Fluvanna Master Gardener

Training

The Vegetable Garden

Start with your WANTS

• Fresh Food

• Saving money

• Quality of life

• Environmental advantages

• Variety

Then fill the Vegetables Needs

• Site• Sun• Soil• Water• Limit Competition -

keep out weeds and roots• Support• Plan

SITE

• Level

• Limited Wind

• Access to water

• Don’t compete with trees or roots

• Rotation

SUN

• Minimum 6 hours a day

• Prefers 8 to 10

• FULL SUN

SOIL

• Loamy Organic Soil, okay laugh … it can be made here in Central Virginia. Time & Compost

• ******** Soil testing ************* PH generally should be 6.2 to 6.8 (slightly acid)

Water

• 1 – 2 inches per week

• Mulch to conserve

• Soaker hoses

Weeds

• Be Proactive

• Control with mulch

• Control with cultivation

• Spacing of vegetable plants

• Cover crops

• Last resort - herbicides

Support

Prevents contact with ground, increases airflow and aids harvesting

• Poles/stakes

• Cages

• Fences or trellises

• Strings

Planning

• Layout taller plants to the north

• Succession crops

• Rotation needs

or

Start with

And get

Seeds or Transplants

Question: Which makes sense?

Answer: Depends on vegetable and….

Seeds

• Larger Variety• Costs (packages or

save /trade options)• Heirlooms• Challenge

• Time in start up• Meeting needs of

seeds• Challenge

+ -

Transplants

• Variety• Costs• Lack of Heirlooms• Some plants not

suitable for transplant (i.e. beans,beet, spinach)

• Ease• No Time in start up• Head start• Hybrids

- +

Planting in Garden

Seeds• Pretreat? (i.e. soaking)• General rule – plant

depth of 4-5 times size of seed

• Row or broadcast spread

Transplants• Harden-off• Depth (except

tomatoes)• Timing

Frost dates

Other Options

• Square Foot Gardening

• Container gardening

• Raised beds

• Hanging planters

Publications

• http://www.ext.vt.edu/resources/