FRUIT AND VEGETABLES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22223, 25 September 1935, Page 18

FRUIT AND VEGETABLES

SETBACKS TO EARLY CROPS LATE STRAWBERRY SEASON Owing to the generally unfavourable weather being experienced in the Auckland district, the prospects for early fruits and vegetables are anything but bright. The strawberry crop is likely to be affected more than any other, and the forecast made some weeks ago that this fruit will be at least three weeks late coming on the market was probably an underestimate. But for the spell of warm sunshine last week, which accounted for a fully 50 iter cent improvement in the plants, a still greater delay would have been experienced. Growers have recently worked n an application of manure but on the whole the plants are not large enough for mulching, an operation that was completed at this time last year. The spurs which lear the fruit are now just beginning to make their appearance, and fully six weeks must elapse before tho fruit is ready for market even in small quantities. Last year they were on sale by the middle of October. Tomatoes, which also form a considerable local crop, still very much at the luxury stage, with only two or three cases a week coming on to the market. The present high price is the result of their having to be grown under glass by steam heat. The main glasshouse crop, which is due in early November, is coming along very satisfactorily. At present many growers in the Otahuhu and Mangere districts have their plants for outdoor use in very forward condition and are holding them in boxes awaiting the first favourable opportunity for planting out. Generally the outlook is better than it was last year and the first produce should be ready early in December. Another crop that has been seriously affected by the recent weather is that of early green peas. Usually these are well advanced at this period, but this year the tender young plants have received such a serious setback from rain, wind and cold temperatures that the early output is likely to be nonexistent. Orchard fruits have suffered less than field crops and blossoming has been excellent. There is some doubt whether two recent- frosts did any damage to plurp flowers at a critical period but nectarines and peaches appear to have stood up to conditions well. At present every indication is for large crops, though much depends on the absence of a cold spell in the next week or so.