Vegetable Gardening

Home vegetable gardening Produce value of $14 billion per year (U.S.) 40% of families have vegetable gardens

Why grow vegetables? Taste Saves money Health Attracts wildlife Can be chemical-free Exercise Attracts wildlife

Planning a garden Location Water supply Full sun Well drained loam, pH 6-6.5 Away from trees Away from slopes

Planning a garden Size Start small (25’ x 25’ or less) Most seed packs plant a 15’ row

Garden layout Rows oriented east to west Taller & trellised plants on north side Shorter plants towards south side Plant perennials together

Block (bed) gardening

Vegetable garden design Rows Beds Mixed beds (flowers/vegetables) Containers Window boxes

Planning a vegetable garden What uses? Fresh, canning, freezing (p. 500) Climate assessment Dates of avg. spring & fall killing frosts Frost free period = # days from last spring frost to first fall frost (ranges from 60-250 days)

Planning a vegetable garden Vegetable characteristics Days to maturity Warm season vs. cool season Warm season – restricted to frost free period Cool season – can tolerate light frost Start indoors & transplant for Spring crop Plant as seed for late fall crop

Planning a vegetable garden Vegetable characteristics Harvested crop and light requirements Fruit > 8 hours Root > 6 hours Leaf > 4 hours Harvested crop and nutrient requirements Leaf crops – high N Root crops – High K, lower N

Planning a vegetable garden Intercropping Succession planting (double cropping) Relay planting Crop rotation Companion planting Row to row distance

Intercropping

Succession planting

Relay planting Planting at intervals for continuous, extended harvest Beans, sweet corn, lettuce Sow when previous crop has emerged (germinated)

Crop rotation

Companion planting Some plants do better next to certain types of plants Some plants have insect repellant properties Some plants attract beneficial insects Example: corn/squash canopy disorients squash vine borer

Companion planting for pest control

Beneficial insects

Poor plant combinations Plant antagonism – some plants secrete growth-suppressing chemicals Beans do not follow onions well Tomato/potato do not follow Brassicas well

Plant spacing Can determine final size of plants Equal access to water, nutrients, light Canopy can suppress weeds

Planting a vegetable garden Seed Viability & storage Direct vs. indirect sowing Prepared seed types Seed tapes, primed, pelleted, treated Pre-germinating seed (p. 493) Thinning

Growing vegetables from indirect seeding Warm for germination Seedlings in good light, lower temp. Hardening off Transplanting at proper depth

Vegetable garden cultivation Watering Fertilizing Weed control Mulching Pests

Garden watering Heavy & occasionally Critical watering periods Germinating seeds, seedlings, transplants – frequent & light Critical watering periods Water in evening Soaker, drip irrigation

Garden fertilizing Vegetable plants vary in N-P-K needs Annual application of compost (5-11lbs./sq. yd.) or manure (12lb./sq. yd.) Green manure crops (legumes, rye) overwinter or intercropped Granular N-fertilizers applied in Spring (one month before planting)

Weed control Hand weeding Hoe weeding Mulch Proper plant spacing Plastic, organic, newspaper Proper plant spacing

Vegetable garden pests (p. 498) Animals Birds, rabbits, deer, voles, insects Insects Sucking insects, chewing insects Moths/caterpillars; beetles/grubs Microorganisms Bacteria, fungi, viruses Virginia Tech – Insect pests of vegetables

Training plants Optimize use of space Lessen contact of fruit with soil

Training plants

Cages

Home gardening resources NCSU Information leaflets