Community Garden Workshop The Tomato/Pepper/Eggplant Garden April 7 or 14, 2012-9:00-11:00 am Gomez Park Community Garden facilitated by Doña Ana Master Gardeners The Tomato/Pepper/Eggplant Garden Objectives: 1. to introduce community garden members and others to the basics of soil preparation and varieties of edible plants safe to plant before last frost 2. to plant one bed layout of tomato-pepper-eggplant varieties and introduce other layout options Outcomes: 1. Upon completion workshop participants should be able to prepare, plant, maintain and harvest their own tomato-pepper-eggplant garden bed 2. Upon completion workshop participants should have knowledge of available science based gardening resources pertaining to local gardening seasons, varieties and practices Structure: Because this workshop is conducted at the community garden site in spring it will be a two hour morning event limited to 15 participants. The workshop will be facilitated by 3 or 4 Master Gardeners to provide adequate individualized attention where necessary. Workshop Outline Introductions: Master Gardeners/Facilitators Participants Resources: Print, Web, Mentors (onsite) Handout list of resource publication available and web address Soil Considerations: Soil comparisons - native vs. several years amended vs. current Gomez site Show physical samples of soil that has never been amended and soil that has been gardened for several year (from my garden) and soil from the current community garden bed to demonstrate the difference proper soil handling makes over time. Explain the process of creating good garden soil. Garden site soil test interpretation Show the soil test interpretation diagram and explain the elements that are important to understand - electrical conductivity, soil composition, nitrogen, phosphorous, potassium, magnesium and calcium
- keep it brief with reference to where the soil test can be found and reviewed. Soil Basics: Aeration Point out the soil is about 50% air and water and 50% mineral and organic matter content. Both plant roots and soil biology require oxygen to thrive and soil aeration is critical for healthy roots and good growth. Water content Show soil water content diagram that explains difference between field capacity, saturation and drought conditions - relate that to plant health. Ideal condition is to hold at about field capacity most of the time. Biology Short talk about importance of soil biology and soil not just a medium for holding plant roots - review. Depend mostly on reference material. Nutrients - N,P,K - Ca, Mg, Iron Present principal role of each element in plant growth - briefly Depend mostly on b reference material Root development - top soil, subsoil Show diagram of tomato/pepper roots - discuss concept of root space, root depth and relationship to top growth. Show example of tomato plant root at transplant size (wash out roots in water, so can see volume in relation to top growth) Depend mostly on reference material. Amendments: Biosolids - existing/additional; benefit/risk, micronutrients, iron, calcium/salt Briefly explain composted biosolids and role in plant growth - availability for additional use. Provide reference material for further learning. Compost - CLC yard waste compost Explain difference between this and biosolids, use of compost as additive and as mulchnitrogen - cotton seed meal Explain use of cottonseed meal both as a soil additive and a side dressing - amount by volume, percentage nitrogen, use as animal feed and availability Calcium - agricultural gypsum, bone meal Cover briefly - rely on reference material Nutrients - vermicompost Explain uses and reasons for using Use as a inoculant and as a fertilizer when transplanting Role as a disease suppressor, availability and cost, desirability of home system Depend mostly on reference material Mulch: Cover briefly in workshop presentation - Depend mostly on reference material CLC Green mulch Alfalfa - first cut/weeds Hay - first cut/weeds
Depth - how much is enough? Watering: Workshop coverage will depend on state of water system for whole garden - may require only specific instructions on how to use existing system (how to install a drip system is beyond this workshop in complexity) Discuss bed water management to meet different water needs for tomatoes and peppers - flooding and drip - discourage sprinkler use. Discuss different water needs between tomatoes and chile peppers and how to structure the bed shape to accommodate water delivery when flooding. Mention different delivery methods when using drip. Hand, sprinkle/flood Drip Pests and Diseases: Diseases, vectors and prevention Name and cover briefly major pests on Tomato/Pepper/Eggplant gardens Aphids, whiteflies, flea beetles, tomato horn worms, beet leafhopper (Curly Top Virus) Remedies - insecticidal soap, and BT., interplantings, row covers and "skirts" Demonstrate skirts when planting bed. Fruit disorders - reasons and prevention Provide reference material to cover them and other common pests Varieties and Choices: Show varieties for planting and discus reasons for making choices: Relationship between varieties and uses Relationship between varieties and diseases Seasonal choices - "early varieties" - Oregon Spring Bush Determinant and Indeterminant Varieties Supporting and Pruning: Discuss determinant and indetermanent varieties and pruning-not pruning Discuss caging vs. staking - reasons for choices Planting Plan: Layout - how and why (see plan below) Show enlarged diagram of bed plan and explain reasons for space relationships. Provide background materials on tomatoes, peppers and eggplants - Discuss varieties selected for planting and why Transplants vs. Seeds - why, alterative strategies Discuss planting entire bed layout with seed, not using any transplants - why transplants. Layout - Discuss how it works, relationships between plants, spacing, top/root space. Discuss bed water management to meet different water needs for tomatoes and peppers - flooding and drip - discourage sprinkler use. Planting - setting out transplants and planting (basil) seeds Planting Demonstration:
Planting Demonstration: Demonstrate transplanting - handling, setting, watering-in, covering Demonstrate seed planting - handling, depth, covering, watering-in Group Planting: Organize and supervise individuals in planting out the bed Mulch bed Water bed Clean up Questions/Answers Much of the questions and answers will be incorporated in the workshop format at multiple opportunities - but a final question time is probably needed. Closure Tomato/Pepper/Eggplant Garden Bed Tomato, Pepper, Eggplant, Basil Variety List
Oregon Spring Bush Tomato Big Beef Hybrid Tomato Persimmon Tomato Roma Tomato Sweet Million Tomato Northstar Hybrid Pepper (bell) Serrano Pepper (hot) Big Jim Pepper (hot) Orient Express Japanese Eggplant Black Beauty Eggplant Basil Varieties Sweet Italian Siam Queen Lettuce Leaf Lemon or Lime Basil