1. Planning Your Vegetable Garden Updated 1/31/2010

2. Elements Location Location Design Design Record Keeping Record Keeping

3. Location Northern or Southern exposure Northern or Southern exposure Six hours of sun a day for sun loving vegetables – tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, melons, squash, corn Six hours of sun a day for sun loving vegetables – tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, melons, squash, corn Summer shade for cool season crops – lettuce, spinach, chard Summer shade for cool season crops – lettuce, spinach, chard Level plot to prevent runoff and with good vertical drainage Level plot to prevent runoff and with good vertical drainage Consider access to water & rain harvest collection sources Consider access to water & rain harvest collection sources

4. Questions ???

5. Design Layout Layout Companion Planting Companion Planting Crop Rotation Crop Rotation

6. Layout Size Size What to grow What to grow Style Style Fencing Fencing

7. Size Interest and available time Interest and available time Harvest yield desired Harvest yield desired –John Jeavon’s book “How to Grow More Vegetables” –100 square foot rule

8. What to Grow What do your family and friends eat? What do your family and friends eat? Try something new Try something new

9. Style Consider Access, Workability, and Space Rows Rows Square/rectangular plots Square/rectangular plots French intensive French intensive Pulled beds Pulled beds Raised beds Raised beds Trellis Trellis Containers Containers

10. Rows Single rows of crops separated by wide bands of bare soil Single rows of crops separated by wide bands of bare soil Best for large plots Best for large plots

11. Square/Rectangular Plots Square foot gardening 4’ square, divided into 1’ squares by staked and string 4’ square, divided into 1’ squares by staked and string Easily accessible from all sides Easily accessible from all sides Planting is based on size of mature plants Planting is based on size of mature plants Cuts down on watering and weeding Cuts down on watering and weeding Mel Bartholomew’s book “Square Foot Gardening ” Mel Bartholomew’s book “Square Foot Gardening ”

13. French Intensive Reduces watering & weeding Uses companion plants Uses space more efficiently

14. Pulled Beds Create a deeper bed without building an enclosure

15. If soil has poor drainage that is too difficult to remedy If soil has poor drainage that is too difficult to remedy If garden soil is very heavy (high clay content) or very sandy If garden soil is very heavy (high clay content) or very sandy If no space available except rooftop or patio If no space available except rooftop or patio Raised Beds

16. Trellis Control trailing plants Grow more in less space

17. 5 gallons or more 5 gallons or more Vining veggies: cucumbers, tomatoes, winter squashes, beans Vining veggies: cucumbers, tomatoes, winter squashes, beans Lettuce and other greens Lettuce and other greens Containers

18. More about irrigation at another seminar.....

20. Raised Bed Materials Wood Wood Blocks Blocks Stone Stone Aluminum panels Aluminum panels Bed lining Bed lining

21. Wood

22. Blocks

23. Stone

24. Aluminum

25. Deer Fencing

26. Rabbit Fencing

27. Javelina Fencing

28. Beautifying Fences

29. Drawing the Plot Plan Advantages Save money by not purchasing excess seeds or transplants Save money by not purchasing excess seeds or transplants Ensure continuous harvest (succession planting) Ensure continuous harvest (succession planting)

30. How to Draw the Plan Measure your garden space Measure your garden space Trace city or county lot map Trace city or county lot map Plot it on graph paper Plot it on graph paper Sketch circles for individual transplants and rows for directly sown seeds Sketch circles for individual transplants and rows for directly sown seeds Strategically place taller vegetables Strategically place taller vegetables Sketch in the cool-season varieties Sketch in the cool-season varieties Sketch a follow-up design with warm-season crops Sketch a follow-up design with warm-season crops

31. Cool Season Varieties Germinate and grow at lower temperatures & are not injured by light frost Germinate and grow at lower temperatures & are not injured by light frost Generally perform poorly during periods of extended hot temperatures Generally perform poorly during periods of extended hot temperatures –Bolt and produce flowers –Taste bitter –Peas stop producing pods

32. Cool Season Veggies AsparagusGarlicPea Broad beanHorseradishRadish BroccoliKaleRhubarb Brussels sproutsKohlrabiShallot CabbageLeekSpinach CollardOnionTurnip Plants that require cool weather to become established but grow into the warm season: Onions and Potatoes

33. Warm Season Varieties Do not grow well at temperatures below 50 ° F Do not grow well at temperatures below 50 ° F Are killed by frost Are killed by frost Will often rot if planted in cold, damp soil Will often rot if planted in cold, damp soil Will have retarded growth & delayed fruit set with cool weather Will have retarded growth & delayed fruit set with cool weather

