VEGETABLE CROPS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21414, 11 February 1933, Page 8 (Supplement)

VEGETABLE CROPS

BENEFIT OF LATE RAINS, After such a prolonged dry spell the .effects of the splendid rains just experienced is at once apparent upon all vegetation. The revivifying effects of a warm rain upon crops that were languishing for the want of moisture is most marked, though, unfortunately, many crops, unless where water has been freely applied, were practically beyond recovery. The advice given from time to time regarding digging and breaking up of the ground during the dry weather is exemplified after a few heavy showers, as the soil quickly becomes moistened to a sufficient depth to allow of immediate sowing and planting. Even stiff soils that have been roughly broken up become more easily workable until a nice fine surface is obtained. Hard, unbroken soils, on the other hand, invariably result in the ground forming large cracks through which the rains filter through, leaving the spaces between practically dry. Soils left in such condition would take several days of steady rain before it" would be' sufficiently moistened for cropping. SOWING AND PLANTING The sowing and planting out of crops for autumn and winter use should at once be proceeded with. The planting of cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli ana other colworts should be made. The chief difficulty at. this season is to procure plants free from the cabbage fly (or aphis), but whether the plants are affected or not it is always advisable to dip the plants in an arsenate of lead solution before planting. This will adhere to the foliage, particularly on the underside of the leaves, where the plants are at first attacked, and will assist to protect them until the plants become established. Most of the brassica family are very gross feeders, so that the gtound for these should be well enriched with manure. LATE PEAS AND BEANS Although somewhat late for planting peas and beans to make sure of a crop, a sowing made-in well-manured and prepared soil is worth the-risk, as a reasonably good crop is often obtained if favourable weather is experienced. In sowing for a late crop the most successful method is to open out a trench and place in a good layer of well-rotted manure or decayed vegetable matter, and after covering with sufficient soil for sowing, leaving the trench slightly below the surrounding surface for the convenience of watering, earthing up, etc. SEASONABLE SOWINGS Sowings should be made of carrots, parsnips, turnips, garden swedes, turnip rooted beets, spinach, lettuce and other seasonable crops, while for colder districts where winter lgttuce will not succeed a sowing of endive should be made. For root crops such as carrots and parsnips deeply-worked ground thathas previously been manured and from which a crop has been taken is the best, but no fresh manure should be used at this time of sowing, as it induces forked instead of straight, clean roots to form. For general household use the variety Manchester table carrot is one of the most useful to grow. TURNIPS AND SPINACH Turnips are best when grown quickly so that a fairly rich soil is necessary. Sowings of these should be made at reasonable intervals, and only sufficient should be sown at one time to meet requirements.' Spinach, too, requires a fairly, rich soil, as the foliage is larger and of better flavour when grown quickly. Although at this season salads are much in demand owing to the long dry spell, the growing of good lettuce is somewhat difficult. As the season ad-' varices, however, further sowings and plantings made in well-manured and prepared ground should give better results. Fortunately cucumbers and tomatoes are plentiful, and are much in request for salad purposes and should have every attention in order to lengthen their season of production. ' LIFTING AND HARVESTING Special attention must be given to the lifting and harvesting of crops. Potatoes, especially, should be dug as soon as ready for lifting as in moist weather they remain but a little while inactive. If allowed to start again into growth, their keeping qualities are impaired. Onions and shallots for the same reason should be pulled and stored. Tomatoes are now ripening rapidly. In saving any of the fruit for seed, special care should be taken in the fruit selected. The fruit should not be taken from plants that are in any way affected with disease, while the most perfect fruit of the bestcropping and best-flavoured varieties should be selected. 'TRENCHES AND SPACES . 1° preparing for sowing or planting a line should always be used for drawing the drills or for transplanting for apart from obtaining a more neat, tidy appearance, space is by this means economised. For most of the dwarfer-growing crops, such as carrots, turnips, beet, parsnips, spinach and similar crops, the rows should be from 12in. to 15in. apart, according to the varieties sown. The stronger-grow-ing varieties, such as parsnips and turnips should be allowed the full width. This distance between the rows allows ample space for hoeing, weeding and thinning of the crops as well as for the development of the plants as they advance in growth.