AMONG THE VEGETABLES

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 6, 22 January 1937, Page 15

AMONG THE VEGETABLES

AUTUMN VEGETABLES.—' fhcre is still time to make a start for the gjrow ing of late autumn vegetables and with tne price we have to pay for them just now it is well worth while growing a few of the quicker maturing varieties and thus decrease the cost of living. Salad varieties ar© of paramount importance and are always welcomed in the hot days. With warm soil, if kept moist by systematic watering, hoeing and mulching, the growth will be quick and sure, FRENCH BEANS AND EARLY PEAS. — FreneiL beans, if sown now, will reach maturity in from six to eight weeks from time of sowing, which should be made at intervals of a fortnight until the end of February. Canadian Wonder i& the best variety and should be planted about two inches deep in double rows 2} feet apart. The socalled early peas are the best varieties to sow for a late crop as they mature very quickly, being of a dwarf habit, William Hurst, American Wonder and Daisy are all gpod. If the soil ifl moulded up along the rows of both vegetables as they grow moisture will be retained around the roota. TOMATOES. — In most gardens these are looking well as growth has been exceedingly good this year. Continun! sprayings with lime and sulphur or Bordeaux powder should be made to keep down any signs of blight and black rot that might be about. Caterpillar attacking the fruit may be kept in check by using arsenate of lead, two teaspoonfuls per gallon. Where foliagie growth is very heavy, a little may bo thinned out to let the sun in among the fruit spurs. Extra heavy pruning is not good as the plant is apt to bleed. MANUR1NG GENERALLY. — To force along lettuce ahd cabbage crops, uitrate of soda is excellent, one tablespoonful per gallon of water every 10 days. For a general fertiliser among root crops blood and bone is good, sprinkle along the rows and hoe in. Tomatoes coming into b ealing should be manured with two parts potash, oue part ammonia and one part super. This mixture increases the size of the fiwit and gives them good colour. SEEDS TO SOW.— Carrots, sweuee and turnips may be drilled along in rows and thinned out when large enough to handle. Make the rows with the h-and fork and thoroughly soua the soil aiter preparation. Then »ow 'he seed along the wet drills and cover over with dry soil, watering lightly when finished. By doing, it this way you have the necessary moisture under the seed to force the crop along. Radishes niay still be sown if plenty of water is available. Do not attempt to transpiant red beet now as they may go to seed. Sow and thin out is the best policv. THINGS TO GROW. — Silver beet may still be planted if one is looking for green crops. Broccoli is a better crop to grow than caulifiower as ihey stand the winter woll. Biussei sprouts and borecole are excellent winter greens, especially in frosty districts. Savoy cabbage is the best cropper for planting now and stands the ravages of the fly. Red pickling cabbage may be set at once and is tasty when eooked. Leeks and celery may be set any time in. prep&red trenches.