HOME HARDENS

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 14, Issue 27, 19 August 1949, Page 6

HOME HARDENS

By the Horticultural Department Massey Agricultural College.

PREPARING FOR SPRING Preparation of the soil for spring sowings and planting is a job which should be given attention now. It is a-mistake to delay this work until the actual time arrives for the planting to commence. In many cases land will have been sown in a green crop, and this should be dug in' several weeks before planting. When a large bulk of organic material is dug into the ground, the soil organisms commence to feed upon the new source of food, breaking it down to the brown, decomposed material which we call humus. During the breakingdown process, the soil organisms multiply rapidly, and during their growth they extract nitrogen from the soil to build up their bodies. After about four to six weeks', when the bulk of the material is broken own, the excess organisms die and the nitrogen stored in their bodies isis returned to the soil. During the time that the green l crop is being broken down, plants growing in the soil, - therefore, will be starved for nitrogen and will make little, if any, growth. This difficulty may be overcome where necessary by feeding the plants with fertilisers containing nitrogen, such as blood and bone, sulphate of ammonia, etc. These are expensive however, and it is, more satisfactory to utilise the natural nitrogen accruing from the green crop. Even when compost or organic matter is added to the soil, it is ad_ visable to add. this a week or so before planting, so that the soil organisms may restore the normal balance of the soil; otherwise plant growth may be disturbed. Heat From Decomposition

When organic material is decom_ posing, a considerable amount of heat is generated, and this is used in England for the production of early lettuce. A wide trench is taken out of the soil, about 12 to 15 inches deep, and filled with green material. The soil is then replaced over this, making a raised bed. The lettuce are planted on top, about five days after the greenstuff is placed underneath, and the young plants receive the benefit of the warmth arising from the decomposition. English market gardeners claim to raise lettuce two to three weeks earlier by this method. Under such circumstances it is necessary, of course, to feed the plants with a nitrogen-carrying fertiliser. „ In heavier soils, early sowings of peas etc. are sometilmes disappointing because extremely wet weather causes rotting of the seeds. Under such conditions it is generally an advantage to prepare a seed bed raised above normal soil level, on wdiich to make early sowings. These raised beds drain very freely, and consequently there is little danger of the soil’s becoming waterlogged.

Another method of producing plants relatively early is the cloche system. A cloche is really, a very miniature glasshouse which is portable, being made from two sheets of glass supported on a wire frame. These are placed over the young plants until they are well establish, eel, or until frosts may be over. They protect the young plants from the elements, and the sun’s rays warm the soil underneath them. They are now being used extensively in Great Britain, where acres of eanv vegetables are covered at one time with cloches. So. far. they have , not been available to any extent in New Zealand, but they are gradually naking their appearance, and home garden, ers would be well advised to give them a trial.

Except on free-draining soils, there is little to gain from undulyearly plantings, unless the gardener is prepared to go to some trouble to provide suitable conditions-. With frost-tender subjects, planting should be delayed until such aimes as the danger of frosts is past unless the protection of cloches can be given. ,