HOME GARDENS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 12, Issue 92, 8 September 1948, Page 7

HOME GARDENS

(By J. W. Goodwin, N.D.H. (N.Z.), F.R.H.S., Massey Agricultural College.) Whilst some of our readers rqay have early crops growing along nicely, others in colder areas and with heavier soils may now be making the first spring sowings.. If your soil is light and well drained, hurry along with spring sowings. These soils have a definite advantage for both early and late crops, so make the best use of them. More and more gardeners are beginning to realise the full value of crop rotation. Each month we will discuss the work under the various “plots” as outlined last month. PLOT ONE: It is too early to plant potatoes in most districts. The ground should be prepared, however, by deep-digging and the incorporation of well-rotted organic manures or compost. Seed potatoes may be purchased and set in boxes to sprout. The end with larger and more numerous “eyes” is termed the “rose end” and seed should be set with this end facing upwards. Onions And Turnips PLOT TWO: May now contain onions sown in the autumn and shallots planted last month. Onions should be weeded and thinned. Leave them two inches apart and later remove every second plant for use with salads, soups or stews. Thinnings may be lined out, spacing them the same distance apart and taking care not to plant too deeply. Even if they do lean over, they will soon straighten up if the roots are well firmed into the soil. Autumnsown onions wilj be ready for use from November onwards. Transplant and spring sowings of Pukekohe Langkeeping and Brown or Straw Spanish will supply the main crop of “keeping” onions. Assess your requirements and sow or plant sufficient to -last the whole year. Onions may be sown or planted in rows 12 inches apart. A little soot dusted along the rows, after thinning, is beneficial. Turnips may be sown now in rows 15 inches apart. Model White, Early Snowball or other white variety will mature first, whilst the Golden Ball ox’ Orange Jelly varieties will follow on. Cabbages And Beans

PLOT THREE: May contain autumn or early-planted crops of cabbage and cauliflower. Autumnplanted spring cabbages are usually planted much closer than other crops, and each alternate plant is cut when comparatively small to supply greens which are usually scarce. The remainder are used during September „and early October. Spring plantings must be made immediately, if this has not been done already. This crop should be spaced 18 inches apart in the rows and two feet between rows. This plot may have beeri* limed in the winter and should have organic manure or compost dug into the top spit or soil. Cabbage and cauliflowers are surface-rooting and gross feeders, and a dusting'of blood and bone is beneficial. Cauliflowers are grown for the flower and require phosphate for the development; of large, firm, white “curds.” A dusting of superphosphate should be applied along the rows’ when the plants are well grown and leafy. PLOT FOUR: Would normally have been well rhanured for crops of cabbage and cauliflower in the previous season. Broad beans, the long-pod variety, and an autumn-sown crop of green peas, may already be established here. If more broad beans are required the Windsor variety may be sown now. Sow in double rows 8 or 9 inches apart and the same distance between the rows. The seed should be planted two inches deep, with the black scar facing downwards. Succession Of Green Peas Autumn-sown peas'will now commence to grow in earnest. They should be weeded and cultivated. If really vigorous, a light dusting of superphosphate, with perhaps a trace of sulphate of potash (or wood ash), will firm the growth and encourage a good crop of flowers, which in turn will set the desired crop of peas. If they are rather tardy of growth, blood and borue will set them going. Successive sowings should be made at fortnightly intervals. Rows should be 18 inches apart. Remember not to eat pea seeds, as they are now dusted witha fungicide to check fungus disease. Winter spinach may now be cut and further sowings may be made for succession. Make, the rows 12 inches apart and 1 inch deep, and thinnings may be used when young. Lettuce also may be transplanted now, spacing them 12 inches apart and the same between rows. They require to be grown steadily along to produce fresh crisp leaf and good hearts. It is a good plan to sow more seed each time we plant out. This, and sowings of radish, cress and mustard, may be made in small beds adjoining the main rotation, as they i are short-term or catch crops. j