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(Courtesy New Jersey Agricultural Extension Service)
The well-planned garden furnishes food throughout the year for the entire family.

Having decided on a garden, the question immediately arises as to the procedure to be followed to get the most out of it. Special attention has been given to this problem by experts throughout the country and specific recommendations are now available on the subject at state agricultural colleges. These cover varieties, planting dates, adequate area, fertilization, rotation of crops and storage. Typical recommendations along these lines are given here for the north-central and eastern states. Readers living elsewhere may wish to check them with the practices recommended by authorities in their home states.

Vegetable Growing by Rule.—The most effective method of presenting the story of recommended vegetables, desirable varieties, seed required, average yields and other pertinent data is in tabular form, such as that used in Table I, which has been prepared for the aid of home vegetable gardeners by the New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station, and which is based on years of study of the subject. Table II, prepared by the Michigan State College of Agriculture, shows the amount of seed that should be purchased to supply an adequate quantity and variety of important vegetables for a family of six persons.

Examination of the planting table will show that the setting of plants or roots is occasionally recommended instead of the use of seed. This is desirable in some cases to get quicker results and in other cases is essential if a crop is to be secured during a normal growing season. While it is possible for the grower to raise these plants, or sets, himself, usually more satisfactory results can be obtained through buying them from a capable plant grower. The growing of sets is a specialized business requiring conditions of heat, moisture, fertility and skill, frequently beyond the patience and capacity of the amateur. There are plant growers in nearly every neighborhood who will grow the needed plants at small cost. Arrangements should be made in advance for growing the varieties or strains that are wanted, and usually the grower can furnish his own seed for the plants if that seems desirable to him. One desiring to grow one’s own plants from seed can secure full information from a practical grower or from state and county agricultural agencies.

Table I

PLANTING TABLE FOR VEGETABLES[1]

