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West Virginia Department of Agriculture Kent Leonhardt, Commissioner 1900 Kanawha Boulevard, East Charleston, West Virginia 25035 (304) 558-3200 Starting a Home Vegetable Garden Wil TiS an Pest antral and Plant Diseases

Starting a Home Vegetable Garden - West Virginia a Home Vegetable Garden Willi TillS an Pest t:antral and Plant Diseases and surrounding area weed- free and control aphids. Plant resistant

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West Virginia

Department of Agriculture

Kent Leonhardt, Commissioner

1900 Kanawha Boulevard, East

Charleston, West Virginia 25035

(304) 558-3200

Starting a Home Vegetable Garden

Willi TillS an

Pest t:antral and

Plant Diseases

andsurroundingareaweed-freeandcontrolaphids.Plantresistantvarietiesofbeansandcucumbers.

Blossom End Rot of Tomatoes – Ablackened,water-soakedareadevelopsontheblossomendoftomatoes.Thisisanon-parasiticdiseasecausedbylackofwaterduringwarmweather.Droughtorrootinjurycanaccountfortheinsufficiencyofwater,soavoiddamagingroots(donothoearoundtheplants)anddonotuseexcessivenitrogenfertilizers.Besuretheareatobeplantedwithtomatoeshassufficientlimeandsuperphosphate.

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WHERE TO PUT ITSituate the garden with these things in mind:

• Locatethegardeninfullsun,awayfromtreesorbuildings.Mostvegetabletypesneedallthesuntheycanget.

• Chooseanareawiththebestsoilpossible.Sandyloamtypesoilsareideal.Heavyclaysoilsarethepoorestchoice.

• Considerthegarden’sproximitytoyourhouseandawatersource.Closerisbetterformostfolks.

THE FOUNDATIONIt all starts with the soil.

• Soilisthemostimportantfactorinvegetableproduction.Muchofhavingahealthygardenisdirectlyrelatedtohowwellyoubuildandmanageyoursoil,soit’simportanttocontinuallyimprovethedrainage,aeration,andnutrientcontentofyourgardensoil.

• Addingcompostisperhapsthebestwaytoimprovesoilstructure.Compostisbasicallydecomposedorganicmaterialsuchasgrassclippings,fallenleaves,manure,etc.Makecertainyourmaterialiscompletelybrokendownbeforeaddingittoyourgarden,especiallywhendealingwithmanure.Someothermaterialsthatwillimmediatelyimproveyourgardensoilarepeat,perlite,andvermiculite.

• MostsoilsinWestVirginiaaresuitableforgardeningexceptforthosewhicharehighinclay.Clayisverycompact,poorlydrained,andcanbeveryacidic.Avoidclaysoilsifpossible.

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“The earth here is so kind, that tickle her with a hoe, and she laughs with a harvest.”

-Anonymous

Vegetable gardening is a satisfying hobby and a great way to put fresh food on your table. Here’s a primer on starting a garden of your own!

THE FUELGood soil fertility will improve vigor and yields.

• Plantsneedcarbon,hydrogen,oxygen,nitrogen,potassium,phosphorus,calcium,sulfur,iron,magnesium,zinc,manganese,boron,andcoppertogrow.

• Plants,likehumansaremainlycarbon,hydrogen,andoxygen.Theother13elementsmakeuponly0.5%ofplanttissue,butwhengrowthislimited,theproblemcanusuallybetracedtoadeficiencyinoneofthem.

• Nitrogen,phosphorus,andpotassiumareconsideredprimarynutrientsbecauseplantsusetheminlargeramountsinrelationtotheothernutrients.

• Calcium,magnesium,andsulfuraresecondarynutrients.Limedsoilrarelyhasproblemswithcalciumandmagnesiumlevels.Sulfurisrarelydeficientinsoilswherecompostisaddedregularly.

• Theothernutrientsnotedarecalledmicro-nutrientsbecauseplantsusethemonlyinverysmallamounts.

• Theonlytrulyaccuratewaytodeterminehowtofertilizeyoursoiliswithasoiltest.TheWestVirginiaUniversitySoilTestingLabwilltestyournutrientlevelsandpHforfree.ContactyourcountyextensionagentortheWVDAformoreinformationonthesoiltest.

UNLOCKING YOUR SOIL’S POTENTIALSoil pH governs a plant’s ability to take up nutrients from the soil.

• SoilpHisameasurementoftheacidityoralkalinityofsoil.ThepHscalerunsfrom0(mostacid)to14(mostalkaline),with7asneutral.

• Technically,pHisthenegativelogarithmofthehydrogenionconcentration.Inanutshell,pHisameasurementofhydrogenions(H+)inthesoil.Themorehydrogenionsthereare,themoreacidthesoil.

