92 TENDER AND HARDY VEGETABLES 



lots. In regions having moderate winter weather a few of these 

 can withstand the winter freezes. Shallots are often grown as 

 winter crops. 



Perennial Crops. — These are required to withstand the cold 

 of spring and winter and also the heat of summer. The common 

 garden perennials are rhubarb and asparagus. Others less com- 

 mon are globe artichoke and sea-kale. In very cold climates they 

 are mulched in winter to prevent heaving and injury of the crowns. 



Short Season Spring Greens. — Leaf Lettuce, corn salad, 

 garden cress, spinach, mustard, and turnip greens will do best in 

 early spring. They will mature their leaf crops for the table before 

 summer heat is on. In the southern states nearly all of these may 

 be started in late autumn and will withstand some winter freezing, 

 particularly if mulched a little with straw or waste materials. 

 Mustard and turnip crops for greens are most commonly grown 

 by this plan. 



Early Peas are best grown in very early spring. They endure 

 frosts well and should mature their crop before hot weather. In 

 southern states they may also be grown as a late fall crop if there 

 is enough rainfall. 



Planting Table. — The accompanying planting table will serve 

 as a rough guide in planning and planting the home garden. Ex- 

 perience is a better guide. In the hardiness column, T means 

 tender, killed by frost; VT, injured by cool weather; H, hardy, 

 stands frost; VH, stands freezing of the soil. The table is largely 

 adapted from Cornell Extension Bulletin 14. 



SURVEYS AND EXERCISES 



1. Early Spring Crops. — What vegetables of this group are most grown in 

 your community? To get this information make up a list of all hardy spring 

 crops and have them checked over by each family indicating the amount grown 

 in each case. 



2. Warm Season Crops. — A similar survey should be made for warm 

 season crops. 



3. Cool season crops that endure summer heat should be completely listed 

 and a similar survey made. 



4. Transplanting plants is a good garden or greenhouse exercise. Use as 

 many kinds as possible of those listed in this chapter. A number of exer- 

 cises of this character will be profitable practice. Use "flats' ' if desired. Have 

 good garden soil in each and water the plants well before and after trans- 

 planting. 



5. Making flats is another good exercise for early spring or any other sea- 

 son. Use boxes from shoe stores or grocery stores. Cut them down or use the 

 lumber to be made over into shallow boxes of convenient size to handle (Fig. 

 64.) Four inches is a good inside depth. Nail them well but leave some drain- 

 age cracks in the bottom of each. Also make transplanting boards and dibbers. 



