Garden Basics

8/18/2019 Garden Basics

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GARDENBASICS

Obadiah Njue, Ph.D.

Department of Agriculture870-575-8152


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Planning Your Garden

• Site location – very important! – Note: A spot near the house might appear

most convenient• Consider shade, drainage, soil quality, insecticide

sprays

Locating your garden far from the house may benecessary!


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Planning Your Garden (continued)

• Light exposure – Most crops need at least 6 hours of full sun

each day

• Water source – Establish your garden near a water source

• Avoid using long lengths of hoses


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Planning Your Garden (continued)

• Your choice of vegetables – What andhow much to plant. – Types of vegetables – determined by:

• Family use• Sharing• For sale

– Quantity – No. of plants – Varieties – Ordering seeds from catalogs – Time of planting – seeds and/or transplants


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Preparing the Soil


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Preparing the Soil

• Fertile, well drained soil is necessary for asuccessful garden.

• Soil should be well drained, well suppliedwith organic matter, reasonably free ofstones, and hold moisture well.

• When manure is added to the soil, it must

be well composted prior to planting.• Soil test your garden and amend asrecommended.


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Preparing the Soil (continued)

• Fertilizer rates should be applied withgreat caution – more isn’t always better!

• Crops have varying fertilizer needs – rootsor tubers, leafy greens, flowers, seeds.

• Always follow recommendations ordirections on label or Soil Test results.


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Planting Your Vegetables

• Establish pathways – avoid compacting the soil.• Know planting dates for your plants.• Refer to the “Year -Round Home Garden

Planting Guide ” for planting dates. • Consider shading effect by taller plants – garden

orientation is important.

• Consider growth habits of your plants• Read labels• Ask questions – especially for new varieties


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Consider ShadingEffect &

Orientation!


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Planting YourVegetables/Ornametals (continued)• Sowing seeds and transplanting

• Planting depths• Spacing

• Provide adequate moisture• Water transplants prior to planting – reduces

transplant shock.• If root ball of transplants is tangled and

compacted, gently loosen the outer roots withyour finger before planting.• Water your plants as needed.


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Raised BedGardening


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Raised Bed Gardens

• A gardening technique growing inpopularity.

• Provides fresh and healthy food to thefamily and community.• The most commonly used method of

small space gardening.


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Advantages of Raised Bed Gardens

• Maintenance – Can be raised to a convenient height – Easier to manage

• Gardening on difficult sites• Extended growing season

• Better drainage• High yields


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Types of Raised Beds


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Temporary Raised Beds


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Permanent Raised Bed?


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Permanent Raised Bed


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Raised Bed Growing Media

• One that provides good drainage – Example – 1/3 potting soil, 1/3 top soil and

1/3 composted manure• Have your soil tested!


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Top Soil Potting Mix

Swiss Chard planted

on the same date


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Planting Your Vegetables

• Know planting dates for your plants.• Refer to the “Year -Round Home Garden

Planting Guide ” for planting dates.

• Consider shading effect by taller plants – garden orientation is important.

• Consider growth habits of your plants.


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Lateral shoot


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Tomatoes


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Crop Rotation


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Why is Crop Rotation Important?

• Balancing soil fertility• Disease prevention/management• Insect prevention/management• Increased yields


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Understanding Vegetable Families

• Nightshades – Solanaceous – Tomatoes, peppers, egg plants, potatoes

• Morning glory – Convolvulaceae – Sweetpotato

• Melons & Squash – Cucurbitaceae

– Cucumbers, watermelons, zucchinni, squash• Cole – Brassicas

– Collards, kale, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower


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Understanding Vegetable families

• Goosefoot – Chenopodiaceae – Spinach, beet, chard

• Peas – Legumes – Peas, beans, peanuts

• Onions – Liliaceae – Onions, leeks, chives, garlic


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Questions?


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Obadiah Njue, Ph.D.Department of AgricultureUniversity of Arkansas at Pine Bluff

Garden Basics

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