CANYON COUNTY HORTICULTURE Vegetable Gardens 101 The Basics of Growing Food at Home Prepared by Ariel Agenbroad Horticulture Extension Educator

CANYON COUNTY HORTICULTURE

Vegetable Gardens 101

The Basics of Growing Food

at Home Prepared by Ariel Agenbroad

Horticulture Extension Educator


Why Grow Food at Home?

• Can save you grocery money– 11 ¢ pack of seeds can =

• 50 lbs. carrots• 100 lbs. squash• 50+ lbs. of tomatoes• 100+ lbs. of cucumbers• 50+ lbs of peppers


• Fresher• Better quality• Better taste• More variety• Great learning tool for children• It can be a lot of fun!

Why Grow Food at Home?


• 1500– How many miles food travels on average!

• Vitamin and mineral losses• Bruising, damage• Food safety issues…E. Coli?• Picked at the peak of ripeness…no gas!

Freshness, Quality & Taste


Variety is the Spice of Life





•The bare essentials:– Soil– Water– Sunlight

What Do I Need to Get Growing?


• Mineral particles: sand, silt & clay• Air• Water • Organic Matter: decomposed plants & animals• Microorganisms• What about Potting Mixes?

– Peat moss, compost, perlite, vermiculite, fertilizers

Soil…What’s the Dirt?


It’s Busy Down There!


• Most vegetables need between1-2 inches of water per week (or, about 1-2 hours of watering)

• Can use a watering can, regular hose, sprinkler, irrigation system, drip hose

• Can capture and use rainwater• Can reuse some household water

Water…


• Most vegetables require at least 6-8 hours of full sun every day

• South and west sides are best• North and east sides can be shady• Some lettuces, strawberries and herbs

can do with 5-6 hours of sunlight

Sunlight


In a Perfect World…


In Reality…


Or Even…


Cool Weather CropsPeas

PotatoesLettuce

CabbageBroccoli

Swiss ChardKale

OnionsLeeks

CarrotsBeets

What Can I Grow Here?Warm Weather Crops

PeppersTomatoes

SquashGreen Beans

EggplantsEdible Flowers

PumpkinsMelons

TomatillosCorn

Cucumbers

March

May-June

May

June


• Tree Fruits– Apple, pear, plum, peach, nectarine, pluot

• Nuts– Walnut, hazelnut

• Berries– Raspberries, blackberries, strawberries

• Grapes, Rhubarb, Asparagus

And…


How Do I Get Started?


• Where do I get full sunlight?• What is my soil like?• Where is my water supply?• Will the garden be safe from my kids,

pets, neighbors, etc?

Evaluate Your Site


• What do we like to eat?• What can we grow to save money?• Are we going to can/freeze/dry food?• Are we going to grow enough for others?• What will we do with 1000 lbs. of

zucchini?

Evaluate Your Eating Habits



• Seeds are cheaper, but more work…– Buy from Catalogs, Garden Centers, Discount

Stores, Online• Start inside (with lights) or outside

• Seedlings give you a head start– Buy from Farmers’ Market, Garden Centers,

Mail Order

Getting Seeds & Plants


• Thrift Stores and Yard Sales • Hardware Stores• The Basics:

– Shovel, rake, hoe, hand trowel, hose, sprinklers or nozzles

• Fertilizer

Getting Supplies


• Compost Happens!– 2 parts “brown” waste

• Leaves, straw, dried and crunchy plants– 1 part “green”

• Grass clippings, vegetable peelings– Don’t add meat, fats or pet animal waste– Add water, and stir…use in and on the garden!

Make Your Own Fertilizer



• Start with a healthy, diverse environment for plants and insects

• Provide habitat for beneficial insects• Keep it clean…pick up after yourself!• Use natural controls first, and then ask

your Extension office or Garden Center Employee to suggest something else

What About Bugs and Disease?


• 30 days after planting– Radishes, lettuces

• 60 days after planting– Beets, green onions

• 80 days after planting– Carrots, cabbages, summer squash, corn

• 100+ days after planting– Tomatoes, Pumpkins, Cantaloupe, Watermelon

When Do We Eat?


• Seed catalogs (free!)• Gardening websites (free!)• Library books (free!)• Friends and Neighbors (free?)• Books, magazines, television• Classes (University, Extension, Community)

How Do I Learn More?


Questions?

Let’s Give It a Try!

Documents

CANYON COUNTY HORTICULTURE Vegetable Gardens 101 The Basics of Growing Food at Home Prepared by Ariel Agenbroad Horticulture Extension Educator