File:Beckert's garden annual - 1949 (1949) (20172789349).jpg

Title: Beckert's garden annual : 1949
Identifier: beckertsgardenan1949beck (find matches)
Year: 1949 (1940s)
Authors: Beckert's Seed Store; Henry G. Gilbert Nursery and Seed Trade Catalog Collection
Subjects: Nurseries (Horticulture) Pennsylvania Pittsburgh Catalogs; Nursery stock Pennsylvania Pittsburgh Catalogs; Flowers Seeds Pennsylvania Pittsburgh Catalogs; Bulbs (Plants) Pennsylvania Pittsburgh Catalogs; Grasses Seeds Pennsylvania Pittsburgh Catalogs
Publisher: Pittsburgh, Pa. : Beckert's Seed Store, Inc.
Contributing Library: U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Agricultural Library
Digitizing Sponsor: U.S. Department of Agriculture, National Agricultural Library

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How? When? HOME GARDENING GUIDE Where? Why? Vegetable Seed Culture There's no end to the science of vegetable gardening—nor to the books that have been written about this fascinating subject. But if you haven't the time to read all the books, then try the brief paragraphs that follow. Here are the fundamental facts—the things every vegetable gardener should know—AND DO! ASPARAGUS Soak seed 24 hrs. before planting. Sow- in loose, rich, moist soil after weather warms up. Thin to stand 6" apart. In early spring, set in permanent position, 24" apart, in rows 20" apart. Set in hole so that crown is 8" below surface, but only cover tips with 3" of soil. As plants grow, fill in until level. Don't cut first year after setting. SNAP BEANS Don't plant until the weather is warm and settled. Sow beans in bottom of 3" to 4" furrow, 24" between rows, but do not fill in with more than \Vz" of soil over seeds. Thin to stand 4" to 6" apart in row. Bean seed- lings are likely to be slowed up pushing through heavy soil. In such soils, cover seeds with mixture of half sand and half soil, or sand and peat or any other loose, light material that will allow seedlings to break through easily. Make successive sowings every 2-3 weeks. Don't cultivate beans when wet: this may spread disease. BUSH LIMA BEANS Plant two weeks later than bush snap beans, when soil is warm. Space rows 24" apart; otherwise follow instructions for snap beans. POLE BEANS and POLE LIMAS Both these should be planted two weeks after bush beans. Rough poles set 3 feet apart should be used. Anchor well, as heavy beanvines blow over easily. Some- times three poles set to form a tepee are used and several seeds planted around each tepee. SPECIAL NOTE ON ALL BEANS- —Two scientific facts about beans will help produce better crops. First, being legumes, they should be inoculated with special legume culture listed in supply section. This enables plants to manufac- ture their own nitrogen from the air. Second, bud drop of the tiny flowers (even before they can be easily seen) cuts the early set of pods. By spraying with a fruit setting spray these buds are held on and the early crop increased by as much as 100 per cent. BEETS Each "seed" is a fruit with several true seeds. No matter how thinly beets are sown, they will need thinning. Plant as soon as ground can be worked in spring, thin gradually (use thinnings as greens) until roots stand 3" apart. Make three sowings, one early, one three weeks lat- er and one 60 days before fall. BRUSSELS SPROUTS Grow like late cabbage, but don't use until after heads have matured. CARROTS Pick carrots when they are the size of your little finger for sweetest flavor. They can also be left to grow to maturity for storage. When harvesting always remove alternate carrots to give space to the re- maining ones. EARLY CABBAGE — COLLARDS Start plants inside. Set out 12" x 24" as soon as weather is settled. Dusting with D.D.T. is safe if outer leaves are discard- ed, since plant grows from the inside out LATE CABBAGE Direct-seed four months before crop is wanted. Or start plants indoors 30 days before needed, transplanting outdoors 90 days before frost. Don't water freely when heads are nearly filled, as this promotes splitting; irrigate only enough to keep plants growing well. CELERY Start in hotbed 60 days before needed. In setting outdoors, don't get soil in or over crown. Set 7" to 12" apart. Soil must be rich, moist and loose. As soon as plants have grown to 14" to 15" tall, set 12" boards on both sides of row and hold in place with earth. Or 4" drain tile can be used to blanch individual stalks. Celery must have warm, settled weather: if chilled, plants are likely to go to seed. CHINESE CABBAGE Must never be grown as a spring crop since it will only go to seed. Plant after June 15, as days are getting shorter, then it will head. An excellent succession crop to follow early peas.
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ONIONS, Green Bunching

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