Vegetables For Small Town Gardens

Vegetables are rarely grown in small town gardens, partly because space is very limited, partly because supplies are brought to the door by greengrocers. Practically only Scarlet Runners are grown, and generally seed of this popular old vegetable is put in with as keen an eye to the brightness of the flowers as to the tenderness of the pods. The plants are grown to cover a fence or an arbour. Half-a-pint of seed will suffice, and it may be sown in May.

Vegetables For Suburban Gardens

Suburban houses are well catered for by greengrocers, and as the space available for gardening is but little, as a rule, the greater part of it is generally devoted to flowers. Suburban gardeners should devote whatever space they can spare to vegetables to comparative delicacies, such as Beans, Peas, early Potatoes, Tomatoes, Lettuces, and Radishes. They should not give it up to coarse things like Greens, which smell abominably in wet weather, and are a nuisance to everybody. The following would make a good selection for a small suburban garden: -

This collection need not cost more than half-a-crown or three shillings, but the exact cost will depend on the class of seedsman.

Vegetables For Villa Gardens

The gardens of country and suburban villas are generally large enough to accommodate a good selection of vegetables, and if a part of the kitchen garden is at some little distance from the house there need be no hesitation in including Greens, which are very useful in autumn, winter, and spring. The following would be a good selection, and the quantities given will suffice for a garden not exceeding half an acre in extent: -

For gardens exceeding half an acre in area an increase can be made either in the quantities or in the number of varieties. Thus, for a fairly large kitchen garden the quantities of seed suggested above might be doubled, but it would be better to increase the number of varieties in some cases, notably Cauliflowers, Celery, Onions, Peas, and Potatoes, because not only is more produce thereby secured, but it can be had in succession over a longer period. Special provision should always be made for a long supply of Green Peas, if space permits of several rows being sown, as the vegetable is so delicious. The time and method of sowing will be dealt with later.

* Asparagus, Rhubarb, and Seakale will not be ready for use from seed in less than three years, and on this account many people prefer to buy roots. They can be ordered with the seeds in January. Particulars of planting and cultivation will be given in due course. Two dozen roots of Asparagus and Seakale will be required to make anything like a bed. Six roots of Rhubarb will suffice for most villa gardens.

The cost of the above seeds need not exceed half a guinea, but, as before said, much depends upon the class of seedsman.