Summer Vegetable Gardening Love ...
Transcript of Summer Vegetable Gardening Love ...
Summer Vegetable Gardening
Cynthia Sandberg Love Apple Farms
www.LoveAppleFarms.com
Class Introduction
Please keep your talking to a minimum, allowing you and your neighbors to get the full value of the class.
Please raise your hand if you have any questions, but try to hold them for later - have faith in my agenda.
Add your name/email to Links List if you'd like to receive a PDF of this presentation as well as links to resources discussed in class. What this class doesn't cover:
● Every possible topic a gardener should know.● Winter vegetable growing.● Every possible method of organic gardening.
Class Agenda
● Soil fertility● Starting seeds vs. buying transplants● Direct sowing seeds in garden● Bed Amending● Individual fruits and veg● Irrigation● Pests● Flat sowing● Germination instructions● Supplemental fertility and next steps
Start from the Ground Up
Soil pH
X● Rainfall causes soil acidity ● Add lime to raise pH● Add sulfur to lower pH
Importance of N-P-K: Macronutrients● Nitrogen (N): Green growth
● Phosphorus (P): Root growth and flower/fruit production
● Potassium (K): Overall plant health
Micronutrients● Calcium (Ca), Magnesium (Mg), Molybdenum (Mo), Boron (B),
Copper (Cu), Manganese (Mn), Zinc (Zn), Chlorine (Cl), Iron (Fe), Nickel (Ni)
● Needed in trace quantities, too much can hurt plants more than it
can help ● Regular additions of organic matter usually meets micronutrient
needs
Purchase Good Top Soil If you Need to Fill New Beds
50/50BLEND
OF THESETWO
Mulch on Paths for Weed Suppression
Double-Digging Technique
Organic Amendments
●Feed your soil like you feed your body●Cannot "Miracle Gro" soil into good health●Vegetables are fast-growing plants●Need more fertilizer than perennials because you
are harvesting (taking away nutrients)●Always amend beds before planting ●Soil test will reveal deficiencies and make amendment recommendations
X
Every Garden Should Have a Compost Pile and Worm Bin
Bed Amending RecipeFor a 50 square foot bed:
●1 wheel barrow homemade compost OR 1 bag Gardner & Bloome Harvest Supreme●2 quarts G&B 4-6-3 Tomato, Veg, & Herb Fertilizer●1 quart pure Worm Castings
Note: Double up if your soil is poor
Bed Amending Step by Step
●Sprinkle all amendments evenly on
top ●Turn over soil using a spade fork
●Rake smooth
Our new favorite "Magic Bullet"Mykos Mycorrhizal Fungi
● Sprinkle on root ball● Beneficial "live" fungus that attaches and
spreads with rootzone● Keeps plant from being infected by soil borne
diseases● Helps plants "communicate" to each other when
under insect attack and produce enzymes to ward off attackers
● Helps plants use water more efficiently
Starting from Seed vs. Buying StartsAdvantages:● More variety ● Less expensive
Disadvantages:● More work● Riskier ● Must plan ahead
Sowing Requirements for Summer Veg
Must Direct Sow Either Must TransplantCarrot Greens: Lettuce,
Mustards, Arugula, Chard, Kale
Tomato
Beet Squash, Zucchini, Melon, Cucumber, Pumpkin
Pepper
Radish Onion, Leek EggplantTurnip Corn, Bean Basil
Direct Sowing Root Vegetables
● Sow seeds 1 per square inch● Cover with 1/4 inch of soil● Don't let surface dry out● Use floating row cover● Use thinnings as flavorful,
unusual garnish
STRETCH BREAK!
Solanaceae Family: Nightshades
Tomato● Start from seed in Feb or
March or buy transplants instead.
