2650 Richville Dr SE Massillon, OH Master Gardener Volunteers of Stark County Vegetable Gardening Presented in partnership with Stark County Park District

2650 Richville Dr SE Massillon, OH Master Gardener Volunteers of Stark County Keep it Simple! Less  is  More Less weeding. Less watering. Less work. = More Success!

2650 Richville Dr SE Massillon, OH Master Gardener Volunteers of Stark County THE BASIC 5 STEPS: 1- PLANNING YOUR GARDEN 2 - PREPARING FOR PLANTING 3 - PLANTING 4 - TENDING THE GARDEN 5 - INCREASING THE HARVEST

2650 Richville Dr SE Massillon, OH Master Gardener Volunteers of Stark County Plan The Site Eight hours of sunlight Soil Evaluation Shelter from the wind Convenient water source Choose one site or mix into the landscape

2650 Richville Dr SE Massillon, OH Master Gardener Volunteers of Stark County Water Supply

2650 Richville Dr SE Massillon, OH Master Gardener Volunteers of Stark County Choose Your Crops New varieties – try some! Cool or Warm weather crops Heirloom How large? Space saving varieties Frost resistance or hardiness

2650 Richville Dr SE Massillon, OH Master Gardener Volunteers of Stark County Draw A Final Plan Use graph paper! Draw the garden to scale Use your plan for seed orders and plant purchases Plan north to south, with tall to north Rows run east to west

2650 Richville Dr SE Massillon, OH Master Gardener Volunteers of Stark County

2650 Richville Dr SE Massillon, OH Master Gardener Volunteers of Stark County Test The Soil Penn State - $9 + tax * Kits available in our office at 2650 Richville Drive SE, Suite 100 Massillon, OH Fall is the Best Time Every two or three years * Price may change

2650 Richville Dr SE Massillon, OH Master Gardener Volunteers of Stark County Cultivate The Soil Best to loosen 8 to 12 inches deep Plow Till responsibly Raised beds

2650 Richville Dr SE Massillon, OH Master Gardener Volunteers of Stark County Amend The Soil Determine soil texture Add compost and/or manure Fertilize to your soil test Lime to your soil test

2650 Richville Dr SE Massillon, OH Master Gardener Volunteers of Stark County Prepare The Planting Beds Raised mounds Drainage, Drainage, Drainage! Draw soil from walkways Remove rocks Avoid walking in row areas!

2650 Richville Dr SE Massillon, OH Master Gardener Volunteers of Stark County Best Practices Set up a record keeping system Start seeds indoors Or sow the seeds directly into the garden Set out transplants

2650 Richville Dr SE Massillon, OH Master Gardener Volunteers of Stark County Seeds Start inside according to seed packet requirements or direct sow Harden off Transplanting Plant in your garden Purchased Plants Harden off Plant on shady day Late in day

2650 Richville Dr SE Massillon, OH Master Gardener Volunteers of Stark County Reading a Seed Packet

2650 Richville Dr SE Massillon, OH Master Gardener Volunteers of Stark County Important To Follow Through! Weed or Mulch Water properly – 1 inch per week Fertilize as needed – N,P,& K Mulch no closer than 2 inches from plant Stake and Support

2650 Richville Dr SE Massillon, OH Master Gardener Volunteers of Stark County Frost can occur at 32 degrees or below Protect individual plants Bed sheets Plastic milk jugs Plastic cones Protect from Frost

2650 Richville Dr SE Massillon, OH Master Gardener Volunteers of Stark County Know When To Pick Morning after dew is dry Taste test for readiness Small is better Harvest then eat your veggies when they are fresh!

2650 Richville Dr SE Massillon, OH Master Gardener Volunteers of Stark County Harvest With Care Sharp knife or pruners Use bags, buckets or baskets Do not harvest when wet Early in the day

2650 Richville Dr SE Massillon, OH Master Gardener Volunteers of Stark County Tomatoes Soil temp must be at least degrees to transplant; or plants will turn yellow, become stunted and are slow to bear fruit. In Stark County this would be after June 1 st. Can be planted deeper than they were potted. Brandywine

2650 Richville Dr SE Massillon, OH Master Gardener Volunteers of Stark County Tomato Supports Sprawl, cage or stake, which ever works best for you.

2650 Richville Dr SE Massillon, OH Master Gardener Volunteers of Stark County Tomatoes- Blossom end rot Heavy clay Damage to roots when weeding Keep soil evenly moist. Causes:

2650 Richville Dr SE Massillon, OH Master Gardener Volunteers of Stark County Tomato-Growth cracks Radial cracks form during periods of high temperatures and bright sunlight. Concentric cracks form when rain follows a dry spell. Both types of cracks are the result of sudden, rapid growth.

2650 Richville Dr SE Massillon, OH Master Gardener Volunteers of Stark County Tomato hornworm Easily identifiable, about the size of your middle finger. Found on tomatoes, peppers, and eggplant. Control by removing and squashing on ground, drop into soapy water solution or you can relocate hornworm to a different location.

2650 Richville Dr SE Massillon, OH Master Gardener Volunteers of Stark County Sweet Bell Peppers Soil temp must be at least degrees to transplant; or plants will turn yellow, become stunted and are slow to bear fruit. In Stark County this would be after June 1 st. Will turn red if left on the vine.

