THE GARDEN

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17080, 29 June 1923, Page 11

THE GARDEN

WORK FOR ALL SEASONS

KITCHEN GARDEN. Seeds to Sow .—Broad beans, cab bage, cauliflower, lettuce, spinach, , tomato (in heat). What to plant.—Cabbage, cauliflowers, horse radish. Garden work is governed by weather conditions which must guide us in all outsido operations however anxious we may bo to sow seeds or set out roots. This work should bo done when the suiiace soil is fairly dry. All seed sowing needs great care, and all early sowing*should be made on light, < rich, well drained land. Salad plants, cabbage, carrots, peas, beans, etc., never come in too early and as the first supplies are appreciated the most this often eiu« images growers to take some risk with early sowings. Walls and fences on tho south and west of early crops ward off the. coldest winds and if the soil is made higher at tho south, it will lay to the sun, getting the maximum of sunshine. and from which tho surplus .rain water will easily drain away. This is a big factor when raising early crops, because if tho surplus water cannot get away quickly the soil for a few inches ui depth becomes sodden, and quite unkt for tho roots of early crops. To avoid this put in a little extra labour, in making up borders, for early sowings Broad beans may bo sown in quantity if they ere wanted; but don’t plant one more than is nccessaiy. These plants arc profitable only on i ich ground. They will grow' anywhere, but to get good beans the plants must have good soil and plenty of manure Cabbage should be sown to give a batch of -,-o in; plants for transplanting ill August. On .fcages «t« ever welcome if they are tender and free iron, blight. For small gardens the most useful" are tlic small but early maturing varieties. The bigger varieties need much greater length of time to seeds make better plants if raised under glass during July. As they should never suffer a check provision should be made to raise the first batch under cover. Cucumbers need heat, and should be sown on o liot-bed if tbe plants are to develop their crops in a glass house. Prepare a small hot-bed in the house, and- put one seed in a four inch pot half filled with sandy loam. When the plants form the first rough leaf, piepare a quantity of heavier compost and fill tho pots. The young plants will form roots on the stem you cover wit 1 soil and soon become strong. '' hue they are growing in the frame, prepare a quantity of manure and leaves, by turning the heap several times to prevent too violent fermentation- Tho more the materials are turned and shaken together, the greater the lengt i of time the heaps will give heat after the plants are put on them. If only

one plant is io be grown in a frame, raise it in a small frame and. prepare the materials for the larger frame wkio the plants are growing. Tomatoes, like cucumbers, are hea» loving plants, Seeds sown during July should be put in a gentle heat. Estimate the number oi plants you require and count the seeds, sowing about 20 per cent more seeds than plants required to make sure of getting tho number of plants wanted. Lettuces, will soon be wanted m quan tity. Therefore make several sow ings during this month. Put out sowing in a glasshouse, another in a cold frame, and do not let the wee seedlings become crowded. If you raise more than you want give then away, or if no one wants them givthem to the poultry or the birds in an aviary. In fact, dispose of tnem in any way to prevent those nci wanted spoiling those that are required. Prompt thinning of the seedling plants is absolutely necessary. If the plants are crowded together for a. time they suffer such injury that they never recover, no matter what careful or generous attentions they rcceivo later. These succulent plants need ample space to develop from tho time tbe seeds eprout until each arrives at maturity. Peas.—Put the early varieties in the warmest quarters. Do not crowd the plants, but see that each plant is quite apart from the others. Some seed of early varieties arc on the small side, especially the round seeded varieties, but these need quite as much room as do the larger seeds. Better crops are secured from peas when each plant has plenty of room To avoid §Lhe risks from crowding, plant the peas six inches apart. This i 3 excellent practice and is commended to readers. Radishes are valued at all times when they are good ; but too often this vegetablo receives little attention. Radishes need good soil, plenty of room, and constant supplies of water. Givo them these three conditions and good results will bo obtained. Spinach.—Make a sowing when the surface soil is dry enough to work on without its sticking to your boots. One can hardly raise too much spinach. As it serves as a change green vegetable. If too much has been raised dig in what is not required as manure. Spinach is one of the best of fertilising agents we have in the garden and ono of the best vegetables tor the kitchen. Potatoes.—lf one can provide some protective material to shelter the haulm from late frosts, or possesses a live fence of macrocarpa, a few potatoes may be soon planted. Perhaps tho best method is to fasten a few hoards at front and back and cover tlio potatoes every night until the risk of frosts is over.