Coy Fisher is shown plowing some of the Ecusta property for employee’s gardens.
’Taters are up, ground is broken, birds are
singing and weeds are beginning their fight for
your garden. Most gardeners have their seeds in
and are now enjoying greens and spring onions.
Lettuce, radishes and carrots are peeping through.
Thinning is important now when plants are about
one to two inches high. Beets, turnips, and lettuce
may be left until about three inches and then the
thinnings can be used for greens. Carrots can be
thinned some, and then later when about pencil
size a second thinning w'ill provide some for use
on the table.
When the young plants are well up, rake or
hoe around gently near them to break up the
surface crust. This keeps down weeds and allows
moisture to penetrate. Do not cultivate or hoe
too deeply near the rows at any time for fear
of injuring the roots of your plants. Light hoeing
is also easier on the aching back!
Should the soil be very dry when sowing seeds,
run a little water into the drill before putting in
the seeds. Then cover the seeds with dry soil as
directed on the packet.
Sow several succession plantings of beets, rad
ish, beans, etc., so that you will have a continu
ous harvest of fresh vegetables on hand.
Be sure to hold up planting of the tender
crops such as cucmbers and other vine crops, lima
beans, tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant until warm
weather is here. Wait until the tree leaves are
well out. It is often more practical to buy plants
of tomatoes, eggplant, peppers and celery—es
pecially if time, space, and patience are lacking.