The St. Joseph observer., 1917-07-14
SUMMER HINTS FOR
THE HOME GARDENER

-
Sweet potatoes, beets, squash. cab
page okra, pepper, eggplant, string
beans, Lama beans sweet corn and
cucumbers still may be planted in this
section (marked Zone q on the de-
partments zone planting map for veg
etables), say specialists of the United
states department Of agriculture.
These vegetables may be grown In
ground occupied by early maturing
bage, spinach and radishes. There la
ample time for sweet potatoes to ma
ture, and there is no better way to
add to the winter food stock OF the
family than by growing this root crop.
Late cabbage Is another profitable
crop to grow for winter use. Beets,
squash, oucumbers, and the other veg
etables mentioned may be planted now
with good chances of success. There
is, of course, considerable variation
within the region for which this ad-
vice IL given. 1t may we'll be that
the possibility for planting success
fully certain of the crops mentioned
has passed In the more southernly
sections. Now is the time for every
gardener to cultivate his garden thor
oily. If weeds have been allowed to
start they should be destroyed at once
as they are robbing the plants of
needed moisture. Work the ground
until fine coil mulch is formed.
Nothing will save moisture for the
use of the crops like a soil mulch.
Very few weeds will come up from
this time on II they are thoroly clean
ed out now. The following cultural
suggestions are made for the crops
which may yet be planted with fair
chances Of success thruout most Of
the zone: Sweet potatoes-It is de-
slrable to have q row or 2 OF sweet
potatoes in the home garden. Set the
plants In ridges to feet apart.
Space the plants IA to IS inches apart.
About 75 jlants will be required for
a 100-foot row. Beets-Beets may be
planted any time from now on.
The young, tender beets make fine
greens and every gardener should
make an Immediate planting so there
will be an ample supply. Sow In rows
15 to IS inches apart for hand culu-
vation or to az feet apart for horse
| cultivation. The plants should be
| thinned to 4 to inches apart in the
rows. Squash-The bush varieties
should be planted in hills 4 feet apart
each way, and the running varieties
s to 10 feet apart each way. y
ounce OF seed is sufficient for 100-
foot row of either the bush or run
ming varieties. Cucumber (for home
use only Sow the seed In rows 4
to feet apart. The plants should
be about 10 inches apart, but the
seed should be sowed much thicker,
the plants being thinned later. y
ounce of seed is sufficient for a 100-
foot row. Eggplants-Set the plants
| Is to "a inches apart in rows u to
8 feet apart. A dozen good, healthy
plants supply enuf fruit for the av-
erage-sized family. Peppers-Set the
plants 10 to Is inches apart in rows
l X to feet apart. A dozen plants
should be sufficient. Okra-The rows
should be to 4 feet aaprt for the
dwarf varieties and to feet apart
for the tall kinds. Sow the seed q
few inches apart and thin the plants
TO Is inches to feet aaprt. Z ounces
of seed is sufficient for q 100-foot
row. String beans-Plant in rows 2 "a
feet apart for either horse or hand
cultivation, and to inches apart
in the rows. A pint Of seed is suf-
ficient for a 100-foot row. Lima
beans, pole-Plant In hills to 4 feet
apart for horse or hand cultivation
N pint of seed is sufficient for 100-
foot row. Bush limas should be plant.
ed in rows 2h feet apart for hand
cultivation, or 8 feet apart for horse
cultivation. Space the seeds to II
inches apart in the rows. Seed FOL
late cabbage-Sow in beds well en-
riched with rotted stable manure
Water the beds daily, and set the
plants in the garden when ready tC
move. Sweet COMPLIANT closely ir
Ii inches in the rows. II preferred
drills 3 feet apart and thin to 10 OF
O dozen seeds may be planted In hills
8 feet apart each way, and the plants
thinned to 4 in each hill. Corn should
be planted in well-prepared rich land