● 2' - 3' spacing● Lots of fertilizer● Trellis with tomato cage● More in Tomato Masters
classes
Pepper & Eggplant● Start from seed in Jan or Feb or buy
transplants instead.● Plant outside late April or May● 18" spacing● 2' - 4' tall● Trellis with small tomato cages,
bamboo, or trellis netting
Growing Potatoes In Pots
● Buy certified organic seed potatoes
● Ronniger's Catalog○ www.potatogarden.com
● "Chitting" seed potatoes: Lay out seed potatoes by sunny window until the sprouts are 1" long
● Cut seed potatoes into smaller pieces with at least 2 "eyes" each
● Let cuts callous over for a day or two before planting
Growing Potatoes In Pots● Use new 15 gallon pots, or sterilize used 15 gallon pots with bleach
solution ● Use sterile (new) potting soil ● Fill pots with 2" soil, add 4 - 5 potato pieces, cover with 2" soil
Growing Potatoes in Pots● Once shoots reach 8 - 10",
cover up to top leaves with soil● Continue until they grow out
of the pot● Keep watered● Once potato flowers and dies,
potatoes are ready to harvest● Potatoes require full sun
Pole Beans
● Many different varieties and colors○ Green○ Yellow○ Red Long○ Rattlensnake○ Purple
● Requires tall trellis○ Bean Tepee○ 7' tomato cages○ String trellis
● 6" spacing● Edible flowers● Longer season
Bush Bean● 1' - 2' tall● Green, Yellow, Purple ● 8" - 10" spacing ● Small tomato cage, trellis netting, or
bamboo● Edible flower ● Shorter season
Lima Bean● Bush Bean● Shelling bean● Harvest fresh all season● Allow bean to dry on plant and then
store for winter● Edible flower
Fava Bean● 4' - 5' tall ● Cover crop● Edible leaves - harvest tops
to encourage branching● Edible flower ● 1 foot spacing ● Individual bean must be
shelled too
Let’s talk about Cucerbits
Melons & Summer Squash Cucumbers & Winter Squash
Melons● Vining plant ● 1' spacing
Issues:● Wet soil contacting
skin makes it susceptible to pests
● Don't like cold soil/low nighttime temps
Solution...
● Wait to plant until May● Lay clear or black UV plastic over amended bed● Cut "X"s in plastic to plant through● Must have drip irrigation under plastic
June 24, 2010
July 25, 2010
'Hearts of Gold' Cantaloupe
'Eden's Gem' Muskmelon
Sugar Baby Red WatermelonItalian Honeydew
Charentais Melon
Cucumber● Use trellis to grow cukes on
(plant lettuce or spinach in their shade)
● Lemon (Yellow), American Slicing (Green), and Pickling (Miniature White and Green)
● 8" spacing
Summer Squash vs. Winter Squash● Large, bushy plants● 2' spacing● Grow very quickly - harvest
often during season's peak● Soft, edible skin● Eaten fresh
● Large, long vining plants● 1' spacing● Harvest entire crop at end of
season, when tendril closest to fruit has dried up
● Hard skin● Cured and stored, eaten in
fall/winter
Summer Squash
Patty Pan, Zucchini, Yellow Crookneck, Romanesco Zucchini
Trombetta Summer Squash
Winter Squash
Waltham Butternut Jarrahdale Red Kuri
Mini Pumpkin"Jack Be Little"
Spaghetti
Blue HubbardDelicata
Ornamental Winter SquashTurks Turban Speckled Swan Gourd
Corn● Miniature Rainbow Popcorn (7')● Bi-color (5')● Yellow for cornmeal (7') ● Hybrid varieties will yield more● 1' spacing● Must sow/plant in blocks 4' x 5' for
adequate pollination
Okra● Heat loving ● 5' tall● 2' spacing● Beautiful plant
SUMMER GREENS:Arugula, Mustards, Bordeaux Spinach
● Transplant in bunches of 2 - 3 plants
● Plant bunches 6" apart● Edible flower
LUNCH BREAK
Visit Ivy’s cute shopsVisit farm storeBell will ring when we start back up
Irrigation ● Drip irrigation is more efficient than hand watering, soaker hoses,
or sprinklers● Easy to install from your spigot● Water early in morning● Don't rely on a timer - check each bed daily
Gopher Trapping - Not Wire!
