Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1916-04-11
A Nutshell Guide to
Garden Planning

Here, summed up in almost epigrams,
are a few of the primary principles
of garden planning and planting, which
every one Of this years amateurs should
take to heart-and learn by heart. And
1t won't hurt those who think they know
something about home gardening TO give
the articles the once over there may be
new hint or two, as well as several re-
freshments of the memory
Runs rows north and south This will
give the full eastern exposure to the grow
ing things.
Run rows along, rather than UP and
down. n slope
Other requirements being equal. make
rows as long and continuous as possible
This means less turning In cultivating
and wedding. also in preparation of the
rows.
Plan out the rows so as to keep the
largest possible proportion of the soil
working the entire season.
But do not let two crops of the same
nature follow each other. DO not, for in
stance, let string beans follow early peas I;
or egg plants or peppers. early tomatoes.
or late beets, early beets. This is par
ticularly necessary of observance in the
case of the beans and peas, which take
great deal of nitrogen from the ground.
Other groups of similar vegetables are:
a-cucumber, cantaloupe, squash; b--tur-
nips, parsnps carrots; cabbage cauli
flower, brussels sprouts.
If 1t can be avoided. do not let the
same crops follow in the same ground in
successive seasons. Have your beans,
peas, etc, in one location one year and
the next year put your corn there.
Perennial plants should be isolated at
one part of the garden, where they will
be out of danger at the annual plowinE.
Rhubarb. asparagus, the herb garden
horseradish, all should be off to them
selves.
Put your tallest growing crops at the
north end of the garden, If II has to run
east and west This would include corn,
pole limas, olra, staked tomatoes. other
wise put your tall growing crops whenever
possible, well to the western end of the
garden, giving the advantage of morning
sun, without any shadow, to the lower
growths.
Plant together vegetables requiring the
same intervals of space between rows,
gradually increasing the distance between
rows.
Plant vegetables that go in drills q. e.,
shallow trenches which are filled up to the
level of the garden after they are seeded)
In the same section of the garden Pars-
nips, turnps carrots, beets, onions are
some.
Plant those in hills g. e., mounds above
the level of the SOLD in adjoining rows.
Beans (pole and bush), tomatoes corn are
included.
plant crops that require shallow cult.
vation in adjacent rows and those that
need deeper hoelng likewise together To-
matoes, corn, lima beans are some of
these.
The reason back of this grouping Is
simply that of efficiency which primarily
in any line of activity is to get the best
results and cover the maximum of terri
tory at a minimum expenditure of energy.
"a yyhnnl hoe "a avpDtnul1Ny
will, by having adjacent the crops requir-
| ing similar treatment you will save con-
| stant readjustment of the implements and
| gearing; If you use the old-fashioned hoe
| you will save some elbow grease by
| working continuously at one speed and
| one sort of labor once you are set"
Quickly maturing crops should be
| planted between those of slow growth
| which take nearly or all of the season
| for results.
If you are n Small gardener do n
little seeding often, rather than stake all
your chances on a heightened row sowed
at one time. Then If anything goes
wrong-and accidents. due to weather.
bugs, the human equation and just pure
'cussedness," will happen in the best regu,
lated gardens-you won't have to swear
| so much.
Get over the ground, every row of It.
| once week This will hold the con,
| stantly recurring weed crops down and
keep a good dust mulch about the rows
thus conserving moisture by preventing
| evaporation.
Always try to cultivate after a rain
| or a shower. just as soon as the ground
| can be worked without caking.
Do not hesitate to divide your rows For
| instance, two or three peppers, the same
of eggplants are sufficient for a family
| of four. Half a dozen early cabbages
7 f,,, g., i
| a hundred may be too few for another
| family. Put in plenty of the things the
family likes. You can have third, half
| or quarter rows of nearly anything you
| care to plant in small quantities.
Plan TO get one sowing In when the
other just peeps out of the ground.
Make succession paintings; cabbage,
| early, late; tomatoes, early late; beets.
early, late; peas, three times; lima beans