Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1945-03-11

soil can be worked since they need
a considerable period IN which tx
develop. If this growth is delayed
it is quite likely that the weather
will be hot and dry when the tubers
are forming, consequently the cror
will be small. The same is true Of
garden peas. If the weather is hot
and dry when the pods are filing
there is a probability that the peas
will be hard and low in quality
Only early maturing varieties
should be planted and they should
go into the ground as early in March
as the soil is workable.
Cabbage, broccoli and kohl-rabi
are essentially cool-weather crops
If the plants are properly hardened
in the cold frame they will with
stand freezing. We should set out
plants of these three crops early
in March so that they will make
rapid tender growth and be Of good
flavor. Broccoli is an excellent
spring crop if planted early enough,
otherwise, it lacks in flavor and is
hardly worth planting in the spring.
Beet plants may be set out late
in March. The seed may be plant
ed In the garden earlier, depending
upon how well the garden is pro-
tected. Onion sets and plants
should 60 into the ground early in
March. They withstand cold weather
and thrive in cool weather. II
planting is delayed, they will not
make large bulbs. Late paintings
suffer more from thrip injury than
do the earlier paintings.
Spring kale, collards and spinach
are leafy crops that benefit from
early planting since they make their
best growth while the weather is
cool and moist. Their flavor is best
when grown during cool weather.
However, they do not Withstand
freezing as well as some crops and
unless the garden is in a well-pro-
tected situation they should not be
planted until after the middle Of
the month. Fall sown spinach with
stands freezing weather with little
or no protection.
Some gardeners scatter a bit of
lettuce seed on prepared ground as
soon as 1t may be worked and they
usually secure an excellent early
crop. While lettuce is not considered
a hardy crop, it does terminate bet
ter and make more rapid growth
when planted early in the season.
We can transplant head lettuce
fairly easily. but not leaf lettuce.
In transplanting head lettuce from
the cold frame to the garden con-
siderable care should be taken not
to plant it too deeply, or growth
will be affected.
Parsley is another crop that does
best II given an early start. Old
seed left in the ground over winter
oftentimes gives excellent results
although it Is not considered an ex-
ceptionally hardy crop. Small
plants will live over winter in the
garden If given some protection.
Working garden soil before it has
dried out sufficiently causes the par
ticleS to run together-"puddle"
and as soon as it begins to dry, has
the consistency of putty. When in
such condition 1t makes hard
clods and can seldom be pulverized
until after the action of frost. The
usual test of the workability of soil
Is to pick up a handful and squeeze
it. Then give the ball a light blow
with a stick or the hand. If it
crumbles, the soil is ready to be
worked. If it remains firm it is
too wet.
4
Mid-March is the normal time
for sowing tomato seed indoors.
Peppers and eggplant may be start
ed at the same time although they
take longer to reach transplanting
size and should be started two
weeks earlier. Starting tomatoes at
this time, it is sometimes desirable
to raise a few plants of an early
maturing variety (Earliana. Victor,
etc. along with the main crop