This section is from the book "The Garden Week By Week Throughout The Year", by Walter P. Wright. Also available from Amazon: The Garden Week by Week Throughout the Year.
Many gardeners plant the bulk of their Potatoes in the latter half of March, and there is certainly no objection, provided that the soil is friable and merely damp, not "cloggy." The ground is benefited by digging deeply and giving a dressing of good yard manure at the rate of two barrow-loads per square rod; the manure should be turned quite under, so that it is out of contact with the tubers; the feeding roots may be trusted to find it. Wide drills about three inches deep may be drawn. For early sorts they may be twenty-four inches apart, for late ones twenty-eight. A handful of chemical manure, consisting of three parts superphosphate and one part sulphate of potash, may be spread on each yard of drill. The seed sets may be put in twelve and fourteen inches apart respectively. I have already said that sets of about two ounces in weight are suitable, and they may be planted uncut, save for slicing a bit off the end to see that the flesh is free from brownish streaks; if the latter are present the set is unsound, and ought not to be planted. If the early sorts have been "sprouted" in boxes in accordance with previous advice, so much the better. After the drills have been filled in, the loose soil beside the rows may be drawn over them in a ridge three inches high. Sharpe's Express (early), British Queen, Windsor Castle, or Snowdrop (succession), and Sensation (late) are good varieties.
The earlier sowings may be succeeded by others at fortnightly intervals, the seed being sprinkled broadcast on fine, moist soil, covered an inch deep, and protected from birds with black thread or fish netting. French Breakfast is a good variety for present sowing.
If it is desired to raise Rhubarb from seed, a sowing may be made now, in drills an inch deep and a foot apart. The crop will not be ready for three years, and if a supply is wanted next year "crowns" must be planted in spring, three to four feet apart according to the variety, in deep, rich soil, and covered four inches. They may cost from five shillings to seven-and-sixpence a dozen. Champagne is a good small early variety, and Victoria a very fine large late one.
The conditions suitable for sowing Carrots and Parsnips will be good for Salsify and Scorzonera, which are minor tap-root crops. The seed may be sown in drills an inch deep and a foot apart, and the plants thinned to nine inches. Each has a very distinct flavour, and Salsify (the "Vegetable Oyster") is greatly appreciated by some people.
I have already spoken of forcing Seakale under cover; let me now say that if earth, or ashes, be heaped over the outdoor plants to the height of about a foot, a natural process of forcing will be started that involves very little expense, and yields very good produce. The stems will grow up within the covering material, and when they have extended some eight or nine inches the earth may be removed and the produce cut. Pieces of Seakale root about as thick as the little finger, and double the length, may now be planted eighteen inches apart in deep, rich, friable soil. The tips should be left level with the surface. These ought to give produce strong enough for forcing next winter. Seed may be sown now, to give plants strong enough for forcing three years hence.
 
Continue to: