Evening star., 1942-08-09
Fall Vegetable
Should
Be Available
Requires Effort
But the Results
Are Worth II
By Edwin &. PoyeU.

A continuous supply OF fresh vese-
tables may be obtained In the fall
by successive paintings and the Sc
lection OF suitable varieties. AL
though 1t requires somewhat greater
effort 1t Is more profitable to grow
than weeds In the late
summer and fall garden. A well pre-
pared seedbed and a moderate APP
plication Of a quickly available fer
tilizer containing from 5 to 8 per
cent of nitrogen are necessary to
obtain quick and vigorous growth.
Lack Of sufYicient moisture to induce
prompt termination Of the seed and
a soil that packs hard after a heavy
shower are the most common causes
of failure to obtain stand. Mois-
ture can be supplied in many gar
dens by hose attached to the
home water supply; II small seeds
are covered with sand or coal ashes
they will come through even II
planted in an intractable soil.
Where killing frosts are not ex-
pected before october IS a planting
Of an early sweet corn may be made
early In August. If the frost comes
when the corn is in the roasting ear
stage the ears will remain in good
condition for two weeks. There are
several varieties Of the delicious
yellow sugar corn that mature in
IS to rs days, including Extra Early
Bantam, Seneca, North Star, Mar
cross, Spancross, and Golden Ban
tam. 1t is also worth while to put
in row of snap beans. either the
green -podded like Tendergreen,
Bountiful, or Stringless Green Pod,
or a wax bean, which many prefer.
Several root crops reach good size
in from IS to 10 days and are moi
injured by light frosts. Table beets.
early carrots like Nantes, Oxheart,
Chantenay, or even Half f-Long Dam
vers, and kohlrabi will produce crisp
delicious roots II planted before the
middle Of August. Turnips are one
OF the easiest and surest fall crops
to grow-merely scatter 4 little seed
thinly and rake it in wherever there
Is a vacant spot OF a few square feet
or yards. 1t often yields well when
sown with crimson clover used for
a cover crop.
Late cabbage plants are best pro-
cured from a grower or seedsman
and should be planted z feet apart
each way. AS they may be kept well
into the winter one or two dozen
plants are enough for most families.
Collards, a loose-leaf plant of the
cabbage family. are a favorite vese-
table in the South and may be
planted throughout August. They
Will supply an abundance Of green's
for a long time. Chinese or celery
cabbage has become a favorite with
many. either boiled or eaten raw As
salad. The plants do not stand
freezing and are not easily trans
planted. hence should be sown where
they are to grow and thinned to 8
inches apart.
There are several salad plants
that give excellent results in the
fall garden-eorn salad, cress. en-
dive, lettuce and mustard. They
are good sources of vitamins and
add variety to the diet. Lettuce
may be had until New Year or later
II one has coldframe and will sive
it the necessary protection during
freezing weather by covering the
frame with glass sash and mats.
The loose-leaf varieties like Simp-
son, Prizehead, and Hanson crow
quickly and can be used from the
| time the plants are small. May
King Is one Of the earliest of the
head lettuces and Big Boston Is pos-
sibly the best for fall culture In
frames as it heads well In cold
weather and Is not injured by sIizht
freezing.
Spinach and kale are popular
crops that provide green's during A
long season. The seed may be sown
IN August or early September for a
fan and winter crop. Kale is hard
Ter and will stand hard freezes. The
outer leaves may be picked as want
ed and the plants will produce A
spring crop. Spinach may be COW
cred with straw at the approach of
freezing weather.
And don't forget to try a few win
ter radishes. They are easily stored
Tor winter use and II sliced thinly
are much relished.