vegetable gardening, hbr
TRANSCRIPT
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by Heidi Rader
Agriculture and HorticultureAgent for University of AlaskaFairbanks and Tanana Chiefs
Conference
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Home-grown veggies are more deliciousand healthier for you than storebought, because they are fresher
Working in the garden makes for funand relaxing exercise, which is goodfor your body and mind
Organic veggies are free frompesticides, and some studies* showthey are more nutritious
By growing close to home, you savethe fuel that would otherwise be usedto ship veggies all the way fromCalifornia and beyond, reducing theamount of greenhouse gasses in the air
Having a garden can be cheaper thanbuying veggies at the store, if youknow what youre doing!
You can grow delicious and uniquevarieties that are hard to find, like
this Italian romanesco
Why Grow Your Own Vegetables?
*See the links in this lesson for more info
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But is it Really Economical?
Theres no doubtthat gardening
can get expensive,but you can keepyour costs down
by:
1. Making (and sticking to!) a budget2. Using local sources of nutrients, like compost,
fish waste and manure
3. Planning your garden carefully, so you have veggiesto eat every week of the summer and donthave to buy as much
4. Canning, freezing or drying garden produce to eat
during the winter*5. Learning about seed saving*Free publications on foodpreservation are available from UAFCES. See the links in this lesson.
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Think Before
You Plant! Decide which kinds of
plants you want to grow
All annuals, all perennialsor a mixture? Find a good garden site
Select a few basic tools Prepare your soil
Plan out planting times
for each differentspecies
Direct seeding: afterthe soil warms up
Transplants: startearly inside
Mmm,I wantveggies!Wait-
is thiseven a good spotfor a garden?
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A Poor Site
Competitionfor nutrients
Competition for light
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What Makes a Good Site?
Full sun More hours of light means
more photosynthesis
which means more growth!
A well-drained soil will: Warm up earlier in the spring Help plants develop big,
healthy root systems
Choose a site thatcan be fenced toprotect yourvegetables frommoose
Reasonably level is best, butavoid low land where cold airsettles in the spring and fall
Plant close to a water source!If you always have to haulheavy buckets longdistances, youre lesslikely to water well
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Raised Beds: A Solution for
Cold Soils and Poor Drainage
Step 1: Fill with:
A. Potting soil orB. a mix of:
1/3 top soil
1/3 sand or
coarse perlite
1/3 compost or
bark mulch
3. Water
drainsdown
4. Temperaturerises!
2. Thesehelp create
macropores
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Careful Planning = Good Results
Space: are you working with a5x5 foot square or 3 acres ofempty field?
Time: do you have hours of timeeach week, or barely a spare
moment? Budget: decide up front how
much you can afford to spend ona garden
Family preferences: plant thingsyour family loves to eat! If noone loves Brussels sprouts,skip them!
Produce use: will you mostly eatyour veggies fresh? Do you havea pressure canner, a food drier,or space to build a root cellar?
Amounts: check seed catalogs forestimated yields, and then adjustyour plantings to account forAlaskas colder temperatures
Son, its time we told you.There are some people in this
world who just dont like
Brussels sprouts.
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Planning Can Be Fun! The most important thing is to be creative! If you plan a garden
you love, you will be more likely to put in the work it takes tomake it great To get more produce from a small area, use succession planting* You can also try companion planting* to produce more
Rotate crops every season**-
In small gardens, crop rotationhelps manage soil fertility.Follow crops that are heavy N feeders (like corn tomatoes)
*See the links in Lesson 1 for moreinformation**See the links in this lesson for moreinformation
with light feeders like
greens and N-leaverslike peas and beans-
In larger gardens, itcan also help controlinsect pests and soil-
borne plant diseases.Wait at least threeyears before puttingthe same plant familyback in the same spot
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What if I Only Have a Small Space?
Need LOTSof space!
Need moderatespace
Good forsmall spaces
CornCucumber
MelonPotato
PumpkinTomato(unless
trellised)Winter Squash
Zucchini
Bush BeanBroccoli
Brussels sproutCauliflower
CabbageKalePepper
Bulb Onion
BasilBeet
CarrotChard
GreensGreen OnionLettuce
PeaSpinachRadishTurnip
Check out the optional files in Lesson 1 to learn aboutgrowing vegetables in Mini-Gardens,and use yield tables and spacingcharts (Chapter 7 in this lesson) to
see if your favorites fit in tiny spaces
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WhatsHappening Here?
