VEGETABLE CROPS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21112, 20 February 1932, Page 8 (Supplement)

VEGETABLE CROPS.

WORK AFTER THE RAIN. After the long spell of dry weather the welcome rains that have fallen during the past week have sufficiently moistened the soil to allow of sowing and planting of crops for late autumn and winter use. This, however, particularly applies to ground that has been previously well broken up and prepared, for although the rains have been by no means sufficient to penetrate deep into solid unbroken ground, soil that, has been deeply dug and well broken lias been sufficiently moistened to allow of sowing and planting being resumed. Seeds sown when the soil is in its present condition germinate quickly and usually succeed well, as there is not the same risks as the season advances of its being affected by dry weather as earlier sown crops. Raising and growing crops successfully during the summer is always attended with risks, more especially where a reasonable supply of water is not obtainable, bub if anything like a succession of fresh vegetables is to be maintained such risks must be taken. Seeds sown during the dry weather often remain dormant for weeks for the want of moistuie, while others that have started into growth remain almost stationary from the same cause. Root crops, such as carrots, parsnips, beet, turnips, often become unusable after a dry spell, as they almost at' once start to make secondary root growth as soon as the soil becomes moistened, which soon renders them hard and unfit for use, and is the chief reason why a further sowing of these crops should be made. Before starting to sow the ground should be again well dug, or forked over, and broken up finely for the reception of the seeds, for in addition to the crops mentioned sowing should be made of dwarf beans, silver beet, spinach, lettuce, turnips, parsley, leek 3 and other crops. SEASONABLE PLANTINGS. riant out cabbages, cauliflowers, savoy 1 cabbage, Brussel sprouts and other colworts. For these, as well as most other leaf plants, the ground cannot well bo made too rich, while a good supply of moisture must be maintained. For carrots and parsnips deeply worked ground that has previously been manured for other crops is the best, no fresh manure being used at the time of sowing. For general household use Manchester table and intermediate are useful varieties. ior small gardens or where the soil is not of a deep nature the former variety is best. Parsnips are longer in developing their crops, but when grown in deeply worked ground they remain in a useful condition over a long period. These are naturally deep-rooting plants, often penetrating 18 inches to two feet or even more in the soil, so that to obtain really fine clean roots the soil requires to be well broken up quite to that depth. Ground that has been previously manured for potatoes, onions or similar crops usually retains sufficient food properties to grow parsnips successfully. SUCCESSION OF TURNIPS. Turnips are naturally rapid growing and are usually the first to mature, as they require a rich soil and are at no time more useful for table than when grown quickly. To keep up a succession sowings should bo made at intervals of about four or five weeks. Spinach is a crop that by judicious and sowings may bo had in use almost throughout the year. This crop succeeds best, qnd continues to crop oyer a longer period, when grown in good rich soil. The summer variety can still be sown with every prospect of success, though for the latest sowings the prickly or winter spinach i 3 the safest variety to sow. In sowing or planting lettuce the soil should be given the best possible treatment in order to have tjie plants ready for use in as short a time as possible. The more quickly the plants are grown the better, and they cannot well be placed in too rich a soil. For summer treatment they succeed better when allowed' to develop where sown, as when transplanted, unless placed in very rich soil and kept well supplied with moisture, numbers run to seed instead of forming good heads. MATURING CROPS. All crops that are matured should be at once lifted. Potatoes that have ripened should be dug without delay, for after such a long dry spell matured tubers quickly start again into growth as soon as the soil becomes moistened. Onions, shallots and garlic, as soon as the bulbs have fully developed and the foliage begins to decay, should be pulled up. As soon as sufficiently dried and "ripened they should be stored in a dry airy place. Early planted celery arid leeks that have keen kept well supplied with moisture should now h,ive become well established and should be making healthy growth. Dwarf and runner beans,' too, that have received reasonable attention in watering continue to give good crops, and are among the most useful crops in the garden. The runner varieties particularly continue to crop freely if given an occasional soaking with liquid manure. ll is after such a long dry spell that the revivifying effects of a good natural rainfall are most apparent, numbers of plants that have remained practically at a standstill again starting into active growth.