Vegetable Gardening Sheriden Hansen Horticulture Assistant Professor Davis County Extension Utah State University

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1 Vegetable Gardening Sheriden Hansen Horticulture Assistant Professor Davis County Extension Utah State University Annuals (seed to seed in 1 year) Beans Radish Corn Vegetable Considerations Biennials (1 st year vegetative 2 nd year flower) Onion Carrot Celery Perennials (Grow each year from the same root system) Asparagus Artichoke Rhubarb Peas Onions Beets Salad Crops Lettuce Swiss Chard Cabbage Broccoli Radishes Spinach Kale Kohlrabi Cauliflower Carrots Cool Season Crops Tomatoes Peppers Corn Potatoes Beans Squash Melons Cucumbers Warm Season Crops Full sun 6-8 hours Choosing a Garden Site Soil Well-draining Most vegetables root in the top 6-8 Good amount of organic matter Add 2-3 of good compost each year Access to quality water Planning the Garden Measure your space and sketch it out on paper If starting seeds, pay attention to timing for sowing Tall crops placed on the north side of the garden to prevent shading Perennials placed where they won t be disturbed Plan the garden for spring, summer, and fall Interplanting and succession planting can maximize garden space Plan appropriate space for plants to become full sized 1

2 Row Planting Hill Planting Done to facilitate furrow watering Allows for equipment between rows Not always the most attractive or efficient for the home garden Provides space for Melons Squash Cucumbers Large plants Works well for large spaces Square-Foot Gardening Raised beds Interplanting in flower beds Alternative Planting Soil Preparation Good soil is built by adding organic matter and continually building the soil Soil Tests Determine texture Organic matter levels Fertilizer needs Done BEFORE you plant Soil testing go to: Never till soil that is too wet Hand squeeze test Crumbles easily, can be tilled Good time to incorporate organic matter Tilling N-P-K Nitrogen-Phosphorus-Potassium Fertilizers Nitrogen greening, pushes vegetative growth Phosphorus supports fruit and flower formation Potassium supports root growth Based on USU Soil Analysis Complete Fertilizer , Incomplete Fertilizer (Ammonium Sulfate) (Urea) 2

3 Applying Fertilizers Broadcast evenly distributed on surface before planting Weeds get fed too Banding applied in a narrow band at the time of seeding or planting (or even later) Side dressing supplemental fertilizer applied during the season Plants that require high nitrogen Plant deficiencies Fertilizer Requirements For Vegetables Low use: 1-2 lbs. N/1,000 ft 2 1/4 cup per 10 foot row Peas and beans Moderate Use: 2-3 lbs. N/1,000 ft 2 1/3 cup per 10 foot row Beets, carrots, radishes, lettuce, melons, squash, tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, broccoli, cauliflower High Use: 4-6 lbs N/1,000 ft 2 ½ cup per 10 foot row Corn, onion, potatoes ***Split the total N requirement into a few applications *** Never apply more than 1 ½ lbs. of N/1,000 ft 2 at one time Fertilizing in General At Time of Seeding Make a 3-inch deep trench ¼ to ½ cup fertilizer per 10 ft. row Band fertilizer 2-inches deeper and 2-inches to the side Using Transplants 2-3 Tbsp fertilizer per plant Place fertilizer 4 to 6-inches deeper and 2 to 3- inches to the side Hill Planting ¼ cup 3 to 4-inches deep and to the side **Rates are based on or ** Organic Material and Manures Good way to add nutrients to the soil Takes time for organic material to break down Green manures (cover crops) Kill the cover crop before tilling under Decomposition of the matter provides nutrients Caution should be taken when incorporating animal manures into the soil. Should be done with soil testing Can create weed problems Hot fertilizer Planting Vegetables Difficult to Establish Seeds From Seed Seeding depth (3x rule) Seeding dates vary Cool crops 55-75⁰F Warm crops 70-90⁰F Slow germination Onions, beets, carrots Cannot allow soil to dry or crust Can improve success by soaking before sowing Soil crusting Add organic matter 3

4 From Transplants Plant Size Dark green color 50% rule 4-6 leaflets Water Management Young plants = frequent watering Frequency depends on soil type and temperature Planting Vegetables Depth varies with the variety Tomatoes and plants that develop adventitious roots on stems can be planted deeper Can plant up to 10-inches deep Plant slightly deeper than the root ball to keep plants from drying out Planting Depth Advantages to transplants Better establishment Earlier plant growth and harvest More intensive production Easier to space for intense production and rotation Better uniformity Higher yields Transplant Advantages Transplant Disadvantages Increased labor and time caring for plants Higher cost Delays in establishment, growth, and yield if plants struggle to establish Root crops Carrots Radish Parsnips Beets Turnips Potatoes Difficult to Transplant Plants Damages tap roots or deforms the plant When to Plant in the Garden Cool Season Crops (55-75⁰F) As soon as you can work the soil (mid-march to May) Warm Season Crops (70-90⁰F) After the danger of frost is gone (May) General rule for frost dates for the Wasatch Front: May 10 th (Mother s Day Weekend) Last frost October 5 th First frost 4

