SEASONAL PLANTINGS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21248, 30 July 1932, Page 11

SEASONAL PLANTINGS

FRUIT AND VEGETABLES MORE STRAWBERRY GROWERS ACTIVITIES IN GLASSHOUSES Plantings of strawberry plants in and near Auckland have now been completed and smallholders are making preparations for the planting of early peas, onions and early potatoes. Glasshouses have been planted with hothouse tomatoes, and it is expected that this crop will be marketed earlier than usual this year. Tho planting of strawberries this year has been above the average, and over 3,500.000 plants were set out. Establishment has not been good, and it. is anticipated that at least 500,000 plants have already been lost. Tho remaining plants are looking well considering tho time of tho year, lint it is yet too early to anticipate next season's output. Among the plants which have flourished there has so far been no evidence of tho mortality which has been evident at this ti. ic of the year during past seasons. Planting has taken place in tho same area as last year, but the number of growers has increased, possibly owing to many smallholders having decided to utilise all available land for profit owing to tho depression. Plantings of the Marguerite variety have been more frequent than those of the Captain Cook species, which has been comparatively neglected. The Marguerite type gives a larger output. Strawberries are rarely on the market before November 1. Smallholders are now marketing cabbages, cauliflowers and root vegetables, for which low prices aro ruling at present. Preparations arc forward for the sowing of early peas, onions and early potatoes. Onions have been planted in excess of last year's supply, but the indications are that sowings of potatoes will be only average, or even slightly less. Tho good winter experienced so far should favour early peas, which are expected to flourish. All tho glasshouses near Auckland have been planted with hothouse tomatoes, which normally come on the market from October to Christmas. While there have not been as many new glasshouses erected as last season, many extensions have been made, while many structures have been equipped with new heating apparatus in an endeavour to bring forward fruit earlier than usual. Nurserymen report that plantings of apple and pear trees have been small, while there has been an average planting of stone fruit, mainly of peaches and plums. There has been a good demand for lemon trees, but a decrease in the numbers of sweet and poorman orange trees. Shipments of citrus trees have recently been made from Australia for planting at settlements in the Far North, a district which markets its fruit chiefly in Auckland.