F E R R Y- M R S E SEED CO 



11 



GETTING THE MOST FROM YOUR GARDEN 

 COMBINED CULTURES 



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There is no country in the world with a greater acreage devoted to intensive vegetable growing than in the Netherlands. 

 During a single season a Dutch gardener gets several yields from the .same field by the so-called "Combined Culture" method. 

 We recommend "combined cultures" for concentrated and economical gardening in America. 



Anyone can make his own combinations, taking care to select vegetables that are harvested at widely differing times. This is 

 important because the later sorts may then have room to spread over the ground from which the earlier plants have been cut 

 away. Under this system it is necessary to fertilize the soil very heavily, due to the unusually hard usage which the land receives. 



Following we give you some practical suggestions for combined cultures to try in your garden this spring. 



CAULIFLOWER, LETTUCE, RADISHES 



Plant cauliflower as early as practicable in rows 3 feet apart. 

 Between every 2 rows place 1 row of lettuce; then between the 

 lettuce and cauliflower plant 2 rows of early radishes. The ra- 

 dishes are harvested before the other vegetables need the space. 

 Cabbages may be substituted for cauliflower, and spinach for 

 lettuce. 



CUCUMBERS, PEAS, RADISHES 



Sow dwarf peas early, in rows 4 to 6 feet apart; either broad- 

 cast radish seeds or plant it in rows; later 1 row of cucumbers 

 may be planted between every 2 rows of peas. The radishes are 

 harvested first, then the peas, and finally all the space is left for 

 the cucumbers. Muskmelons can be used instead of cucumbers. 



CARROTS AND PARSNIPS, SPINACH AND 

 LETTUCE, RADISHES 



Plant carrots and parsnips in alternate rows 2 feet apart; be- 

 tween the first 2 rows plant radishes; between rows 2 and 3, 

 lettuce; between 3 and 4, spinach; then radishes again, and so on. 



BEANS, SPINACH, RADISHES 



Spinach may be planted early in rows 2 feet apart; next 2 

 or more rows of radishes should be planted between each 2 

 rows of spinach. After the radishes are harvested plant a row 

 of dwarf beans between every 2 of spinach. The beans will then 

 have room to grow after the spinach is cut away. 



TOMATOES, CAULIFLOWER, SPINACH, 

 RADISHES 



Set the cauliflower out early in rows 4 feet apart; at a dis- 

 tance of one foot on either side of each cauliflower row, plant a 

 row of spinach; sow radishes between the spinach rows; when 

 the radishes are used, set tomato plants in the row they occu- 

 pied. Peppers or eggplant may be substituted for tomatoes. 



PEPPERS, RADISHES, SPINACH 



Plant spinach in rows 2)4. feet apart; between every 2 of these 

 rows place 1 or 2 rows of early radish. When the radishes have 

 been pulled a row of pepper plants is set between every 2 of spin- 

 ach. After the spinach has been cut the peppers will have space 

 to grow. 



SPINACH, BEET, RADISH 



First sow spinach seed in rows 2^2 to 3 feet apart; next' place 

 a row of beets between every 2 spinach rows; finally between 

 a row of beets and one of spinach plant one row of radishes. 



ONION, RADISH, LETTUCE 



In the early spring plant onion seeds in rows 2 to 2}'2 feet 

 apart, and at the same time place lettuce in rows between those 

 of onion. Radish seed may lae sown between the lettuce and 

 onion rows. The lettuce and radishes are harvested in time to 

 give the onions sufficient space. 



EARLY CABBAGE, RADISH, BEANS 



As early as practicable cabbage plants should be set out in 

 rows 21 2 feet apart. Between these rows sow 1 or more rows of 

 early radishes. After the radishes are pulled plant 1 row of dwarf 

 beans between every 2 of cabbage. >. t 



CORN, EARLY TURNIPS 



Sow early turnips 3 to 4 feet apart; later plant a row of corn 

 between each 2 turnip rows. The turnips will be harvested by the 

 time the corn needs space to grow. 



WATERMELON, SPINACH, RADISH 



Plant radishes early, in rows 8 feet apart; between every 2 

 rows of these, at 2 foot intervals, place rows of lettuce, spinach 

 or both. The watermelon seeds are planted later in the place 

 of the radishes. 



A GOOD WAY TO MARK ROWS 



Still another form of the combined culture is useful in the 

 home garden. 



When planting seed which is naturally of slow germination 

 it is a good plan to plant a quick growing kind in the same row. 

 Carrot and onion seed for instance, are slow to germinate and 

 the seedlings are not easily seen when they first emerge. If a 

 quick growing kind such as radish or lettuce is planted in the 

 same row, they will be easily seen and can be cultivated much 

 earlier. They can both be allowed to grow in the same row and 

 the earlier vegetable can be used while the later one is being 

 thinned. 



