Hungry Horse news., 1953-03-27
Plan for Early Vegetables

service
Some vegetables need a hea
start indoors if we expect to real
ize good crop from them durin
the summer. A few examples ar
cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli, eel
cry, tomatoes, eggplants and pep
pers. But it won't be of much ad
vantage if we use poorly grow
plants or set them out before dan
ger of frost is past. Some kinds
such as the cabbage group ant
celery, can stand some frost anC
may be set out about mid-May
Others, such as the tomato group
are definitely frost tender anC
should not be transplanted unit
after the frost-hazard period i.
over.
WELL GROWN TRANSPLANTs
In selecting transplants for the
garden, choose well grown ones
A well grown tomato plant, for
example, should be from six to
eight inches in height. It should
possess healthy, dark green COL
or and show excellent vigor. Too
many plants sold are grown on
poor soils and show poor color.
Other plants may be too closely
crowded in flat, or they may
not have received plenty of day
light. Plants grown under such
conditions appear tall, lanky and
splndly and most frequently poss-
ess poor root system. If avail
able, plants grown in plant bands
or individual containers will best
survive the shock of transplanting.
They may cost more, but they are
worth it in terms of earliness and
total yield of fresh produce.
Usually greenhousemen provide
plants which are grown in flats
and when buying flat-grown
plants, insist on obtaining the
plants with as much soil around
the roots as possible. If the soil
is well soaked down before taking
the plants out of the flat, much
of the soil will cling to the roots.
In handling these transplants, do
not expose the roots any longer
than necessary-get the job of
transplanting done as quickly as
possible.
A calm, cool, cloudy day is best
for setting out the plants into
the garden. 1t is very difficult to
establish transplants if the wea-
ther is hot and dry and especially
if there is much wind. Planting
just before an anticipated rain
shower is ideal.
ADAPTED VARIETIES
When you buy vegetable trans
plants, insist on an adapted var
iety. We need varieties that ma
ture early in this state. Follow
the list of recommended varieties
for the state which you may OBJ
tain from your county agent.
Follow recommended spacing
distances for setting out these
garden transplants. Give the plants
plenty of room and if growing
in a dryland garden,
wider spacing is recommended
than normal to conserve moisture.
In setting out these garden
set them at the same
level or slightly deeper than they
we're in the flat. The garden soil
should be well prepared in advance
Of planting and well rotted man.
ure should be applied to the soil
at the time of digging. A complete
fertilizer or 10-20-0 fertilizer may
De applied at the rate of 5 to 10
pounds per 1000 square feet of
garden. 1t is better to drill it in
about 3 inches around each plant
'ather than scatter it broadcast.
However, be careful not to let the
fertilizer come in direct contact
With the roots of the plants.
DEEP ROOT HOLES
In transplanting, make the
planting hole deep enough and
vide enough to accommodate the !
olant roots without cramping or
Firm the soil well ar '
,und the roots with loose dirt and {
water the plants Immediately af- I
er planting. This will help to {
ettle the soil and bring the soil i
n direct contact with the roots. 6
some gardeners use a weak liquid |
ertilizer solution and pour a lit S
lie around each plant during
ransplanting. This seems to les t
en- the shock of transplanting and f
he plants seem to establish them t
elves more quickly. Shingles or t
'oards can be placed on the south
ide of the newly set plants to !
hade them from direct sun for f
few days until they become es- s
ablished. G
Many gardeners protect their S
ewly transplants from cutworms {
" placing a collar around each i
liant. The collars should be shov-
d into the soil at least " inch v
eep to afford maximum pro- t.
ection. Old tin cans or ice cream j
artons with the tops and bottoms a
IL IL l..