KITCHEN GARDEN HINTS

Sun (Auckland), Volume IV, Issue 962, 3 May 1930, Page 32

KITCHEN GARDEN HINTS

POINTS WORTH KNOWING In growing vegetables it is Imperative to rotate the crops, otherwise the soil will soon become impoverished. This applies with equal force to farms and broad acres, as well as to home gardens. In fact, it is of even greater importance in small allotments, where as many kinds of vegetables are .grown as space will permit, and the ground is used over and over again. (1) Plants of the same natural order should not succeed each other such as two successive crops of cabbages on the same ground, or cabbage followed by cauliflower, or parsnip after carrot. After growing a crop of cabbage or cauliflower, the ground should be turned over, given a dressing of lime, and then growing in the plot a root crop, or using it for growing peas, beans or potatoes. w (2) Crops which occupy the same section of the garden for several years, such as rhubarb, or asparagus, should not be followed by the same class of plant, but should be succeeded by others of short duration, such as lettuce or spinach. (3) Root crops such as beet, parsnip, carrot and bulbs, such as onion, should never be succeeded by others of a similar character. Rotation of crops is the unvarying principle. Tn the vegetable garden much activity is desirable. Clear away the old stems of vegetables which have passed their bearing period. Give a dressing of lime, and remember, m replanting, the principle of crop rotation —no two crops of a similar class to grow on the same ground consecutively. Now is the time for planting seeas and seedlings of cabbage and cauliflower. Seeds of carrot and parsnip sown now will be ready for digging in the spring; the same applies to peas and white onion. Seeds of turnip, radish, spinach and mustard and cress, if planted now, ill give quick results this autumn. Short born carrots should now be largely sown. The ground needs to he thoroughly prepared by deep digging and incorporating generous quantities of well-rotted stable manure. Be sure that the manure is thoroughly broken up and the soil pulverised finely, else the roots of the carrots will become forked. Sow liberal quantities of seed and do not be in a hurry to thin out. Wait till the young carrots are about the thickness of a slate pencil, then thin out to two inches apart.

FLOWER POTS, NEW AND OLD

Flower pot 3 vary in size from 2;n to 22in in diameter, and in depth from 2in to 18iu. Convenient sizes for the small greenhouse are 3£in in diameter, known as 60’s in the trade; Sin in diameter, known as 4S’s; Tin in diameter, known as 28’s; and lOin in diameter, known as 12’s. Of course, there are sizes in between these. New pots should always be soaked in water and then allowed to dry before use; otherwise the roots cling to the sides and cause trouble when it is desired to knock the plant out of the pot. Old pots can be used again and again, but they must be washed and dried each time before use. Broken pots should be kept in a box for use as drainage crocks. They are ideal for this purpose, because of their concave shape. Drainage is simple, effected by placing a large piece of crock, concave side downward, over the hole, a number of smaller pieces being placed over this.