Growing Voluptuous Vegetables Presentations

7/30/2019 Growing Voluptuous Vegetables Presentations

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Growing Voluptuous Vegetables!

Theres More Than One WayRon Smith, Ph.D.

NDSU Extension Horticulturist


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Gardening With A Plann Begin with a list of the vegetables that you

like

n How many in your family will be participatingin gardening chores?

n Decide on the space needed and the styleof gardening you want to pursue

n Conventional/organicn Square-Foot or Raised Bed

n Container


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Gardening With A Plann Lay out a plan for vegetable placement

n Early Season, Mid Season, Late Season

n Resist the temptation of being over zealousin planting too much

n Realize the space requirements for eachvegetable variety

n Determine whether the harvest is for freshconsumption only, canning/freezing, orboth


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Gardening With A Plann Fruit-bearing vegetables will require the most

direct sunshine 6-8 hours direct

n Leafy vegetables can be productive in light orpartial shade lettuce, spinach

n Be aware that some vegetable crops castshade as they mature; ie corn

n If practicing conventional gardening methods,be sure to allow for adequate between-rowspace for cultivation equipment


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Gardening With A Plann Have the soil tested before planting;

pH, soluble salts & organic matter

content, minimum; P & K optimal

n Be sure water source is convenient

n Consider installing a timed drip

irrigation system for better productionand fewer disease problems


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Gardening With A Plann Solarize the soil by covering with black or

clear plastic about 10-14 days prior to firstplanting date

n If site has never been gardened before,double spade the soil for optimal conditioningand good drainage

n In working with transplants, harden off about

a week before moving to garden siten Use only sterile or soil-less media for starting

transplants


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Gardening With A Plan Using

Transplantsn The following vegetables are better off

being installed as transplants:

n Tomatoes, peppers, eggplant

n Cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower

n Beets, lettuce, onion

n Melons, cucumbers, squash most difficultto transplant due to poor uptake of waterfrom limited root system


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Gardening With A Plan -

Transplantsn Tomatoes plant deeper than existing root

systemn Peppers fussy about weather shifts, plant

about a week or two later than tomatoesn Cabbage, broccoli, lettuce can be set out

earlier due to tolerance of cool weatherperiods

n Have a starter solution available about 1cup full per transplant ie Miracle-Gro, or ablend like 15-30-30


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Gardening With A Plan Seed

Selection

Purchase quality seed, dont try to

Save seed from the previous yearsCrop. If there is seed left over fromCurrent years sowing, seal and store

At room temperature or lower.Expect loss of viability 5-15 or morePercent


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Gardening With A Plan

Methods of Starting Seed


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Direct Seedingn Most other crops will be productive in

short growing season of northern plains

via direct seeding; beans, corn, peasn Thinning is a requirement of most direct

seeding operations ie carrots

otherwise poor development of crop willresult


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Gardening With A Plan Seed

Startingn Cole crops can be started early for early

transplanting

n Peppers should be started about 14-21 daysahead of tomatoes for transplanting

n Direct seeded crops should have staggeredplanting dates, to keep everything frommaturing at the same time


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Gardening With A Plan Pest Control

Weeds, Insects, Diseases

Control pests early; cultivateWeed seedlings before theyBecome competitive; use least

Toxic insecticide eitherOrganic or conventional, to getEffective control; rouge out

Any diseased plants dontBother with a fungicide!


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Commercial Production IdeasThis commercial planting of leafLettuce varieties shows the FrenchMethod of Intensive Gardening. RowSpace is minimized to maximize yield;

Weed pressure is reduced viaMulching and close spacing ofCrops.This method inspired the SquareFoot Gardening technique.


