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Show PAGE 3 Gardening ' By ALVIN R.HAM80N Extension Horticulturist hours during the winter season looking at seed catalogs which were available to gardeners then. At the time it seemed to me that the colored photos illustrated a quality of vegetables which we should strive to produce. The descriptions' of the varieties were stimulating and it seem ed to me, as a young boy, that those who were developing new varieties must have outstanding knowledge of the principles of genetics and plant development, and in addition must surely be people who would be very At this time of year, Just before Spring approaches, I am reminded of the experiences in my youth while living on a farm at Lava Hot Springs, Idaho. It was a necessity for our family at that time to grow essentially all of the vegetables which the consumed family throughout the year, in our garden. This was partly because , of the economic situation that we faced but . also because fresh vege- tables were not so generally available in the local grocery-store- ! ' ' . ' Warminster, Pennsylvania Seed Growers Company, jRocky Ford, Colorado 81067; Burgess Seed and Plant Company, Galesburg, Michigan 18974; Two companies which are located in areas of somewhat warmer climate are the ' s. cool season vegetable crops cucumbers and summer squash. Attempts were made to grow the warm season crops such as cantaloupe, egg plant, peppers, tomatoes and winter squash but with little success. We enjoyed watermelons only on the rare occassion of a birthday or perhaps the 24th of July celebration, but we never considered that we could grow them in our gardens. If we wished to enjoy the warm season crops it meant an annual pilgrimage to the Peach Days in Brigham City where for once during the year we would have of enjoying all of the cantaloupes, waterme-ong- s, and tomatoes that we desired. . WE SPENT many happy . D. V. Burrell 49053. acquainted with. I also ' thought that there must be EVEN THOUGH I now almost a magical touch aswith sociated individuals realize that my parents looked back upon those times who were developing new with something less than varieties for the seedsmen fond memories because of who brought this information to rural America through the financial anxieties faced seed catalogs. during the years of the to meme the Depression, AFTER SPENDING the mories are generally fond last thirty years in intensive recollections of family proof the vegetable indusjects on the farm and espe- study of the United States, I try cially my enthusiasm for the have come to the conclusion large farm garden. This that the varieties offered to interest in gardening has in the Thirties remained with me through gardeners were for the most part graduation in Vegetable lacking in the quality charCrops at Utah State Univeracteristic of the varieties sity and then graduate study available today. There are a at Cornell University at few ' as for exexceptions, New York with the Ithaca, Lincoln pea the ample, opportunity of serving on the which was available forty staff at Cornell University has very for several years before years ago the changed time. little until present to State Utah as returning This would certainly be an Extension Horticulturist. I because the varexception have found the experience in ieties which are prized by fascivegetable production gardeners today are vastly nating because of the imporimproved over those which tance and great diversity of were available in the Thirthis industry throughout the ties and new varieties are United States. offerkl each year at an THOUGH WE succeeded increasingly rapid rate of in farm gardens in Southern development which means Idaho in the production of the that the variety picture is which included asparagus, rhubard, cabbage, kohlradi, onions, peas, radish, spinach. turnip, beets, carrots, endive, lettuce, parsley, parsnips, potatoes, satisfy and swiss chard, we were never able to grow the warm season crops except those which mature in a very short season such as snap beans, early varieties of sweet corn, In Cache Valley YOU WILL find browsing through these catalogs a distinct delight. The descriptions of many vegetable varieties are indicated with fine illustrations and also , SAVE PENNIES and br a jump ahead of upring and ready for the table, can be atarted from weather turns warm. our area or not even under-- , standing the adaptability of vegetable seeds to work out programs for packet sales on a door to door basis. If you or your youth are interested to engage in such a program, you should check the varieties carefully to be certain that they would be well adapted for production in our area. One source of information which has genbeen available to garerally changing much more quickly deners in the state of Utah ' in recent years than it did ' and surrounding areas is the many years ago. Utah State University ExtenIT IS ESTIMATED that sion Circular 313, entitled over 50,000,000 gardens were Growing Vegetables planted in the United States Recommended Varieties for in 1975. Some estimates run Utah. This publication has as high as 70,000,000 gardens. been one of the most popular Extension Circulars distri.It is conservatively estimated that the value of the home, buted by the Bulletin Mailing garden may range from $300 Room at Utah State Univerto $500, especially if this is a sity in Logan, Utah 84322 and large family garden in a from county offices throughout the state. At the present rural area. This would be based on the time the bulletin is being retail value of vegetables if reprinted but it is anticipatthey were purchased from ed that it will be available the supermarket. If all of the shortly. 