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tobirdsorotheranimals!

Bacterial Blight – Large,dry,brownspots,oftensurroundedbyyellowborders,appearontheleavesofbeansandpeas.Water-soakedspotswithreddishmarginsmayappearinthepodsandreddishcankersmaybeonthestems.Thebacteriaarecarriedontheseeds.ThisdiseaseisrarelyfoundwestoftheRockyMountains;therefore,wheneverpossible,westerngrownseedshouldbeplanted.Donotplantdiscoloredseedsorthosefromspottedpods.Avoidworkinginthegarden

whenplantsarewet,becausethediseasespreadsmorerapidlyonwetfoliage.

Bean Root Rot – Beansinfectedwithbeanrootrotturnyellow,wilt,andusuallydiewhenyoung.Avoidplantingbeanswhenthesoilisstillwetandcold.Donotplantseedsdeep–about1inchofsoilcoverissufficient.Avoidplantingbeansinthesameareainwhichyougrewbeansinthelasttwoorthreeseasons.

Bacterial Wilt of Cucumbers – Largevinesgraduallywiltanddie(noyellowingofleaves),andyoungplantsrapidlydie.Olderplantsmayhaveonlyoneshootorrunneraffectedatfirst.Thisdiseaseisspreadbycucumberbeetles(stripedcucumberbeetle).Youngplantsaffectedearlyshouldberemovedanddestroyed.

Powdery Mildew –Thisiscommononmanyvegetableplants,especiallycucumbers,melonsandpeas.Thisdiseasefirstappearsasapowderywhitecoatingontheleafsurface.

Mosaic Virus – Thisdiseaseaffectsmanygardenplantssuchascucumbers,beansandlettuce.Leavesofaffectedplantsbecome

mottled(greenandyellow)andcurled.Fruitsmaybewarty,misshapenandspotted.Thisviruslivesinperennialweeds–milkweed,groundcherry,catnipandothers.Itisspreadbyaphids.Keepthegarden

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inthegardentowarrantconcern.Ifcontrolsareneeded,contactyourcountyextensionagentortheWVDAPlantIndustriesDivision.

Slugs and Snails – Slugsarebrownorgray,shinyorslimysnailswithoutshells.Slugsandsnailseatleavesofsmallplants.

Control: InWestVirginia,controlisseldomneededforthesepests.

However,whenslugsandsnailsarepresent,theinfestedareacanbedustedwithhydratedlime.Commercialbaitsarealsoavailable.

CAUTION: Readthelabeltoseewhetherornotthesebaitsarepermittedonorclosetoediblecrops.

Whitefly – Althoughwecallthislittleinsectwhitefly(duetoitscream-coloredwings),itisnotatrueflyandismorecloselyrelatedtothescaleinsects.Theadultsaretiny(1/20inch),four-wingedcreaturesthatreadilyflyoffthefoliagewhendisturbed.Thelarvaeareflatandimmobileandseldomnoticeduntiltheplantsappearsickly.

Itusuallymid-orlateJulybeforethispestisnoticed.Atthistime,controlisdifficultandlittlecanbedonetorestorevigortotheplant.Inthepastfewyears,formanyhomegardeners,thisinsecthasbeenamajorpestontomatoes.

Thisspeciesdoesnotsurviveourwintertemperaturesoutdoors.Infestationscomefromthegreenhousethatproducestheyoungplants.Therefore,controlisbestachievedbyexaminingtheyoungplantscarefullybeforesettingtheminthefield.

Plant Diseases

Therearemanyfungi,virusesandbacteriathatcauseplantdiseasesinthevegetablegarden.Onlyafewcanbementionedhere.Manydiseaseproblemscanbeavoidedbypurchasingonlyplantsorseedsofdisease-resistantvarieties.Mostdiseasecontrolchemicalsmaybemixedwiththeinsecticidesyouuse.Checkthelabel.Diseaseproblemsareoftencompoundedbyplantingthesamecropinthesamelocationyearafteryear.Rotatingthecropsfromplacetoplaceisagreataidindisease-controlactivities.

Seed Decay and Damping Off – Certainchemicalsusedtotreatseedwillpreventthesediseases.Beforeplantingseeds,treatthemaccordingtopackagedirections.Neverfeedtreatedseeds

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• WithafewnotableexceptionsmostplantsgrowbestinapHofabout6.0-6.5.ThisslightlyacidicpHiswherethelargestnumberofnutrientions,suchasnitrogen,potassium,phosphorous,andcalciumareavailableforplantuptake.

