THE VEGETABLE GARDEN

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 106, 21 May 1937, Page 8

THE VEGETABLE GARDEN

Prepare asparagus heds for ' June plautingj treucliing the ground and digging in layers of rotted manure 12 inches from the surface. Asparagus does weil in the open away from shade, Rows three feet apart. . Early potatoes are now offering for ,those lucky persons who can give them suificient ' shelter during the winter months. Early puritan is a good variety, manuring jn about 10 weeks. Arran Chief and Gamekeeper are later varieties, 1 but not so susceptible to blight. Planting now, they sbould mature at the end of July, As the ground gets colder, apply nitrato of soda to cabbages and cauliHowers. Weekly solutibns of loz a gallon of wiiter are ' quite strong euough. iveep the ground vvell worked and lioed between the rows. Continue sowing broad beans three • inelies apart and two feet between the rows. * Those sown earli'er may have tlipir tops nipped out to make them branch. It is a good idea to kcep them

dwarfed, as a protection against the strong winds. Onion sowing is still of paramount importance, and no time should be lost in setting the seed. Sow in drills thinly and leave plenty of space between the rows for jvorking the hoe. This saves much back-breaking worb, so obnoxidus to onion-growing. The best varieties to sow are ailsa craig, an early, large onion, but does not keep well. Giant rocca, a mild, good onion, dark skinned. Brown Spanish, or long keeping. A good cropper, the bulbs keeping for 12 months. Straw Spanish, perhaps the most popular of all onions. The bulbs yield twice the erop of the former vafiety. . . Prepare beds for rhubarb and strawberry plants, both obtainable early iin June. Plant now shallots and garlic in light, rich soil. Set the bulbs 1£ inches deep and 6 inches apart. Plant all herb plants now, such as chives, thyme, sage, marjoram and and lavender. Sow the seed of beet, parsnip, carrots, turnips, swedc, paisley, lettuce, cauliflower and cabbage.