HOME GARDENS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 12, Issue 39, 20 April 1948, Page 6

HOME GARDENS

(By J. W. Goodwin, N.D.H. (N.Z.), F.R.H.S., Massey Agricultural College.) Recently • I discussed the first stages in the change-over from this year’s rotation to that desired for next season. Plot No. 1 contained potatoes last season and was well manured. Next season it will contain root crops, which prefer a wellconditioned soil that was manured for a previous crop. Carrots and beetroot were sown here in February for spring use, and onions for use from November onwards were sown in March. In milder districts these may still he sown if this has not already been done. Plot No.. 2, which was planted last season in root crops, will still contain main crops of parsnips, carrot, beet and perhaps swedes for winter use. These should be , cleaned up and the surface hoed; it is much too early to lift them. Main crop onions are usually lifted in February but late-sown crops may be maturing now; these should be pulled and ripened off as soon as possible. One section of this ground will be required for the first batch of spring cabbage, to be planted out this month or early in May. The remainder of the plot now clear of earlier crops may be sown with a green manure crop of oats or barley. If the ground is heavy the cabbage plants are better planted on ridges. Sprouts And Celery

No. 3 plot was well manured and limed last spring for the growing of cabbage, etc. It now contains maturing crops of savoys, broccoli, Brussels sprouts and kale. Cultivation around these plants should be confined to the middle of the rows and should not be too deep, as they all have surface roots. Celery, celeriac and leeks were also in this section of the rotation. The first-mentioned crop may have suffered this season if water were not available. It requires good growing conditions right through if it is to be successful. The crop for autumn use is the golden self-blanching variety. If planted before Christmas it may be almost finished now. The main winter crop requires “blanching.” The short stalks and sideshoots should be cleaned off, and brown or waterproof paper may be wrapped round the plants and tied with string. Alternatively, soil may be drawn up on either side to form a ridge, but it must not be allowed to enter into the centre of the plant. For a small crop I prefer to use the brown paper and ridge the soil up round the base. Claims of Celeriac

Celeriac is grown for the roots, which may be used for salad and soups or cooked like other root crops. It is certainly much easier to grow than celery, and provides a welcome change. The soil will now have filled in around leek plants, and more may be drawn up under the leaves during cultivation. . Of the new season’s rotation we recommended sowing broad beans and peas in March. There is still time to sow these in all but the coldest districts. They follow last season’s early cabbage in the rotation.

Plot No. 4 was used last season for peas, beans, silver beet, lettuce and spinach. The last of the peas and French beans may be cropping now, also successive crops of lettuce and spinach. Sowings may still be made of prickly-seeded or winter spinach and lettuce either in this plot or advanced to, plot No. 3. The soil should be in good condition and, if heavy, should be raised in beds. Now, in the normal course of events this plot will be used for potatoes next season, and all ground vacant in the autumn could be sown in green manure crops. The alternative method I have discussed is the use of five plots, No. 5 being used for small fruits or other shortterm crops, and then being replanted into plot No. 4, whilst potatoes go to plot No. 5. If it is intended to plant No. 4 plot with short-term crops this year, it will be necessary to make sowings of lettuce, spinach and silver beet in plot 3.