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1

In the

Vegetable

Garden

By Sarah Browning & Kelly Feehan

Extension Educators

http://go.unl.edu/veggarden

Increasing Interest

“One of the biggest trends is increasing interest in

vegetable gardening. Last year, vegetable plant

sales were up 10 – 15 % and that trend is

expected to continue” Dale Lindgren, Extension Specialist

Save money on produce

Food safety issues

Interest in heirlooms

Great hobby

National Garden Bureau

Where should the garden be located?

Level or slightly sloping area with loose, well-drained soil, pH 6-6.5

8-10 hours full sun ideal Minimum 5 hours for fruiting

plants

Slightly less for leafy plants

Good air circulation

Black walnut toxicity Mature trees, average 50-60

(80) feet radius from trunk

Alternative- raised beds

Amending Soils

Organic matter – yes

Sand – no

Lime – almost always no

in Nebraska

Gypsum – almost always

no in Nebraska

Changing pH – works for

the short term; ongoing

process

Soil test for others

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Incorporating Organic Matter

Fall better than spring

Composted leaves, grass, manure

Fresh manure

Composted manure

Loosen soil to depth of amendment first

6 to 8” for most vegetables

2:1 ratio for amount of organic matter to use

6” depth of amendment - spread 3” of compost & incorporate

Chisel plow or double dig if possible

Rototillers difficult to incorporate evenly

Tillage layer

Raised Beds

Amended soil used

Less compaction Compaction can reduce yields

up to 50%

Earlier planting

Drip/soaker irrigation

Eases pest control

Increased yields / sq. ft. Traditional = .6 lb’s / sq. ft.

Raised = 1.24 lb’s. / sq. ft.

Doubles as cold frame

Building a

Raised Bed

Typically raised only 6-8” and

3-4 x 8 feet in size

Use pressure treated wood,

cedar, redwood, cement

blocks

Loosen underlying existing

soil 6–8” deep

Spread 2” of amended soil

over the area

Mix into upper 3” of existing

soil

Fill entire bed with amended

soil mix

Treated Wood & Raised Beds

As of 1-01-04 CCA (Chromated Copper Arsenate)

treated wood is no longer sold for residential use, i.e.

decks, landscape timbers, raised beds…..

ACZA (ammoniacal copper zinc arsenate) and ACQ

(alkaline copper quaternary) have replaced CCA and can

be used for raised bed construction (Kansas State)

Well documented research show CCA, ACZA & ACQ

may be safely used to construct vegetable beds

Old railroad ties not oozing creosote are okay to use

Sides can be lined with polyethylene plastic

Average Last Spring Frost Date

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3/4 3/14 3/24 4/3 4/13 4/23 5/3 5/13 5/23 6/2 6/12 6/22 7/2

Planting Dates

Vegetables Transplant into Garden

Asparagus crowns, Collards, Onion sets, Parsnip,

Pea, Radish, Spinach, Turnip

Feb. 26

Leek, Potato, Swiss Chard March 8

Beet, Cabbage, Carrot, Lettuce March 18

Broccoli, Brussels Sprouts, Cauliflower, March 28

Sweet corn, Sweet potato, Tomato April 17

Bean (bush, pole & wax), Cucumber, Eggplant,

Muskmelon, Pepper, Pumpkin,

April 27

Okra, Watermelon May 7

Lima bean, Winter squash May 17

CropWatch Soil Temperature Updates Seven-day average soil temperatures for period ending March 24, 2015.

CropWatch Soil Temperature Updates Seven-day average soil temperatures for period ending March 12, 2014.

Germination- Min. Soil Temp

35 Degrees

Fahrenheit

40 Degrees

Fahrenheit

50 Degrees

Fahrenheit

60 Degrees

Fahrenheit

Spinach

Parsnip

Onion

Lettuce

Turnip

Radish

Pea

Parsley

Chard

Celery

Cauliflower

Carrot

Cabbage

Beet

Asparagus

Corn

Tomato

Bean

Lima Bean

Cucumber

Eggplant

Muskmelon

Okra

Pepper

Pumpkin

Squash

Watermelon

Planting Outdoors:

Soil Temperature & Germination

Optimum range

5 to 10 degrees above

minimum

15 to 20 degrees

below maximum

Roots of transplants

need minimum as

well

Faster germination at

warmer soil

temperatures

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Carrot germination

0 germination at 32

degrees F.

