GARDEN NOTES

Chronicle (Levin), 31 August 1946, Page 8

GARDEN NOTES

"Ngaio.")

(By

As soon as weather and soil eoudations perniit, it will. be necessary to get very luisy with vegetablo planting. At present the grouml is so cold and wret that nothing is to be gained by paitting in se'eds or plants — seeds niay rot and plants receive such a chec.k that tlieyi take a long tirne to recover, and those put in later in better conditions wi'H probably outstrip Lhem. Peas and broad beans are not so averse to cold condiliou.s as uther vegetables. As soon as the soil is workable some dwarf peas can be put in. A variety called J.ittle Marvel comes to maturity even earlier tlian W. P. Massey, and if ljoth are sown at the same linie there sliould be a good succession of early peas. A taller variety such as Greenfeast can also be put in simultaneously with the dvvarfs — this particuiar variety can be procured from some finns who have had the seed treated for good germination and this seems to malte the young plants immune from attacks by birds, so that the bother of cottoning or other protection is not necessary. Most people have their dwn favourite varieties of peas which they sow year after year, but anyone looking for soinething new might well try Quartermaster. This is a medium tall pea and produees a goOcl crop of big pods tightly lilled with large peas of excellent fiavour. Another good pea whieli is beginning to be better known is Coronation. This is a very tall grower, but its long and prolific cropping habit make it well worth the trouble oi" secure staking. Broad beans planted earlier will be beginning to move now and a furt'her sowjng should be made as soon as possible to -keep the succession going. Both peas and beans like a sweet soil, and if there is any doubt about the lime content, a dusting can be given on the surface after the seeds are sown. Carrots, turnips and parsnips will be the next to go in. A reminder nmst be given 'that carrots will not germinate unless they have a fairly dry geed-bed — it is quite useless sowing thcin in we't or sticlty soil, so they will just have to wait unti'l conditions are right for them. They should be sown on ground which has been manured for some previous crop — they must have rich soil for good results, but on no account come into contact with fresh manure. Superphosphate is the correct fertiliser to use with both carrots and turnips. Btumprooted carrots dre the best to sow now. and the well-known variety, Early Horn, is stdll recommended. White Turiiips are delicious when voung and quickly grown. Give them rich soil and some super and they should come on rapidly in a sunny, sheltered position. The variety White Stone is suitable for present planting. Parsnips like a long period of growth and should go in soon. As they penetrate to a good depth the ground, should be deeply worked to make it easy for them. They are greedy for food and do best on very rich, ratlier lieavy ground. It is necessary to obtain fresli seed eacli season as old seed loses its germinating power very rapidly.