Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service Vegetable Production Approaches Jim Shrefler, Area Extension Horticulturist 2016 Town & Country Expo Gordon Cooper Tech. Center

Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service

Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service Vegetable Gardening in Oklahoma  We have several possible gardening / growing seasons  There are various possible growing sites or methods to consider  Keep in mind, the climate varies widely across the state  Rainfall  Temperature

Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service Vegetable Gardening Seasons in Oklahoma  Traditional  Fall/winter/spring – Cool season  Spring/Summer – Warm season  Specialized  Fall & Spring greenhouse tomatoes  Protected outdoor production  All year, depending on the crop

Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service Vegetable Gardening Seasons in Oklahoma  Traditional  Fall/winter/spring – Cool season  Spring/Summer – Warm season  Specialized  Fall & Spring greenhouse tomatoes  Protected outdoor production  All year, depending on the crop

Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service Cool Season Crops ● Need cool soil and air temperatures ● Plant late winter & early fall ● May tolerate frost / brief freeze ● High temperature may cause bolting ● Quality is best for some in the fall ● Carrots, cabbage, etc. can be “stored” in the garden

Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service Warm Season Crops ● Need warm soil & air  Gardening practices evolved to deal with cool conditions ● Edible part often a fruit  High heat prevents fruit set ● Sunlight needed for good fruit production ● Grown during period of greatest pest concerns ● Must be harvested at maturity

Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service Vegetable Gardening Seasons in Oklahoma  Traditional  Fall/winter/spring – Cool season  Spring/Summer – Warm season  Specialized  Fall & Spring greenhouse tomatoes  Protected outdoor production  All year, depending on the crop

Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service Fall & Spring Greenhouse Production  Used for high value, warm and cool season crops  Generally a hydroponic system  Tomatoes – can be a viable small business  Research-based how-to- do-it information is available  Lettuce – quick turn around  Mississippi State University holds an excellent annual grower training event.

Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service Vegetable Gardening Seasons in Oklahoma  Traditional  Fall/winter/spring – Cool season  Spring/Summer – Warm season  Specialized  Fall & Spring greenhouse tomatoes  Protected outdoor production  All year, depending on the crop

Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service Protected Outdoor Production  Can include many techniques & technologies  Before discussing these various options, lets discuss commonly used growing “sites”

Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service Vegetable Gardening Sites  Traditional garden plot  Plot with temporary beds  Permanent raised beds  Container gardening

Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service Vegetable Gardening Sites  Traditional garden plot  Plot with temporary beds  Permanent raised beds  Container gardening

Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service Vegetable Gardening Sites  Traditional garden plot  Plot with temporary beds  Permanent raised beds  Container gardening

Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service Vegetable Gardening Sites  Traditional garden plot  Plot with temporary beds  Permanent raised beds  Container gardening

Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service Protected Outdoor Production  It may utilize many possible techniques  Some are “helpers” for traditional gardening  Others are intended to produce new harvest seasons  Season Extension  Some techniques provide protection from specific hazards

Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service Protected Production Techniques  Mulches  Influence soil temperature  Influence soil moisture  Can affect pest and disease incidence  Help with weed control  Help keep produce clean

Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service Protected Production Techniques  Mulches  Organic mulches insulate; slow soil warming.  Can slow drying of wet soil  Black plastic warms soil  Early melons, squash, tomatoes  White plastic cools soil  For Summer vegetables  For weeds, moister control, produce clealiness

Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service Protected Production Techniques  Row covers  Influence air temperature  Keep things away from plants  Keep things near plants  Prevent things from falling on plants  Reduce the impact of wind  Modify color of plant environment  A form of “Insurance”

Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service Protected Production Techniques  Row cover materials  Netting  Clear or color plastic  Glass  Fabric  Spunbound materials  Others?  Use the correct material used for the conditions needed

Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service What Purposes do Row Covers Serve? ● Modify temperature  Extend the growing season  Start growing earlier in the spring  Continue growing later into the fall  Protect from early and late frosts / freezes

Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service What Purposes do Row Covers Serve? ● Keep things away from plants  Insects  Rodents (may not affect burrowers)  Birds  Larger animals  Soil, ashes & other windborne particles  Rainfall, snow & sleet  Direct sunlight

Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service What Purposes do Row Covers Serve? ● Keep things near plants  Beneficial insects  Pollinator insects

Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service What Purposes do Row Covers Serve? ● Prevent things from falling on plants  Airborne particles (ashes, residues from certain trees)  Bird droppings  Precipitation – rain, sleet, snow, freezing rain

Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service What Purposes do Row Covers Serve? ● Reduce the impact of wind  Deflects wind away from crop plants

Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service What Purposes do Row Covers Serve? ● A form of “Insurance”  Protecting tomato plants from a frost  Protecting from aphid infestation of squash can reduce chances of virus diseases  Protecting from intense precipitation forms (hail, heavy rain) can prevent crop damage

Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service What Purposes do Row Covers Serve? ● A form of “Insurance”  Protecting tomato plants from a frost  Protecting from aphid infestation of squash can cause virus diseases  Protecting from intense precipitation forms (hail, heavy rain) can prevent crop damage

Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service What Purposes dDo Row Covers Serve? ● A form of “Insurance”  Protecting tomato plants from a frost  Protecting from aphid infestation of squash can reduce chances of virus diseases  Protecting from intense precipitation forms (hail, heavy rain) can prevent crop damage

Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service Protected Production Techniques  Row cover work in progress  Insect exclusion for cucurbit crops  Trials at Shawnee, Bixby and Atoka  Objective: keep out the bad bugs and let in the good ones  Grower visits to trials will be held this summer

Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service Putting Row Covers to Use in Your Gardening ● Think about what effects you need  i.e. increased temperature?, less intense sun?, protection from insects? ● Think about what effects the different row cover materials will produce ● Think about the time period for producing an effect is needed

Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service Practical Uses for Row Covers - - Enable Early Planting - - ● Clear plastic tunnels create a mini-greenhouse ● Often used with a black plastic mulch on the soil surface ● A raised bed will also help warm the soil earlier

Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service Practical Uses for Row Covers - - Moderate Air Temperature - - ● Shading materials may reduce excess heat problems  Tomato fruit set ● Full sun is needed early in the day

Oklahoma Cooperative Extension Service Hoop Houses & High Tunnels ● A greenhouse that is not a greenhouse  Heating and cooling is passive  Can enable year around growing  Can be used for season extension  Provides row cover effects

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