THE KITCHEN GARDEN.

Taranaki Daily News, 8 March 1924, Page 16

THE KITCHEN GARDEN.

WORK FOR THE WEEK.

Plant out leeks; and on dry soils, in trenches prepared as for celery. Finish planting celery, and in the absence of a manure supply, both for this crop and leeks, choose a site that was well manured for a recent crop of peas or beans. If it is found on excavating the trenches that the old manure is close to the surface, place the top spit on one side, and take out the lower one, placing it on the opposite side to that which was taken out first. This should then be returned, and, if available, a dressing of soot and wood ashes may be worked into it with advantage. After planting, give the trenches a good soaking if the weather is dry. Sow carrots and parsnips as soon as possible for late winter and spring use. With carrots, dust a small quantity of wood ashes into the drills before sowing. Ground that was liberally manured for recent crops of cabbage, cauliflower or potatoes, on being deeply dug, will make a capital site for carrots and parsnips. On favourable positions, a final sowing of beetroot should be made before the middle of the month. The site recommended for carrots and parsnips will suit this crop also. Before sowing, apply a dressing of salt along the proposed site of the drills, and rake it evenly into the surface soil. In localities where sowings of cauliflower, cabbage and savoys succeed at this season, seed should be put in now. The gardener, however, must decide for himself how far this is permissible as owing to the very dry season insect pests are more greatly in evidence than has been the case for many years, and to sow now in badly infested areas is merely to court failure. In the majority of gardens, it would probably be advisable to postpone sowing operations until after the "fly” season.

Where broccoli, cabbage, etc., have withstood attacks from, insects well enough, to be worth persevering with, copious waterings should be given in dry weather, alternating these with applications of liquid manure. Earthing up, and the frequent stirring of the soil about the plants will also assist them materially. Any decayed or badly riddled outer leaves should be removed.

On the day previous to sowing radish, if the weather is dry, saturate the ground with water, and before putting in the seed, rake a dressing of superphosphate into the surface soil. Sow 'thinly, and cultivate frequently with the hoe when the seedlings are through the ground. Cucumbers, marrows, and pumpkins, revelling in the favourable season, in many instances have made an excessive vine growth at the expense of the fruits. Plants in this’condition should be immediately stopped by pinching out the ends of the long, trailing shoots. Where access to the plants can be gained with the hoe or fork, continue to stir the soil regularly about the roots; also give water when needful, but be sparing in its use on marrows and pumpkins that are ripening their fruits. Hoeing is invaluable in forwarding, the growth of crops at this season, and the implement should be kept going regularly on all plots, whether under crop or vacant. Some advantages of the practice are these: it keeps down weeds, cheeks evaporation, and the escape of heat from the soil, and consequently conduces to rapid growth.