garden prep/planting

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GARDENING

PREPARATION, PLANTING, CARE

Owen Miller

Master Gardener

Weston County Extension Service

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SEEDBED

LOOSE GRANULAR STRUCTURE FREE OF CLODS, OLD STEMS, ETC.

OVERWORKING DESTROYS STRUCTURE

WORKING TOO WET DESTROYS STRUCTURE

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FERTILIZATION

POUNDS NUTRIENT/1000 FT2

PRIMARY CONCERN Nitrogen (N) Phosphorus (P)

FERTILIZER BAG LABEL Percentages of N, P, & Potassium (K)

25-5-510-10-10

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FERTILIZER CALCULATIONRecommendation: N – 2.4 lb./1000 sq.

ft.Garden Size: 20’ X 30’Fertilizer Used: 25-5-5 (N-P-K)100% / 25% = 4 lbs. fert. for a lb. of N2.4 lbs. N needed X 4 lbs. fert. = 9.6

lbs. fert. per 1000 sq. ft.20’ X 30’ = 600 sq. ft. in garden

600 / 1000 = 0.6 1000s

0.6 1000s X 9.6 lbs. fert. per 1000 sq. ft. = 5.76 lbs. fert. (6 lbs.)

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FERTILIZER CALCULATION (cont.)

Same recommendationSame gardenFertilizer used: 10-10-10100% / 10% = 10 lbs. fert. for a lb. of N2.4 lbs. N needed X 10 lbs. fert. = 24

lbs. fert. per 1000 sq. ft.0.6 1000s X 24 lbs. fert. per 1000 sq.

ft. = 14.4 lbs. fert. (14½ lbs.)

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FERTILIZER SAMPLE PROBLEM

Garden size: 25’ X 50’Fertilizer recommendation: 4.3 lb N

per 1000 sq. ft.Fertilizer purchased: 20-8-5Calculate how much to apply to your

garden.

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FERTILIZER SAMPLE PROBLEM SOLUTION

25 ft. X 50 ft. = 1250 sq. ft.1250 sq. ft. / 1000 = 1.25 1000s of sq. ft.100% / 20% = 5 lbs. of fert. for 1 lb. of N4.3 lb. N recommended X 5 lb. fert. for a

lb. of N = 21.5 lb. fert. per 1000 sq. ft.21.5 lb. fert. for 1000 sq. ft. X 1.25 1000s

of sq. ft. = 26.875 (27) lb. fert. needed for the garden

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TIMING

NEWCASTLE GROWING SEASON - 101-136 days

PLANT WHEN GROUND IS WARM Cool seasons earlier

Radishes, carrots, beans, potatoes, onions, peas, etc.

Warm seasons later - warm nightsSquash, pumpkins, melons, etc.

LENGTHEN SEASON W/ INDOOR OR COLD FRAME PLANTING

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WHAT TO PLANT

HARDINESS ZONE 3b-4a

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USDA PLANT HARDINESS ZONES

UNITED STATES

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USDA PLANT HARDINESS ZONES

WYOMING

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WHAT TO PLANT (cont.)

DISEASE AND INSECT RESISTANCE Tomato

V - Verticillium wilt resistantF - Fusarium wilt resistantN - Nematode resistantT - Tobacco mosaic virus resistant

PRECIPITATION 14”ELEVATION 5000’

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SEED QUALITY

USE NEW SEED Store 2-3 years in refrigerator

HIGH QUALITY SEED, WELL KNOWN SUPPLIER

PLANTING DEPTH

SMALL SEED - SHALLOW

LARGE SEED - DEEPER

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GERMINATION

REQUIRES:ADEQUATE MOISTURESUFFICIENT TEMPERATUREOXYGEN

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WATERING

WATER AT SEEDINGLIGHTLY & OFTEN UNTIL SEEDLINGS EMERGEAFTER ESTABLISHMENT

Less often, longer periods Check soil 1”-2” below surface

OVERWATERING Yellowing, root rot, fungus

UNDERWATERING Stunting, wilting, leaf burning, small or shriveled

fruit

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THINNING

NECESSARY FOR SMALL SEEDED CROPS WHICH CANNOT BE PLANTED FAR ENOUGH APART

AFTER SEEDLINGS WELL ESTABLISHED, LEAVE STRONGEST

USE THINNED PLANTS IN SALADS, ETC.

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REPLANTING, STAGGERING

SHORT SEASON CROPS CAN BE REPLANTED SEVERAL TIMES Radish

STAGGER PLANTING TO EXTEND HARVEST Plant more every 7-10 days Lettuce, Corn

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WEEDING

WHY? Competition for water & nutrients Prevents weeds from going to seed or

reproducing

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PLANTING BALLED ROOTS

CAREFULLY CHOOSE SITE Mature size Roots beyond fall line Sidewalks, driveways, sewers, buildings,

etc. Water available Soil

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PLANTING BALLED ROOTS (cont.)

MAY BUILD WATER WELLSTAKE IF NEEDED 1ST AND 2ND YEARDEEP WATER EACH SUMMER MONTH

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PLANTING BARE ROOTS

KEEP ROOTS DAMPSAME HOLE PROPORTIONS AS

BALLED ROOTSMALL MOUND OF SOIL IN CENTERPLACE TREE AND SPREAD ROOTSFILL & COMPLETE AS BALLED ROOT

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PRUNING FRUIT TREES

PROVIDES ROOM, LIGHT, ENERGY FOR FRUIT

LARGER, HEATHIER FRUITVERTICAL

Ladder 8”-12” apart

RADIAL Wheel spokes

MAIN LEADER TO SIDE BRANCH WHEN DESIRED HEIGHT IS REACHED

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PRUNING FRUIT TREES (cont.)

CROTCHES 45° OR MOREREMOVE ALL DEAD, INJURED, DYINGELIMINATE DOUBLE TOPSREMOVE RUBBING, CROSS-OVERSDO NOT REMOVE MORE THAN -

LIVE WOOD

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Inside view of pruning cuts that removed collar (flush cut) left, and proper cut, right.

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