Vegetable Gardening

Plot Preparation

Level groundFull Sun10’ X 10’ is fineWork soil when dry enough

Remove sod Break up and turn the soil Add compostAdd other nutrients

Plan your space

• Each vegetable needs space– Look up requirements on seed packet or web– Select smaller varieties if you have a small garden

• Plan to rotate your crops• Tall plants on the north so they don’t shade• Trellis to save space

Decide what to Grow

• What vegetables do you like- make a list• Select varieties that ripen within 100 days• Map out your space and the space required by

each crop. • If you have a small garden use bush varieties,

trellising, dwarf varieties..Etc

Schedule your planting

• Cool season plants go in spring and fall – Onions, potatoes, cole crops, peas, lettuce,

carrots, radish, turnips

• warm season plants need warm soil– Beans , corn, cucumbers, eggplant , melon,

peppers, pumpkin, squash , tomatoes

Seeds or Transplants?

• Plants that are usually direct seeded:– Beans, beets, carrots, chard, corn , lettuce,

melons, peas, pumpkins, squash, turnips

• Plants usually grown from transplants:– Eggplant , peppers, Tomatoes, Broccoli, cabbage

cauliflower

• Either way:– Squash, cucumbers

Where to buy seeds

• Seeds are available in many stores and catalogs. If you buy them at the grocery store look to see if they are marked for 2010.

• If the seeds are VERY cheap they are left over from past years

• Good catalogs include: Fedco seed, Johnnys seed, Burpee, High Mown, Park seed, Jung, Thompson and Morgan

Transplants

• Try to control yourself and get your transplants just a few days before you will be planting them.

• They should look healthy and vigorous• Acclimate the seedlings before transplanting • OR start your own transplants

Watering

• Water when there has not been enough rain• Water at the base of the plants not over head• Look to see that the water has gone down to

the roots

Weeding

• Weeds are any plants that are not in the right place

• Weeds can compete with your garden vegetables for nutrients, water and light

• Conserves moisture • Fewer weeds• Can add organic

material to soil• Keeps crops cleaner• Keeps knees cleaner

• Can be a good home for slugs and voles

• If plastic, it can be expensive and a garbage problem

• Know C:N ratio if organic

• Can have weed seeds

Mulch

Pests

• In a small garden hand picking can keep the insect pests in check.

• If you have deer or bunnies you probably need a fence

Harvesting

• Pick your vegetables when they are at their peak flavor

• Picking beans and peas will encourage the plants to produce more.