HOME GARDENS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 13, Issue 58, 28 February 1949, Page 6

HOME GARDENS

(By J. W. Goodwin, N.D.H. (N.Z.), F.R.H.S., Massey Agricultural College.) VEGETABLE ROTATIONS The aim of every keen vegetablegrower is to have a sufficient supply and a good range of vegetables all the year round. The majority of gardeners usually succeed during the summer months; but there is frequently a lack of variety during the autumn and winter periods. Furthermore, in the spring, when vegetables are scarce and expensive, the home garden is almost "bare of mature crops. Conditions in many New Zealand gardens are congenial to the growth of these crops, and all that is needed is a well-planned programme. As with the spring crops, time of sowing depends on local conditions, which vary considerably throughout the country. The very mildness of our climate may spoil some of our vegetables if they are sown according to the most suitable times in colder districts. That valuable nutrient, the carrot, will prove an excellent example. Early spring-sown crops may supply carrots by November. These are useful in small quanti-' ties. Larger quantities may be waited, as this early crop frequently runs to'' seed in some districts. “Splitting” is a frequent occurrence with early crops and may, occasionally affect November-sown ones, particularly if - dry weather extends into the autumn and is followed by warm rains. Generally speaking, mid-Nov amber sowings are satisfactory for the main crops for autumn and winter use. Sowings For Succession This main crop will last a long time, during the cooler weather, but growth does not stop entirely in he warmer districts, and they may become tasteless and tough or even stringy by the spring. In the cooler districts they may be lifted and stored, but some deterioration will always take place. The cropping so far leaves the months of August September and October with unsatisfactory supplies of this vegetable. Autumn sowings should be made, as conditions are good once the plants are established, and the plants are more than half-gfown when growth is checked. At this stage they will not deteriorate, but will commence growing again in the spring and supply all require-• , ments until November. The roots ]' may be quite good size, but the l great advantage is that they -ire tender, tasty and nutritious. In the ! colder districts this sowing should . take place in February. In the w irmer districts it should be delayed .till, early March or even later, according to the severity of the winter—perhaps one sowing in March and one in April for the mildest districts. This discourse will serve to illustrate the advantages of carefullyplanned sowings for succession, end it applies to many other crops. At this stage in our crop-rotation plan we approach the change-over . to next season’s crops. Rotation Plots Let us discuss the rotation as it now stands: Plot I.—Planted in potatoes, dll probably be vacant, as there is really only room for first and second earlies in the small garden. Perennial weeds and potato-stops (haulms) should be removed mid burnt as digging proceeds. Any potatoes now completely ripened off, should be lifted immediately, as rain now may encourage second growth, which is detrimental to their .keeping quality. • This is the plot which now becomes No. 2, and will contain r .ot crops next season. It included onions with the main root crops last year, and the first section should be worked up now in readiness for rowing j them in March, Early preparation j allows the bed to settle and oniins j require a firm seed-bed. Plot 2 is now almost filled with I root crops, all of which should be ! well established. . This is where a j sowing of carrots may now bo made j | L v'-Oi; i 0 Lid:. ty J _• ■ h, , -•; - ll : • i f pj V . (r*.• 1 rr.’ o yr =..r;- g.'lm <vj " . . t r ' . 'I--,. T'-[ f : -p'wtyrj r>rv 0\ tygy | if grown, were probably lifted last i month. Once these subjects ripen they should be pulled and laid out to dry. This plot will contain greens of the cabbage section next season and part of the onion ground will be required for setting early spring cabbage plants in late April or May. Most of the root crops will continue growing into the winter but any ground vacant now may be sown in green manure, which will prov’de 1 organic material for cabbage, etc., planted in the spring.