51 days to germinate

at 41 degrees F.

17 days at 50 degrees

6 days at 68 to 86

degrees

No germination at 104

degrees

Planting Outdoors:

Soil Temperature & Germination

Knotts Vegetable Handbook

85 Degrees

Fahrenheit

90 Degrees

Fahrenheit

95 Degrees

Fahrenheit

100 Degrees

Fahrenheit

105 Degrees

Fahrenheit

Spinach

Pea

Parsnip

Lettuce

Celery

Lima Bean

Parsley Asparagus

Beans

Beets

Carrots

Chard

Eggplant

Onion

Pepper

Radish

Tomato

Cabbage

Cauliflower

Muskmelon

Pumpkin

Squash

Corn

Cucumber

Okra

Turnip

Watermelon

Germination- Max Soil Temps

Supported vs.

Floating Row

Covers

Plastic Water Filled Tubes

Allow soil warm-up before

planting

2.5% bleach solution to

reduce algae growth

Spread top to ventilate

Expensive, hard to move

after filled with water,

need to be cleaned at

end of season

Transplants

Good- broccoli,

cabbage, cauliflower,

eggplant, lettuce,

sweet potato, onion,

tomato and pepper

Medium- celery,

melon, cucumber,

squash, watermelon

Poor- bean, corn,

pea, okra

Timing Transplants

10 weeks: broccoli,

cabbage, cauliflower

6-7 weeks: pepper,

tomato and eggplant

2-3 weeks: cucumber,

muskmelon, squash

and watermelon

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Check Seed Viability

Sow seed more thickly to

achieve the desired

amount of plants.

Germination Test

Place 10 seeds on a moist

paper towel

Seal the bag, and in a

warm location, 70-75

degrees

Check germination at 7-10

days

Seed Germination Test,

Image by SouthernExposure.com

Check Seed Viability

Count # germinated

seeds for the germination

percentage

10 = 100% excellent

9 = 90% very good

8 = 80% good

6 to 7= 60 to 70% poor

Throw seed away that

has less than a 60%

germination percentage.

Seed Germination Test,

Image by SouthernExposure.com

Watering

Consistent moisture key

to quality & yield

One inch per week

Place water at the root

zone

Drip/soaker most efficient

Moisten soil 8” deep

Avoid overwatering

Inefficient, promotes

disease

Early morning irrigation

best Knott’s Vegetable Handbook

Rooting Depths of Vegetables

Shallow

12-18 inches

Moderate

18-24 inches

Deep

24 inches +

Broccoli

Cabbage

Brussels Sprouts

Cauliflower

Corn

Lettuce

Onion, Garlic, Leek

Parsley

Potato

Radish

Spinach

Bean

Beet

Carrot

Chard

Cucumber

Eggplant

Muskmelon

Pea

Pepper

Summer squash

Turnip

Asparagus

Lima Bean

Parsnip

Pumpkin

Winter Squash

Sweet Potato

Tomato

Watermelon

Critical Water Periods

Asparagus- spear production, fern development

Beans, peas- pod fill

Broccoli, cabbage- head development

Carrot- seed emergence, root development

Corn- silking, tasseling, ear development

Cucumber- flowering, fruit development

Eggplant, tomato- flowering, fruiting

Lettuce- head development (moisture should be constant)

Melons- flowering, fruit development

Cucurbit Pollination

Flowers open in the

morning and are only

open for 1 day

Male flowers attract

bees and alerts them

to the location of

blooming vines

Cucurbits must be

visited several times

to fully pollinate

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Male Flowers Predominate…

Early season development

Under certain kinds of stress Drought stress in the 2-3

leaf development stage

Too much shade Dense spacing

High fertilization

Weed growth

High night temperatures, above 80° F

Fall Gardening in Nebraska

Plant in July and August

Fall planting formula in NebGuide

Prepare soil as in spring

Compost, pre-plant fertilizer

Plant seed twice as deep – keep moist

Shade row for cool season crops (board on brick, mulch)

Some insects & mildew can be a bigger issue

Grasshoppers, earworm, squash bugs, cabbage worms, etc.

