grow it & eat it
DESCRIPTION
Grow It & Eat It. March 17, 2012. Sponsored by the James City County/Williamsburg Master Gardeners. Selecting a Site f or the Garden. Sunny. 6 Hours to full day sun. Well-drained. No standing water after rains. Level. Relatively level or build raised beds or terraces. - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
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 GardenThink, “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 dateLettuce 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
MoistureHeat
OxygenLight
Planting Seeds in Your Garden
Seed Bed Preparation
Sowing
Care After Sowing
Reading the Seed Packet
Preparing the Seed BedsBreak 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 TransplantsPlant 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