Virginia Cooperative Extension- York County

Virginia Cooperative Extension- York County

Pruning Deciduous Shrubs Need to know your shrubs Spring Blooming Summer Blooming Virginia Cooperative Extension York County Invent the Future www.yorkcounty.gov/vce 890-4940 / www.ext.vt.edu / ex199@vt.edu

Vegetable Gardening on the Peninsula

Why Grow Vegetables? Healthy plants grown in healthy soil are nutritious. Vegetable gardening helps keep you in touch with the cycles of nature. You can grow varieties not available in the local super market.

Who Will Get to Play in the Garden? Will this be a family effort?! Remember the summer months July 19, 95 degrees, 0 wind speed, 87% humidity Dad tills, mom plants, kids harvest Neighborhood effort Hired hand?

What Does Your family Like to Eat? Tomatoes? Leafy Greens Vegetables? Radishes? Beans? Cantaloupes, Melons? Peppers?

How Much Do You Need to Grow? Enough for fresh consumption Enough for preservation Neighborhood good will Wildlife, Disease, and Insects Storm events: Hail, Strong Winds

How Much Land/Space is Available? 10 X 20, 5 X25 Containers Land in the Neighborhood A Section in Dad s Garden

Selecting the Site Six hours of sunlight each day (major disappointment if not considered) Be aware of microclimates (fencing, close to the house, a low spot in the landscape) Avoid trees, shrubs, and traffic areas Look for deep, friable soil (find your best soil)

N a.m.

House Garden Play Area N

Be Successful: Manage What You Started Begin with a small plot and expand later. Even one hundred square feet can provide a family of three with fresh vegetables. Be successful first so that you will continue to increase your skills.

Soil Fertility ph Organic Mater Fertilizers Mulches

ph 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1 0 11 12 13 14 Ideal ph range for vegetable gardens 6.0-7.0 On the ph scale, 7 is neutral. Add pulverized limestone to increase ph. Add sulfur to decrease ph.

Understanding the Fertilizer Label 10-10-10 N Nitrogen Leaf growth P Phosphorous K Potassium Root growth Flower development Plant stress tolerance Promotes cold hardiness

Basic Fertilizer Recommendation Add 1 pound of 10-10-10 per 100 square feet Add 2 pounds of 5-10-5 per 100 square feet

Why ph is Important? Most vegetables do best in slightly acid soil of ph 6.0 to 7.0. ph outside this range affects availability of essential nutrients. Plants stressed by growing at the wrong ph are more likely to attract insect damage.

Spring Planting Guides Average last spring frost for your area. Tidewater VA: April 1 to 21 6 5 4 3 2 1 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Plant Harvest Beets

Growing Season Equals the number of frost free days: Average last frost date in spring: April 1 to 21 Average first frost date in fall: November 8 to 28 Average number of frost free days: 230 day Ref: MG Handbook, p. 300

Starting Seeds Indoors Starting medium: Vermiculite or a seed starting mix based on peat Germination temperature of about 75 deg. F (top of the water heater is about right) Pot up when first true leaves appear if using Vermiculite--then use dilute liquid fertilizer

Growing Seeds Indoors Shop lights: bank of three suspended about 2 above the seedlings, 16 hr. on, 8 hr. off Keep the soil moist. Water with soluble fertilizer weekly

Steps to Ready the Garden Cultivate soil to depth of 6 inches Incorporate organic amendments to a depth of 2 inches Apply recommended fertilizer and lime Rake level remove rocks and debris

Vegetables to Start Indoors Broccoli Brussels Sprouts Cabbage Cauliflower Eggplant Tomatoes Lettuce Peppers Swiss Chard Herbs Chinese Cabbage Celery

Plant These Vegetables Directly Pole Beans Bush Beans Lima Beans Peas Collards Spinach (spring & fall to winter over) Carrots Cucumber Melon Squash Kale Okra Corn Turnips Beets

Planting the Garden Direct Seeded Harden seedlings off. Water seedlings ahead. Plant out late in afternoon or on cloudy day. Plant at soil level--press soil firmly around roots. Water the newly planted seedling

Watering the Garden Direct seeding into the garden. Watering the garden

Extending the Season Cold Frames are miniature greenhouses Can be heated with tape Plant lettuces in August for winter eating Cloches and tunnels for field crops Floating row covers Provide 5 deg of frost protection Keep insects and critters from tender crops

Cold Frames

More Cold Frames

Tomatoes Reduce incidence of tomato spotted wilt virus (tswv) Raise your own plant (tswv resistant) Protect plants with mulch Do not allow tobacco products near your plants, including nicotianna, petunias and related Wash hands before entering the garden

No Stress

Reduce Insect Populations Spun woven fabric covers Planting timing Crop rotation (not practical) Sanitation Weed Control Insecticidal Soaps

Upcoming Extension Events Weekends in February, Free Pruning Clinics Mondays in March, 4-H Lawn Mowing March 13, Horticultural Extravaganza April 10, Garden Symposium April, Plant Health Clinics May 1, York County M G Plant Sale www.yorkcounty.gov/vce

Thank you Questions??? Virginia Cooperative Extension-York County 100 County Drive (757) 890-4940 ex199@vt.edu www.yorkcounty.gov/vce