Row covers, B.t., insecticides

Mulch soil to conserve moisture, keep cool

Consider frost protection as crops mature

VEGETABLE SELECTION

Selection Criteria

Days to harvest

Disease & insect

resistance

Resistance to

environmental

problems

Fruit color, flavor

& texture

Plant growth habit ‘Early Girl’, Park Seed

www.parkseed.com

Vegetable Selection

New NebGuides

available

“Selected Vegetable

Varieties for Nebraska”

“Selecting Tomatoes for

the Home Garden”

www.ianrpubs.unl.edu

Other Resources

Cornell University

vegvariety.cce.cornell.edu/

All American Selectionsall-

americaselections.org/

Cultivar vs. Variety

Cultivated variety

Group of plants with

distinct characteristics

Developed through

human manipulation

Plant selection

Hybridization

’Striped German’ tomato

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Hybrid

Variety resulting from the

cross of two genetically

uniform varieties to

produce special

characteristics

F1 hybrid - first offspring,

more vigorous

Uniform characteristics,

higher yields

Usually do not breed true

‘Lemon Boy’

‘Big Boy’

Asparagus ‘Jersey Supreme’ Hybrid, male cultivars

Jersey Supreme is an

early variety with

medium sized spears

Highest yield in Iowa

State University trials

(1995), followed by

Jersey Giant and Jersey

Knight

Tolerant of fusarium

crown rot and rust in

colder climates

Does well in heavy

soils

‘County Fair’ Cucumber

52 days

Pickling or slicing cucumber

Predominantly female, mostly seedless if isolated from pollinators

Bacterial wilt resistance

Diva

‘Diva’ Cucumber

58 days

AAS 2002

Smooth thin skin, burpless

Gynoecious

Parthenocarpic

Good disease resistance

Not attractive to cucumber beetles

‘Yugoslavia Red’ Lettuce

55-58 days

Butterhead lettuce type

with large, loose heads

with deeply puckered,

apple green leaves tinged

with burgundy

10-12” heads

Buttery, succulent flavor

Saved by a peasant

family in Marburg,

Yugoslavia The Cook’s Garden,

www.cooksgarden.com

Red Veined Sorrel

Rumex sanguineus

Tap rooted perennial plant with rosette of foliage

55 days

Bright green leaves with contrasting dark maroon stems and veins

Same sharp, tangy flavor as regular sorrel

Best variety for indoor production

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Determinate vs. Indeterminate

Determinate plants

grow to a genetically

determined height and

stop. All the season’s

fruits set onto plants

within a short time

period.

Indeterminate plants

grow continuously until

killed by frost. Often

called ‘vining’ plants.

‘Celebrity’ Tomato

70 to 75 days

Compact, determinate

plants

1984 AAS Winner

Hybrid

Main-season standard

tomato with red, 7- to 10-

ounce, fruit.

Resistant to Alternaria,

Fusarium race 1 & 2,

Verticillium, nematodes

and Tobacco mosaic

‘Big Beef’ 70 days

Indeterminate hybrid

Main-season standard

tomato with red, beefsteak-

type, 8- to 12-ounce, 4- to 6-

inch, globe-shaped, mostly

blemish-free, crack-

resistant, slightly acidic fruit

Tolerant of Alternaria, Grey

spot, Fusarium races 1 and

2, Tobacco mosaic,

nematodes and Verticillium

Drought & heat tolerant

‘Sweet Million’ Cherry Tomato

Days To Maturity: 65

Indeterminate plants

Hybrid

Medium early cherry tomato

Sweet, red, 1/2-ounce, 1-inch, clustered, crack resistant

Very productive

Resistant to Fusarium race 1, Nematodes, Tobbacco Mosaic Virus

‘Sun Gold’Tomato 57 to 60 days

Hybrid

3 to 5 foot, indeterminate vines

Early-season cherry type

Sweet, 1 3/8-inch by 7/8-inch, oval to oblong, firm, meaty, clustered, golden-orange fruit with few seeds and free of cracking

