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Alternative Vegetable Alternative Vegetable GardeningGardening

Sydney Park BrownSydney Park Brown

UF Extension Specialist UF Extension Specialist –– Consumer HorticultureConsumer HorticultureGulf Coast Research & Education CenterGulf Coast Research & Education Center

Plant CityPlant City

http://tiny.cc/tm7sx

Edibles!Edibles!

Epcot, April 2010

Edibles!Edibles!

New York Botanical Garden – June, 2010

Lots of people want to grow Lots of people want to grow food, but not everyone can or food, but not everyone can or

will dig up the yardwill dig up the yard

Soil / Site Soil / Site IssuesIssues

• Poor soil • Soil pests • Trees • Limited space• Deed restrictions• Love the lawn!

Human IssuesHuman Issues

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Alternative Gardening Demo Alternative Gardening Demo UF Plant City Teaching GardensUF Plant City Teaching Gardens

Alternative Veggie Alternative Veggie GardensGardens

AboveAbove the ground;the ground;

I t fI t f t it iIn some type of In some type of container;container;

In In soilsoil--lessless media;media;

All other veggie rules apply.All other veggie rules apply.

Growing MediaGrowing Media• Perlite• Vermiculite• Gravel• Sand• Sawdust• Sawdust• Bark• Rockwool• Coco Fiber• Compost• Combinations of these• Commercial soil mixes• Water + nutrients

Alternative GardeningAlternative Gardening

Sunlight Pests

Minimum of 5-6 hours Scout frequently

Alternative GardeningAlternative Gardening

• Avoid soil• Good results

Advantages Disadvantages• Expensive – some• Assembly required

• Portable – some• Can garden on

hard spaces• Less physical • Great for kids and

“challenged”

– some• Water intensive• Limited growing

space / yields• $$$ Payback?

SmallSmall--scalescaleContainersContainers

• Pots – plastic, clay, glazed• Buckets, baskets, barrels, bags• Grow boxes• Vertical systems

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• 1 gal – herbs, small veggies

• 5 gal minimum – big veggies

P id d i

ContainersContainers

• Provide drainage

• Stake / support

Hanging ContainersHanging Containers

Topsy Turvy TM

Heavy! – Need strong support.

Other ContainersOther Containers

Barrels

Baskets

Buckets

Grow BagsGrow BagsPlastic, mesh or felt bags. Some Plastic, mesh or felt bags. Some

have handles; some come prehave handles; some come pre--filled filled with media.with media.

“Lay“Lay--flat Bags”flat Bags”Plastic bags filled with soilPlastic bags filled with soil--less medialess media

Lettuce

HerbsDwarf Cucumbers

Onions

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Soil Bags Soil Bags

Grow BoxesGrow Boxes• Various sizes• Use potting (soil-less)

mixes• Have a reservoir of water• Fertilize one time

(2 cups granular fertilizer) • Keep cover on until you’re

ready to replant• Vining plants need support

EarthBox®

http://www.earthbox.com

1. 3.2.

EarthBox®

4. 5.

Grow BoxesGrow Boxes

Tomatoes on a ropeon a rope

http://www.earthbox.com

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HomeHome--made Grow Boxmade Grow Box

http://www.wisefarmer.com/growbox/

Vertical Growing SystemVertical Growing System• Very space efficient• Reduced disease - better air flow

and less soil splashing• Easy to harvestEasy to harvest

Vertical Growing SystemVertical Growing System

• Great for ‘cut and come again’ crops such as:

L f– Leafy greens– Herbs– Edible flowers

Vertical Growing SystemVertical Growing System

• Commercial kits include: - poles- styrofoam pots- media- fertilizer- drip irrigation- pump, timer

Transplants and nutrient tank not supplied

Vertical Growing Vertical Growing SystemSystem Examples of Commercial Examples of Commercial ProductsProducts

• http://vertigro.com/• http://www hydrostacker com/• http://www.hydrostacker.com/• http://www.futuregrowing.com/

…and others

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Low Cost Vertical SystemLow Cost Vertical Systemhttp://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/hs1186

LargeLarge--scalescaleContainersContainers

Concrete blocks

• Raised beds• Hay bales

Raised BedsRaised Beds

Raised BedsRaised BedsConstruction4’ wide 6-18” high, 24” for wheelchairsP t t d l b ?Pressure treated lumber?

