Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1920-04-20
prepared by the United States Depart
ment of Agriculture.)


ment of Agriculture)
Common garden crops are divided
by the United States department of
agriculture specialists into four groups
as regards the time of planting them
in the open ground.
The first group includes the vege
tables that will withstand consider
able frost and which may be planted
two or three weeks before the danger
of frost is past in the spring. The
second group. or semi-hardy crops,
may be planted few days before. or
about the time, that the last killing
frost is likely to occur. The third
group. those easily killed by frost,
should not be planted until all danger
of frost is over. The fourth group,
the heat-loving plants, should never
be planted in the open until both the
soil and the air are thoroughly warm.
Among the crops of the first group
that may he planted before frosts
are past-are Irish potatoes, smooth
peas, onion sets, cabbage plants, kale.
turnips beets lettuce and mustard.
They may be planted early, because
they require two or three weeks TO
come up. While the young plants are
easily injured by frost, by the time
they sprout and come to the surface
frost danger is likely to be past.
Don't Follow Moon Rule.
Some, gardeners formerly believed in
planting Irish potatoes and certain
other garden crops in the proper
phase of the moon. No one seems to
know how the old moon theory orig
mated, but it seems TO date back to
prehistoric times and probably was
based upon the method of keeping
time by moons rather than by months.
There is no definite experimental data
TO show that the moon has any inf1u-
ence one way or the other, and expe-
rienced gardeners prefer to plant their
potatoes at a time when the weather
and soil conditions are right rather
than according to the phase of the
moon. Experience has shown that
the point of most Importance is to
have the land in first-class condition
for planting, then proceed TO plant as
soon as weather conditions permit.
When Peas Should Go In
The dwarf or smooth varieties OF
English peas may he planted about
the same time as Irish potatoes Here
again soil preparation is important.
and the ground should be made fine
and mellow before planting. Opinions
differ as to the depth to which the
seed peas should he covered. Some
authorities claim they should be COW
cred as much as four inches, while
others maintain that two To three
inches is sufficient. Much will depend.
however. upon the character of the
soil in which the crop is planted. If
the soil is light sandy loan and in
rIined to dry out quickly. the peas
should he covered three to four
inches. But if the soil is rather heavy
and inclined to pack closely, they
should not he covered more than one
and one-half 10 two inches. The va
rieties of peas having wrinkled seed
coats should not he planted until
about two weeks after the smooth va
rieties. They are just little more
susceptible to injury from frost and
viii mature about as early if planted
when the ground has slightly warmed.
When to Take Chance.
In the case of certain garden crops.
the investment in seed is too great
for taking chance with the weather,
but with heets, lettuce, and radishes
very small quantity of seed is re-
1uired and if they come through in
good shape the product will be ready
for use much earlier than if the plant
ing were delayed. About % or 30
feet of row will give all the early
1eets required by an ordinary family.
Radishes may be planted in the rows
With early peas. However. it will be
necessary tc remove the radishes be-
fore they begin to crowd the peas AS
rule, radisheS will he ready for use
in three 20 four weeks after planting,
1r just about the time that the peas
have begun TO make a vigorous
growth. Most gardeners make the
mistake of planting too many rad
lshes. or at least of planting too many
At one time and not being able to use
the product.
The old-fashioned method of grow
ing lettuce was to plant a he'd along
one side or in one corner of the gar
den. and when the plants were large
enough. to thin them, using the prod
act as needed and leaving the re-
mainder to grow larger This method
of growing lettuce is not as desirable
as the plan of growing if in rows,
where il can be easily cultivated. Let
tuce is very susceptible TO heat. and
II is difficult to grow it satisfactorily
after the weather has become hot.
For this reason il is best grown as q
spring and fall crop. Two or three
paintings at intervals of ten DAYS or
two weeks in spring and a planting or
two in autumn should be sufficient for
the needs Of the ordinary family.
Planting Second Group.
The second group, including carrots,
beets, parsnips. radishes. satisfy.
wrinkled peas. spinach and early
sweet corn. may be planted shortly
before the probable time for the last
spring frost. The planting of these