The Bismarck tribune. [volume] (Bismarck, N.D.) 1916-current, 1934-05-30
North Dakota
Garden Chats

Blossoms should be picked Oft newly
set strawberry plants. However. ever
bearing varieties which produce bios
SONS after the first Of July may be
allowed to produce . fall crop.
II you are raising cabbage, do not
wait until your crop is damaged by
worms before putting out poison.
Keep the plants well busted with poi
son and the worms viii never reach
large size.
II possible, irrigation should be
provided for your garden. There is
no place where irrigation will pay
more. One good soaking at critical
time may double the yield Of crop,
or even make q failing crop do well. If
well water is used for irrigation it Is
best to apply the water Ia the evening,
running it on the ground around the
plants. Then cultivate the surface
slightly the next day.
II you do not irrigate your garden
be sure and give each plant plenty Of
space. Too thick planting without
the necessary thinning later Is often
to blame for low yields. The extra
plants are just as harmful as other
weeds.
We never prune our tomato plants
in any way but leave all the blossoms
on and all the side branches as they
naturally develop. In setting them
the plants should be removed from
the pot without disturbing the roots
and set in the field with the general
soil level about one inch over the top
Of the ball Of dirt put out with the
plant. The soil Is packed down very
tightly. If the ground Is dry we give
each plant a good soaking after 1t has
been set. We always space our plants
not less than 4x5 feet apart and do
not prune them during the summer.
Rutabagas need q cool climate such
as we have here in North Dakota. A
sandy soil is best. In hot dry sum-
mer. especially If grown on heavy
soils. they are likely to be bitter. The
reckless varieties as q class are earlier
than the necked. To get well formed
roots thinning Is necessary. I'm
proved Purple Top IS one Of the best
varieties.
Turnips are another root crop OF
the same nature as rutabagas. Tur-
nips like cool weather and mature
quickly so are often sown early in
the spring as q substitute for rutaba-
gas before that crop is ready. They
may also be sown in midsummer as q
fall crop.
Taking account Of the shrubs at this
time Of year the Yellow Towering
Currant Is easily the most attractive
thing that we have. It seems to be
wholly indifferent to drouth or cold
In bloom the plant is literally mass
Of yellow gold. This shrub does moi
grow so tall but what 1t can be USED
for foundation planting and is equal.
ly well suited to the shrubbery Dor.
der. It is the first thing to leaf out
in the spring and seems never to b<
injured by frosts.
The ordinary varieties Of broccoli
are Of no value in North Dakota
There is a new variety called Italian
Green Sprouting, or Calabrese, which
produces heads similar to cauliflowel
except they are green and require NJ
blanching. This variety seems to bt
9 surer producer Of heads than eau
liflower. The heads taste like cauli.
flower and doubtless are more valu'
able as a vegetable. because with it
green color 1t has vitamins not con
tanned in the other plant. Gardner
should try this new crop. It Is raiset
the same as cabbage.