Guide to better gardening , . . vegetables 



PUMPKIN. Pumpkins are less sensitive to unfavorable 

 conditions of soil and weather than melons or cucumbers, 

 but they are cultivated in about the same way. 



RADISH. Sow radish seed as early as the ground can be 

 worked. Make the rows 12 to 18 inches apart and cover 

 seeds about ]4 in. deep. Sow the seed thinly. If the plants 

 seem crowded when they come up, thin them to stand about 

 an inch apart. Radishes will be crisp and tender if they 

 have plenty of moisture. 



RHUBARB. Sow seed in rows an inch deep and thin the 

 plants to six inches apart. In the fall transplant to a per- 

 manent location, setting the plants three to four feet apart. 

 The stalks should not be taken for use the first year. 



RUTABAGA. This vegetable requires a longer growing 

 season than turnip and needs more moisture. Seed may be 

 sown from mid-June to mid-July. Culture is practically the 

 same as for turnip except that the plants should be thinned 

 to six or eight inches apart in the rows. When grown, pull, 

 top, and store in cool cellar or pit. 



SALSIFY or VEGETABLE OYSTER. Sow seed early 

 one-half to one inch deep, giving about the same culture as 

 for parsnip. Succeeds best in light, rich soil that has been 

 spaded quite deeply. 



SPINACH. Plant seed as early in spring as ground can be 

 prepared. Have the soil fine and loose. Make the rows about 

 18 inches apart. Sow the seed thinly, and cover with about 

 an inch of soil. Press down firmly. When the plants are 

 about three inches tall, thin them so that they are three to 

 six inches apart in the row. Keep out the weeds. 



SQUASH. Plant about the same time as corn, when the 

 ground is warm and dry. Make hills (see Corn) four feet 

 apart. Drop six to eight seeds in each hill. Cover w^ith 

 about 1 to 13^ in. of fine soil, and press down firmly. When 

 the plants are up, thin them so that only three or four of 

 the strongest ones are left in each hill. Well rotted manure 

 or a little complete fertilizer may be mixed with the soil 

 in each hill before the seeds are planted. 



SWISS CHARD. Plant early as ground can be worked in 

 spring. Make the rows about 24 inches apart. Sow^ the 

 seeds about one inch apart in the row, and cover with one- 

 half to one inch of soil. When the plants are three or four 

 inches high, thin them so that they are eight or ten inches 

 apart in the row. Hoe the plants often, and keep out the 

 weeds. 



TOMATO. Start tomato seed outdoors after all danger of 

 frost is past. Plant seeds 3 inches apart in rows 3-4 ft. 

 apart. Cover with 3^ inch soil. Later thin plants to 3 ft. 

 apart in rows. Seeds may also be started indoors (see 

 pictures) but outdoor plantings bear fruits nearly as early 

 except in extreme north. If your garden is small, stake 

 plants, otherwise let them sprawl. Place cutworm bait 

 around young plants. 



TURNIP. For summer turnips, sow the seed as early as 

 ground can be worked. Scatter the seed, or sow it in rows 

 like those of radishes and lettuce. Cover the seed with 

 about half an inch of soil. For fall and winter turnips, sow 

 the seed in July in the same way. 



WATERMELON. Watermelons require about the same 

 culture as muskmelons except that the vines need more 

 room. Hills should be liberally manured, and cultivation 

 careful and thorough. 



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The ''tepee' is a practical arrangement for staking 

 tomato plants — one plant to each stake. 



In insect control, spray both upper and under sides 

 of leaves. 



%M 



Cut the leaves of swiss chard when they are not more 

 than ten to twelve inches long. Let the small center 

 leaves continue to grow until they, too, are of good size, i 

 By this method you will always have crisp young 

 greens from summer through fall. 