• SoilpHisparamounttomanagingagoodgarden.Evenifyoursoilhasplentyofnutrientsinit,ifthepHistoofarawayfrom6.5,mostplantswillnotbeabletoabsorbenoughofthemforoptimumgrowth.

• MostWestVirginiasoilsareacidic.Youcanbringanacidsoilcloserto6.5withlime.

• TheonlywaytoknowforsurewhatyoursoilpHisandhowmuchlimewillbeneededtobringitto6.5iswithasoiltest.Again,theWestVirginiaUniversitySoilTestingLabwilltestyoursoilpHandgivealimerecommendationforfree.ContactyourcountyextensionagentortheWVDAformoreinformationonthesoiltest.

PLAN AND PRACTICEGardening, like most things, requires planning and effort to be successful.

• Agardenplanisparticularlyimportantforbeginners.Itshouldincludewhatvegetablesyouwillplantandwhereyouwillplacetheminthegarden.

• Prepareyourplotduringthefalloronanicedayinearlywinter.Atilleristheeasiestwaytoformyourplot.Ifyoudon’thaveaccesstoatiller,goodoldfashionhandshovelingwillhavetodo.Thegoalistotrytocleartheareaofexistingvegetationandloosenthesoil12-18inchesdeep,formingrows24-36inchesapart.

• Inearlyspring,makefurtherimprovementstoyourplotbyclearingweedsandaddingsoilamendments,suchaslime,gypsum,andcompost.

• Addnutrientstoyoursoilinaccordancewiththerecommendationsofa

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soiltest.

• Growingsomesortoflegumeduringthefallandwinterseasonssuchashairyvetchandthenincorporatingitintothesoilinspringisagoodwaytoaddnitrogenandothernutrientsnaturally.

OLD FAVORITESOnce you’ve chosen your site, prepared your soil with amendments for pH and fertility, you’re ready to set out some plants. Here are some commonly grown vegetables that have been filling gardens for years:

• Bush and Snap Beans:Plantthemevery10daysfromApriltoMay.Sowseedsdirectlyintheground,1inchdeepand2inchesapartinarow.Thintheseedlingstooneplantevery6inches.

• Corn: Makethreeoffourplantingseverytwoweeks,startinginAprilatadepthof1.5inches.Allow8inchesbetweenseedsinarow.Cornshouldbeplantedinblocksof3orfourrows,ratherthanasinglerow.Goodpollinationisessentialforthedevelopmentoffullearsandablockplantingwillallowmoreuniformpollinationthanasinglerow.

• Cucumbers: Plantseeds9to12inchesapartinrowsormoundswhichareabout4feetapart.Waterandharvestfrequently.

• Hot peppers:Plantyoungplants24to36inchesapartinarowafterdangeroffrosthaspassedandthesoilhaswarmed.Mostwillyieldheavy,sojustafewoftheseplantswillbeenough.

• Potatoes: Plantseedpotatoes4inchesdeepand12inchesapartinrows.Potatoescanbeharvestedafterthevinesdie.Theharvesttimevariesfromlatesummertofalldependingonthevarietyused.Mostvarietieswillkeepformonthsinacoolcellar.Differentvarietieswillkeepfordifferinglengthsoftime.

• Sweet Peppers: Sameashotpeppers,butyoumaywantto

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stemby½inchallaroundwillusuallypreventdamage.

Flies

Seedcorn Maggot – theseareyellowishwhite,leglessandapproximately¼inchlongmaggots(orlarvae)ofasmall(1/5inchlong)grayishbrownfly.Themaggotshatchfromeggslaidbythefemaleflynearsproutingseeds.Theyboreintothesproutingseedandpreventthedevelopmentofplants.

Control: Purchaseinsecticide-treatedseedsandplantwhenthesoilhaswarmedupandisdry.Replantifseedsaredestroyedbymaggots.

Cabbage Maggot – Theadultisagrayishflyalittlesmallerthanahousefly.Thefemaleflylayseggsonthegroundnearcabbage,broccoli,cauliflowerandrelatedplants.Beets,radishes,turnipsandceleryareamongotherplantsthatmaybeattacked.Themaggottunnelsintotherootsandstemsofyoungplants,causingrot;plantswiltanddie.

Control: Applyagranularinsecticideaccordingtolabeldirectionspriortoplanting.

Onion Maggot – Thisisaflylarvaeabout1/3inchlongwhichburrowsintothebulb,causingtheplantstoyellow,wiltanddie.Cool,wetweatherfavorsthedevelopmentofseriousinfestations.

Control: Applyagranularinsecticideaccordingtolabeldirectionstotheopenfurrowinwhichonionsaretobeset.

