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Show Veteran Gardener, 81, Tells 'Secret' To Bountiful Yield There are a few very beautiful and good producing gardens in Panguitch and there are probably more people in Panguitch, who would like to grow good gardens but do not know where to start or how to go about getting one. Wilford Roe, 81, a person growing one of the most beautiful gardens in Panguitch outlines what he does for his garden. In the spring he sprinkles a little manure around, "Just a little, if you get too much it can do harm to the garden," Mr Roe stressed. He then lets it sit until the weeds start to grow, then plows the manure under killing a lot of the weeds at the same time. This plowing usually takes place about the middle of May. At this time Mr. Roe sets out his potatoes, corn and onion sets. After making a furrow, planting the potatoes about 18 inches apart and four inches deep and watering as he plants, he rakes over the field till no furrows show and all potatoes are covered. When the vines have grown between four to eight inches tall or until the vines look almost dead and even start to darken he makes the furrows and waters once a week. 'By doing this the roots grow down deep, causing the potatoes to grow big and good," Mr. Roe said. The corn he plants the same time and starts watering the same time as the potatoes. "The secret to good corn," Mr. Roe explains, "is to plant the corn about three feet apart. Plant the second row in between the first and so on." By planting the corn this way the sun can get to the plants and causes the corn to grow big and sweet. To keep the corn from getting wormy spray the tossels with a commercial spray when the silk first starts to come out. The cut worms just love the radishes, turnips, and peas but they just hate the taste of smoking tobacco, said Mr. Roe. "So as you plant your seeds, (the last of May or first of June in Panguitch) just drop a little smoking tobacco along in the row when the seeds are planted. It doesn't matter if the seeds touch the tobacco, in fact it sort of acts as as fertilizer," he added. "The secret to getting good, big peas in the pod is, again, (Continued on Page 2) 4 rrft' ... . Veieraii Gardener Gives Hints ( Con tlnued from Pa ge I ) letting the plants get plenty of sunshine," Mr. Hoe stressed. After tho vines get about four inches, put stakes about six feet apart. Every four inches up the stakes, tie bailing twine bet ween the stakes, letting the vines grow up the twine, giving them the sunshine they need so badly. "We had a lot of beautiful tomatoes from our plants last year," Mr. Roe said, a statement not very many Panguitchites can brag about because of the cold nights, the once a month, at least, freezing, and short growing season. The plants were grown in the house until they began to blossom, then set outside. When it looked like frost they were covered with pasteboard boxes, not tin cans, as plants will freeze right through the cans, explained Roe. , "The important thing is to keep the weeds out of the garden. Remember for every weed you let go to seed, there are several hundred seeds for next year," he emphasized. He said by weeding IS minutes each morning and night one can keep a large garden weeded. One thing Mr. Roe docs that is different is the day after watering he rakes the furrows straight and around the plants, keeping the weeds out, the moisture in and the dirt loose around the plants, so they can get the air they need, The day before the water turn, Just furrow again. Mr. Row said, "A lot of people say this is too much work but the quality of garden supplies we get makes the extra work worth while." When hoeing the potatoe vines and onion sets, make sure there is a mound of dirt left around each plant This causes the potatoes and onions to remain sweet. If they grow on top of the ground they become bitter, according to Roe. Mr. Roe even shares with us the type of plants he has had the best success. These include peas: ever bearing, the victory freezer of stratchem, not little wonder or little marvel. Corn: improved golden .'. Bantam, golden Sunshine is good but so sweet the worms have a feast; not little jumbo. Beets: Detroit is a good varity, good size, and dark red. |