The American The American Horticultural Therapy Horticultural Therapy

AssociationAssociationhttp://www.ahta.org

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Raised BedsRaised Beds

1. 2.

Easy Garden BoxTM

1. 2.

3. 4.

Raised Bed BracketsRaised Bed Brackets Hay Bale GardenHay Bale Garden

Hay Bale GardenHay Bale Garden FiltrexxFiltrexx Garden Garden SoxxSoxxTMTM

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FiltrexxFiltrexx Garden Garden SoxxSoxxTMTM Raised BedsRaised Beds

2008 Victory Garden in San Francisco

Soil RecipeSoil RecipeSample MixtureFor each bushel of soil-less media

• 1.25 cups dolomite

1 cup 8 8 8 fertilizer w/ micronutrients• 1 cup 8-8-8 fertilizer w/ micronutrients

ControlledControlled--release release FertilizersFertilizers

• Ex: Osmocote and Dynamite• Choose products that include

i t i tmicronutrients• Select release rate based

on crop (i.e. 3 month, 6 month, etc.)

Hydroponic Hydroponic GardeningGardening

Growing plants in water and Growing plants in water and dissolved dissolved nutrients nutrients -- no no soil soil

• Potato Box• Floating Gardens

Potatoes in Potatoes in PerlitePerlite

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Clean & easy harvest

Round II – Sweet Potatoes

Floating GardensFloating GardensPlants “Float” on Styrofoam Bed Plants “Float” on Styrofoam Bed with Roots in Nutrient Solutionwith Roots in Nutrient Solution

Plants “Float” on Styrofoam Bed Plants “Float” on Styrofoam Bed with Roots in Nutrient Solutionwith Roots in Nutrient Solution

Floating Garden ConstructionFloating Garden Construction

• 2’x8’ boards used to construct 4’x8’ frame

• 6 mil plastic lining

Add Simple PVC Structures for Add Simple PVC Structures for Cold or Deer/rabbit ProtectionCold or Deer/rabbit Protection

Use any unUse any un--drained container at least drained container at least 6” high6” high

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What Can You Grow?What Can You Grow?

Lettuces, mustard greens, mizuna, kale, basil, green onions, Swiss Chard, cucumber, watercress. Others?

Mix Nutrient SolutionMix Nutrient Solution

2 tsp 20-20-20(w/micros) or equivalentor equivalentsoluble fertilizer

+1 tsp Epsom Salt

…per gallon of water

• 1 1/2 inch styrofoam• Drill or cut holes

Drill Holes in Styrofoam Drill Holes in Styrofoam

12” apart• Diameter of holes

= size of net pots or cups

3” net pot = 35 cents

Plastic CupStyrofoam Cup

Place Transplant into CupsPlace Transplant into Cups

Bottom of cup should extend no more than 1/8” below styrofoam

Floating Garden Floating Garden

35-gallon Plastic Garden Pond

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Floating GardenFloating Garden

Go to http://vfd.ifas.ufl.edu/ for a “how to” video and more info

Choosing VarietiesChoosing Varieties

• Select proven varieties• Try dwarf/“mini” veggies• Choose pest-resistant

varieties

Transplants: StoreTransplants: Store--bought or bought or HomeHome--grown?grown?

TRANSPLANTS =

SEEDS =More choice

Faster start

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“Bio-sponges” (sphagnum mossand composted bark )

120 - $12Park Seed Co. Ready for a break?Ready for a break?

Thanks!Thanks!DISCLAIMER

Many other products exist Mention of aMany other products exist. Mention of a company's name/product is not

intended to be an endorsement or a preference over other products.