Vegetable Gardening. What Master Gardeners Need to Know. Presented by Erica Smith Montgomery County Master Gardener

Transcription

1 Vegetable Gardening What Master Gardeners Need to Know Presented by Erica Smith Montgomery County Master Gardener

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3 Our mission statements UME Master Gardeners Home and Garden Information Center To support the University of Maryland Extension mission by educating residents about safe, effective and sustainable horticultural practices that build healthy gardens, landscapes, and communities. To develop and deliver sciencebased, sustainable gardening and integrated pest management education for better human and environmental health.

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5 How to spot bad science reporting Sensationalist headlines; clickbait Misinterpreted results; sounds too good to be true; reinforces biases Conflicts of interest Sources not peer-reviewed; no expert opinions; no sources at all Misinterpretation of how science works: incremental progress, need for replication Confusion of correlation and causation

6 Is global warming caused by lack of pirates? Wikimedia Commons

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8 Folklore and tradition Play a prominent role in food gardening Are not necessarily misguided or inaccurate Make great stories! But need to be challenged with science-based information

9 Gardening is Artistic Historical Sociological/cultural Political Scientific Environmentally beneficial Useful and fun!

10 The reference interview (redefined for MGs) Be friendly and approachable; show interest in the question Restate the question; determine what s really being asked Ask open questions; get clients to tell their own stories Make sure you know what plant they re talking about! Find out where the sun is, etc. Context! Don t make assumptions about questioners or their needs; be respectful; be encouraging Don t talk about yourself; or, do talk about yourself but stress that you had to learn things too

11 Why are some of these beans dying? Wikimedia Commons

12 Abiotic factors Abiotic = non-living, not caused by pest or disease At least half of observed garden problems are abiotic Some abiotic factors: soil compaction, watering issues, poor nutrition, pollution, herbicides, weather Keep an open mind and always ask the gardener for information! Damage may be caused by more than one factor Symptoms affecting more than one unrelated species are likely to be caused by abiotic factors Widespread symptoms also indicate abiotic factors

13 Why is that zucchini standing up so well? Wikimedia Commons

14 Vegetable gardens need to be huge, right? I only have a tiny little backyard!

15 Small-space gardening Sam Korper Lots of small lots in Montgomery County; need for small-space gardening info is high Raised beds and containers: Can be tucked in anywhere Are easy to care for Alleviate poor soil issues Can t accommodate really large plants but most anything is fair game

16 Container gardening Grow where the sun is Use space on patio, porch, deck, balcony, rooftop, etc. Fewer weeds Regular watering and fertilizing needed Robin Ritterhoff

17 Container gardening Use soilless mix, not garden soil Choose food-safe containers Plant appropriate varieties Make sure container has drainage Sam Korper

18 Don t overcrowd containers National Home Gardening Club When you plant a puppy, make sure your container can accommodate the full-grown dog.

19 Can I grow tomatoes in a 5-gallon bucket from Home Depot? DDG photo Food-grade buckets are safe Recycling symbols 2, 4, 5 appear to be safe Limits of scientific approach: hard to find papers on gardening topics Consider container size: big enough for the plant? Also remember drainage

20 I have trouble bending over; can I still grow vegetables? Salad table Tall raised bed DDG photo

21 More tall raised bed options African keyhole garden Elevated trough planter Julie Mangin

22 How big should a raised bed be? Any height (6 inches and up best) Width no more than 4 feet (limits soil compaction by stepping inside) Make sure to leave adequate path room between beds

23 Raised beds don t need frames

24 Raised bed pros and cons Better drainage Less soil compaction Control of soil content (mix of compost and good garden soil best) Warms faster in spring May have fewer weeds May discourage animal pests Ideal for intensive production (see Square Foot Gardening) May dry out faster Often more expensive to start Questions about framing materials: safe to use pressure-treated wood?

25 Straw bale gardening Use non-herbicide-treated straw bales Must be conditioned with compost and/or fertilizer + water Interior decomposition will produce warmth and nutrients Plant right into the straw Can be placed anywhere Photo by Robin Ritterhoff

26 Selecting a location for an in-ground garden Level ground ideal Plenty of sun Easy access to water Good soil (test first!) Till or no-till?

27 My soil is terrible! Can I still grow vegetables? MaxPixel

28 Soil improvement with organic matter What is organic matter? Compost (produced by natural decomposition of organic materials, plant or animal waste) Organic mulches, allowed to decompose in place Organic matter: Improves the structure of soil and its nutrient- and water-holding capacity, and helps it drain better Provides some nutrients for plants Can add beneficial microorganisms to the soil, and also helps feed existing microorganisms Can help reduce dependence on fertilizers

29 Composting! Lily Bruch

30 Mulching! Keep the soil covered! Mulch jobs: suppress weeds, conserve moisture, reduce erosion, regulate soil temperature, prevent disease Mulch types: straw, leaves, newspaper, compost, wood chips, pine needles, other organic materials, plastic One disadvantage: pests can hide Alternatives: intensive planting, cover crops Robin Ritterhoff

31 Sheet composting for new plots Cover new garden area with cardboard or newspaper Dump compost on top Cover with shredded leaves and grass clippings and wait till spring! Photos UMD Extension

32 I don t really need to have my soil tested, right? Yes, you do! We recommend testing before starting a garden and then every 3 years Tests can: Determine ph and show you how to adjust it if necessary Determine which nutrients your soil may be lacking Identify toxic contaminants

33 The vegetables I want to grow take up too much space!

34 Vertical growing l l l l l Growing vertically makes the best use of horizontal space It keeps plants away from animal pests and can help prevent disease It can make harvesting easier It does require some work and the use of supports Not all plants are appropriate Mary Anne Normile

35 More ideas for vertical growing Robin Ritterhoff

36 Cattle panel arch Mouse melon or Mexican sour gherkin, Melothria scabra

37 Photos by Eva Baker Rooftop growing!

38 Don t skimp on supports Tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, pole beans, peas, vining squash, and cucumbers can all use stakes, cages, and/or trellises Get them in before or soon after putting in plants Better to overdo supports than clean up collapses Storms or the weight of growing plants often bring down inadequate supports

39 My yard is too shady for vegetables! Wikimedia Commons

40 Vegetable light requirements Most vegetables prefer 6 or more hours of direct sun Leafy greens can manage with less Lettuce can benefit from some shade in the summer Containers and raised beds can be placed strategically Plan gardens so taller plants are to the north (unless you want to use the shade)

41 Or join a community garden

42 Bambi is eating my garden! Wikimedia Commons

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45 Deer fencing Usually black plastic mesh Comes in different weights Usually tensioned at top Will keep out deer but other animals can crawl under it or chew through it Varying heights Remember deer can jump 8 feet if they see a clear path to land on the other side Busy gardens or gardens near buildings may get by with 5-6 feet

46 Solid fences and walls Solid wood fences or brick/ stone walls keep deer out because they can t see through Brick/stone walls Usually keep other animals out as well Some animals can climb over brick walls! Expensive and permanent! Sam Korper

47 Wire fencing Can use at heights less than six feet where deer are not a problem Groundhogs can climb four feet or burrow under the fence To keep groundhogs out, add a floppy section at top Nicolas Tardif

48 Bury your fences! Chicken wire or hardware cloth to keep out groundhogs and rabbits Bury in a trench one foot deep, bend outwards in L shape one foot out

49 Electric fence Try this if other fences fail Can be expensive but effective, and blocks views less Make sure (as with all fences) to check HOA regulations first Follow instructions! Bait the fence so animals will investigate and learn to stay away Wikimedia Commons

50 Gates