50,000,000 gardens produced ONE OTHER choice that only $300 worth of vegetables, this would be a gardeners may wish to make national value of $15,000,000,-00- would be whether or not to If cm the other hand, the buy seed from the well value of vegetables harvest- known packet sales in which ed from the home gardens case you purchase a few were $500 per garden the grams of seed in an expentotal value would sively lithographed packet for a price which is very With this vast industry in similar to an ounce, which is home gardening, you should 28 grams of seed, weighed be aware that many people out from a bulk source and are interested in such a large sold to you in a small paper market. The first caution bag or manila envelope. that should come to mind Fortunately, garden cenwould be in the purchase of ters in Cache Valley, who seeds. undoubtedly appreciate the desire of gardeners for largIT WOULD be all too easy er quanties of well adapted for companies not located in seed, have resorted to bulk 0. Otiss Twilley Seed Company, Salisbury, Maryland 21801 and the George W. Park Seed Company, Inc., PO Box 31 Greenwood, .South Carolina 29647. Two companies which are located in areas somewhat north of Cache Valley or with seasons as short or shorter than Cache Valley are Farmer Seed and Nursery Company, Faribault, Minnesoata 55021 and Gurney's, Yankton, South Dakota 57078. . ' ihnte need and garden-frmvegetable, ripe tranplanted outdoor when the sales at considerable savings to the gardener. may not realize, but appreciate, that the available in Cache when sold in bulk or prepared for sale by the local seedsmen are supplied with superior varieties offered at a price which is more attractive than at almost any other area in the United States. You should seeds Valley AS AN EXAMPLE of seedsmen who provide bulk sales in the Logan area, I would suggest you may wish to visit Andersons Seed and Garden Store, Griffin Farm and Garden Supply and Greek Gardens. It is not intended that my referring to these companies constitutes an endorsement of them over any other similar companies, especially in Southern Idaho where I am not so well acquainted with recent developments in garden cen- ters. AS THE NAME indicates, the dry scales are an attractive Snow White color. The flesh is firm and moderately mild and if the bulbs are stored cool and dry they may be kept until spring. Other interesting release's are Lady Bell hybrid papper, Parks Whopper .hybrid -- li area until the varieties have been grown for several years ' in Cache Valley gardens. FOR THIS reason it is suggested that these comments on new varieties be considered primarily as informative of new developments and then if it is desired that some of the varieties be included in the garden, they might be purchased when available in relatively small quanity to determine how well they may be adapted to production in your garden.. . Knowledgeable gardeners grow varieties with which they are well acquainted for most of their production and then add interest by trying new varieties so that they may become aware of the new developments. This adds an element of anticipation and possible surprise as you await the performance of new varieties. To me this is one of the most pleasurable aspects of gardening and is also an important activity in keeping abreast with developments in gardening in other areas of the United States. IF YOU WISH to explore the new developments in varieties which are available the United pepper and Eldorado hybrid throughout summer squash, which is an States, the following seed exclusive development of the catalogs are suggested. These catalogs may be obJoseph Harris Seed Comtained gratis umn request to pany, Moreton Farm, Rochthe compamw at the followester, New York 13624. When suggestions are ing addresses: Joseph Harmade concerning new varris Company, Inc., Moreton ieties of vegetables, the Farms, Rochester, New home gardener must realize 'York 14624; SeedWay Inc., that performance informaHall, New York 14463; W. tion is not well known in our Atlee Burpee Company, indications of estimated ' maturity from planting until harvest. Since you are aware , of the shortness of the growing season in Cache Valley, you would realize tomatoes should not be planted with maturity dates longer than 70 days from planting until harvest and preferably in the range ot 50 to 60 days for the earlier maturing varieties. You should also be aware that many of the newer varieties carry disease resistance. In Cache Valley we should not plant varieties of vegetables which are not resistant to disease such as Vertifillium wilt of tomatoes, cabbage Yellows and cucumber Mosaic. YOU MAY BE equally pleased to browse through the seed displays at the local ' garden centers. You will likely not find all the new ' varieties available at our local garden centers because some of the new introductions are proprietary with the company which releases the new variety, particularly if it is a h.,L.ui. ou will be plpavwi o iiiwnn-- fha most of the favorite varieties of garik;ii tcpcuauies a.e available trom local seedsmen. Greek Gardens has been p particularly invested in on all nhtainir" infnr-n- n of the new releases of garden V&ileiikA miuuKiiuUl the United States, it will not be possible for them to obtain seed of all of the varieties desired but you will be pleased to see the collection which is available at this relatively new seedsman in Cache Valley. Particular emphasis has been placed on the selection of high quality varieties because I firmly feel that the gardener is worthy of his hire and that, when you go to the effort of growing a good garden, you ought to have the pleasure of enjoying the outstanding quality of the best variety of each vege- (C0MTIMUED ON NEIT WE) |