The Ypsilanti daily press. (Ypsilanti, Mich.) 1928-1962, 1943-07-07
Victory
Gardens
BY II. {. Iaina

time 10 appraise the early garden
taking note Of the causes OF the
success or failure OF each variety
and thus building up a fund OF in
formation that will be helpful IN
future years. The first week IN
July is also the time to complete
all plans for the late or fall gar
den. The following description OF
the activities nd-accomplishments
in one OF the gardens OF this To-
cality may be helpful as well as in
teresting 10 many gardeners.
At the tine OF the planting OF
radishes. peas and early potatoes,
about April IS 10 %. the weather
vas quite favorable Then came the
floods. When the flood waters
allied to soak away within a few
days, this gardener promptly be-
gan to throw ridges Of dirt against
the rows OF peas and potatoes thus
leaving trenches between the rows.
The plants survived and grew quite
well so that the first mess OF peas
was harvested on June 19, and 9TH
err pickings have been made every
two or three days since then. The
Irish Cobbler potato vines are large
and the tubers are from one to two
inches in diameter. Compared with
the harvests OF the other years. thu
peas are maturing earlier and the
yield is average in quantity and
very good in quality, while the po'
tatoes are maturing later with the
prospects OF at least average yield.
Early carrots, beets, parsnips,
satisfy. and lettuce we're planted
during an interval between rains
about the first week OF May. In
spite 0. all efforts to keep the sur
face OF the soil loosened. the re-
suits show only about so TO 70 per
cent OF plants, but these are now
growing nicely. Leaf lettuce and
radishes were as good as average.
Transplanted crops like cabbage,
head lettuce, and tomatoes were
retarded by the rains, but good cul-
ture with some ridging Of the soil
proved TO be helpful. The first ripe
tomatoes were picked June IS and
the first head OF cabbage was har-
vested July |. That is early for to-
matoes and about average for cab
bage. The earliest cabbage that
was ever harvested in that particu'
lar garden was on June 81 few
years ago. Garden farmers often
have cabbage before July l. Such
early tomatoes, however, are rare.
They were produced on potted
plants transplanted about June /.
The extreme heat of mid-June was
doubtless an important cause OF
the early ripening. Ripe tomotoes
were found on the following varie-
ties, John Baer. Bonny Best, Ear
Llama. and Victor. Head lettuce did
nearly as we'll as it did last year
which was acknowledged to be one
Of the best years for head lettuce
in the last 10 years. The heads o.
all varieties were large and quite
firm, the season OF harvest having
lasted from the second week OF
June until the first Of July.
Sweet corn planted on May Is,
during a short dry spell between
rains was three feet tall on July l,
and the tassels were protruding in
the early varieties so that the pros
poets are favorable for an early
and abundant harvest.
Popcorn is now knee high so that
the prospects are favorable for COM
plete maturity. Popcorn and field
corn should be knee high by the
fourth Of July in order to have
ample time to attain full maturity
before frosts.
The prospect for melons, cucum-
bers. squash and pumpkin appears
to be good, but the struggle against
floods and beetles has never been
Inore serious than it was this year.
The earliest melon vines are now
80 inches long and we'll supplied
with blossoms. The mid-season mel
on vines are just beginning to elon-
gate and have not yet blossomed.
Peppers are beginning to blossom.
1t was. necessary 10 ridge up the
earth for melons on low land this
year. Green beans planted May IS,
are now in full bloom with many
tiny pods appearing where the ear
lest blossoms have fallen.