Backyard Organic Vegetable Gardening Max Apton Farm Manager, Amawalk Farm Owner, The Farmer s Garden
About the Gardener I am a Westchester native I have a background in organic vegetable farming Former field manager at Stone Barns Center in Tarrytown Current farm manager at Amawalk Farm in Katonah Owner of a home edible landscaping business, The Farmer s Garden Weekly garden columnist for The Journal News
Today s Class Picking garden placement in your yard Preparing soil for planting What and when to plant Gardening with kids
Location, Location, Location! Picking the right spot for your garden.
Garden Placement There are many things to consider before turning over your soil: Direct sun exposure (southern facing, trees, houses, etc). Soil conditions Terrain (slope, ponds, rocks, forest) Proximity to water source, kitchen
How Much Space Do I Need? Well, it depends on what you grow. A 15 x 20 can offer lots of greens, roots and some fruits (ie. tomatoes and peppers) for a family of four. Biting off plenty to chew
Preparing your soil Pick your sunniest spot Collect a soil sample Add compost and other organic, mineral amendments Till the sod under or cut away the sod Work soil deeply Create raised beds
Breaking Ground Gather your amendments Access to machinery Sod removal vs. tilling sod Spreading compost and amendments, working deeply Allowing time for breakdown and settling
Preparing Raised Beds Raised beds without all the fuss Friable soil, good tilth, clod-free and smooth Wide rows, deep soil, paths for foot traffic and wheelbarrows Preparing seed beds
When to plant and harvest popular garden veggies Crop Seed or TP Plant outside Harvest Carrots, spinach and beets Seed March-May, July-August June-October Lettuce heads (romaine, butter, etc) TP March-May, July-September May-July, Late- August to October Radishes and peas Seed March-May, August-October June, September- November Onions and potatoes Kale, cabbage, broccoli TP April June-August TP April, May, July May-December Tomatoes, peppers, eggplant TP May Late-July to first frost
Sunlight and Space Needs of Common Garden Plants Vegetable Sunlight Box Planter Container Leafy greens At least 4-6 hours Lettuce, arugula, baby kale/chard Yes Herbs At least 4 hours Yes Yes Tomatoes, eggplant, peppers Potatoes, zucchini, squash Carrots, beets and roots At least 8 hours No Yes At least 8 hours No Yes, though not preferable At least 6 hours No No Strawberries At least 8 hours No Yes
Inviting Kids to Garden Gardening should be a family activity! Kid-friendly activities: seeding large-seeded crops like peas and beans watering the garden tuber treasure hunt! root vegetables snacking!
Advanced Activities for Kids and Teens For the older children: Measuring the garden beds and calculating plants and seeds required Harvesting greens and fruits Cooking with the harvest Weeding the garden
Fertility Simplified Above all else: Add compost and organic matter Ocean products: kelp meal, fish fertilizer, greensand Cover cropping, straw mulch. Not leaving soil bare.
Macronutrients Nutrient What It Does Fast-release Sources Slow-release Sources Nitrogen Responsible for plant vigor, foliage and protein synthesis Alfalfa meal, fish fertilizer, blood/crab/feath er meal Legumes, green manures and compost Phosphorous Flower and fruit. Photosynthesis. Soft-rock phosphate, bone meal Animal manure, compost, Potassium Roots, plant immunity Wood ash, Sulpo-mag Greensand, azomite, granite Calcium Flavor and overall strength Pulverized limestone Compost, gypsum Magnesium Photosynthesis and healthy growth Dolomitic lime, Sul-po-mag Compost, kelp meal, greensand Sulfur Protein/enzyme production Elemental sulfur, sul-po-mag Gypsum