110 CALIFORNIA VEGETABLES 



tion or underflow, the time when garden growth is about at its 

 lowest point. It is also a time when preparations are to be made 

 for the earliest sowing. The arrangement is somewhat arbitrary, 

 as confessed above, but it accords best with all matters involved to 

 look upon the month of July as the beginning of the California 

 year in vegetable growing. 



JULY. 



On ground moistened anew by underflow from rising rivers 

 or by percolation from irrigation ditches on higher orchard slopes, 

 or on land cleared of an earlier crop, irrigated and well worked, it 

 is possible to plant vegetables in July for late fall or winter use. 

 String beans, beets, carrots, corn, peas, parsnips, potatoes, salsify, 

 squashes, turnips, etc. will all come on rapidly if adequate moisture 

 is furnished and frosts are reasonably late. Melons are also suc- 

 cessfully thus sown and with heat enough will mature in Septem- 

 ber from July planting. Near the coast, or in the interior, with 

 shade, cucumbers, lettuce, radishes and other salads will thrive. 

 Cabbage and cauliflower seed sown in proper beds or boxes, soon 

 gives plants for later setting which will mature for Christmas 

 and on through the early winter; if not caught by frost, tomatoes 

 will also come through from such a start. 



AUGUST. 



Corn and potatoes planted in August may still have time to 

 reach satisfactory condition of maturity, except where frosts are 

 expected early. Cabbage and cauliflower seed will give plants 

 for proper winter succession; turnips on irrigated ground will also 

 give winter crop. Onion seed may be sown for sets. August is 

 a sort of divide in garden work. It is rather late to sow for fall 

 use and rather soon to sow for winter use, and still August planting 

 is practiced by many where local conditions take kindly to it. 



SEPTEMBER. 



Planting must still proceed upon moisture by irrigation, and 

 planting for early winter use is still in order. Peas started with ir- 

 rigation and carried until rainfall is adequate, will be ready for 

 Christmas in regions where only light frosts occur, for peas are 



