Milford chronicle., 1922-06-09
WHEN and HOW
TO PLANT CROPS
U. S. Department Of Agriculture
Gives Advice to the Home
Gardeners.
DIVIDED into FOUR GROUPS
First Vegetables That Will Withstand
Frost; Second, Semi-Hardy Crops;
Third, Those Easily Killed;
Fourth, Heat-LoVing Plants.

Common garden crops are divided
by the United States Department of
Agriculture into four groups as re-
CARDS 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-lOv-
ing 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 be planted before frOsts are
past-are Irish potatoes, smooth peas.
onion sets, cabbage plants, kale. tur-
nips. beets, lettuce, and mustard. They
may be planted early because they re
Quire some time to come up. While |
the young plants are injured by frost
by the time they sprOut and come to
the surface, frost danger is likely to
be past.
Don't Follow Moon R1is.
Some gardeners formerly Ned III
plnntirg Irish potatoes and certain
o.her garden crops according to the
signs Of the moon. No one seems to
know how the old moon theory Origi-
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 infiu-
ence one way or the other upon plant
growth, and experienced gardeners pre-
fer 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 impor
lance is to have the land in first-class
condition for planting, then proceed to
plant as soon q weather conditions
)ermit.
The dwarf OR smooth varieties of
English peas g6at be planted about
he same time as Irish potatoes, or
ust as soon as the ground is dry
enough to work in the early spring.
Iere again soil preparation is impOr-
ant, and the ground should be made
inc and mellow before planting.
Opinions differ as to the depth to
which the seed peas should be COW
red. Some authorities claim they
hOuld be covered as much as inches,
While others maintain that 2 or 3
nches is sufficient. Much will de-
,end, however, upon the character of
he soil in which the crop is planted.
f the soil is a light sandy loan and
Inclined to dry out quickly, the peas
hOuld be covered to inches. But
f the soil is rather heavy and inclined Ii
o pack closely, they should not be
overed more than to inches. The p,
arieties of peas having wrinkled seed
oats should not be planted until about n,
|
hey are just little more susceptible VI
, iSiury from frost and will mature
bout as early if planted when the -
round has slightly warmed. "
When to Take Chances.
In the case of certain garden crops. q
le investment in seed is too great for ~, ~
king a chance with the weather, but q
ith beets, lettuce, and radishes a very So
nall quantity Of seed is required, and
they come through in good shape, nj
e product will be ready for use much tb
rlier than if the planting were de- We
yed About 25 or 30 feet Of row sv
III give all the early beets required eli
an ordinary family. Radishes may
planted in the rows with early peas.
Owever, it will be necessary to re
Ove the radishes before they begin =,
crowd the peas. AS a rule, radishes =
Il be ready for use in three or four .
'eks after planting, or just about the
ne that the peas have begun to make
VigOrOus growth Most zardasSars