vegetable gardening 101

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GARDENER’S TOOLBOX:VEGETABLE GARDENING

101

ADVANTAGES OF GARDENING

Hobby that provides exercise

Satisfaction of growing something useful

Saves on grocery bill

All ages can participate

Variety

Better taste

A TALE OF TWO GARDENS

A Good Garden A Not-So-Good Garden

A TALE OF TWO GARDENS

A Great Garden

Another Great Garden

EASY GARDENS

BASIC VEGETABLEGARDENING

Site Selection

Soil Testing

Garden Plan

Equipment

Soil Preparation

Transplant Production

Planting

Pest Control

Sidedressing

Irrigation

Plastic Mulch and Covers

Plant Supports

Intensive Gardening Techniques

Crop Overviews

Harvesting

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SITE SELECTION: SUNLIGHT

Full sunlight produces the most productive garden!

Six hours of daily sunlight is the minimum requirement for good production.

Avoid trees and hedges, as they compete for sunlight, water, and nutrients.

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SITE SELECTION: SLOPE

Level sights are less subject to erosion.

However:

A slight slope toward the South hastens:

Warming in the spring.

Drying in the spring.

A slight slope enhances air drainage, reducing potential frost/freeze damage.

SITE SELECTION: PROXIMITY TOHOUSE

Gardens near the house are:

More accessible

Easier to manage when conducting:

Irrigation

Frost Protection

Physical Protection

Frequent Harvests

SITE SELECTION: FREEDOM FROMTRAFFIC

Locate garden site(s) in low traffic area:

Away from play areas

Away from animals

Fencing may be required to keep out:

Dogs

Wildlife

Children

SITE SELECTION: SIZE

Too Large

Garden site size needs to correspond to the amount of garden produce desired.

Too Small

Intensive cultivation techniques can only partially substitute for a small area of production.

Elizabethtown, KY -Local man found strangled with a zucchini vine.Neighbor arrested and charged with the crime says, “I told him many times to stop leaving zucchini on my porch.”

SITE SELECTION: SOIL

Desirable Characteristics

Deep

Medium Textured

Well Drained

Fertile

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SITE SELECTION: SOIL

Undesirable characteristics Soils Extremely High in Clay:

Hard to work

Form clods

Crusts after rain

May be poorly drained

Associated Problems: Delayed planting

Result in low fertility

Result in low pH

Encourage plant diseases

SOIL TESTING

A soil test is the only accurate method of determining the amount of:

Lime to apply.

Fertilizer to apply.

Too much fertilizer:

Wastes money and fertilizer.

Can injure, even kill plants.

Low pH and poor fertility:

Reduce yield and quality.

SOIL TESTING

Proper pH Range

6.0 – 6.2

Optimum nutrient availability

Soil Sample in the Fall

Lime in the Fall

Agricultural lime is variable in size and reacts over time

6 months is generally required to see much activity

SOIL TESTING

Soil Sampling

Use a small trowel or spade to collect samples that are at least 4 inches and no more than 6 inches deep

Collect samples from 8 to 10 locations in the garden

Avoid sampling irregular or extremely wet areas

Combine samples in a clean plastic container

GARDEN PLAN: WHY PLAN?

A garden plan saves: Time

Space

Work

Money

A garden plan increases: Yields

Length of harvest season

A garden plan allows you to harvest the desired amount of high quality produce at the desired time.

GARDEN PLAN: LEARNINGFROM THE PAST

What vegetable crops have performed well?

What varieties have performed well?

Would you like to extend the harvest season?

Would you like to spread the harvest out over the season?

Have you tried something new in the past that you would like to evaluate again?

Would several, small plantings be more feasible?

Is there something new you would like to try?

Has your family size changed?

Do you want to preserve more or less food than you did last year?

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GARDEN PLAN: VEGETABLESELECTION

What are the likes and dislikes of your family?Space requirements vs. garden area:Crops requiring more land area: Winter squash Pumpkins Watermelon Muskmelon (Cantaloupe)

Crops harvested only once: Sweet Corn

Crops requiring less land area, that produce multiple harvests: Summer Squash Peppers Tomatoes Cucumbers

GARDEN PLAN: VEGETABLESELECTION

Philosophy toward using crop protectants in the garden: Crops that are susceptible to insects:

Broccoli Cabbage

Crops that are “pest‐resistant”: Okra Onions Garlic Sweet Potato Beets Carrots

GARDEN PLAN: VARIETY SELECTION

Grow recommended varieties, All American Selections, or locally proven varieties.

Grow disease tolerant varieties when possible.

Grow hybrid varieties, which result in: Increased yields

Increased quality

Increased disease resistance

In small garden areas, grow compact varieties.

