Post on 02-Jan-2016
CANYON COUNTY HORTICULTURE
Vegetable Gardens 101
The Basics of Growing Food
at Home Prepared by Ariel Agenbroad
Horticulture Extension Educator
CANYON COUNTY HORTICULTURE
Why Grow Food at Home?
• Can save you grocery money– 11 ¢ pack of seeds can =
• 50 lbs. carrots• 100 lbs. squash• 50+ lbs. of tomatoes• 100+ lbs. of cucumbers• 50+ lbs of peppers
CANYON COUNTY HORTICULTURE
• Fresher• Better quality• Better taste• More variety• Great learning tool for children• It can be a lot of fun!
Why Grow Food at Home?
CANYON COUNTY HORTICULTURE
• 1500– How many miles food travels on average!
• Vitamin and mineral losses• Bruising, damage• Food safety issues…E. Coli?• Picked at the peak of ripeness…no gas!
Freshness, Quality & Taste
CANYON COUNTY HORTICULTURE
Variety is the Spice of Life
CANYON COUNTY HORTICULTURE
CANYON COUNTY HORTICULTURE
CANYON COUNTY HORTICULTURE
CANYON COUNTY HORTICULTURE
•The bare essentials:– Soil– Water– Sunlight
What Do I Need to Get Growing?
CANYON COUNTY HORTICULTURE
• Mineral particles: sand, silt & clay• Air• Water • Organic Matter: decomposed plants & animals• Microorganisms• What about Potting Mixes?
– Peat moss, compost, perlite, vermiculite, fertilizers
Soil…What’s the Dirt?
CANYON COUNTY HORTICULTURE
It’s Busy Down There!
CANYON COUNTY HORTICULTURE
• Most vegetables need between1-2 inches of water per week (or, about 1-2 hours of watering)
• Can use a watering can, regular hose, sprinkler, irrigation system, drip hose
• Can capture and use rainwater• Can reuse some household water
Water…
CANYON COUNTY HORTICULTURE
• Most vegetables require at least 6-8 hours of full sun every day
• South and west sides are best• North and east sides can be shady• Some lettuces, strawberries and herbs
can do with 5-6 hours of sunlight
Sunlight
CANYON COUNTY HORTICULTURE
In a Perfect World…
CANYON COUNTY HORTICULTURE
In Reality…
CANYON COUNTY HORTICULTURE
Or Even…
CANYON COUNTY HORTICULTURE
Cool Weather CropsPeas
PotatoesLettuce
CabbageBroccoli
Swiss ChardKale
OnionsLeeks
CarrotsBeets
What Can I Grow Here?Warm Weather Crops
PeppersTomatoes
SquashGreen Beans
EggplantsEdible Flowers
PumpkinsMelons
TomatillosCorn
Cucumbers
March
May-June
May
June
CANYON COUNTY HORTICULTURE
• Tree Fruits– Apple, pear, plum, peach, nectarine, pluot
• Nuts– Walnut, hazelnut
• Berries– Raspberries, blackberries, strawberries
• Grapes, Rhubarb, Asparagus
And…
CANYON COUNTY HORTICULTURE
How Do I Get Started?
CANYON COUNTY HORTICULTURE
• Where do I get full sunlight?• What is my soil like?• Where is my water supply?• Will the garden be safe from my kids,
pets, neighbors, etc?
Evaluate Your Site
CANYON COUNTY HORTICULTURE
• What do we like to eat?• What can we grow to save money?• Are we going to can/freeze/dry food?• Are we going to grow enough for others?• What will we do with 1000 lbs. of
zucchini?
Evaluate Your Eating Habits
CANYON COUNTY HORTICULTURE
CANYON COUNTY HORTICULTURE
• Seeds are cheaper, but more work…– Buy from Catalogs, Garden Centers, Discount
Stores, Online• Start inside (with lights) or outside
• Seedlings give you a head start– Buy from Farmers’ Market, Garden Centers,
Mail Order
Getting Seeds & Plants
CANYON COUNTY HORTICULTURE
• Thrift Stores and Yard Sales • Hardware Stores• The Basics:
– Shovel, rake, hoe, hand trowel, hose, sprinklers or nozzles
• Fertilizer
Getting Supplies
CANYON COUNTY HORTICULTURE
• Compost Happens!– 2 parts “brown” waste
• Leaves, straw, dried and crunchy plants– 1 part “green”
• Grass clippings, vegetable peelings– Don’t add meat, fats or pet animal waste– Add water, and stir…use in and on the garden!
Make Your Own Fertilizer
CANYON COUNTY HORTICULTURE
CANYON COUNTY HORTICULTURE
• Start with a healthy, diverse environment for plants and insects
• Provide habitat for beneficial insects• Keep it clean…pick up after yourself!• Use natural controls first, and then ask
your Extension office or Garden Center Employee to suggest something else
What About Bugs and Disease?
CANYON COUNTY HORTICULTURE
• 30 days after planting– Radishes, lettuces
• 60 days after planting– Beets, green onions
• 80 days after planting– Carrots, cabbages, summer squash, corn
• 100+ days after planting– Tomatoes, Pumpkins, Cantaloupe, Watermelon
When Do We Eat?
CANYON COUNTY HORTICULTURE
• Seed catalogs (free!)• Gardening websites (free!)• Library books (free!)• Friends and Neighbors (free?)• Books, magazines, television• Classes (University, Extension, Community)
How Do I Learn More?
CANYON COUNTY HORTICULTURE
Questions?
Let’s Give It a Try!