Deer Fencing
● Necessary to keep them out● 8' tall● Attach to T-posts
Organic Pest Control● Be an observant gardener - inspect leaves on regular basis● Act on an issue immediately with appropriate controls before the
population gets out of control● Organic controls must be reapplied● Remove overpopulated plants and dispose of responsibly● Use preventative methods
○ Proper spacing in between plants for airflow○ Biodiversity○ Proper watering with irrigation○ Weed control
Aphids● Green, Black, Red, Grey● Watch for curling leaves● Organic pesticide: Gardner & Bloome Insect
Control Spray, Pyrethrin, Safer Soap● Organic preventative: Garlic spray● Beneficial bugs: Lacewing, Ladybug● Give infested leaves to chickens
Squash Bug● Attack all cucerbits, not
just squash● Smell like bananas when
squished● Hand pick early in season
before population explodes
Cucumber Beetle● Striped or spotted● Carry diseases ● Pyrethrins● Hand pick ● Attracted to yellow flowers● Floating row cover before
flowering
Slugs, Snails, Earwigs, and Pillbugs
● Sluggo● Diatomaceous Earth● Hand pick late at night with
flashlight
Leaf Miner
● Beets and chard are most susceptible● Remove affected leaves and feed to chickens or seal in bag and
dispose● Rub out egg sacs● Trichogramma wasps
Beneficial Bugs Lacewing Soldier Beetle
Lacewing larva and aphid Soldier beetle larva
Beneficial Bugs
Parasitic Wasp (Trichogramma)
Spider
Beneficial Bugs
Ladybird beetle
Honeybee & Bumblebee
Ladybird beetle Larvae
Flat Sowing Instructions
● Sow 3 cells of each type of vegetable/fruit = 16 per flat ● Don't poke seeds into soil or make a divot● Only use as many seeds as what is written on seed canister/packet● Space seeds apart evenly● Half labels, pencil only, push label in so it contacts bottom of flat● Pass in circle, clockwise● Seeds will go around several times● Only have 1 container open at a time● Put lids back on tight after selecting
Seedling Tray Care● Flat care instructions will be in links list email ● Water flat 3 times and cover with plastic● Optimal temperature: 75 degrees ● Remove plastic cover once 1 seed sprouts● Regulate heat mat with instant-read meat thermometer or soil probe
with thermostat● Heat mat might not need to be on during day
Seedling Tray Care● Bring sprouted 6-packs outside in morning and inside at night● Once sprouted, do not overwater to avoid rot● Transplant into 4" containers once seedlings show several sets of
leaves, and outside in light all day and night.● Transplant deeper than they were before once you put out in a bed.● Use Sunshine Mix or Fox Farms for potting up● Fertilize seedlings with worm casting tea
Supplemental Fertilizing● Plants will need additional fertilizer, particularly if yellowing● Best fertilizer: Worm Casting Tea● Recipe: Big handful of castings in a 5 gallon bucket of water● Let sit for two days● Stir and dilute X2● Strain through cheesecloth or FRC or strainer and apply to plants
with a watering can or garden sprayer● Do twice a month during growing season● WCT has been shown to: increase fertility, reduce incidence of
disease and reduce bug stress
Annual Spring Tomato Plant Sale - Also with Peppers & Eggplants!March 19 to end of May
Weds & WeekendsLocation: Ivy's Porch in Scotts Valley
5311 Scotts Valley Drive, Scotts Valley
Amendments for Sale Today
- G&B Fertilizers- G&B Planting Mix & Raised Bed Mix- G&B Potting Soil- Worm Castings- Organic Pesticides - Set-ups: 32 pots and one tray-Jams & Pickles -Seedling Heat Mat