American Pocket Library of Useful Knowledge/Vegetables
VEGETABLES.
Artichoke.–Sow early in the Spring, in rows three inches apart, or plant suckers.
Asparagus.–Sow in April, in good rich soil.
Beans. English Dwarfs.–Plant as early in the Spring as the ground will work.
Kidney Dwarfs.–Plant from end of April to about 20th August.
Pole or Running.–Plant beginning of May, and at intervals through the season.
Beets.–Sow in drills, from early in the Spring till the middle of Summer. Leave the plants 6 to 8 inches apart in the drills.
Borecole is an excellent green. Sow in Fall, either broadcast or in drills, as for Winter Spinach.
Brussels Sprouts are cultivated for the small heads which are attached to the stem. Sow in the middle of Spring, and treat as Winter Cabbage.
Brocoli produces heads like Cauliflower. Sow in seed bed about the middle of Spring. Transplant in rich ground when 8 or 12 inches high, and treat as Winter Cabbage.
Cabbage.–For early cabbage, sow in Autumn, in seed beds. Protect during Winter; transplant early in the Spring. For late cabbage, sow in seed bed, middle of Spring. Transplant early in Summer.
Cardoon is much used for salads, soups, and slews. Treated much like Celery.
Cauliflower.–Sow, for early, in seed beds, in Autumn: protect from frost, in cold frames, and transplant in rich ground after frost ceases. For late, manage as Brocoli.
Carrots should be sown early in the Spring, in deep-dug and well-manured ground, in drills twelve or eighteen inches apart.
Celery should be sown early in the Spring, in light rich moist soil. Transplant in trenches, highly manured, when about 6 inches high. Blanch by earthing up as they advance in growth.
Chervil.–A small salad. Sow early in the Spring, and after heat of Summer.
Cress.–Used as a salad. Sow very thick, in shallow drills, at intervals through the season.
Corn Salad.–Used as a salad during the Winter and Spring. Sow thick, in drills, about 1st of September, and cover with straw on the approach of cold.
Cucumbers should be planted first week in May, in hills 4 feet apart: prepare the ground by incorporating a shovelfull of rotten dung in each hill.
Egg-Plant.–Sow in hot-beds early in the Spring; transplant in rich warm ground late in the Spring, about 30 inches apart. Egg-plant seed will not vegetate freely without a substantial heat.
Lettuce should be sown in seed bed, in the middle of September: protect the plants through the Winter, and early in the Spring transplant in rich ground; or sow in hot-beds in March, and at intervals throughout the season.
Melon.–Plant in hills, in light sandy earth, about the first week in May.
Mushroom Spawn should be planted in hot-beds of dung, covered with earth.
Mustard.–Sown like Cress, and used for a salad.
Nasturtium.–Sow in May. The flowers and young leaves are used as a salad; the seed-pods, with foot-stalk, are gathered whilst green, and pickled as a substitute for capers.
Okra, or Gombo, is one of the best of vegetables. Plant in May. The seed should be sown thick, as it is liable to rot in the ground. Very rich ground is required.
Onions should be sown in drills, early in the Spring, in rich ground, thin, to stand 2 or 3 inches apart.
Parsley should be sown early in the Spring. Soak in warm water before sowing.
Parsnip.–Sow in drills 18 inches apart, in good and deep-dug ground, early in the Spring.
Peas.–The best soil for Peas is a light loam. The early sorts require rich ground. Sow in drills as early in the Spring as the ground will work.
Pepper.–Sow late in Spring, in drills, on a warm border; or in a frame or hot-bed, in March: set out plants 18 inches apart.
Pumpkin.–The Mammoth Pumpkin has been grown to the enormous weight of 225 pounds. Plant early in May, in rich soil, in hills, 8 to 10 feet apart each way.
Radish.–The early kinds should be sown as soon as the ground can be worked, in a sheltered situation.
Rhubarb should be sown in Autumn or early in Spring: when in the latter, transplant in the ensuing Spring to desired situation. The stems are used for tarts, and are fit for use before green fruit can be obtained, being a very desirable substitute.
Salsify, or Vegetable Oyster should be sown during April. The roots boiled, made into cakes, with paste, and fried like oysters, much resemble them.
Spinach should be sown as soon as the ground can be worked. The soil cannot be too rich for Spinach.
Squash.–Cultivate same as Cucumber.
Tomato.–Sow in hills 3 feet apart, on a warm border, early in the Spring. As the plants advance in growth, give them support.
Turnip.–For summer use sow early in the Spring. For main crop sow close of summer. The Ruta Baga requires more rime to mature, and should be sown at mid-summer.
Aromatic and Sweet Herbs.–Anise, Brazil (sweet), Caraway, Coriander, *Fennel, *Lavender, Marygold Pot, Marjorum (sweet), *Sage, Summer Savory, *Winter Savory, *Thyme, *Mint, *Rosemary, Dill.
Those marked with a * are perennial, and when once obtained may be preserved for years. The others are annuals.