Grow It & Eat It

March 17, 2012

Sponsored by the James City County/Williamsburg Master Gardeners

Selecting a Site for the Garden

Sunny

Well-drained

Level

Away from trees

High winds

6 Hours to full day sun

No standing water after rains

Relatively level or build raised beds or terraces

Shade and competition for water and nutrients

Need air circulation

Frost Avoid low-lying frost pockets

Close to water Too heavy to haulExcessive hose lengths

Preparing your Soil

CultivateYour Soil

EnrichYourSoil

TestYourSoil

Testing your Soil

Planning your Garden

Think, “What do you want to grow to eat?”If you don’t eat it, don’t grow it.

Start small.Plant no more than you can take care of.

Make a map of your garden.Best use of space.Location of sun. Tall vs. short plants.

Pick out or order seeds early.

Plants versus seeds.

Cool Season Crops Warm Season CropsGrow best in cool weather

Spring and FallGrow in warm weather

After last frost date

Lettuce family (transplants or seeds)

Greens (transplants)

Cabbage family (transplants)

Onion family (transplants or sets)

PeasRadishes

BeetsTurnipsSpinach

Tomatoes (transplants)

Eggplant (transplants)

Peppers (transplants)

BeansCorn

SquashesMelons

CucumbersPumpkins

Seed=S

Bulb=B

Type Plant Trsplnt=T Spring Fall

Artichoke TP May 15-May 25

Beans, Bush S Apr 10-Jun 10

Aug 7-Sept 7

Beans, Pole S Apr 15-Jun 15

Beans, Lima S May 15-Jul 21

Beets S Mar 1-Apr 21

Aug 1-Sept 7

Broccoli S Jul 14-Aug 1

Broccoli TP Mar 15-Apr 21

Aug 7-Sept 1

Brussels Sprouts

S Jun 7-Jul 15

Brussels Sprouts

TP Mar 7-Apr-15

Jul 15-Aug 21

Cabbage S Jun 7-Aug 7

Cabbage TP Mar 1-Apr 21

Jul 7-Sept 15

Cabbage, Chinese

S Apr 1-Jul 1

Jul 21-Sept 1

Carrots S Feb 27-Apr 7

Jul 21-Aug 21

Cauliflower S Jul 7-Jul 21

Cauliflower TP Mar 21-Apr 21

Aug 7-Aug 21

Collards S Aug 7-Sept 21

Corn, Sweet S Apr 15-Jun 21

Cucumbers S Apr 21-May 15

Jul 21-Aug 21

Eggplants TP Apr 15-May 21

Endive S Mar 7-Apr 15

Aug 21-Sept 21

Garlic B Sept 21-Nov 21

Kale S Mar 1-Apr 21,

Jul 7-Sept 1

Kohlrabi S Mar 7-Apr 21

Lettuce, Bibb S Mar 7-Apr 1

Sept 7-Nov 7

Lettuce, Leaf S Feb 15-Apr 21

Sept 1-Nov 1

Muskmelons S Apr 21-May 21

Mustards S Mar 7-Apr 15

Sept 1-Nov 21

Okra S May 1-Jun 10

Onions S Feb 15-Apr 21

Sept 1-Oct 21

Onion, Multiplier

B Feb 7-Mar 7

Sept 7-Dec 7

Peas S Feb 15-Apr 15

Peas, Southern S Apr 1-Jul 20

Peppers S Apr 15-Jun 21

Potatoes S Feb 15-Apr 15

Aug 7-Sept 1

Pumpkins S Apr 21-Jul 1

Radishes S Feb 21-May 7

Aug 21-Nov 15

Rutabaga S Aug 7-Sept 21

Spinach S Feb 1-Apr 1

Aug 21-Nov 15

Squash, Summer

S Apr 21-Jun 7

Squash, Winter

S Apr 21-Jun 7

Sunflowers S Apr 15-Jul 7

Sweet Potatoes B Apr 21-Jun 15

Swiss Chard S Mar 1-May 7

Tomatoes TP Apr 15-Jul 7

Turnips S Feb 21-Mar 21

Aug 15-Oct 15

Watermelons S May 1-May 21

Pollination

Union of the pollen (male) with the egg (female) to produce a seed

Plant Propagation from Seeds

Plant Propagation from Seed

A seed is a plant in a box with its lunch

A seed is made up of three parts:

Embryo young plant before emerging from seed

Endosperm seed’s food reserve

Seed coat protects the seed

A mature seed, put in a favorable environment, will germinate, or begin active growth

SEED ANATOMY

1.  2 cotyledons2.  microphyle (hole)3.  hilium   (scar)4.  seed coat6.  plumule 7.  radicle  

Environmental FactorsThat Affect Germination

Moisture

Heat

Oxygen

Light

Planting Seeds in Your Garden

Seed Bed Preparation

Sowing

Care After Sowing

Reading the Seed Packet

Preparing the Seed Beds

Break up dirt clumps

Rake smooth and level

Prepare seed drill

Fertilize

Firm seed bed soil

Reading the Seed Packet

Common, botanical and cultivar name Maturity date in days. Number of seeds in the package. Date packaged. Days to germinate. Minimum germination percentage. Cultural information including the

following: Germination temperature. Planting depth. Light required for germination. Seed pretreatment:

SoakingScarificationStatification

Sowing your Seeds

Carefully sow seed in drill (Spacing)

Cover seeds

Firm soil over seeds

Water gently

Shading ?

Pre-germination

Care of Seeds & Seedlings After Planting

Thinning

Pinching

Watering

Weeding & Cultivating

Setting Out Transplants

Plant Condition

Hardening Off

Planting

Watering In

Mulching

Ongoing Considerations

Planting Often

Watering right

Rotating Crops

Stay out of garden when it’s wet

Fertilizing (Side dressing)

Cultivating & Weeding