GARDEN PLAN: ROTATION

Closely related plants are often classified in the same family.

Plants within a family are often susceptible to the same pests.

Rotating plants of the same family to different areas of the garden can reduce pest problems.

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Crop Group Vegetable Crops

Cucurbits Cucumber, Muskmelon,Pumpkin, Squash, Watermelon

Brassica, Stem and Leaf Broccoli, Cabbage, Collard, Kale, Lettuce, Mustard, Spinach, Turnip

Fruiting Vegetables Eggplant, Irish Potato, Okra,Pepper, Tomato

Root Crops Beet, Carrot, Garlic, Sweet potato

Grasses Sweet Corn

Legumes Beans, Cowpeas, Peas


C o o l S e a s o n C r o p s W a r m S e a s o n C r o p s

W a r m S e a s o n C r o p s C o o l S e a s o n C r o p s

Simple Crop Rotation Plan

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GARDEN PLAN: SKETCHING A PLANPage 4, ID-128

SKETCHING A PLAN

Lettuce

Broccoli

Spinach

Carrots

Peas

Cauliflow

er

Potatoes

Onion

Beets

Potatoes

Sweet

Potatoes

Cucumbe

rs

Eggplant

Zucchini

Croo

k‐ne

ck

Squash

Tomatoe

s

Green

Beans

Tomatoe

s

Swiss

Chard

Green

Beans

Spring Garden Summer Garden

EQUIPMENT

Required

Shovel or Spade

Hoe

Rake

Trowel

Small Supplies String & Stakes

Bucket & Hose

File

Additional

Water Cans & Sprinklers

Spading Fork

Manure Fork

Wheelbarrow or Garden Cart

Rototiller

Plastic Mulch

Irrigation Supplies

SOIL PREPARATION

Clearing the Site

Applying Lime

Applying Fertilizer

Working (Tilling) the Soil

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SOIL PREPARATION: CLEARING THESITE

Remove Debris Rocks

Boards

Old Plant Supports

General Debris

Chop Bulky Plant Material

Incorporate organic material at least 6 weeks prior to planting

SOIL PREPARATION: APPLYING LIME

Apply lime according to soil test recommendations

Recommendations will be in lb. of lime / 1,000 sq. ft.

Apply lime several weeks before planting the garden (best if applied in fall)

Broadcast lime evenly and incorporate into the top 6 inches of soil

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SOIL PREPARATION: APPLYINGFERTILIZER

In general, vegetable crops require balanced fertilizers

6‐12‐12 or 15‐15‐15

Apply fertilizer in the spring before planting

Apply fertilizer according to soil test recommendations


Fertilizer may be broadcast or banded and must be incorporated prior to planting

Bands should be placed 2 inches beside and 2 inches below the seed to avoid injuring the crop

Fertilizer recommendations are given in lb./1,000 ft2 or lb./A


A fertilizer bag should list:

Percentages of: N

P2O5

K2O

Sources of Nutrients Urea or Ammonium Nitrate

Triple Super Phosphate

Muriate of Potash

Amount (wt.) of Fertilizer

SOIL PREPARATION: WORKING THESOIL

Work soil at least 6 inches deep

Do not pulverize soil into a dust

Do not work soil too wet

If desiring to plant early, 6 to 8 inch high ridges can be formed in the fall

PLANTING: TIME

Cool‐season or Warm‐season Crop

Cool‐season crops:

Require cool temperature to grow and mature properly

Are able to withstand some frost

Are shallow rooted and susceptible to drought

Can be planted in the early spring and fall

Warm‐season crops:

Need warm weather to germinate, grow, and mature properly

Are killed by frost

Are deep rooted and drought resistantPage 14

PLANTING: SPACING

Between RowsCan be spaced wider apart if farm machinery or lawn and garden tractor is used to cultivate

Can be spaced closer together if a hand rototiller or hoe is used to cultivate

Trellised plants or compact varieties may perform well at narrower spacing

In‐RowMore important

Less flexible

Crowding reduces

Yield

Quality

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PLANTING: DEPTH

The optimum planting depth is about three times as deep as the seed diameter

However, some seeds need sunlight to germinate, so they should be planted shallow (lettuce)

Moisture influences planting depth:

dry ‐ deeper; wet ‐ shallower

Temperature influences planting depth:

cold ‐ shallower; warm ‐ deeper Page 8

PLANTING: PROCEDURE

Choose planting time carefully based on:

Geography, Microclimate, & Local Weather Patterns

Prepare soil for planting.

Use stakes and string to keep rows straight and properly spaced.

If soil is extremely dry, water the day before.