Conclusion? Crops should have been reversed!
Bean plants
are being out-competed for sunlight andnutrients by the tallerspecies
planted on the right
and the left sides
Lesson: desirable crop species can act as competitors to otherdesired plants when placed in the wrong spot in a garden
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Good Garden Tools Make Your Work Easier: Shovel/spade for moving earth
Hoe for removing weeds (specialized hoes areavailable from Johnnys Seeds and others.See the links in this lesson)
Rake
Trowel for digging transplant holes
Other Broadfork to loosen soil
Bulb planter with a stick on the end Rototillers help prepare a fine seed bed,
where seeds have good contact with soilparticles and moisture, but they alsodamage soil structure, increasingcompaction over time
Johnnys
Johnnys
Johnnys
WWOOF
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To Till,
or Not
to Till...The early bird
doesnt always getthe worm: if you tillwhen its still too cold andwet, you will fail to improve
the seed bed while increasing soilcompactionWorking soil in the fall can help control
weeds, but will make winter erosion
worse unless you mulch wellSome cover crops must be tilled in the spring
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Soil Improvement: Remember to Add Organic Matter!
Im proves w ater holdingability, aeration and
nutrition o f site
Produ cts such as
Ver m icultie can be ofvalue in problem soilsas w ell.
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Seed Bed Preparation
Small-seeded plants needto be planted shallow,because small seeds
contain less energy tohelp the new plant reachthe surface. CheckChapter 7 for plantingdepth and spacing ofspecific crops.
Fine, loose soil has bettercontact with the seed,giving it more moisture andbetter access to nutrients.Optimum planting depth forvegetables is 3 times thewidthof the seed.
C t di d
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Result of competition from adjoining radish plant
Correct seeding
ensures good
growth, while over-seeding canresult in smaller, misshapen
vegetables. Some, like turnips,may not even produce a roundroot if planted too close, while
carrots tend to wrap aroundeach other when crowded.
Lackawanna County
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Only after the
ground warms up!In general, works wellfor vegetables in whichthe edible part is
either underground(root crops like carrotsand radishes) or a seed(grains and peas).
Exceptions includeonions, which havefragile roots but canbe transplanted very
carefully, and corn,which requires theextra time growinginside to mature inAlaska (its usually
direct-seeded in theLower 48)
Planted between
2 and 12 weeks beforethe ground warms up;transplanted when theyare 6-8
tall and have
2-4 true leaves (not
counting the cotyledons)Works well forvegetables in which theedible part is the leaf,
flower or fruit, becausethey benefit from extragrowing time and recoverwell from root damage
Exceptions include fast-growing baby
lettuces
and greens, planted tobe cut and regeneratetwo or three times.These do well whendirect seeded.
Lackawanna County
Do I
Direct Seed or
Transplant?
Kitchen Gardens
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If I Transplant, Will It Thrive?
YES! Yes, With Care Probably NOTBroccoli Eggplant CarrotCabbage Celery Bean
Cauliflower Squash Greens like MustardKale Cucumber TurnipPepper Onion PeaTomato PotatoCorn Beet
These crops should always be
transplanted in Alaska, due to
cold temperatures and short
seasons
Small and
misshapen
roots are
likely iftransplanted
(reduced
quality)
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Transplants
Can be planted 7 to 10 days earlier than direct seedestablishment.
Pinch out doubles of cabbage and broccoli, because theywill compete with each other and fail to form heads.
Its okay to leave doubles or triples of onions, becausethey will push each other apart as they grow.
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Transplant Selection:Pick stock plants that have w ell-form ed r oot system s and are fr ee
of insect and d iseases. Leave pro blems atthe n ursery!
Make certain roo ts that extend thro ughm edia are w hite w ith abundant fuzzy tips
(root hairs), and don t buy plants that ar eroot-bound because they may not recover
Virginia CES
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Transplant Shock and Starter Solutions
Base starter solution:-
2 table spoons high P
fertilizer
- 1 gallon water- Mix thoroughly andcontinue to do soduring use
- Apply one cup pertransplant
Expect the growth of your transplants to be delayed by aweek even under very good conditions, and water wellduring this establishment period. They may look like
theyre not doing much, but they are busy expanding theirroot systems into the new soil. Starter solutions help
transplants recover from shock and get back to growing!