2650 Richville Dr SE Massillon, OH Master Gardener Volunteers of Stark County Sweet Bell Peppers blossom end rot Heavy Clay Damage to roots when weeding. Keep soil evenly moist. Causes:

2650 Richville Dr SE Massillon, OH Master Gardener Volunteers of Stark County Support Structures

2650 Richville Dr SE Massillon, OH Master Gardener Volunteers of Stark County Zucchini & Yellow Squash Roots may go down to 3 feet. Keep soil moist to this depth for good production. First flowers are male and then the male and female flowers set. Harvest when 6 to 8 inches long and cut stem to remove fruit leaving about 1” of stem on fruit.

2650 Richville Dr SE Massillon, OH Master Gardener Volunteers of Stark County Stripped and spotted cucumber beetle Feed on cucumbers, gourds, melons, pumpkins, squash, asparagus, beet, pea, cabbage, eggplant, potato, and tomato. They spend the winter among weeds. When the temperature reaches near 70 degrees, the beetles become active, mate and lay eggs just below the soil surface near bean, corn, and grass plants. If using row covers, have in place before the temperature reaches 70 degrees. May spread bacterial wilt which causes plants to wilt and die.

2650 Richville Dr SE Massillon, OH Master Gardener Volunteers of Stark County Japanese beetle Control by handpicking and dropping into soapy water solution. If they are too numerous you may lay a sheet down in early morning and shake them onto the sheet and then dispose of in soapy water solution. Feeds on the leaves of ornamental plants and vegetables, particularly corn, bean. okra, and rhubarb.

2650 Richville Dr SE Massillon, OH Master Gardener Volunteers of Stark County Cutworm moth and larvae Feed on bean, corn cabbage and tomato seedlings. Avoid planting in an area that was previously a lawn, but if you do till in the late summer or early fall and then again before planting to kill and or expose the cutworms to predators. Collars can be used around the stem of the plants. Collars can be made from most any stiff paper, milk cartons, yogurt cups etc. Press the collars 1 to 2 inches in the ground and they should extend 2 to 3 inches up the stem. Stem wraps can also be made from aluminum, foils and should be 1 to 2” above and below the soil surface.

2650 Richville Dr SE Massillon, OH Master Gardener Volunteers of Stark County Brown slug Feed on seedlings, tender parts of older plants and will eat the surface of soft fruits such as tomatoes. Barriers of rough substance may be used (wood ash) 1 inch wide 3 inches high. Strips of copper are said to be effective. Not endorsed. Beer fresh or stale may be used. Dish must have steep smooth sides and be buried just below the soil surface and filled with beer. The beer is absorbed through the skin causing the slug to become drunk and drown. Natural enemies include birds, snakes, and toads.

2650 Richville Dr SE Massillon, OH Master Gardener Volunteers of Stark County Eastern Cottontail Rabbit Feed on beans seedlings, lettuce, cabbage, etc. Dried blood meal, onion and garlic peel, chicken wire, cats or dogs deter rabbits.

2650 Richville Dr SE Massillon, OH Master Gardener Volunteers of Stark County Lady Beetle (ladybug) – eat insect eggs, spider mites, whiteflies and aphids

2650 Richville Dr SE Massillon, OH Master Gardener Volunteers of Stark County Garden spider Orb weaver family. Will eat most any insect that it catches in its web. Can be easily identified by the zipper in the web.

2650 Richville Dr SE Massillon, OH Master Gardener Volunteers of Stark County Robin and Sparrow American Robin- eats small insects. Sparrows - eat small insects and weed seeds.

2650 Richville Dr SE Massillon, OH Master Gardener Volunteers of Stark County Praying mantis Will eat almost any insect beneficial or pest. Mantis can turn their heads 180 degrees and see movement up to 60 feet away. Do not bring egg cases inside to hatch. 100’s hatch and are very small allowing them to escape.

2650 Richville Dr SE Massillon, OH Master Gardener Volunteers of Stark County American toad Feeds on various insects, snails, slugs, and beetles. Likes to live in the straw mulch.

2650 Richville Dr SE Massillon, OH Master Gardener Volunteers of Stark County Marigolds Annual Marigolds can deter Mexican bean beetles, squash bugs, tomato hornworms, and whiteflies. They are also known to repel harmful root knot nematodes (soil dwelling microscopic white worms) that attack tomatoes, potatoes, roses, and strawberries.

2650 Richville Dr SE Massillon, OH Master Gardener Volunteers of Stark County Nasturtiums Discourage Colorado potato bugs, squash bugs, and whiteflies. Growing nasturtiums as an aphid trap is a wonderful organic method for handling aphids in the vegetable garden. Can treat with insecticidal soap, but if the plant is damaged beyond repair, simply pull it from the bed and discard. Emerge in 10 to 14 days. Rub seed with nail file to speed germination (allows moisture to enter seed).

2650 Richville Dr SE Massillon, OH Master Gardener Volunteers of Stark County Sunflowers Attract birds and bees. THINK NATIVE! Adds beauty. Compass Plant

2650 Richville Dr SE Massillon, OH Master Gardener Volunteers of Stark County Questions? Garden Information Line Tuesdays 9 till noon during growing season. Call or stop by: x 113 or 114 OSU Extension 2650 Richville Drive SE, Suite 100 Massillon, Ohio x 116 Stark County Park District Exploration Gateway – th St NW Canton, Ohio or

2650 Richville Dr SE Massillon, OH Master Gardener Volunteers of Stark County SPRING PLANT SALE Stark Parks – 5/14 - 9a to 1p Here at Exploration Gateway MASTER GARDENER VOLUNTEERS SC Fairgrounds - 5/14 - 8a to12n WORKING GARDENS Weekends in May (F 10a-6, Sa 10a-4p)