Vegetable Supplies

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIV, Issue 22819, 28 August 1937, Page 10 (Supplement)

Vegetable Supplies

From the oiul or August, through Septenibor and October, work in the vegetable garden accumulates at an alarming rate. If the soil is in good condition and a system of taking all things in order is followed, there need bo no congestion, and all crops will be progressing in rotation. This season tliero will bo arrears to bo made up. It has been impossible to sow seeds while the soil was in such wet condition. An unbroken supply of vegetables can bo obtained for a small household by a succession of small sowings. Fortnightly batches of lettuce are of first importance; this will ensure crisu hearts, and will counteract the losses through "running" to seed. Summer spinach is a fine catch crop to sow between rows of peas. Small sowings of, say, one row of appreciable length at intervals of three Weeks should produce a supply of succulent foliage. Spinach is liable to "run" in drv weather, and some growers prefer to sow the prickly seeded variety all the year round as it stands longer. Small sowings of the round beetroot should he made at intervals throughout the season. and this applic with equal force to turnips. Young roots are the best flavoured and the most wholesome. Young carrots are always assured of a welcome, and an early quick maturing variety should he sown first, followed a month later by a maincrop variety. Anothei sowing in February will provide young roots late in tho season. Parsnips require an early starj if they are to do well, but the soil shoe.! ! bo in a good friable condition, as the seed is thin and papery. For the earliest sowings select tho most sheltered places; choice of situation and careful successional planting should result in aii unbroken supply of really serviceable produce.