5 Water needs depend on: The type of vegetable The stage of growth Plant size The application method Irrigation frequency depends on: Available water in the root zone Water use rate (Tied to temp.) Different Methods: Furrow, sprinkler, drip Irrigation Raised Beds Raised Beds Modify soil Improve drainage Easy to amend soils Soil should be amended with vermiculite, peat moss, perlite, compost to create a loose, fluffy, humus rich soil Raised Beds Beds should be 3 to 4-feet wide Work from sides of beds to reduce compaction Beds should be 8-inches deep Use decay resistant material for structure Pros: Look good Easy to keep clean Vary the height to suit needs Cons: Added expense Vertical Gardening Uses trellises, nets, strings, cages, or poles to support plants Increases production in small gardens by maximizing space Some plants will twine onto supports where others need to be tied Works well for: Vining cucumbers Peas Tomatoes Melons Pole beans Gourds Vertical Gardening Vertical planting captures sun well Can also cast shadows Be aware how close plants are on the North side Plant vertical plants on the north side of the garden Strong materials should be used: Fencing material Lattice String Cattle panels Rebar Bamboo Plants are more exposed when vertical May need to be watered more frequently Check often Succession Planting Schedule plantings Early vegetable is harvested New crop is planted right after harvest Peas followed by corn Early cabbage followed by fall radishes or lettuce Keeps weeds from growing Maximizes space 5

6 Great for small spaces or poor soils Need at least 8 hours of sun Works well with root and leaf crops Container Gardening Plants designed specifically for containers: Tomatoes: Patio Princess, Mexican Midget, Bushsteak, Sweetheart of the Patio, Marglobe, Baxter s Bush Cherry, Sweet Baby Girl, Balcony, Stupice, Tumbling Tom Yellow Larger plants need larger pots Large plants can be staked in pots (tomatoes) Container Gardening Many colorful plants that can contribute to the look of your patio (Bright Lights Chard, Lettuces, Beets, Lettuces, Herbs) Watering Watering is critical for container gardening Soil volume is small May require daily or twice daily watering Temperature Wind Clay pots allow for further water evaporation from the sides of the pot BUT container plants are susceptible to root rot if overwatered Grouping containers can help shade and slow soil drying Automatic drip irrigation system Fertilizing Artificial soil mixes have no nutrients in them Water-soluble or slow-release fertilizer Fertilize as often as needed Be careful not to over-fertilize Weather Container plants are mobile Can move in extreme weather (hail, wind, freezes) Dolly is helpful Hot Caps/Cloches Walls of water Row covers Mulches Floating Row Covers Low Tunnels Cold Frames/Hot Beds Season Extenders 6

7 Wall of Water Use water to absorb heat throughout the day Temperature drops at night Water releases heat to keep plants warmer than surrounding environment Also help with wind Row Covers Shelter plants from winds and cold air Keeps temperatures warmer by a few degrees Different materials to give different results Trap solar radiation and moisture Clear or opaque plastic covered tunnels Fiberglass or polyester panels bent over rows Can use old windows, heavy plastic, or plexi-glass Warm the soil, trap moisture and alter humidity Vent, check temperature on warm days Hot beds incorporate a layer of hot decomposing manure under the soil Cold Frames and Hot Beds Fall Vegetable Gardening Second or late planting of many vegetables for a fall harvest Many cool season crops Spinach Turnips Carrots Broccoli Cabbage Cauliflower Cole crops Can withstand cooler temperatures and often taste better when ripened in cool conditions Fall Vegetable Gardening Count back from the last frost date Wasatch Front is October 5 th Determine number of days needed to harvest and add two weeks Cool weather will slow plant development Choose early maturing varieties Use season extension as necessary Several approaches: Cultural Mechanical Biological Chemical Pest Management Best control information is found at: 7

8 Cultural Controls Resistant Tomatoes Healthy plants Altering planting dates Early harvest Crop rotation Resistant varieties Tomatoes V Verticillium Wilt F Fusarium Wilt N Nematodes A Alternaria T Tobacco Mosaic Virus St Stemphylium (Gray leaf spot) TSWV Tomato Spotted Wilt Virus Mechanical Controls Removal of diseased plants Cleaning up beds removing material that promotes disease Hand removal of insects and eggs Barriers Traps Screens Row covers Biological Control Beneficial insects control pests Vidalia beetle and cottony cushion scale Ladybeetles and aphids Beneficial nematodes and grubs Parasitic wasps and other predatory insects Poultry can help control insects Chemical Controls Should be used carefully Always follow the label If possible use less toxic solutions Insecticidal soaps Exclusion/Suppression Mulches Weed Control Mechanical control is best in a home garden setting Hoeing Pulling As a general rule Avoid pre-emergent herbicides in the garden 2,4-D has a 2-3 week residual Volatilization (vaporizes) at 85-degrees Glyphosate is inert when it hits the soil 8

