GARDENS: AND NOW, THE REST OF THE STORY

Usually, this space is devoted to flowers and flower gardens. Today, however, as the radio commentator says, you are going to hear the rest of the story.

We're going to write about vegetable gardens, the other half of the outside activity participated in by more people than sports and all other similar events combined, a fact that largely is ignored by the media.

By now, most vegetable gardens are up and going. Their owners have been enjoying the fruits of their labors for several weeks. Lettuce, greens, radishes, beets, green onions, cabbage, broccoli and other produce have graced their tables.

Still to come are green beans, both bush and pole, the delectable squashes of many varieties, sweet corn, bulb onions, melons, peppers, eggplant, tomatoes (everyone's favorite), kohlrabi, parsnips, rutabagas and many others.

Having whetted your appetite, let us say that while the spring season has passed, it still is not too late to plant a garden, and it need to not be large.

Tomato plants continue to be available at garden centers and stores, and it takes very little effort to set them out, whether in a garden or in large pots. Or, even, in a sunny place among the flowers.

Peppers and eggplant have ample time to mature and produce before the first frost. We planted two hills of cantaloupe this past week and time remains for a crop. Green beans will flourish in the summer sun. Cucumbers can be established.

Then, in August or early September, gardeners can return to the cool-loving spring crops--lettuce, cabbage, broccoli, beets, radishes, mustard and other greens, carrots and others.

As for the carrots, there is a new variety out this year. It is Thumbelina, an All-America winner. This is an improved, round rooted carrot grown from seed. Children and novice gardeners will delight in growing them.

Thumbelina is adaptable and fun. Its root is about the size of a golf ball, so it does not require the deep digging of other carrots. It matures in about 60 to 70 days from sowing. Only a small space is needed, and they can even be grown in a hanging basket or patio planter.

Very little care is required. This is not a row vegetable. Simply scatter the seed, cover lightly with loose dirt, keep moist and soon the tiny plants will peep through. They are delicious either raw, cooked or in salads.

Vegetable gardening is fun. Too many people think of it as work. The benefits, however, far outweigh whatever energy is required to make, plant and harvest a crop of home grown vegetables. In these days, too, equipment, mulching, and other labor saving methods have been developed to make it much easier than it was only a few years ago.

The National Garden Bureau recently came out with a list of the Seven Joys of Vegetable Gardening. Without elaborating, these are: Exercise, food, health, beauty, knowledge, self-satisfaction and money saving.

For all of these reasons and the fact that you can have your garden and eat it too, try raising vegetables.