Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1926-05-15
Gardening in Washington
Continued from Fourteenth Page)

date for setting out tomatoes in Wash
inEton, the LIST of April was the time
for sowing the seed. Plants may he
set in the garden about MAY |. II
sufficient plants are held in the cold
frame to guard against the possible
loss OF those outdoors. On cold nights
one may use newspaper to cover the
plants in the open. IF the plants pull
through. the first fruit may be har-
vested as early as july 4. when toma-
toes are still expensive. The late crop
Of tomatoes for late canning and green
pickles can now he sewed in the open.
In addition to good preparation of
the soil. il will pay in the home garden
10 dig a deep hole and to use part of
shovelful of rotted stable or dried
chicken manure. for tomatoes are
heavy feeders. If there is plenty Of
room in the garden. the holes can
he made feet apart each way, when
the plants are allowed 70 run on the
ground. In restricted gardens the to-
rnHtoes can be grown on stakes or
H'ire trelliSes, with the rows 2l2 to 8
feet apart and feet apart in the row.
Set the plants deeply and firmly, but
not in direct contact with any manure
or fertilizer Let the growing roots
push outward and downward to this
~hPpiH VI pldnI IOOu. lOIndIOeS are
able 10 throw out additional roots
above the original set, so that they
can he set somewhat deeper than other
plants. In fact if the stock plants
are leggy. the plants can be set at an
angle and most of the stem buried
under the soil. leaving but or s
inches above the soil.
II the plants are allowed to grow
upon the ground. they need no fur
hAN- H.
for harvest In the home garden.
where space is Al premium. stout
stakes are SET in he rows at intervals
Of or 10 feet and either fence wire or
strands of wire is strung along the
row. The lowest strand is usually
about inches above the ground and
the others at 2-foot intervals.
In tying the plants 10 the wires it
Is best to use narrow strips Of soft
cloth, as these will not chafe the ten
der ST ems. In tying. make loose loop
about the stem below a leaf and then
tie knot. leaving plenty OF room for
the stem TO grow. Then pass the two
strings up and about the particular
supporting wire. Go through the rows
once a week and tie up the stems as
they develop. At the me time pinch
of the surplus Vegetative shoots. Most
people leave three shoots to develop
end all OF these come out from the
4 xii between the leaf and the stem.
Flowering and fruit clusters. which
bear the fruit. start from out Of the
side Of the vine and never in the
axis Of the leaves. Pinching off the
extra vegetative shoots or suckers
throws the full energy Of the plant
into well-directed vine growth and into
fruit production.
TrellIses are ideal for home grown
fruit. for the fruit can be gathered in
A clean condition and it ripens some
what earlier. One should water the
plants whenever the soil condition re
ouires It. Sometimes near the close of
August II is we'll to apply little
liquid manure or liquid nitrate Of soda
TO cause the vines TO renew growth
and resume fruitins.
Just before the time FOR the early
frosts about October 10l. the fruit may
he all harvested and ripened on shelf
in the sun or in warm room.