VEGETABLE CROPS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 75, Issue 118, 21 May 1932, Page 7 (Supplement)

VEGETABLE CROPS

SEASONABLE WORK. Asparagus should by this time have sufficiently riped their tops to be cut down. This is best done as soon as the tops turn brown and befqre the seeds ripen and fall, otherwise the seeds become scattered over the beds and numbers of seedlings spring up, and if allowed to grow, soon weaken the main plants. Keeping the beds free from weeds, too, is at this time important, the fact of the soil being well enriched with manure naturally results in the more rapid growth of weeds, which, if allowed to develop unchecked, soon extract much of the food properties from the soil. During the growing season little can be done in the way of hoeing, on account of the risk of destroying the tops of the young shoots. Even after the season is over and the tops are cut down, the same difficulty exists, as there is still the danger of injuring the crowns, unless the work is very carefully performed. Value of Cultivation. In wcll-estabilished asparagus beds, where the crowns are almost touching each other, the use of the small hand fork for loosening the soil and hand weeding, is the safest method. Even among ordinary garden crops weeding at this season is no easy matter, for in almost every instance weeds grow much more rapidly than sown or planted crops. If allowed to develop, they soon weaken the crops. Weeds, however, have certainly one redeeming fea--1 turc in that they compel cultivation and soil stirring that might otherwise be neglected. Frequent deep hoeing or light digging between growing crops is almost as important as manure, and cannot too often be performed whjn soil conditions are unfavourable. Even the most casual observer cannot fail to notice the contrast in the growth of ; crops growing where good cultivation is practised to those growing in neglected i and unbroken soil.

Strawberry Plots. Strawberry plots that have been thoroughly worked and made as free irom weeds as possible, should now be planted. The ground for these should have had a good dressing of manure, well incorporated in the soil, some time previous to planting. The best plants to select arc healthy, well-rooted young runners. The first and second runners formed nearest the parent plants invariably form the strongest crowns. Arrange the rows two feet apart, and the plants in the rows al>out 12in. apart. The best-time to plant is when the soil is moderately moist. In planting spread the roots out evenly, special care being taken to keep the crowns level or slightly above the surface, and to well firm the soil. Potato Onions and Shallots. Where potato onions are grown the bulbs should be procured and*planted during the present month. At this time the bulbs are practically dormant, and succeed better than when planted after the bulbs have started into growth. They are of easy cultivation and succeed well in any good garden soil that has been well worked and manured for a previous crop. For early use they arc a profitable crop to grow, as they are invariably matured before the ordinary sown and transplanted onions have developed their I bulbs. The rows should be arranged ; from 20in. to two feet, and the bulbs in the rows placed lOin. to 12in. apart, -ingle sets being planted. After plant ing the next important thing is hoeing and keeping the plants free from weeds. This naturally requires care, or the use of the hoe may easily cut and damage the bulbs. Shallots, arc serviceable fur early use. These are best planted in rows 1-in. to Isiu apart, the bulbs being arranged eight to nine inches apart in rhe rows. In planting press the bulbs into the soil until about three-fourths of the bulb is covered. These, too. su>••j.ed best planted in soil that has previously been well worked and manured. Broad Beans. Broad beans, if not already sown, can • be put in any time from now until i early spring. The advantage of antnmr sown crops, however, is that

they invariably set fairly good pods as they flower and set much of their fruit, before the bumble Lee is sufficiently numerous to destroy the blossoms. This nest, is chiefly the cause of unfruit fulnes- with the vegetables, as it punci.ures the floxvers so that its fertilising properties are destroyed. Another advantage of autumn-sown plants is that they set and develop much of their crop before the aphis attacks the olant«s. •Shortening back the stems in spring as soon as the plants are advanced assists Io destroy these, and onC,mirage pods to form well down rm the stems.