Miscellaneous

Millipedes – Thesearebrownorgrayishworm-likecreatureswithmanylegs;theyattainlengthsofseveralinches.Thesepestsusuallyfeedonorarefoundinorganicdebris.However,theymayfeedonstems,roots,tubers,bulbsoronnewlyplantedseeds.

Control: Theseareusuallynotnumerousenough

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Squash Vine Borer – Thisisastoutwhiteborerupto1inchlongwithabrownhead.Itboresintovinesandeatsholesinthestemnearthebaseofrunnersandsquash,cucumbers,pumpkinsandmuskmelons.Thevinewiltsandmaydie.

Control: Dustorspraystemsatregularintervalsduringegg-layingperiod(aftermid-June).Whenavineisinfested,locatethepointofinjury,slitthestemandkilltheborer.Putamoundofmoistsoiloverthesplittopreventdryingandtostimulaterootgrowth.Thiswilloftensaveavineor

portionofit.

Common Stalk Borer – Thisslendercream-coloredlarvaehasadarkerbrownfronthalfandstripesrunninglengthwiseonthelighterportion.Thesestripesdisappearasolderborersattainlengthsupto1½inches.

Thecommonstalkborerinfestsawidevarietyofcrops,includingtomatoes.Italsoattacksawidevarietyofweeds,wheretheyounglarvaedevelopinsmall

plantsandthenmovetoeitherlargerweedsornearbygardenplants.Thestemsofplantsaretunneledandwillwitheranddie.

Control: Keeptheareaaroundyourgardenfreeofweeds.Mowasfararoundthegardenaspossible.Aninfestedstemmayoftenbesavedbyusingthesametechniqueasdescribedforsquashborer.

Cutworm – Manykindsofcutwormsattackvegetablesgardens.Theadultsaredull-coloredmothswhichlayeggsthatdevelopintodestructivecaterpillarsorcutworms.Whenfullgrown,thesecutwormsareupto1½incheslong.Theycurlupintoa“c”shapewhendisturbed.Mostcutwormsaredullincolorandhavehairsontheirbodies.

Cutwormscutoffplantsabove,at,orbelowthesoilline.Inthedaytime,theyhideinthesoilorindebrisnearthedamagedplants.

Control: Applyagranularinsecticideaccordingtolabeldirectionspriortoplanting.Theinsecticideshouldbeworkedintothesoil.A3-inchcollarofstiffcardboardplacedaroundthestems(1inchintothesoiland2inchesabove)andclearingthe

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setoutmoreplantsbecausetheyieldiscomparativelylower.Mayrequirestakingforsupport.

• Squash & Zucchini: Sow3seeds18to24inchesapartinrowsormoundswhichareabout3feetapart.Harvestgenerallyoccurswhensquashisabout8incheslong,butyoucanharvestthematsmallersizesformoretendervegetables.Waterandharvestfrequentlytoencouragehigheryields.

• Tomatoes:Setyoungplants24to36inchesapartinarow.Tomatoesneedstakingforsupport.

HOME VEGETABLE GARDEN PEST CONTROL

Thereareabout25ormoreinjuriousvegetablegardenpestscommontoWestVirginia.Fortunately,noteveryoneoftheseisapesteveryyear.However,wegenerallycannotpredictfromyeartoyearorseasontoseasonjustwhichwillbeproblems.Afewinsects,suchasbeanbeetles,arecommonnearlyeveryyear.Others,likeJapanesebeetles,arecommonsomeyearsandscarceduringothers.

Mostpeoplecannotidentifyonebugfromanotherwhentheybegintogarden,butitdoesn’ttakelongbeforeyourealizethatthelittlewhitebutterflyflittingaroundyourcabbagewillsoonproduceabatchofleaf-eatingcabbageworms.Onceyouhavelostyourcucumberstoadiseasetransmittedbythestripedcucumberbeetle,youwillbeonthelookoutforthatfellowandcontrolhimbeforehestrikesagain.Andonandonitgoes.

Ifyouneedhelpinidentifyingthepestproblemsyouhave,contactyourcountyextensionagentortheWestVirginiaDepartmentofAgriculture’s(WVDA)PlantIndustriesDivision.Theywillidentifyyourproblemsandmakerecommendationsfortreatmentorcontrol.Whenpesticidesarerecommended,followthedirectionscarefully,andaboveallREADandHEEDthelabel.

Some Common Pests of Vegetable Gardens

Aphids

Thereareseveralkindsofaphids(orplantlice)commoninWestVirginiagardens.Theyaresoft-bodiedinsectswhicharegreen,black,redorwhiteincolor.Somehavewings,butmostindividualsfoundclusteredandfeedingontheundersidesofleavesoronthestemsarewingless.

