Seed Guide 2007 pgs 01/41 - McKenzie Seeds

G R O W I N G I N F O R M A T I O N
mulch. Water well after planting until
established and dig a shallow water
tunnel either side of the row, each
approximately 21/2ft (80cm) from the
centre of the plant for watering. When
the plants have made 4 true leaves, cut
off the growing point just above the 3rd
true leaf. With vigorous plants a second
pruning at the 8th leaf can be made. They
should run along the ground and need no
support. When the flowers appear, hand
pollination will prevent mis-shapen fruits.
Watering is most necessary just after the
fruits set, at this stage water regularly and
feed at 10-14 day intervals with liquid
feed. Wait until the fruit is fully mature
before harvesting. At this stage a small
crack will appear near the stalk and it will
have a rich fruity fragrance. Harvest with
1/2in (1cm) of stalk attached.
Parsley
This is probably the most nutritious and
versatile plant that the amateur gardener
can grow in the vegetable section. With a
little protection it can be available all
through the year for sauces, salads and
garnishings as well as being an essential
ingredient of stuffing.
The seed is very slow to germinate, but
can be speeded up somewhat by soaking
the seed for 12 hours prior to sowing or
by watering the drill before sowing then
covering with dry soil.
For a continuous supply sow 1/2in
(1.25cm) deep in early spring and again in
the summer in a sheltered position
outdoors or in soil blocks or trays of
compost for thinning or transplanting to
about 6in (15cm) apart. In fall cut back
the flowering stems to prolong the
cropping period.
Peas
Few vegetables can match tender, sweet
garden peas, picked straight from the
plants and eaten within an hour or two.
For those with the room to spare, three
15ft (4.5m) rows of an early variety and
another three rows of a maincrop gives
self-sufficiency for a family of two adults
and three children. This is a crop that
repays careful preparation on of the site
30
as early in the year as possible. Choose an
open, sunny position with deep soil
organically manured and well drained.
Just prior to sowing give a top dressing of
a balanced organic fertilizer or an
inorganic one.
Sow the early varieties in early spring with
the maincrop following about four or five
weeks later: Make a flat-bottomed trench
about 6in (15cm) wide and 3in (7.5cm)
deep. The space between each row should
be approximately the height of the crop.
Sow the seeds in three rows in the trench
2in (5cm) apart each way and cover with
2in (5cm) of soil.
Cover the rows with pea guards or stretch
black cotton along the rows to protect
the seedlings from birds. When the
seedlings are about 4in (10cm) tall give
support with twiggy sticks or netting
supported by stakes.
Do not allow the pods to become overripe
as this shortens the harvesting
period. Any surplus peas can be frozen
very successfully.
The salad crops
Beet (Beetroot)
As a salad crop these are best used when
only the size of a golf ball. They can also
be pickled at this stage. The maincrop
beet should not be allowed to become
too big and this means lifting and storing
them in early autumn.
Sow thinly in a trench 1in (2.5cm) deep
and 12in (30cm) apart, thin out to 4in
(10cm) apart. Too early sowing can result
in the crop bolting (running to seed), so
make the first sowing in mid-spring, with
a successional sowing about four weeks
later; and the maincrop sowing in early
summer. Beetroot seeds are actually a
cluster of several seeds and they can be
left to develop as a cluster of four to five
roots.
Chicory
Welcomed by the connoisseur of winter
salads for its tangy bitter-sweet taste and
crisp texture. Seed should be sown early