34. Warm Season Veggies CucumberPumpkin EggplantSnap bean Lima beanSquash MelonsSweet corn New Zealand spinachSweet potato PepperTomato

35. Wishy-Washy Crops Injured by frost Injured by frost Intolerant of temperatures above 70 ° F Intolerant of temperatures above 70 ° F BeetChardMustard CarrotChinese cabbageParsnip CauliflowerEndivePotato CeleryLettuceSwiss chard

36. Companion Planting Provide plants that assist in the growth of others by: –Attracting beneficial insects –Repelling harmful insects –Providing nutrients (heavy feeders vs. light feeders) –Providing shade and/or support

37. Companion Planting Chart (sample) Plant NameCompanion ToBenefitIncompatible With Allium – flowering onions, chives, garlic, leeks, onions, shallots Roses, carrots, tomatoes, fruit trees, other vegetables Repel aphids, weevils, carrot flies, moles, fruit tree borers Control rust flies and some nematodes Protect against red spiders Protects roses from black spot, mildew, aphids Peas and beans

38. Crop Rotation Avoid the build-up of pathogens & pests Avoid the build-up of pathogens & pests Balance soil fertility Balance soil fertility –Replenish nitrogen by planting cover crops Improve soil structure Improve soil structure –Alternate deep-rooted plants and shallow- rooted plants

39. Crop Rotation Chart –1 st YEAR Bed 1Bed 2Bed 3Bed 4 Beans Celery Corn Eggplant Onions Peas Peppers Squash Tomatoes Broccoli Brussels sprouts Cabbage Cauliflower Lettuce Sweet basil Beets Carrots Potatoes * Radishes Turnips Dill Spread/till in compost or “green manure”. Plant a cover crop. See Yankee Gardener Glossary. * Do not plant potatoes where tomatoes, peppers, or eggplants were growing previously.

40. Crop Rotation Chart – 2 nd YEAR Bed 1Bed 2Bed 3Bed 4 Spread/till in compost or “green manure”. Plant a cover crop. See Yankee Gardener Glossary. Beans Celery Corn Eggplant Onions Peas Peppers Squash Tomatoes Broccoli Brussels sprouts Cabbage Cauliflower Lettuce Sweet basil Beets Carrots Potatoes * Radishes Turnips Dill

41. Crop Rotation Chart – 3 rd YEAR Bed 1Bed 2Bed 3Bed 4 Beets Carrots Potatoes * Radishes Turnips Dill Spread/till in compost or “green manure”. Plant a cover crop. See Yankee Gardener Glossary. Beans Celery Corn Eggplant Onions Peas Peppers Squash Tomatoes Broccoli Brussels sprouts Cabbage Cauliflower Lettuce Sweet basil

42. Crop Rotation Chart – 4 th Year Bed 1Bed 2Bed 3 Bed 4 Broccoli Brussels sprouts Cabbage Cauliflower Lettuce Sweet basil Beets Carrots Potatoes * Radishes Turnips Dill Spread/till in compost or “green manure”. Plant a cover crop. See Yankee Gardener Glossary. Beans Celery Corn Eggplant Onions Peas Peppers Squash Tomatoes

43. Questions ???

44. Record Keeping WHY??? To learn more about habits & needs of plants & your garden To learn more about habits & needs of plants & your garden To have record of what, where, and how you plant and the results of your efforts To have record of what, where, and how you plant and the results of your efforts To create a keepsake for your family or future land owner To create a keepsake for your family or future land owner

45. What to Record Crop rotation Varieties that do well for you Particular problems Rainfall & Temperature Monthly water usage Growing results Schedules Pests & critters – helpful & harmful Weeds

46. What You Did When Soil preparation Soil preparation Planting Planting Weeding Weeding Feeding Feeding

47. Schedules – What Happened When Bloom time Bloom time Date crops ripened Date crops ripened Arrival of pests Arrival of pests

48. Kinds of Journals BinderScrapbook Photo album Purchased journal Daily planner Diary Index box Shoebox Large envelope Notebook Composition Book Water-proof forestry journal Software On-line garden journals

49. Waterproof Journals "Rite in the Rain" ® Field-Flex Notebooks - paper sheds water http://www.forestry-suppliers.com

50. Free Garden Journal Download from: http://www.arbico- organics.com/category/garden-journal

51. Questions ???