broken up, and provided with requisite food, but from the time the plants arc raised until ready for use frequent cultivation, or soil stirring, is necessary to ensuro healthy growth. At this season a dry spell is liable to set in at any time, and the more deeply tho ground is broken up and manured the longer the moisture will be retained. There is no comparison between crops grown in well-cultivated soil, where the air and warmth can freely penetrate, with those growing in soil with a hard, unbroken surface and deprived of (he elements that aro so essential to healthy root growth.