Evening star., 1947-03-02
Crops to Be Started in March
Gardeners Who Plant Early Can Add
Rows Later to Keep Supplies Tender
Rv
By w. H. Younqmon

During the last 10 days when snow
storms have been harassing this
area, the planting Of vegetables
appeared a long way off. How
ever, experience in local gardens
has shown beyond all doubt that
March is the time to plant peas,
potatoes, cabbage, broccoli, onion
sets and plants, and num-
Der of other cool weather crops If
they are to mature before hot
weather in June ruins their quality
Occasionally there is spring in
which these crops can be planted in
April and still produce crops of
quality, but the odds are against
such late planting Too often the
seed and labor are wasted. This is
especially true of peas and head
lettuce.
The crops we are considering to-
day are essentially cool weather
crops, which means they grow and
thrive only in cool weather. Hot
weather checks their growth and
they lose much of their quality. The
potatoes slow down in their de-
velopment and the yield is reduced.
The peas which are filling in the
pods begin to harden and lose both
their flavor and tender quality.
Spring greens become strong with
the advent of hot weather and, while
still edible. they lack the high quail
ity which we normally associate
with home grown vegetables.
Move Out Cabbage, Broccoli.
Normally, early spring gardens are
planted in soil that was spaded in
the fall and needs only to be raked
before planting However, nearly
every season there is a week or two
in March when the soil can be
woyked and the seed sown. That
is the period when experienced gar
deners feverishly rush the seeds
of these early crops into the ground.
Although they realize that freezes
End cold weather may be expected
they know from past years that
these crops will not suffer.
II the cabbage and broccoli plants
were properly hardened off in the
cold frame they should go into the
garden at the same time as the peas
and potatoes. Early sowings of COL
lards and lettuce may be made at
the same time. Beets are normally
thought of as being bit too tender
for such an early planting, but some
splendid crops have been produced
from March sowings.
Peas are not normally recon-
mended for this area because of the
short growing period before hot
weather may normally be expected
However, if we SOW early maturing
varieties, those that mature in from
so to 10 days, we may count upon
acceptable crops in four years out
OF five. Laxton's Progress, a dwarf
growing pea, and Thomas Laxton,
tall variety, are two that have
excellent quality, good sized pods
and are productive. A harder and
earlier variety, Alaska, has good
quality for smooth-seeded variety
Generally speaking, the smooth
seeded peas do not have the high
quality that is associated with the
wrinkled-seeded varieties. Little
Marvel is favorite of many, as are
Blue Bantam. Improved Gradus and
Motifs Excelsior or American Won
der. All are Wrinkled-seeded vari-
etieS maturing in so to 10 days.
Three Varieties of Potatoes.
Potatoes are not often recon-
nended for local gardens although
many a gardener schemes and plans
to have new peas and potatoes from
his garden by the 4th of July The
most dependable variety of potatoes
for this area is the Irish Cobbler
Although not large potato it is
dependable and productive. While
the tubers do not keep we'll except
under exceptionally favorable stor-
age conditions, few gardeners grow
enough to last more than into the
winter.
For a better keeper and depend
able variety, Kathadin is recon-
mended. Deep cultivation must be
avoided with this variety as the
tuber- bearing shoots are close to
the surface On the other hand,
the tubers are large and practically
eyeless so that there is very little
waste, although it takes twice as
much seed to plant row.