THE GARDEN

Opotiki News, Volume I, Issue 28, 4 May 1938, Page 4

THE GARDEN

VEGETABLES FOR WINTER "WISE SELECTION URGED HARVESTING AND STORAGE Tile full enjoyment and economical rise of many vegetables depend not only on. a wise selection of varieties and careful culture; sound consideration must also be given to harvesting and storage if there! is to be no loss in quantity and quality, and the

stocks are to be available over'a max-’ imum;period. ' >• Updfer most conditions here, such crops as celery, parsnips,- salsify, Jerusalem artichokes, autumn-sown carrots, and beet may he left in the ground during winter witli. quite satisfactory results, and lifted in dry weather as required,, until about the. month- of . August, when- growth is about to recommence. What remains must then he lifted and stored where the? conditions are cold, well-ventilat-ed, and not too dry. . ,

( Main-crop carrots, maturing about the month of April, split if left in the ground and become coarse and fibrous, as do {main crop beet maturing at that time. These should he* lifted: in fine weather as soon as they mature'and given the storage conditions before mentioned. •' v: . '

A lean-to shed with southerly aspect is often a, suitable place for storing produce of this kind, especially when, shaded hj; plantation trees and having ample means for ventilation in the higher part of the roof. Such, a place is also suitable ton potatoes stored in bins, sacks,: or boxes if it is clean, well drained, and dark; hut not ,so dry as to cause* the tubers to shrivcJ-' / Considerable losses from decay accur if the stocks are contaminated -by the presence of decayed tubers or waste carried over from a previous season, in the store or its vicinity. This can readily be avoided by the methodical disposal of decayed waste at all times and a thorough annual clean-up of the store, which may very well include a careful spraying of 'the interior with a reliable fungicide.