Planning, Site Preparation for Vegetable Production

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Planning, Site Preparation for Vegetable
Production

• By
• Dr. Robert Tomesh
• Etal.

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Starting a Vegetable GardenWhere Do I Start?

• Planning the GardenA Family Affair
• Which vegetables?
• Plant the vegetable types that you and your
  family like!!
• How many varieties, how many?
• Selecting and preparing the garden site
• Sources of seed and transplants

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Planning the GardenA Family Affair

• Begin a list of vegetable varieties which your
  family likes fresh
• A similar list of vegetables which they like
  canned, dried and frozen
• Family time commitment to the project, from seed
  starting, through soil preparation, planting,
  weeding and harvest

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Heavy Yielders(per 100 feet of row)

• Tomato
• At 4 /sq. ft and purchase value of 1.00/
  4.00/sq. ft.
• Carrots
• Cauliflower
• Cucumbers
• Cabbage

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Medium Yielders(per 100 feet of row)

• Beets
• Onions
• Radishes
• Sweet Potato
• Turnip

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Light Yielders(per 100 feet of row)

• Asparagus
• Broccoli
• Beans
• Corn (.25/sq. ft.)
• Peas
• Potatoes
• Spinach
• Squash

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Garden Size

• Start small, about 20 X 20 400 sq. ft.
• Expand/reduce the size based upon last years
  growing pains.
• Need more space when perennials (asparagus,
  rhubarb, etc.) and fruit crops are involved
  (Strawberries, raspberries, bush fruit and fruit
  trees).

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Space Saving Ideas

• Inter-planting (between broccoli plants)
• Plant short maturing vegetables like radish,
  spinach, early beets, peas, leaf lettuce
• Succession planting
• Plant another vegetable after one is
  harvestedlate season vegetables

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Mapping the Garden Plot(on paper)

• Can help to determine the size of the garden
• Use quarter inch graph paper
• Determine planting dates
• Plant spacing (packet)
• Row spacing (2-3 ft.)

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Mapping the Garden Plot(plant grouping)

• Perennial vegetables
• Asparagus, rhubarb, berries
• Group by vegetable familieslegume, cole,
  cucurbit, tomato
• Crop rotation for future years--pest and
  fertility management

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Mapping the Garden Plot(seed and transplant
purchases)

• The amount of seeds to purchase, share with a
  friend or garden group.
• Starting transplants, amount needed share with a
  friend or garden group.
• Purchase transplants, greater variety of
  cultivars

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Choosing the Best Location

• Full sun
• Clearance from trees
• Proximity to the house
• Water supply
• Good soil
• Water drainage
• Raised bed

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Adequate Sunlight

• Vegetables grow and yield best in full sun
• Soil warms sooner
• Increased photosynthesis
• Increased flowering
• Larger storage units
• Sweeter taste

D. Alfuth
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Clearance from Woody Plants

• Besides shade, tree roots can steal moisture and
  nutrients
• Distance from trees
• Trench annually to severe invasive roots
• Avoid walnut trees
• Toxins from present and past

L. Jull
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Sod to Garden

• BEGIN SITE PREPARATION THE YEAR BEFORE PLANTING
• Remove turf grass with a sod cutter
• Cover with black plastic or old carpet for 6
  weeks
• Use herbicide like round-up

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Preparing the Soil

• Be sure to add organic matter nowand have a plan
  for future years
• Loosen soil deeper for better root penetration,
  8-12

D. Alfuth
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Soil Tilth

• Soil provides nutrients, air, water and support
• Poor tilth hard and crusty
• Good tilth loose, easy to work, water drainage,
  root zone
• Improve tilth add organic mater

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Soil Tillage

• Beginning the deep soil improvement with compost
  and deep digging.
• Consider doing this every 3 to 5 years.
• Use a combination of a fallow area with a season
  of green manure crops tilled-in.

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Improving Soil Tilth

• Organic materials
• Compost (20 cubic feet per 100 sq. ft.
• Leaves (fall 3 4 bushels per 100 sq. ft.)
• Hay (1 bale per 100 sq. ft.)
• Green manure (beans, buckwheat, oats, annual
  ryegrass

• Green manure
• Beans, soybeans
• Buckwheat
• Grasses
• Oats -1 to 1 ½ pound per 100 sq. ft. Aug. to
  Sept.
• Annual ryegrass ½ pound early Sept.

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_at_ 3 years without amendments
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_at_ 3 years with amendments
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Soil testing is the only method of
knowing nutrient need!

• WHAT SOIL TESTING TELLS US
• Plant available P and K
• Crop P and K need
• Soil organic matter
• Soil pH and lime requirement

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Fertilizing the Soil

• Soil Test
• Organic matter
• Soil pH
• Note P and K if in low or high range (still need
  to add P and K as starter fertilizer)

• Fertilizer Application
• Starter application
• 3 pounds/100 sq. ft., use a complete fertilizer
• Side dress application
• Granular about 6 to 12 inches from row
• Soluble (dissolved in water) weekly

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Raised Rows/Beds

• Water drainage
• Heating of soil in root zone
• Less compaction
• Mulch (organic or synthetic) stabilizes soil
• Requires extra effort

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Develop a Plan for Soil Building

• Read collected resources
• Accumulate soil amendments
• I.D. source of O.M.
• Prepare a management plan using O.M. sources

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NOW YOU ARE READY TO PLANT THE GARDEN
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When to Plantwhat?

• Climate in your area
• Frost free period
• Cold tolerance of vegetable
• Consider soil warming tactics, row covers and
  other protection devices

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Last Killing Spring Frost
Some vegetables tolerate frost Some vegetables
are killed by frost
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First Killing Fall Frost
Some vegetables will tolerate frost
temperatures Some vegetables are killed by frost
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Vegetable Hardiness

• Hardy Collards, kale, leaf lettuce, mustards,
  onion, pea, potato, radish spinach, turnip
• Tender Plant after frost Bean, sweet corn,
  cucurbits, tomatoes, peppers,
• Warm loving Cucurbits, most Solanaceous plants,

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• Seeds
• Less expensive
• Disease resistant selections
• Transplants
• More expensive
• Extra care
• Jump on the season

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Planting Seeds

• Soak in water before planting
• Cover (proper depth) and firm the soil
• Plant shallow???
• Plant under plastic
• Space properly in the row
• Thin while young

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Transplants

• Jump on the season
• Set out on a cloudy day or in the evening
• Handle with care
• Dig hole, add water, set transplant, add soil,
  water, and firm soil depression

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Protecting Plants

• Set starter fertilizer 2 inches from row
• Protect from wind and sun basket, boards, wall
  of water, covers
• Black plastic mulch
• Floating row covers
• Cold frame

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Thank You

• P.S.---The next step is caring for the garden
  watering, weeding, fertilizing, trellising,
  daily care and then you can enjoy the harvest.