9 One year s weed, seven years seed! The Families Simplified Salad Crops Fruiting Crops Legume Crops Grass Crops Salad Crops Lettuce, chard, spinach, kale, cabbage Cool season: Hot weather makes them bitter Bolting Seed: shallow Transplant: 4-6 leaf Shallow rooted Cannot handle water stress Harvest anytime butter speckled mixes cos or romaine heirlooms red oak leaf Salad Toppers Cauliflower, broccoli, radishes, cabbage, carrots Cool season: Avoid hot weather Seed: shallow Better to transplant (cabbage, broccoli, and cauliflower) Shallow rooted Cannot handle water stress Harvest when head is full size 9

10 Onions & Garlic Bunching onions Cool season: Good growth up to 90 degrees Seed: Onion shallow Garlic 3 deep (plant in fall) (5-9 apart) Transplant onions 6-8 leaves Onions are shallow rooted (don t drought stress) Harvest anytime Garlic bottom few leaves start to turn yellow Cure in shady, dry, and protected location Seed onions store better than sets Hardneck: Rocambole Purple stripes Porcelain Asiatic/Turban Softneck: Artichoke Silverskin Creole (but can bolt like a hardneck) Shallots Tomatoes, peppers, eggplant Warm season: Avoid COLD weather (below 50 degrees) Seed or transplants Sensitive to irregular watering (tomatoes) Cracked shoulder Blossom end rot Split set when HOT (+95 degrees) Fertilizer None after flower clusters form (July) Harvest when mature green to ripe Fruiting Crops Blossom End Rot Calcium deficiency Calcium is immobile, will see symptoms on NEW growth Even watering will usually fix the problem, can add calcium nitrate Can occur with other vegetables Tomato Terms Determinate varieties bear heavily once usually paste tomatoes Indeterminate varieties bear continually all purpose Hybrids Big Beef, Early Girl, Beefmaster, San Vincente, Better Bush, Big Brandy, Patio Princess, Celebrity, Celebration, etc. Heirlooms Usually a variety that is 50-yearsold or older. Some are hybridized. Mortgage Lifter, Brandywine, Green Zebra, Oxheart, Pink German, Costuloto Genovese, San Marzano, etc. (Find in catalogs) Too much nitrogen will force vegetative growth at the expense of the fruit. 10

11 Potatoes Cool season: Avoid VERY COLD weather Seed potatoes Large seed pieces (2 eyes) Cut and allow to dry overnight Uniform water Vegetative before July/tuber formation after Hill in the plant as it grows NO fertilizer after July Harvest the plant after it starts to flower New potatoes Vine Crops Squash, melons, cucumbers, pumpkins Warm season Avoid COLD weather planting Always use transplants Overwatering: Cracks pithy poor flavor Flavor is best when slightly drought stressed (melons and squash) Hot weather = bitter cucumbers Harvesting tips for melons cucamelon Legume Crops Peas and Beans Cool and Warm season PEAS: Soak seeds before planting BEANS: Bush or vine types Water is crucial when flowering Harvest pods when young OR leave pods to dry the seeds Fix their own nitrogen, require little to no fertilizer Sweet Corn WARM season Always plant from seed Kernel quality related to type su sweet corn se sugar enhanced sh 2 super sweet Heirloom varieties Less sweet gene is dominant Cross-pollination with field corn Water is critical at pollination Don t plant a single row Ear mature (15-25 days from silk) Fertilizer: High nitrogen user Grass Crops 11

12 Plant early Watch your location Trenches 8 inches deep: Cover with 2 soil (repeat, until level) 1-2 years to get plants established Water: Doesn t like it wet 1 st after harvest 1 x per month after Fertilizer: After harvest Mow fern in spring; mulch for weeds Harvest: Year Weeks Perennials - Asparagus Ancient plant 1-2 years to get plants established Transplants / Divisions: Cover crown with 1-2 soil Early spring Water: depends on soil Don t like it wet Fertilizer: After harvest Harvest: none the first year 2 weeks the second year 3 years on (only remove 1/3 of the stalks) Leaves are poisonous Divide every 5 years Perennials - Rhubarb A Word About Rotation Don t try rotating perennials Reduces pest and disease build-up Most rotations are in 3-4 year increments Rotate vegetables according to families Salad Crops Fruit Crops Legume Crops Grass Crops Garden Rotation Fruit Crop Grass Crop Legume Crop Salad Crop Tomatoes Corn Peas Lettuce Peppers Beans Radishes Potatoes Carrots Squash / Melons Onions More information: garden.usu.edu Questions? 12