Open a furrow the required depth with desired tool.

PLANTING: PROCEDURE

Carefully place seeds in the furrow slightly thicker than the recommended spacing

Cover the seed with a rake or hoe

Keep soil from crusting until seedlings emerge by:

Watering

Adding sand, peat moss, etc. to heavy clay soils

Covering with newspaper or boards

PLANTING: TRANSPLANTS

Begin with healthy transplants Short and Stocky

Disease free

Insect free

Set transplants on a cloudy day or in the late afternoon to avoid immediate exposure to the hot sun.

Minimize damage to root ball when removing from container.

Set transplants as deep or slightly deeper than they were produced.

PLANTING: TRANSPLANTS

If using fibrous container, thoroughly wet prior to planting (do not remove from container) and plant deep enough to add ½ inch of soil above the container rim.

Adding 1 pint of water to the transplant hole will increase survival.

Adding 2 tablespoon of high phosphate starter fertilizer to each gallon of water will also help.

Covers may also be used to reduce transplant shock.

PEST CONTROL

Pest Control

Sprayers

Disease Control

Insect Control

Weed Control

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PEST CONTROL: DISEASES

Why control diseases?

Diseases can:

Kill plants

Injure plants, reducing photosynthetic area

Damage fruit, or any edible portion of the plant

Diseases reduce yield and quality!

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PEST CONTROL: DISEASES

Biological Control Beneficial Bacteria

Chemical Control Bactericides

Fungicides

Chemical Placement On the seed

In the soil

On the foliage

On the fruit

PEST CONTROL: INSECTS

Why control insects?

Insects can: Kill plants (cutworms)

Injure plants

Serve as a vector in disease transmission

Damage fruit or any edible portion of the plant

Insects reduce yield and quality!

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Cultural Practices

Site Selection (avoid sod)

Crop Rotation

Remove Crop Residues

Promote Healthy Plants

Time of Planting

Companion Plantings

Control Weeds

Grow Resistant Varieties

Harvest in a Timely Manner

Mechanical Control

Solarization During the summer

months

Reflective (Colored) Mulch Yellow repels aphids

Silver repels thrips

Physical Barriers Aluminum foil, small cans

Hand Picking ‐Hornworms

Cutting Out Vine Borers

Sweeping


Biological Control

Predators

Spider (not and insect) Almost any insect

Praying Mantis or Mantid Lazy and feed on

beneficial insects

Parasites Braconid Wasp

Diseases Protazoa

Bacteria (most effective)

Fungi

Virus


Chemical

Placement of Chemicals On the seed

In the soil

On the foliage of the plant

On the fruit of the plant

Common Insecticides Bt

Malathion

Safer Insecticidal Soap

Sevin

Thiodan

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PEST CONTROL: WEEDS

Why control weeds? Compete with crops for:

Water

Nutrients

Sunlight

Provide a refuge for insects

Serve as an alternate host for disease organisms

Reduce yield, quality, and make harvest difficult!

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PEST CONTROL: WEEDS

Cultural

Site Selection Free of severe weed pressure

Free of difficult to control perennial weeds

Plant Timely

Cultivation

Utilize Raised Beds

Utilize Mulches Synthetic – plastic

Natural – compost, etc.

Prevent weeds from going to seed

Chemicals:

Are difficult to apply to small areas.

Are limited in availability to homeowners.

Available Herbicides: Roundup – POST (All)

Poast – POST (Grass)

Trifluralin – PRE (Grass)

Apply chemicals at the correct stage of weed development.

Always apply chemicals according to the label.

FERTILIZATION: SIDE DRESSING

Leaf producing crops and long season crops often benefit from additional nitrogen.

Apply nitrogen to the soil approximately 6 inches from the plant.

Brush any fertilizer off of leaves or stem.

FERTILIZATION: SIDE DRESSING

Crop AN lb./100 ft

AN / plant Time

Cucurbits 1 to 1.5 lb. 1 Tbsp. When vines are 1 ft. long

Fruiting Veg.

1 to 1.5 lb. 1 Tbsp. When fruit is 1 inch in diameter

Sweet Corn 1 to 1.5 lb. ---- When plants are 12 to 18 inches tall

Greens 2 to 3 lb. ---- Six weeks after seeding

Head Brassica

1 to 1.5 lb. ½ Tbsp. 3 to 4 weeks after transplanting

IRRIGATION

Vegetable crops require about 1 to 1.5 inches of water/week

Types of irrigation systems Overhead

Trickle or drip

Critters like soaker hose!