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Gardening With A Plan - Aidsn Consider using hybrids for better productivity

and disease resistance; especially All-American Selections

n Geotextile tunnels for moderatingtemperature extremes; or frost-caps

n Blossom-set spray (GA) for superior fruit set

and yieldn Drip irrigation on a timer for more uniform

soil moisture


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Gardening With A PlanContainer gardening has manyAdvantages:Customized soil mixFewer disease/insect problems

Virtually no weed problemsAble to move planters to optimalPositionsUsually an earlier harvest


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Gardening With A PlanRaised bed gardeningAdvantages:Faster warming of soilDesigner soil mix

Excellent drainageEasier planting/harvestFewer pest problemsEasy construction


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Gardening With A Plan - SFG

Square Foot GardeningAllows maximumProduction from limitedSpaceCan modify soil or useDesigner soilCan be in part raised bedExcellent drainageFew pest problemsEase of maintenanceNo wasted space


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Gardening Wit h A Plan Succession Cropping

n Head lettucegrown early

springharvested inearly June

n Followed byMN midgetmelons


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Gardening With A Plan Companion Plantings

n Beans--they like celery and cucumbers

n Cabbage--Celery, dill, onions and

potatoes are good companion plantsn Corn--Pumpkins, peas, beans,

cucumbers and potatoes are nice

companion plantsn Tomatoes--Carrots, onions and parsley

are good companion plants


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Gardening With A Plan Organic Practices

n A long term investment in soil conditioningand different management practices

n Incorporate composted plant and animalresidues annually to build up OM content

n Use organic teas as a source of fertilizer

n

Have Zero-Tolerance for weeds, diseasedplants, or insect pests. Encourage predatoryinsects


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Organic Practices - continued

n Use a legume for greenmanure incorporat ion t oincrease N levels;examples w ould be

soybean, vetch, crim sonclover

n Harvest at peak of qualit y

n Be patient , keep a log ofsuccess and any failu res

Photo from Winter Green Farm


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Organic Gardening Garlic

Garlic photo Winter Green Farm, Oregon

Garlic needs t o be planted in t heFall around Colum bus Day, for

Maximum clove development , atA 4 depth. Keep the best forReplanting.


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Gardening With A Plan DripIrrigation

Point source or non-point Source syst ems areeasily installed & maintained; provide a moreuniform soil w ater profi le w it h great er rootdevelopment , and reduced disease problem s


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Gardening With A Plan DripIrrigation Automatic Control

Aut omatic contr ollers w ill rememberTo shut off, and w it h a few modificationsTurn on w hen the w ater t ension get s t oo

High in t he soil. With a m ore consistentWater level being m aintained in t he soilA more voluptuous vegetable crop w ilResult !


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Gardening With A Plan - Yields

? what do these3 crops have incommon?


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Gardening With A Plan - Crops

Veggies like cucumbers should be direct Seeded when soil temperatureswarm to 60 degrees or better. Can be trellised, or not; often benefit fromhormone sprays to increase fruit set. Do not allow fruit to become over-mature or production will shut down and quality sacrificed


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Eggplant is particularly sensitive to cold andShould be planted later than other membersOf the Solanaceae Family. This is one of the

Most sensitive crops to Verticilium wilt, so shouldBe carefully rotated with vegetables not in theSame family


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Garlic is a fall planted crop around Columbus Day. Harvest when theFoliage begins to flag, cure for a day or two, then store in a cool location.Save the largest cloves for replanting. A crop vulnerable to weed problemsWhich can affect crop quality and size.


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Crops like w int er squash and summer squash may need handpollinat ion in order t o set decent f ruit ; t o at t ract poll inat inginsect s grow herbs like Hyssop or borage as a companion crop


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Suitable varietiesareSweet Million,Juliet,

Sugary


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Garden With A Plan BeCreative!


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Gardening With A Plan Perennial Crops

Perennial crops like rhubarbAnd asparagus, should beLocated in an area of t he gardenThat w il l not int erfere w ith t he

Annual plant ings


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Rutabagas get no respect, yet make an excellent cropFor fall harvesting, stores well, and tastes better thanIt sounds!


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Gardening With A Plan DontForget flowers and Herbs!

Flowers like sweet peas and herbs like basil,Are easily grown, and add diversity to your

Vegetable garden; they also attract pollinators!


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If this doesnt motivate you togrow voluptuous veggies


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Enjoy Your VoluptuousVegetables!

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Growing Voluptuous Vegetables Presentations