GARDENS IN TAUPO

Taupo Times, Volume II, Issue 89, 2 October 1953, Page 6

GARDENS IN TAUPO

THE VEGETABLE SUPPLY (By Flora) September is probably one of the most important months from the gardener's point of view, for it is now that we prepare for the summer supply of vegetables. All vegetables are far more flourishing and palatable if grown in the home garden, but none more so than those we so look forward to having, the first green peas, the crisp lettuce or those freshly pulled baby carrots. Some of you may already have put in your first rows of early vegetables, but no great amount of time will be lost if you haven't as the second sowing will often jpass the first. No plant enjoys a set-back and our weather is far from settled as yet. Unless the soil temperature is sufficiently high little germination takes place, the seeds will rot and you will be left with a very patchy row. But once the buds on the trees start to swell and unfold it is time to get busy.

Peas. Green peas are one of the most popular vegetables, though the supply is so often short-lived, for many folk fail to realise the necessity of regular sowings, especially in the early part of the season, to keep up the supply. For the small household you may buy a packet containing three varieties, which if sown at the same time come to maturity in rotation. Peas are not long in the ground before they grow and start to crop, and so the period in which they have the opportunity of collecting plant food is somewhat brief. For this reason they do best if grown on ground that has been well manured in autumn and left exposed to winter frosts.. A few days before sowing dust over the ground with three parts superphosphate to one part potash, using about four ounces to the square yard. Open drills five inches wide and j three inches deep. The seeds should be sown as evenly as possible, approximately two inches apart. Cover with soil and press firmly. It is a great asset if you have wire netting covers to place over the rows till the peas are three or four inches high. It is a great disappointment to find one morning that the quail family have paid you a visit and are walking sated from the garden. From the time the peas first come through hoeing should be carried out regulariy on either side of the rows. As you hoe, the earth should be brought up to the rows, not away. This slight earthing up will give protection and help to keep the plants upright. The pea stem is hollow and requires support of some kind. Bushy twigs of manuka are not hard to find.

Carrots. We are fortunate in Taupo that we are able to grow carrots, as in some parts of the country it is apparently impossible to do so. Another advantage here is that we can leave them in the ground till j the following spring, thus doing I away with storage problems. All root crops need deep cultivation, but not too heavily manuring with large quantities of farmyard manure. A dressing of fish manure before sowing and at intervals during growth is - very beneficial. Sow the seeds in drills about fialf an inch deep. After sowing, the soil should be raked over so as to cover the seed. White turnips may also be sown now.