689. Succession Cropping

Market gardening and home vegetable gardening are necessarily intensive forms of cropping. The work should be planned so that there will be no loss of space nor loss of time. Maximum yields and maximum returns are the chief aims. One crop follows another in quick succession. In the North, for example, lettuce may be planted a foot apart each way as early in the spring as the ground can be prepared. Strong plants should attain a marketable size in five weeks, when the crop should be promptly sold and summer radishes sown. After four or five weeks the ground is again vacant and a third crop, perhaps snap beans, started. In the most favorable sections the beans would be sold in time to grow winter radishes or a winter cover crop. Plans for succession cropping are numerous. The foregoing is merely an example of many plans used in various parts of the country. Soils, climate, markets and labor conditions must be considered when making plans for succession cropping.

690. Companion Cropping

When two or more crops are grown together the system is known as companion cropping, intercropping, or double cropping. The plan usually embraces succession cropping. Three vegetables, as cabbage, lettuce and radishes, may be started early in the spring at the same time. The radishes will mature and be removed first. After the removal of the lettuce, the cabbage will have entire possession of the ground; then, beans may follow the cabbage. This is simply an example of the many plans for companion cropping.

Companion cropping has advantages as well as disad-tantages. The advantages are, (I) economy of space, no ground being wasted; (2) economy of plant food, the surplus applied for one crop being utilized by another; (3) economy in tillage, the same plowing, harrowing and cultivation serving for two or more crops; (4) concentration of operations, the force of laborers being confined to one acre instead of two or three; (5) soil improvement, as when peas or beans are planted with other crops; (6) increased profits from the area cultivated.

The disadvantages are, (1) the necessity for an increased amount of hand labor in weeding and the use of hoes and hand wheel hoes; (2) a greater demand or requirement for plant food and soil moisture; (3) the close attention and time required in looking after the details. For these reasons many commercial gardeners prefer to cultivate more acres, with perhaps less annoyance. Some plans of double-cropping, however, are no more troublesome than of single cropping.

Companion cropping is most advantageous under the following conditions: (1) When the area of ground available is very much limited; (2) when land values, rentals and taxes are high; (3) when liberal supplies of manure are easily available; (4) when the necessary labor can be secured without much difficulty; (5) when good markets are easily accessible; (6) when irrigation is possible or when the soil moisture can be readily conserved.

In making specific plans for companion cropping the following factors should be carefully considered: (1) The time when each crop will be planted. (2) The time when each crop will mature. (3) The required space for each vegetable at various stages of growth. (4) The habit of growth of the various plants. (5) The supply of soil moisture and plant food in their relation to time of maturity and the space required.

691. Plans For Companion Cropping

Numerous plans of intercropping are in use among vegetable gardeners. Those described on the following pages are in common use or have been found highly satisfactory by successful gardeners.

1. Early Cabbage (C), And Lettuce (L)

The plants are started under, glass and set as early as possible in the open. Lettuce should be large enough to cut in five weeks.

2. Early Cabbage (C), Lettuce (L), And Radish

C L 9" C L C L C

9"

................. radish ......................

9"

L L L L L L L

................. radish ......................

C L C L C L C

Three crops planted early in the spring. Cabbage and lettuce are started under glass. Button radishes will mature in 3 or 4 weeks, lettuce in 5 weeks and cabbage in about 10 weeks. This is a very popular plan, yielding large returns an acre under favorable conditions. A good market must be assured.

3. Early Cabbage (C), Horse-Radish (H), And Lettuce (L) 13"

Three crops planted early in the spring. In hoeing and cultivating no attention is paid to the horse-radish. Deep, rich soil is required. If more space is allowed, the radish may be planted between the rows, as indicated in plan No. 2.

4. Early Cabbage (C), Beets, Etc

C 14" C C C

14"

....... Beets .......

14" c c c c.

Both crops planted early in the spring. Transplanted beets may be used or seed sown. Early turnips, carrots, bunch onions, spinach, mustard and other small, early maturing crops may be substituted for the beets.

5. Lettuce And Beets

..........Lettuce..........

6"

.......... Beets ..........

..........Lettuce..........

The lettuce may be transplanted or sown in early spring. When it is nearly ready to harvest, beets may be drilled between the rows. Radish, lettuce, carrot and other small crops may be substituted for beets. As each crop approaches maturity another crop is started. This plan is popular with many gardeners on Long Island.

6. Radish And Carrot

.......... Radish ..........

8"

.......... Carrot ..........

.......... Radish ..........

Both crops are sown early. The radishes will mature first. Parsnip, salsify, swiss chard, beet, kohl-rabi, turnip or spinach may be substituted for the carrot.

7. Beet And Horse-Radish

........Beet and horse-radish........