1. Vegetable Gardening

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

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

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

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

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

9. Block (bed) gardening

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

13. 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 days)

14. 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

16. 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

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

18. Intercropping

19. Succession planting

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

22. Crop rotation

24. 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

26. Companion planting for pest control

27. Beneficial insects

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

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

30. 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

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

32. Vegetable garden cultivation
Watering
Fertilizing
Weed control
Mulching
Pests

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

34. 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)

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

36. 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

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

39. Training plants

40. Cages

41. Home gardening resources
NCSU Information leaflets