Name of
vegetable		VarietySeed for
100-row		Depth
to sow
seed,
inches		Distance
between
rows for
cultivation,
inches		Distance
between
plants
in row,
inches		Time of
planting
seed
outdoors		Time of
harvest		Average yield
100-foot
row		Average
days from
seed to
harvest
HorseHand
AsparagusWashington, Palmetto1-yr.-old roots8-10 roots5 ft.4 ft.16—Spring-July 115 2-lb. bunches2 yr.
Beans
Green bushStringless Green Pod½ pt.1-1½30183Apr. 15June 202 bu.40-65
Bountiful July 15Sept. 15-Frost
Yellow bushCurrie’s Rust Proof,½ pt.1-1½30183Apr. 15June 202 bu.50-70
Davis’ White Wax July 15Sept. 15-Frost2-2½ bu.95-100
Pole GreenKentucky Wonder, Old Homestead½ pt.1-1½363010-30May 1-20Aug. 52-2½ bu.95-100
Bush LimaFordhook½ pt.1-1½303010May 1-JulyAug. 1-Frost2 bu.110-120
Pole LimaKing of the Garden½ pt.1-1½483636May 15Aug. 1-Frost2 bu.110-120
Beets—earlyCrosby’s Egyptian1 oz.128152-3Apr. 1July 152-2½ bu.45-60
LateDetroit Dark Red July 20Nov. 15
Cabbage—earlyJersey Wakefield, Copenhagen Market1 pkt.½303018Apr. 15July-Sept.45-55 heads100-120
Cabbage—lateDanish Ball Head, Succession1 pkt.½363018July 1Oct.-Nov.45-55 heads120-150
CantaloupeEarly Knight, Fordhook½ oz.154-604048 hillMay 15Aug. 106-8 fruits per hill90-110
CarrotsChantenay,1 oz.½30151-1½Apr. 1Aug. 12 bu.65-90
Oxheart July 1Nov.
CeleryGolden Self-blanching, Easy Blanching1 pkt.¼36306June 1Sept. 15200 stalks120-150
Corn–earlyGolden Bantam, Howling Mob¼ lb.1363015 or 30 hillMay 1July 124 doz. ears60-75
Corn–earlyGolden Bantam, Howling Mob¼ lb.1363015 or 30 hillMay 1July 124 doz. ears60-75
Corn–lateGolden Bantam,¼ lb.1363018 or 30 hillJune 15Aug. 20-Frost4 doz. ears75-90
Evergreen July 1
CucumberWhite Spine,½ oz.½-148-604848 hillMay 15July 10200 cucumbers60-75
Davis Perfect Aug. 201½ bu. pickles
EggplantNew York Improved, Black Beauty1 pkt.½484848June 1Aug. 20-Frost125 fruits140-160
EndiveGreen Curled, Broad Leaved Batavian1 pkt.½301856Apr. 15June 1565 plants60-90
July 15Oct.-Nov.
KaleScotch Curled,1 pkt.½301818Apr. 1June 160 bu.55-65
Siberian (over winter) Sept. 1Apr.
KohlrabiWhite Vienna1 pkt.½30153-4Apr. 15June 152 bu.50-70
Lettuce
Spring and fallGreen-leaved Big Bos.1 pkt.½18-201514-18Apr. 15-June 1Aug. 15-Oct.70 head70-90
SummerN. Y. Salamander1 pkt.½18-201514-18May 15June 170 head70-90
RomaineG. R. Exp., Trianon1 pkt.½18-201514-18Aug. 1July-Aug.70 head70-90
OkraPerkins Long Pod1 oz.1363010-15May 15Aug. 10900-1000 pod90-140
Onion setsYellow Strasburg, Japanese (Eberheser)1 qt.118141Apr. 1May 15140 bunches45-75
Onion seedYellow Globe Danvers, Southport Globe1 oz.½18141Apr. 1Aug. 201½-2 bu.110-130
ParsnipsHollow Crown½ oz.½18153-4Apr. 1-May 15Sept.-Nov.2 bu.140-160
PeasLittle Marvel, Laxtonian, Telephone1 pt.1-1½30302Apr. 1-15June 10-July2 bu. (in pods)45-70
PeppersRuby King, Pimento1 pkt.½363018-20May 15Aug. 15-Frost5 bu. (6 per plant)125-150
PotatoesIrish Cob., Green Mts.½ pkt.3-4363614Apr. 15July 13 bu.90-120
PumpkinsCheese, Small Sugar1 oz.½606048May 15Sept. 1-Frost75 pumpkins70-90
RadishScarlet Globe, Icicle½ oz.121551Apr. 15June 1100 bunches30-65
Sept. 1Oct. 25
RhubarbVictoriaRoots5-6484848Mar.-Apr.May-Nov.8-10 stalks plant1 yr.
Spinach—springBloomsdale, Savoy½ oz.½20152Mar.May3 bu.45
Spinach—summerNew Zealand1 oz.1483636Apr. 15June 15Cut all summer65-120
Spinach—fallVa. Dis., Resist. Savoy½ oz.½20152Aug.15-Sept. 15Oct.-Nov.3 bu.50-60
Squash—summerGold. Sum. Crookneck, White Bush Scallop1 oz.1-1½484848May 15July 10136 squash60-70
Squash—winterBoston Marrow, Warted Hubbard1 oz.1-1½727248June 1Oct.75 squash120-130
Sweet potatoesYel. JerseyPlants—363618May 15Oct. 1-103 bu.140-150
Swiss chardLucullus1 oz.½30306Apr. 15June 5-FrostPull until frost50
Tomatoes—earlyChalk’s Early Jewel, Bonny BestPlants½483636May 15July 10-Aug.4 bu.120-150
Tomatoes—lateMatchless, StonePlants½483636June 1Aug.l-Frost4 bu.150-170
TurnipsPurple Top Strap. Leaf1 pkt.½24152Apr. 1June l2 bu.45-70
RutabagasGolden Ball,1 pkt.½24152Aug. 1Oct.-Nov.2 bu.45-70
Lg. Island Improved1 pkt.½24152Aug. 1Oct.-Nov.2 bu.45-70

Table II