THE VEGETABLE GARDEN

Wairarapa Age, 31 March 1920, Page 7

THE VEGETABLE GARDEN

HOW TO SECURE LATE CROPS OF VEGETABLES.

Mr Arthur W. Sutton, in a lecture before the Royal Horticultural Society London, gave Bome interesting Statements on the continuous cropping of a garden with vegetables. The months have been altered to the corresponding New Zealand period. He aays: "In September and October everyone makes the annual spring sowings for the general cropping of the garden, and these crops last according to their kinds; but as soon as they reach maturity vacant spaces are seen. - By successional sowings or occasional plantings, and by sowing late varieties of peas, etc., the season may be extended, but are susceptible to climatic condition and the latter liable sto mildew. If from February to March onwards another crop of the vegetables we have appreciated during the summer could be ensured it would be a great advantage. The whole secret lies in the fact that the seeds must be sown where the crop is to stand and no transplanting being done, except f6r the crops required, m the spring, and early summer. All that is needed is to sow thinly at the end of January or early in February. Single out the splants at the earliest possible moment, and Nature will do all that is needed to produce crops of the greatest value in the early autumn and throughout the winter. The reason why vegetables mature so quickly under this treatment ~is due to the warmth of the soil, ajnd with the first rains, of autumn the growth is phenomenal. But this rapid maturity is also due to the fact that no check has been caused by transplanting. Potatoes were ready seven Weeks after planting, and a supply of young tubers obtained during' autumn. Carefully selected tubers from the previous year's growth must be kept for this planting. Sprouting must he prevented or/retarded, and an open situation where the maximum amount of sunshine can be obtained. The varieties used were Early Rose, Supreme, Epicure and others. Peas were ready seven - weeks from planting, but only i 'early' varieties must be used. Pilot, First of All, Little Marvel, gave good results. Lettuces fit for the exhibition table were ready seven weeks' from sowing. Spintfch of either the round or prickly seeded can be grown, but the round seeded is preferable. Dwarf beana of the He Plus Ultra variety were ready in ten weeks. Carrots, by sowing stump rooted varieties, can be had young and succulent right up till the following spring. Beets, turnips, radishes also proved the value of late sowings. Cabbages grown by this method came to maturity in twelve weeks, and included such varieties as Flower of Spring, April, etc. Cauliflowers" were cut twelve weeks from sowing, and included First Crop, Snowball and Magnum Bonum. In gardening where space is limited forethought should be used in the arrangement of the early summer crops of vegetables, ■&d that sufficient ground becomes vacant about the same , time, and so be used for this late cropping."