HOME GARDENS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 12, Issue 55, 14 June 1948, Page 7

HOME GARDENS

(By J. W. Goodwin, N.D.H. (N.Z.), F.R.H.S., Massey Agricultural College.) RHUBARB AND ASPARAGUS Rhubarb is an invaluable and easily-grown plant. It provides an excellent change in the menu, and later in the season may be used for several jam making recipes, or even wine. It supplies the essential Vitamin C, and the iron content is in the most beneficial form, whilst the high base value assists in neutralising acid conditions of the blood brought about by a scarcity of fruit or vegetables. Rhubarb is not particular as to soil, but gives of its best in a rich deep soil which has been well worked and heavily dressed with organic manures. If the soil is light or shallow it should be improved by double-digging and the incorporation of as much organic material as possible into both “spits” of soil.*, This plant suffers from drought conditions, poor crowns develop, and the stalks become spindly. Clean Ground Wanted The site for the rhubarb bed should be reasonably well sheltered but free from the depredations of tree roots. The ground selected should be free from weeds of a perennial or twitchy nature, as it is impossible to remove them later without checking the rhubarb. After about four years the buds on the crowns become so crowded that there is insufficient room for them all to develop. They should be lifted in. June. '* Roots should be cleaned of soil and laid out in a corner where they will be fully exposed to rain and yet sheltered. The winter and other smaller growing varieties should be spaced 2|- feet apart each way, whilst the larger ones require 3 to 4 feet. Art of Pulling Stalks

Rhubarb responds to bonemeal, and a dressing of 2ozs of. blood and bone will give each plant a good start. The stalks from young plants should never be pulled the first year. Any robbing of the leaf surface will have a weakening effect on the plant. Pulling for home use is usually in small quantities, but if heavy pulling is practised it should be done only three times in the second year,, and four or five times in subsequent years. . * Cultivation should never be deep,

just sufficient to destroy weeds and maintain a loose surface mulch of soil. Any flowering stems developing should be removed as early as possible, as the production of flower and seed exhausts the plant. An annual top-dressing of farmyard manure may be applied, as growth commences in the spring. This should be preceded by a complete fertiliser comprising 6 parts of superphosphate, 2 parts of sulphate of ammonia and 1 part sulphate of potash, at the’ rate of 2ozs per square yard. A very light sprinkling of sulphate of iron will usually be of great benefit to plant of poor colour.

A welcome change among spring vegetables and a delicacy in savouries is asparagus, a few plants should he grown in eevry garden. The number of plants required depends on the demand, and to a lesser extent on conditions of growth, Eight to iwelve plants would be sufficient for the average home garden. Asparagus can be grown on quite a wide range of soils but prefers a 'deep, well-conditioned medium loam. Drainage is important, as the plants will not thrive in wet conditions and young plants will rot. A fairJy high organic content and deep initial cultivation are necessary to create the desired soil conditions.

„ A portion of the vegetable garden which has been well cultivated and is free from perennial weeds such as sorrel should be selected.

Asparagus has fleshy roots which often rot if planted in cold, wet soils. If plants arrive early they should not be allowed to dry out, but stored in a box of moist soil, sand or sawdust. The sheltered sides of trees where the ground gets plenty of sun and is seldom very wet La suitable for heeling in plants of this class.

Beds are usually made 3| feet wide to take two rows of plants spaced 18 inches apart each way. The rows are thus 12 inches in from the side of the bed. Larger beds may be 5 feet in width and contain three rows. If more beds are desired they should have a 2-foot path on either side to give access to the plants for weeding and cutting. The ground may be left rather rough on the surface and by planting time will have broken down to a fine tilth. Trenches 10 to 12 inches wide and 8 to 10 inches deep should be opened up and the soil carefully stacked on the space between rows. The bottom of the trench should be higher in the centre than at the sides.

Plants, preferably two-year-old, are spaced 18 inches apart and roots are spread out sloping down to the sides. They should then be covered with 2 to 3 inches of soil.