Resistant to Tobacco mosaic virus and Fusarium race 1

Grafted Tomatoes

production through increased plant vigor Heirloom tomatoes

Melons

resistance to soil borne diseases Verticillium

Fusarium

resistance to environmental stress Saline soil

Temperature extremes

Option where crop rotation is limited or areas of intensive production

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Grafting Rootstocks

Rootstock Suppliers Disease Resistance

Eggplant

RST-04-107-T Neseed.com ToMV, V, F, CoR, N

RST-04-111-E Neseed.com BW, V, F, N

Tomato

Beaufort Paramount Seeds Inc.,

Johnny’s Selected Seeds

ToMV, N, V, F1, F2, CoR,

FCR, cold temperatures

Maxifort ToMV, N, F1, F2, CoR, FCR

Emperador Johnny’s Selected Seeds

F1, F2, N, ToMV, V, CoR, FCR

Multifort Paramount Seeds Inc. F3, N

Vegetable Grafting Resources

Washington State University History of Vegetable

Grafting

How to Graft Tomatoes and Eggplant

Grafting Healing Chamber

Transplanting Grafted Plants into the Field

http://agsyst.wsu.edu/graftingVegetables.html

VEGETABLE PEST

CONTROL

Solarization

A non-chemical method to kill weed seed, insects and nematodes in the upper soil layers

Clear plastic traps heat from the sun; use thin, 1-6 mil plastic

Soil temperature must be maintained between 98-126F for at least 3 months

Moist soil increases the efficiency of kill

Environment

Pathogen Susceptible

Host

Disease

Occurs

Disease System Components

Management of Foliage Diseases

Use a 3-4 year garden

rotation schedule

Do Rotations Matter

Within Disease

Management Programs?

http://vegetablemdonline.

ppath.cornell.edu/NewsAr

ticles/McNabRotations.ht

m

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Avoid Planting too Closely,

Use Mulch Beneath Plants Avoid Overhead Irrigation Use Resistant Varieties Buy Healthy Plant Material

Practice good garden sanitation General Guidelines for Chemical Pest Control

Use the least toxic product that will give good control

Bacillus thurengiensis

Horticultural oils

Insecticidal soaps

Pyrethrins

Copper fungicide

Begin a preventative fungal spray

program at first sign of disease

Fungicides are protective, not curative

Every 7-14 days

Thorough plant coverage with the insecticide is essential

Higher water volumes help increase coverage

Use wetting agents or spreader/stickers if needed

Environmental Problems:

Blossom End Rot

Calcium deficiency

Maintain an even moisture

supply

Mulch to conserve soil

moisture and reduce

disease

Avoid root injury

Mechanical

Disease

Avoid excessive Nitrogen Purdue University

Environmental Problems:

Sun Scald

Poor leaf canopy for

developing fruits

Control foliage diseases

Resistant varieties

Spray program

Selectively harvest and

prune to minimize fruit

exposure to direct sunlight

The Ohio State University Extension

University of Massachusetts Extension

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Environmental Problems:

Fruit Cracking

Use tolerant varieties

Resistant- Celebrity, Jackpot,

Mountain Fresh, Rutgers,

Supersonic.

Proper irrigation and nutritional

management

Periods of slow fruit growth

followed by fast fruit growth

Heavy periods of rain following

dry conditions

Mulch

After harvest, do not immerse fruits

in water to clean Colorado State University

De Ruiter Seeds Inc.

Extension is a Division of the Institute of Agriculture and

Natural Resources at the University of Nebraska–Lincoln

cooperating with the Counties and the United States

Department of Agriculture.

University of Nebraska–Lincoln Extension educational

programs abide with the nondiscrimination policies of the

University of Nebraska–Lincoln and the United States

Department of Agriculture.

In the

Vegetable

Garden

By Sarah Browning & Kelly Feehan

Extension Educators