“GROWING” COMPETITION.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18938, 7 December 1929, Page 18 (Supplement)

“GROWING” COMPETITION.

Open to All Children. rpHE GROWING COMPETITION does not refer to the number of inches a c hild can grow, but to the vegetables he or she grows for neoct winter. Over £2O is being awarded in prizes. These are two classes:— JUNIOR —Under eleven years. SENIOR —Under sixteen years. It is not yet too late to enter, though no time must be lost in planting: out the tomato plants, or putting in the pumpkin seed. Four vegetables only are to be entered. For the first competition either a tomato or a pumpkin must be shown, which will be judged the last Saturday in March at the “ Star ” Office. Three vegetables, one of which must be a lettuce, will be judged the last Saturday in June, July and August respectively, at the “ Star" Office HINTS FOR CULTIVATION. Tomatoes should be carefully, though not too tightly, tied to a stake, as they must be kept upright and not allowed to bend. Keep the soil well stirred round the stem, to encourage growth. Pumpkin plants need the soil to be kept well stirred. With warm weather after the rain they will make great growth. Remember to nota the weeks it takes, from the day you put in the seed, till the first flower appears, and also how long it takes before you eat your first pumpkin or tomato. What you observe about the plant’s growth will be interesting to put in your essay. Leeks. —The ground must be deeply dug, and will be all the better it you add rotted compost, stable manure or a very little artificial manure to the soil, when it is being dug. After digging, thoroughly water the length of the prepared pit. Leave it for a day, then run the hoe through it, to break the crust. Make holes- every six or eight inches, drop one plant in each hole, and thoroughly water it. Celery seedlings should be planted out in the same way. It is essential for them to be put in well-worked-up rich sod. The trench or prepared ground must be well watered, both the day before planting, and also directly after planting. The seedlings should be planted one foot apart. Cabbage seed may be sown straight away, so as to be ready to plant out in April for the June competitions. Other varieties may be sown in January, and they would be ready to plant out in May for the July or August competition. Broccoli (winter cauliflower) seeds should be planted straight away, if you are showing it for the June competition. If you are growing it for the July competition then plant the seed in January, if for August the seed need not go in till February. It is most important for the seed bed to have the soil very thoroughly broken up and very fine. The seed must be sown very thinly. As seed packets often contain a great number of seeds, it is a good plan for two or three to share one packet. Lettuce, N.Z. spinach, and *mustard and cress must not be planted for the competitions till next year. Each Saturday’s paper will publish short notes to help you grow your vegetables. # Juniors only.