THE VEGETABLE PLOT

Wairarapa Times-Age, 16 December 1938, Page 11

THE VEGETABLE PLOT

FOSTER STEADY GROWTH.

All the space in the vegetable quarters should now be occupied by crops. The main attritions during the coming weeks will be to foster steady growth, and do all that is possible to safeguard soft tissues from injury. Weeds must not be tolerated among the crops; to that end, the hoe will not be idle. The pulverised surface, created by frequent movement to the top soil, does a great deal toward the encouragement of steady growth. Not the least of the benefits is the conservation of moisture in dry weather| Hose and can watering is a poor substitute, if cold tap water is used. It takes a vast quantity of liquid to thoroughly soak soil to the full depth of the root system of vegetables. Anything less than this is futile, and if enough is used to reach the roots the coldness of the tap water causes so serious a drop in the temperature of the soil, that a check to growth results. That is the kind of thing which makes for uneven shape in root crops, splitting in green crops, and bud dropping in peas and beans.

Infinitely better than cold water is surface tillage, supplemented, where possible, with a mulch. One realises that the novice may be somewhat mystified, when objections to cold tap waterings are brought into contact with recommendation of the use of weak liquid manure in liberal quantities. There should, however, be sufficient difference between the fortified liquids used for feeding crops and the plain water from the main. In the first place, the preparatory stage should be to immerse a bag of manure in an open topped tank or tub. Allow it to stand and infuse for a few days, during which time the water becomes aerated and warmed. Likewise, the larger volume to be used for diluting the strong liquor should stand exposed to sun and air.

Another hint concerning water may be offered. Growing plants are adversely affected by atmospheric dryness, almost, if not quite, as much as by dryness of the soil. Long hours of hot sunshine will leave the foliage limp, a parching wind will cause young foliage to shrivel.

Much of this damaging effect of dry atmosphere may be counteracted and rectified by overhead spraying when the sun has almost set. Here again, the temperature of the water is important. Very cold water douched on to foliage limp with the heat of the day, will give

the plants a shock that is the reverse of beneficial. The water used for spraying or syringing should be either aerated by exposure in the open for a day or two, or slightly warmed by artificial, means.

The haulm of peas, beans, and of potatoes will be materially helped by spraying after hot days. Onions, lettuce and, in fact, practically all growing vegetables may be treated to overhead dampings in the same manner.