Infestedleavescurl,thicken,orbecomedistortedandthewholeplantmaybecomeyellowedorstunted.Someaphidscarryplantdiseaseviruses.Nearlyallvegetablesmaybeattackedbyaphids.

Control: Considertreatingaphidswithinsecticidalsoapwheninsectsappearindamagingnumbers.

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Beetles

Bean Leaf Beetle – Thisisasmallreddishoryellowishbeetle,upto¼inchlong,withblackmarkings.Iteatsregularlyshapedwholesinleaves.

Control: Dustorspraywithaninsecticidelabeledforvegetables.Besuretotreattheundersidesofleaves.Cleanallplantdebrisfromgardenattheendofseason.

Flea Beetles – Therearemanyspeciesoffleabeetlesthatattackpotatoes,tomatoes,eggplants,peppers,beets,

spinach,turnip,radishesandcolecrops.Youngplants,especiallytransplants,maybeseverelydamages.Theirleaveslookasiftheyhavebeenshotfullofholes.Thebeetlesareverysmall,areblack,brown,orstriped,andtendtojumpwhendisturbed.

Control: Dustorspraywithaninsecticidelabeledforvegetables.Besuretotreattheundersidesofleaves.Cleanallplantdebrisfromgardenattheendofseason.Newlysettransplantsshouldbetreatedsoonafterplanting.

Mexican Bean Beetles – These¼-inch-longbeetlesarecopper-colored,ovalandhave16blackspotsontheirbacks.Thelarvae,orimmaturebeetles,areyellowtoorange,fuzzyorspiny,andabout1/3inchlong.Bothadultsandlarvaefeedonthepodsandleaves,skeletonizingthem.

Control: Dustorspraywithaninsecticidelabeledforvegetables.Besuretotreattheundersidesofleaves.Cleanallplantdebrisfromgardenattheendofseason.

Spotted Cucumber Beetle – The¼-inchlongbeetlesareyellowishgreenandhave12blackspotsontheirbacks.Theyeatholesintheleavesandpodsofbeansandcucumbers.

Control: Dustorspraywithaninsecticidelabeledforvegetables.Besuretotreattheundersidesofleaves.Cleanallplantdebrisfromgardenattheendofseason.Treatatthefirstsignofthebeetle.Continueatweeklyintervals.

Striped Cucumber Beetle – Adultbeetlesareyellowtodark-coloredandhavethreeblack

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stripesdowntheirbacks.Thelarvaeare1/3inchlong,slender,whiteandbrownishattheends.Thelarvaeboreintotherootsandstemsbelowthesoilline,andtheadultsfeedontheleaves,stemandfruit.Theyspreadbacterialwiltofcucumbersandusuallyattackyourplants.Damagedvineswillwiltandoftendie.

Control: Dustorspraywithaninsecticidelabeledforvegetables.Besuretotreattheundersidesofleaves.Cleanallplantdebrisfromgardenattheendofseason.Treatatthefirstsignofthebeetle.Continueatweekly

intervals.

Butterflies and Moths

Cabbage Looper – Thesearepalegreenmeasuringwormswithlightstripesdowntheirbacks.Theymaybeupto11/2incheslong.Theyfeedontheundersidesofleaves,producingraggedholes.Largerloopersburrowinthecabbageheads.Theseinsectswillattackcabbage,broccoli,brusselsproutsandcauliflower.

Control: ConsidertreatingfoliagewithBacillusthuringiensis (Bt).Repeatatweeklyintervals.

Imported Cabbageworm – Thiscaterpillaristhelarvaeofthewhitebutterflyseensocommonlyinfieldsandaroundthecabbagepatch.Itisvelvetygreenandgrowstoabout1inchlong.Itfeedsontheleaf,producingraggedwholesandwillboreintothehead.

Control: ConsidertreatingfoliagewithBacillusthuringiensis (Bt).Repeatatweeklyintervals.Removeplantdebrisafterharvest.

Corn Earworm – Theadultmothisseldomnotedbythehomegardener,buttheupto1:-inchlonggreen,brown,orpinkwormwithlightstripesonitssideisoftenseenburrowingthroughthesilkofsweetcornandfeedingonthekernelsnearthetipontheear.Whenthisinsectappearsontomatoeseatingholesinthefruitorbuds,itiscalledthetomatofruitworm.

Control: Oncorn,dustorspraysilkseveryotherdaybeginningat10%silkingandcontinuinguntil90%ofsilkshavewiltedandturnedbrown.Ontomatoes,dustorspraywhenplantsattaingoodgrowthandwhenfruitbeginstoset.

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