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IRRIGATION

Trickle Irrigation Overhead Irrigation

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IRRIGATION

Proper Irrigation Too Wet

PLASTIC MULCH ANDCOVERS

Plastic Mulch

Advantages Weed control

Conserves moisture

Warms soil

Hastens maturity

Reduces insect pressure

Reduces disease pressure

Keeps vegetables cleaner

Disadvantages Hard to handle

Disposal

Covers

Advantages Protect the plant from:

Cold temperatures at night

Frost

Wind

Critters

Increases the Air Temperature

Hastens maturity

Disadvantages Requires Time to Apply

Requires Time to Remove

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PLASTIC MULCH AND COVERS

PLASTIC MULCH AND COVERS:EFFECT OF COVER ON PLANT GROWTH

PLANT SUPPORTS

Yield and quality of some vegetables are higher when plants are supported or trellised.

Trellising also reduces fruit rots and other diseases.

Types of supports include:

Woven wire fencing or concrete reinforcing wire

Livestock panels

Netting

Cages

INTENSIVE GARDENING TECHNIQUES:CONTAINER GARDENING

Advantages

You can move the plants where you want them.

Garden in locations that would forbid normal gardening, (an apartment balcony).

Disadvantages

Containers require large volumes of media to fill.

Containers may be heavy.

Containers require frequent watering.

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INTENSIVE GARDENING TECHNIQUES:SUCCESSIVE PLANTINGS

To extend the harvest season of some vegetables it is necessary to make successive plantings.

Examples Leaf Lettuce

Radishes

Sweet Corn (most common)

Formula for Sweet Corn When plants reach the 3 leaf

stage, plant again.

INTENSIVE GARDENING TECHNIQUES:MULTIPLE ROWS

Advantages

Increase yield of small areas

Reduce the area to be:

Weeded

Fertilized

Watered

Very useful if gardening in a limited area.

INTENSIVE GARDENING TECHNIQUES:INTERCROPPING

Intercropping is when 2 or more vegetables are grown in the same place at the same time.

Different vegetable crops utilize different nutrients

One crop can support another (corn and pole beans)

Warm‐Season and Cool‐Season

Slowing the spread of insects and disease

INTENSIVE GARDENING TECHNIQUES:RAISED BEDS

Raised beds are often used for production in the early spring.

They warm up earlier in the spring.

They dry out earlier in the spring.

So you can work them from the edges, do not make them more than 4 ft. wide.

If possible, never step in the bed.

Since they have a tendency to dry out quickly, be ready to water when the temperatures warm.

SQUARE FOOT GARDENING

HARVESTING

Correct harvesting maximizes both:

Yield

Quality

Harvest the following crops every other day:

snap beans, okra, summer squash, cucumbers

For best flavor and nutrition, harvest peppers and tomatoes when fully ripe

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REAP THE BENEFITS

Questions?

CROP OVERVIEWS

ASPARAGUS

Perennial

Plant dormant crowns early spring

Cultivars: Jersey Knight

Jersey Giant

Jersey Centennial

Harvest after 3 years

Key Pest: Asparagus Beetle

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BEANS, POLE

Pole Beans Require staking

Longer harvest

Drops flowers and pods in hot humid weather

Cultivars: Kentucky Blue (cross between KY

Wonder X Blue Lake)

Key Pests: Root rots

Mexican Bean Beetle‘Kentucky Blue’ - 1991Page 31

BEANS, BUSH

Bush Beans

Good choice for large yields in a short time (canning)

No staking

Require more space than Pole

Cultivars:

Derby

Key Pests:

Root Rot

Mexican Bean BeetlePage 31

‘Mascotte’ - 2014

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BROCCOLI

Grow in spring or fall

Needs extra nitrogen

Cultivars:

Premium Crop

Green Comet

Packman

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CABBAGE

Choices:

Large or small heads

Flat or Round or Pointed

Smooth or Savoy

Green or Purple

Key Pest:

Cabbage worm

‘Savoy Express’ - 2000

‘Dynamo’ - 1997Page 33

CARROTS

Require cool night temperatures

Tend to split around obstacles

Try growing in the fall

‘Thumbelina’ - 1992Page 33

‘Purple Haze’ - 2006

CAULIFLOWER

Cool‐season crop

Requires blanching

Cultivars:

Snow Crown

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CORN, SWEET

Kernel Color

Yellow

White

Bicolor

Sweetness

Sugary – ‘Silver Queen’

Sugary Enhanced –‘Incredible’

Key Pest:

