TWO CROPS A SEASON

Hauraki Plains Gazette, Volume 52, Issue 3269, 28 May 1943, Page 5

TWO CROPS A SEASON

POTATOES AND KUMERAS HINUERA EXPERIMENT Two excellent crops (potatoes and kumeras) were grown on the same piece of ground by Mr L. L. Cook, of Hinuera, this season. Fine average samples are on display at Turners’ Mart. Seen by a representative of the Matamata Record, Mr Cook said that the potatoes were lifted in November and the kumaras were planted straight away. It was his first attempt to grow two crops, and the success had been such that he intended to do so again. At least six successive crops of potatoes had been taken from the area, and Mr Cook attributed the good crop this season to the fact that he had topdressed the area heavily with wood ashes. The ashes were from hedge clippings and he bagged about six hundredweight, which he distributed over the quarter of an acre before planting the potatoes. Mr Cook bought the kumera plants very early and heeled them in. When planted they had approximately five weeks’ growth, and he had thought that assisted greatly towards the success of the crop. Another factor was the dry and long season. The kumeras were lifted in April, and so had approximately six months’ growth. The rows ran east to west, and the roots were poihooked before being planted. Mr Cook did not know whether that affected the growth much, but he certainly advised growers to get the plants as early as possible and heel them in under shelter.

The samples bh View were not specially selected and were not the biggest roots. Tile potatoes were Itcbin Adair.