Types of Vegetables
The types of vegetables we can grow in the garden are in three catergories. First we will look at the root --types of vegetables.
Potatoes are the most popular type of vegetable in the western world and are part of our staple diet, but take a lot of room in the vegetable garden, yet the yield is rewarding. Really new potatoes are those which can be harvested about or just after flowering, have a superb flavour and are particularly worthwhile. Look for potatoes the size of eggs, if the skin peels off under your thumb, eat now as they are not mature enough for storing. These types of vegetables are susceptable to frost, therefore plantings in cold districts is in the mid/early spring, while in warmer districts plantings are considerably earlier, virtually all year round, allowing for a second successive crop. These types of vegetables are grown from tubers and it is recommended that only certified seed potatoes be used. Place seed tubers in a warm, sunny position for a week or two prior to planting to allow young sprouts to develop.
When planting this type of vegetable put tubers 30/40 cm apart about 5cm deep, in rows 60/80cms apart. A good idea is to shallow out a channel when planting, this allows deeper setting in the ground below your moulding. As the sprout emerge, mould up the soil around the emerging plant. As they keep growing continue to mould up from time to time to a satisfactory height. This gives protection from late frosts and any potato moth also weed control. Keep the soils moist and give extra watering during flowering time. This type of vegetable may be inspected for early harvesting after about 3 months, but main crop harvesting is best left till the stalks and foliage have died back. Potatoes are rich in Vitamin C & D and have more protein and iron than most other vegetables. So eat your potatoes.
The next type of vegetable that comes immediately to mind is the Carrot, which are quick and easy to grow, taking up little space in the garden. Apart from colder climates carrots can be sown at most times though the year, ensuring a continuous maturing supply. They are an excellent source of Vitimin A contained in the orangy pigment and also rich in calcium and potassium. Work into the soil general garden fertiliser and sow seeds in rows about 5-10cms deep, cover and water gently, keping moist until germination. When this type of vegetable is about 5cms high, thin them to 2-3cms apart and then again later to 5cms apart. From here on the occasional pickings may be taken, but allowing the crop to mature gradually.
Pest problems in this type of vegetable is mainly caused by the carrot rust fly which attack extensively during the summer months, but are present all year round. Eggs hatch into larva or grub which borrows into the roots to feed, which in turn allows fungi and bacteria to enter. Protection can be helped by rotation of crop and a sprinkle of Diaxinon granules along the row. Plantings of french marigolds nearby is said to deter the carrot fly.
A choice of varieties are Chantenay, Earlycrop, Egmont Gold, Manchester Table, Redheart, and Topweight are the more popular types available. We will look at some more similar kinds of these vegetables under our sub heading of Root Vegetables.