Corn Earworm

‘Indian Summer’ - 2000

‘Honey Select’ - 2001

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CUCUMBERS

Grow in a cage for straighter fruit

Flowers are male and female

Major Pest: Cucumber Beetle

‘Pick a Bushel’ -2014

‘SaladmoreBush - 2014

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EGGPLANT

Oriental – long, thin Ichaban

Millionaire

Standard – oval

Needs: Extra Nitrogen

Warm‐season

Key Pest: Flea Beetle 2005 – ‘Fairy Tale’Page 35

GARLIC

Plant in fall a month before frost

Needs fertilizer

Harvest when the tops yellow

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KOHLRABI

Related to the Turnip

Cool‐season crop

Eat raw (after peeling) or steamed

Cultivars:

Grand Duke

Express Forcer

Page 4

LEAF LETTUCES

More nutritious than head lettuce

Succession planting 2 to 3 weeks apart

Provide ample water and nitrogen

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MUSKMELON (CANTALOUPE)

Easy to grow

Higher yields on plastic

Key Pest:

Cucumber Beetle (vector)

Bacterial Wilt

‘Melemon’ - 2013

‘Amy’ - 2004

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OKRA

Plant in warm soil

Use nitrogen sparingly

Harvest before pods become tough

‘Cajun Delight’

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ONIONS

Do best when started from plants

Keep area weed free

Harvest when tops yellow and fall over

Sulfur in soil affects pungency

‘Superstar’ – 2001

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PEAS, ENGLISH

English Peas

Traditional (pods not eaten)

Snow Peas (pods and immature peas are eaten)

Snap Peas (pods and mature peas are eaten)

Cool‐weather crop

Require extra nitrogen

Taller varieties require staking

‘Mr. Big’ - 2000Page 38

PEAS, SOUTHERN

Southern Peas

Field peas

Cow peas

Not true Peas – actually beans

Warm‐season crop

Tolerates hot, dry summers

Avoid excessive nitrogenPage 40

PEPPERS, BELL

Warm‐season crop

Sidedress with nitrogen

‘Mama Mia Giallo’ - 2014‘Giant Riasta’ - 2014 Page 38

PEPPERS, HOT

Pepper Type Heat Rating in Scoville Heat Units

Red Savina Habañero 350,000 - 550,000Habanero 200,000 - 300,000Tabasco 30,000 -50,000Cayenne 35,000Chile de Arbol 15,000 - 30,000Serrano 7,000 - 25,000Jalepeno 3,500 - 4,000Pasilla 2,500Anaheim 1,000 - 1,400Ancho 1,000Bell & Pimento 0

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IRISH POTATOES

Prefer low pH

Manure can cause scab

Dig when most of the vines die

Green skin is toxic

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PUMPKINS

Variety:

Orange

Yellow

Pink

White

May cross pollinate with winter squash

Require warm temperatures and ample moisture

Key Pests:

Mildew

Squash bugsPage 39

‘Cinderella’s Carriage’ - 2014

SPINACH

New Zealand Spinach

Does well in the summer

Is sometimes bitter in the hottest part of summer

Spinach

a cold‐season crop

Need moisture and nitrogen

Fall planted spinach may overwinter

New Zealand Spinach

SpinachPage 40

SQUASH, SUMMER

Generally compact

Succession plantings will extend harvest

Male and female flowers

Key Pests:

Squash Vine Borer

Squash Bugs

Mildew

‘Papaya Pear’ - 2003

‘Eight Ball’ - 1999

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SQUASH, WINTER

Harvest when skin is hard enough to not be easily scratched with a fingernail

‘Bush Delicata’ -2002

‘Cream of the Crop’ - 1990

‘Sunshine’ - 2004

‘Tivoli’ - 1991

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SWEET POTATOES

Grown from slips

Need warm weather

Drought and heat tolerant

Cultivars:

Beauregard

Centennial

Jewel

Harvest before cool temperatures and fall rains

Key Pest:

WirewormPage 42

SWISS CHARD

A beet with edible leaves

Plant in early spring but survives hot summers

Cultivars:

Fordhook Giant

Lucullus

Harvest by removing outside leaves and petioles as they mature

‘Bright Lights’ - 1998 Page 42

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TOMATOES

Variety:

Red, orange, yellow, purple, white, green

Hundreds of varieties

Grow with stakes or cages

Cultivars:

Better Boy

Early Girl

Sweet Million

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‘Chef’s Choice Orange - 2014‘Fantastico’ - 2014

TOMATO DISORDERS

Blossom End RotEarly Blight

WATERMELON

Like hot summers

Drought resistant

Need low fertility

Knowing when its ripe:

Tendril dries

Underside changes from white to slight yellow

Melon surface roughens

Thump the melon for a ‘thud’ sound

‘Sweet Beauty’ - 2004 ‘Faerie’ - 2012

‘Harvest Moon’ - 2013

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vegetable gardening 101

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