Garden Voices
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A Gardeners Work is Never Done!
After planting:
Water
Fertilize again atmid-season
Remove weeds
beforethey makeseed
Harvest the fruits
of your labor! Extend your season
using row covers
and hoop houses
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Estimated Water Requirements Per Season
Crop Inches
Cabbage 14
17
Cantaloupe 16 20Carrot 12
16
Sweet corn 20
24
Onion 22
25
Pepper 25
30
Potato 20 25Spinach 10
15
Tomato 22 26+
Total water needed fromrainfall andirrigation. If itsraining a lot, irrigateless, but if thesummer is dry,irrigate more!
The Rule of Thumb is:
1 inch per week
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Drip (or Trickle) Irrigation: What and Why?
What: Plastic hoses with small holes that let water drip outWhy:1. Allows you to put your watering on a timer, so you can
leave for the weekend and not worry about your garden
2. Drops are slow and gentle, rather than rough and flyinglike a sprinkler, which preserves soil structure
Disadvantage:
Having water nearby all the time can keep your vegetablesfrom developing a big, strong root system
Solution?
Set your timer to water for several hours just once every
two or three daysSee the optional files in this lesson for more information!
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Fertilization Needs:Heavy Feeders (fertilizeat least twice):
Medium Feeders Light Feeders Soil Builders
Broccoli Asparagus Carrot Snap beanCabbage Beet Onion Pea
Corn Cauliflower Pepper Clover
Cucumber Lettuce Potato
Squash Radish Swiss chard
Tomato Spinach Turnip
One way to arrange a crop rotation is so that light feedersand soil builders follow heavy feeders, which saves you from
applying a full dose of fertilizer to every plot every year.
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Fertilization After Planting: Side Dressing
Side dressingis agood way to applygranularfertilizers after
you have alreadyplanted. Simplyuse a large spoon
to sprinkle itonto the soil nearthe stem
(imagine theroots reaching
out undergroundseveral inchesfrom the base ofthe plant), and
water in!
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Fertigation with
Drip Systems
Base So lution:
2 cups of com pletefertilizer in onegallon of w ater
Ventur i siphon
Dissolved fertilizer is carried
by the water directly to theplants
roots, so it is less likely
to feed the weeds. Only workswell with chemical fertilizers,because organic ones can blockthe holes in the hose.
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Much Ado About Mulch
Protects the roots ofperennials from the winter cold
Increases moisture retention
Reduces weeds!
Nutrient addition (organicmulches add mostly carbon)
Nutrient retention (bothplastic and organic mulchesprevent erosion)
Reduces soil compaction Reduces dirt on produce
Heavy mulching is an important
component of commercialstrawberry production
Georgia CES
North Carolina CES
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Organic Mulches:
Compost-
Stable and weed-suppressing
Sawdust and shavings
- High C, low N
Shredded leaves
Straw and Hay
-
Watch for weeds!
Lawn clippings-
Good N source but can form asuffocating mat, so mix withother materials
Newspaper and cardboard
-
Dont use glossy because itcontains kaolin clay, and willnot break down as well
Cornell
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Plastic Mulches
Can be laid by hand or bytractor
Burying the edges in the
soil holds it in place Only works for transplants!
Must be thrown away at
the end of the season Many different colors and kinds:
Clear plastic warms the soil butaids weeds
IRT (infrared transmitting)plastic warms the soil anddiscourages weed growth
SRM (selective reflective mulch)can help plants get more light
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Drip Irrigation +Plastic Mulch + Transplants +
Organic Matter = an Excellent Ve etable Gardenin S stem!
E l d h d
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Season Extension: Tools and Methods to IncreaseTemperatures and Prolong the Cropping Season
in Alaska
Perforated plastic
High tunnels
Plastic mulch
Frost cloth
Combinations
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Hoop Houses and High Tunnels
Hoop house made out of whitespruce poles. (5 ft. x 10 ft. x8 ft. about $50 to construct)
Hoop houses made out of PVCpipe (10 ft. x 40 ft. about$300 to construct)*
Large high tunnels made out of
Galvanized steel tubing. (25 ft.x 50 ft. x 12 ft. high & about$3,000 to construct)
*Source: University of Kentucky
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Benefits of High Tunnels and Hoop Houses:
Season extension you canplant earlier in the spring andharvest longer into the fall
Higher yield and higher qualityproduce, especially for cropsthat have trouble in Alaska,like tomatoes, peppers and
even cantaloupe! Protection from wind, rain,
hail, and frost
With the right management,they can decrease your weed,pest and disease problems
Usually these structures areheated only by the sun. Thetemperature rises in the day andfalls at night, but its alwayswarmer inside than outside!
