VEGETABLE CROPS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21314, 15 October 1932, Page 8 (Supplement)

VEGETABLE CROPS

SEASONAL WORK The harsh wind experienced during the early part of tho week has necessitated special attention being given to earthing up crops with tho view of protecting as much as possible such varieties as peas, beans, cabbage, potatoes and similar crops from being swayed about and loosened. In exposod situations, particularly, a good earthing up as soon as the plants are sufficiently advanced, assists greatly to steady the stems, and prevents them being blown about and their growth checked. With the early potato crops especially, it is a very important operation, for when tho sets are planted about threo or slightly more inches below the surface, well earthing up is essential for tho protection of the young tubers, as well as assisting to steady and protect the foliage. This, too, is the best time to use artificial fertilisers, applying a sprinkling along each side of tho row before the soil is drawn up. STAKING PEAS AND BEANS The early staking of peas and runner beans should receive attention, as this in some measure assists to protect the plants. Peas, in any case, invariably make much inoro rapid growth after they have been properly staked, and even the dwarf-growing varieties succeed better when staked. To keep up a supply make successional sowings about every three weeks, and follow tho same practice with dwarf varieties of beans. Make further sowings of carrots, spinach, beet. Tho blood-red turniprooted variety is an excellent beet for table use. Also sow silver beet, lettuce, leek and other plants for salad purposes. A sowing of leeks made now will provide plants ready for planting out early in January. r EARLY SOWN CELERY Early sown celery should be pricked out into boxes, as soon as the plants are largo enough handle. In preparing the boxes place a layer of well decomposed manure in the bottom of tho box, and fill with fine, rich soil. In pricking out, place the plants at least threo inches apart, so that when ready for transplanting they can be lifted with a fair quantity of earth attached to the roots. It is essential that they should-be grown in rich soil, and should be kept moderately moist and well supplied with artificial fertilisers, particularly with nitrogen. No gopd celery can be grown unless the plants are kept healthy and grown freely from the start, and this can only bo accomplished by proper manuring and attention to watering in warm, dry weather. TOMATOES POINTS FOR ATTENTION From this time onward tomatoes may be planted with every prospect of success, providing the plants have been well hardened before planting out. Ono of tho chief difficulties in tomato culture is that the plants are often much subject to disease, and fgr this reason need to bo frequently sprayed from the time of planting until tho fruit is matured, A good plan when planting out is to have a Bordeaux mixture at hand, and to dip each plant, to assist in destroying any germs of disease that may be upon tho plants at that time. Tf the plants have grown tall before planting the best method of planting is to lay the plants down leaving only about three, or at most, four inches of the top growth above the soil. The object is to induce the first bunch of fruits to form as near the ground as possible, and for this reason they should not be planted in vcrv rich soil, as it only tonds to promote leaf and stem extension instead of fruit fulness. Tomatoes will succeed well in almost any garden soil that has not been heavily enriched with manure. It is after the fruit bunches have been formed and a few of i lie bunches have set fruits, that stimulating food is required to enable the plants to develop their crops. If trained on single stems, which is far the best method of culture, especially when only a limited quantity are grown, the plants can be set out in rows three feet, apart and 18in. apart in the rows. This is the simplest method of culture as it means confining tho growth and fruit to the one stem, and is the easiest method of keeping the growth under control. NEW ANNUALS SOUTH AFRICAN VARIETIES Ursinia Anethoides, a brilliant orangecoloured daisy-like annual from the Capo of Good Hope, is a valuable addition and a striking feature in summer bedding arrangements. Tho dwarf plants are well furnished with finely-cut foliage above which riso the orange flowers measuring over 2in. in diameter, each with a deep purple zono around the centre. The flowers are borne on long wiry stems and are excellent for cutting. Unlike many other South African daisy-like flowers that close early they remain open until nearly dark. Ursinia grows to about Ift high. Well established plants, raised in plant trays, and bedded out during this month, mako jfi most effective summer display. It makes a good pot plant for tho greenhouse. Venidium fastuosum, from the Cape of Good Hope, is a magnificent annual with rich orange-coloured daisy.like flowers with a purplish-black zone at the base of tho petals. The flowers average from 4in. to sin. across and make a most striking display in iho border. Plant singly as they attain a height of from 2ft. to 3ft. and are of a spreading habit.Heliophila *is another charming new annual from tho Cape Colony, with pretty blue white-eyed flowers which are freely produced on long flower stems. This annual has been giown and flowered freely in Auckland. When grown in masses it is very attractive, while as a pot plant in a cool greenhouse, it «how 3 to advautage.