Vegetable Gardening For fun and flavor!

Site Selection Where? Water Rotation

Gardening equipment Minimum tools needed are a shovel, a rake, a hoe, and a hand trowel. Buy good quality tools Power Rotary tillers

Planning QUESTIONS: Who will do the work? What does the family like to eat? How will the produce be used? How much space is available?

Preparing the soil Ideal garden: –Soil is deep –Easily worked –Well-drained –Contains at least 5% organic matter Soil testing Tilling

Water Watering is a must Drip irrigation How much? When do I water? Why mulch? Fertilizing

Intensive gardening The purpose of an intensively grown garden is to harvest the most produce possible from a given space. It gives better yields with less labor and uses water more efficiently without wasted space

Raised Beds What is a raised bed? How do I make a raised bed?

Planting Choose varieties suitable for our climate Look for short- season, quick maturing varieties Read seed packets

When to plant Soil temperature Soil consistency Frost tolerance Air Temperature Read the seed packet

Peas One of the earliest and easiest to grow. Adds nitrogen to the soil Staking is required if not planting bush varieties Use innoculant

Onions Most successful starting from sets or transplants. Size of bulbs. Red, yellow, and white sets – yellow store the best

Broccoli, Cauliflower & Cabbage These are best set out as transplants. Make sure to harden off if coming from indoors or warmer conditions. Susceptible to cabbage lopper

Root Crops Small seed – shallow planting Can be inter- planted A light frost makes the carrots sweeter Radishes need to be planted while weather is cool.

Potatoes Plant in hills If frost threatens cover whole plant with soil A must to rotate Evenly moist soil Dig in fall after tops have frozen

Greens – Lettuce, Chard, Spinach Don’t pull whole plant keep cutting to keep producing Evenly moist Good air circulation

Green Beans Plant after danger of frost Pick when leaves are dry Pick often to keep plants producing Innoculate Adds Nitrogen to the soil

Summer Squash No frost tolerance Keep evenly moist Plant in hills Use season extenders

Corn Plant short season varieties Not reliable but stocks are fun to use in fall decor

Tomatoes Use season extenders Cold season varieties Not frost tolerant

Herb gardens

SEASON EXTENDERS Cold Frames Greenhouse Wall-o-water Frost blankets Cloches and Row covers

Cover crops Decreases soil erosion Prevents compaction Adds organic material when incorporated in the spring Reduces leaching of nutrients

Beneficials Spiders Lacewings Ladybeetles Praying mantids Etc.