L a w n m a k e r s

Martian vegetables

Such An Easy Crop

Some vegetables need a lot of attention all during their growing period. It helps to balance things out if you also grow some which are easy to care for …

One of the least demanding must be the shallot. It’s hardy and can be planted early in the year, and then left to grow on with little attention until it’s harvested in midsummer.

The shallot is a close relative of the onion, but the small bulbs are produced in clumps and have a milder flavour. They’re often used for pickling, but are tasty when grated into salads. Harvested early, they can also be used as spring onions.

Never set shallot bulbs into ground which has been freshly manured. They’re best planted where there was a well-manured crop last year. This should provide sufficient nourishment for their needs.

Like onions, they need a well firmed soil. First rake the ground over and then tread it down by shuffling over it several times.

Usually the bulbs are just pressed into the soil to about half of their depth. But, if the soil has been properly firmed, the base of the bulbs can be bruised and they’ll be more likely to push themselves out of the ground as the roots start to develop.

I prefer to make a small hole with the point of a trowel. Then I set in each bulb so the shoulder is almost covered with soil. There should be about nine inches between each bulb, with a foot between the rows.

Apart from regular weeding, the growing shallots should need no other attention.

Once the leaves begin to turn yellow and wither, the bulbs can be harvested.

Dry them off thoroughly in the sun for several days and then store for winter use.

Earthlings, prepare to be amazed: New Zealand scientist Michael Mautner at Lincoln University has grown the world’s first Martian vegetables! The tiny asparagus and potato plants didn’t arrive on a spaceship. They were grown successfully in Martian soil, here on Earth.

How did Mautner get soil from Mars? He made it by grinding up slices of two Martian meteorites that had landed on Earth from the Red Planet. One was found in the Sahara Desert, the other in Antarctica.

Mautner mixed ground-up rock with water and put tiny bits of asparagus and potato plants into the mixture. And the plants started to grow!

“It was exciting to see the vegetables grow so well in Martian soil,” Mautner says. “In the future, people starting a colony on Mars could use the soil there to grow food.”

A tidy lawn gives the finishing touch to a garden. If you have a new block to landscape, choose the lawn area carefully.

Lawns need at least five to six hours of sunshine daily, and it would be an advantage if they can receive more. It is almost impossible to get lawn grass to grow in heavily shaded areas and under large trees, although there are some lawn mixes that will grow in moderately shady areas.

Buy seed mixes that have been blended and recommended for the areas where you wish to establish a lawn.

Site preparation is vital, so do not rush into planting a new lawn. Even if it takes six months to get the area ready, the quality of the lawn will be worth the wait.

Some people like to grow potatoes in the area first, to improve soil structure, and many weeds can be removed before the lawn is sown.

Soils containing a lot of clay can be improved by using gypsum at the rate of 300g to a square metre.

Acidic soils can be improved with lime, adding about 130g to a square metre. Spread lime on a calm day and wear protective clothing.

Other materials that can be worked into heavy soil to improve structure include compost, manure, coarse sand or aged, untreated sawdust.

If new soil has to be brought in, do not spread it over the existing soil. Mix it into the existing soil with a rotary hoe.

The more times you can hoe the area before planting, the better the lawn will be. Also, organic materials can be worked into sandy type soil.

Make six weeks the minimum of time for soil preparation.

Rake the area to a good level before planting.

If fertilizer has been added to the lawn seed, you won’t need to add any more before the final raking.

Prepared lawn fertilizers are available and quantities to use will be given on the containers.

Lawns can be planted during the spring and early summer or, in areas where water is limited, autumn planting may be better.

Seed mixes differ, so be guided by the instructions to achieve the right thickness.

There is no need to cover the lawn seed with soil, but a light roller can be used to bed the seed firmly or you can walk across it with close footsteps. The latter method is good on slopes if it rains before germination, as the seed will remain more easily in those footmarks, instead of washing to the bottom of the slope.

Water with a fine spray and keep the area moist to achieve a quicker, more even germination.

Let the new grass grow to a height of 8cm before making the first cut. And cut initially with the mower at its highest notch, and then lower the blades at each mowing until you reach the desired height.

During hot weather, do not mows too low or the roots may burn.

If the lawn tends to yellow, it could be lacking food. Apply a lawn fertilizer to moist soil and water immediately.

When laying instant lawn turf, the soil preparation is the same as for lawn seed. Avoid walking over instant lawn for a few weeks.

Дата добавления: 2015-05-23