File:Beckert's garden annual - complete garden guide for 1950 (1950) (19738537253).jpg

Title: Beckert's garden annual : complete garden guide for 1950
Identifier: beckertsgardenan1950beck (find matches)
Year: 1950 (1950s)
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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;^gg;^(^ HOME GARDENING GUIDE Where? Why? DOWN-TO-EARTH ANSWERS TO EVERY-DAY QUESTIONS The Home Gardening Guide sections of this and following pages of our Garden Annual tells, in as few words as possible, what every gardener should know. It is planned to be of informative value to you the whole gardening season, not as a mere garden starter. Here you will also find practical every day facts you'll want as a foundation for successful gardening. All the data in the Home Gardening Guide sections is necessary information for the gardeaer of limited experience. We urge all such gardeners to study and follow the suggestions offered here. The good seed we sell you will yield results in direct ratio to your observance of these notes. Much of what we say is, of course, already known by the old timers. But some of our facts are necessary reference material for all gardeners. If you still have questions unanswered after reading this book, come in and let's talk them over. Take advantage of our wealth of experience . . . it's yours for the asking. 8 Fundamentals of Planning No one can fully plan your garden for you, because garden planning is a highly personal, individual matter. Give your own ideas and desires plenty of play—and you'll enjoy your garden more. There are certain absolutely basic facts that apply to all home garden planning. 1—Plan to use your garden full time. To do this you'll need catch crops, intercrops (also called companion crops) and succes- sion crops. Catch crops are early vegeta- bles, like spinach, that you grow very early before a crop like late cabbage is set out. Intercrops are planted between the rows of larger vegetables, like head let- tuce between rows of broccoli. Succession crops are catch crops in reverse—they fol- low early crops. For instance, Chinese cabbage will mature fine heads if planted after an early crop of peas has been taken. 2— Divide the garden into three sections ii possible, (1) Root vegetables, (2) Leaf veg- etables, and (3) Fruit vegetables. By switching these three groups every year you avoid many soil-borne diseases and insects and get better use of fertilizers. This isn't absolutely necessary, but it is one of those details that the smart gar- dener watches. 3— On level ground, you can run either east and west or north and south. If east- and-west layout is used, be sure to plant taller vegetables to the north. On sloping ground, the rows must run across the slope, not up and down. Otherwise all your plant food and much of your topsoil will go down the hill when it rains. 4— Plan to grow enough vegetables for storing and canning. Remember that cor- rect storage begins with planting so pro- vide for this when planning your garden and ordering seed. 5— In smaller gardens, don't plant space- wasting crops like Potatoes, Pumpkins, Sweet Corn and Vine Squash. On the farm these can be grown with the field crops, saving the more highly cultivated garden space for the more productive vegetables that need closer attention. Many gardeners report that Zucchini and other bush squashes gave better results than Eggplant and satisfied many of the requirements for vining Squashes. 6— Include perennial vegetables when pos- sible. Rhubarb, Asparagus, Korse Radish and Perennial Onions can be grown on one side of the garden where they won't interfere with plowing or cultivating. Small fruits should be included whenever space will permit, since the quality of home- grown berries is far better than any you can buy. 7— Avoid growing vegetables your family doesn't like and won't eat, but be sure to include plenty of those they do like. If they're fond of beans, for instance, don't be satisfied with a single large planting, but make several smaller plantings at two weeks intervals. 8— Study the chart on page 22. This will tell how far apart rows should be, how long each crop takes to mature, and how much space you will need to provide the vegetables your family likes. After you have taken into consideration the crops you want to grow, make a rough sketch showing the location of each crop, v/ith catch crops, intercrops, succession crops indicated.
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