THE GARDEN

Star (Christchurch), Issue 17906, 23 July 1926, Page 13

THE GARDEN

KITCHEN GARDEN. Seeds to Sow.—Broccoli, cabbage, capsicum, carrot, cauliflower, lettuce, parsle}-, peas, spinach, tomato and turnip. What to Plant.—Cabbage, cauliflower, garlic, potatoes, rhubarb, seakale, shallots. Work in gardens must be carried on as weather permits, but with lengtheningVlays there will be greater activity in seed sowing and planting. Local conditions must guide with both seed sowing and planting, because there are such great differences in districts that it is impossible to give one list of suitable dates. Where, however, the soil has been thoroughly prepared during the winter it is worth while taking a little risk to secure early supplies of vegetables. If in' doubt let the first seeding be on a small scale, and make a bigger one later on. Broccoli.—Make two sowings of this important crop, one now and another in about a fortnight. Cabbage sown now will come on very fast. Select varieties that form hearts quickly,' so that the crop is used before the cabbage fly is prevalent. Carrots. —Sow Early Horn in a warm, well-drained position and make only a small sowing. Young tender roots are infinitely preferable to large, hard ones. Two other lots of seed can be put in to secure a succession of young, tender roots. Garlic should be planted in good soil. Put the sets two inches deep, and if more than one row put the rows ten inches apart. Parsley should be Sown in good ground, in an open situation. Manure the soil, and when the seedlings have two rough leaves thin them out, leaving the plants ten inches apart. Parsnips should be raised as early as

WORK FOR ALL SEASONS

possible, as late crops are seldom profitable. Before sowing the seed, make sure that the ground has had a thorough preparation by forking it over several times, to sweeten it. Avoid fresh stable manure. Do not put the seed in wet soil. This is fatal to this soft seed, causing it to rot. Draw shallow drills, one inch deep, early in the morning, and leave them open until late in the afternoon to give the sun and air time to warm and dry the soil in the drills. Then sow the seeds, in clumps of three or four, nine or ten inches apart, and as the seedlings grow remove all but the strongest. Peas may be freely sown from this date on. Don’t leave the plants in a crowded condition. When making the drill, take the soil out two or three inches deep the full width of the blade of your spade. Then scatter the seed sparingly over this wide drill. The plants will have plenty of room, and will get strong at their base; also they will need fewer stakes owing to their strong haulm. Spinach is ever welcome in late spring and early summer. Sow liberally, because if you raise too much it can be dug out. It is a splendid greenmanure, and takes but little from the soil. Potatoes for early use can be planted in sheltered positions. Select the early varieties, and make provision for covering them when there are signs of frost. Shallots should be planted early in August. These roots are generally kept out of the ground too late in the spring. Early planting is necessary to secure good, large bulbs. Select wellshaped bulbs and plant them in good soil nine inches apart in the row and two inches deep.