Benefits include:
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Management of High Tunnels and Hoop Houses
Manual ventilationwhen it gets hot out,open the flaps or theentire side, so your
vegetables wont fry You might want to
install a temporary
heat sourcein thecase of an extremecold event
Drip irrigation will
deliver the rightamount of water toyour vegetables, andmake less work for you
Fertigation is useful
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Hoop Culture/Floating
Row Covers
(an extra 3 5 0 F of protection!)
W ire hoops
GroWeb
Remay
floating rowcover
Plastic mulch & Row Covers for Vegetable Production inAlaska by Jerry Purser, Ag. Agent: 100B-00647
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Asparagus is a frond-like perennialthan can live up to 25 years, if it iswell cared for
Plant two-year-old plants and be
patient: the first harvest is in thespring of the 4th year after planting
Fertilize with triple superphosphate
Choose a protected place, andmulch to protect the roots fromcold- overwintering is the
challenge! Harvest by gently hand-snapping
spears that are 7 to 9 incheslong and have tight tips. Dontuse a knife, because you mightdamage the crown
A Yummy Challenge: Asparagus!
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Harvest in time! Quality drops as some vegetables
start to go to seed; for instance, lettuce turnsbitter, and radishes and turnips get tough and woody.
Now for the best part...
i if b i if ! C i
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Store it if you must, but eat it if you can! Canning or rootcellaring may not get you quite as many nutrients as eating
veggies fresh, and some, like these beautiful peppers, aremuch less appetizing when they are preserved.
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Peas, beans, raspberries and
strawberries should be picked atleast every third day
Univ. of Minnesota CES
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Too Late To Pick!
Can you name this commoncondition of lettuce? It:
Precedes flowering,
Involves excessive stemelongation,
Results in poor heading,
Produces bitter,unmarketable lettuce,and...
Can be caused by longhours of daylight, hightemperatures and otherkinds of stress!
Hint: If youre stumped, review thePowerPoint from Lesson 1 to find out
Purdue Univ.
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These lettuces, however, are just right!
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Scott Robb poses in front of
his world record 105.9-poundkale
at the 2007 Palmer State
FairThis
cabbage
is growing so fast its splitting,
a common problem for giant vegetable growersAnchorage Daily News
Anchorage Daily News
Brassicas(or cole crops) likecabbage, kale, cauliflower
and broccoli love our cool summersand long hours of daylight. Infact, Alaska is famous for it!
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Broccoli and kohlrabi are two more Brassicasthat do well in Alaska
Its easy to over-plant zucchini
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It s easy to over plant zucchiniand squash. If you get toomuch, pick them smaller, try
blanching and freezing, or makezucchini bread.
A small zucchini can also becalled by its French name:
courgette. If you forget topick them they becomemarrows, vegetable monstersmany feet long! Theyre still
edible- try cutting the marrowlengthwise, scooping out androasting the seedsjust like you would
for a Halloweenpumpkin, andbaking the restwith a yummy
stuffing. What adelicious gardenaccident!
Alaska Bountea
What if you reallyhave too much? UAF Cooperative Extension offers many workshopsd f bli ti i f i d i t i d ki f h t bl
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and free publications on canning, freezing, drying, storing and cooking fresh vegetables,berries and meats. See the links in this lesson for contact information
Canningsalmonand
making jamin Fort
Yukon with
UAF CESand TCC
Agriculture,
July 2008
UAF CES
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RESOURCES:
Frank J. Dainello, PhD. Extension Horticulturist, CommercialVegetable Crops, Dept. of Horticultural Sciences Texas
A&M University Larry Caplan, Vanderburgh County
Sustainable Gardening, The Oregon-Washington Master
Gardener Handbook Alaska Gardening Guide: Volume 1 Alaska Vegetables for
Northern Climates by Ann D. Roberts
Alaska Cooperative Extension Service Knotts Handbook for Vegetable Growers
Pictures by Heidi Rader, or as cited.