Grow Your Own Food?

Of Course You Can! (Part 1)

Lee Young, Extension Educator, and Deb Andrus, Master Gardener

Site Soils Planting Watering Techniques

in-ground vs. containers

GARDEN SITE NEEDS• Sunlight, 8-10 hours• Level land• Good drainage• Avoid low areas• Avoid windy sites• Near water source• Distance from trees• Protect from wildlife

Soil: a mixture of weathered minerals and decaying organic matter, covering the

earth in a thin layer.

When combined with air and water, soil provides mechanical support and nutrients

for plants.

Soil Pie

Solids50 %

Pore Space50 % Minerals

45 %Sand, silt,

clay

Air25 %

Water25 %

O.M.

Organic Matter Matters!

• Biological activity=healthy soil

• Water and nutrient retention and release

• Buffers pH

• Improved soil tilth=better root growth

Soil texture

Relative proportion of: – Sand = large particles

– Silt = medium particles

– Clay= very, very small particles

Which type do we have?

Testing the Soil

8

Effect of pH on availability of plant nutrients

pH can be changed

• Lime will raise pH (reduce acidity)

Fertilizer Basics

Why fertilize?

Calcium deficiency

Fertilizer not Food

Fertilizer basics

A fertilizer supplies one or more “essential nutrients”.

Not “Plant Food”

Plants make their own food…

Essential nutrients• Nitrogen• Phosphorus• Potassium• Calcium• Magnesium• Carbon • Hydrogen• Oxygen• Sulfur

• Iron• Manganese• Zinc• Boron• Copper• Molybdenum• Chlorine• Cobalt

Macro - nutrients

Primary• Nitrogen (N)• Phosphorus (P)• Potassium (K)

Secondary• Calcium (Ca)• Magnesium (Mg)• Sulfur (S)

Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen

How do we provide them to plants ?

• Complete fertilizer - N - P - K

• Lime - Ca, Mg

• Air/Water - C, H, O, S

“Complete” fertilizers contain:

• Nitrogen

• Phosphorus

• Potash (K)

What’s in the bag?

Nitrogen - N

• Shoot growth

• Green color

• Vegetative vs. reproductive

• Ex. 31 - 0 - 0

10 - 10 - 10

Phosphorus - P

• Seedling development

• Root growth

• Ex. 0 - 46 - 0

10 - 10 - 10

Potassium - K

• Regulates water movement

• Affects drought, disease, cold hardiness

• Ex. 0 - 0 - 50

10 - 10 - 10

Manure (fresh is not best!)

Nutrient value of manuresNitrogen Phosphorus Potassium

dairy cow 0.5 % 0.3 % 0.5%

steer 0.7 % 0.5 % 0.5 %

poultry 2.0 % 2.0 % 1.0 %

hog 0.5 % 0.3 % 0.5%

Cow manure analysis 0.5 - 0.3 - 0.5

Careful: low analysis but high rate!

Ball Park recommendations

Vegetable gardens

1 - 2 lbs 10-10-10 per 100 square feet5 lbs lime per 100 square feet, based on soil

test results

Composting Short Course

Recipe for compost

• Mix equal proportions of green stuff and brown stuff

• Add a shovel full of black stuff

• Mix well

• Wait

• Stir occasionally

Green Stuff• Stuff that decomposes quickly

• Will rot and get slimy

• Low C: N ratio– Grass clippings– Kitchen waste– Weeds

Brown Stuff

• Stuff that decomposes slowly

• Will remain intact for months or years

• High C: N ratio– dry leaves– wood chips– paper

PREPARING THE SOIL

• Test soil• Deal with sod• Add organic matter• Add nutrients• Till (or alternatives)

Goal: a great environment for roots.

PLANTING

IRRIGATION• Why?

– Aids in seed emergence– Reduces soil crusting– Improves germination and plant stand– Reduces wilting– Increase fruit size – Prevents premature ripening of peas, beans and

sweet corn– Improves quality of yield

IRRIGATION, cont.• What should you know?

– 1 inch of rain per week– 65-130 gallons of water per 100

square feet or 2-3 gallons per foot square

– A.M. watering preferred– Know critical watering period

Putting It All Together

• Raised bed gardening

• Lasagna gardening

Continued in Part B:

• Container gardening

• Tips for small spaces

Raised Bed Gardening

Reasons to Used Raised Beds

• Ease of use

• Higher yields

• Improved soil conditions

• Warms up quicker in spring

• Better drainage

• Soil does not compact

• Less maintenance once established

Lasagna Gardening

Lasagna Gardening

A time-saving organic method of gardening first developed by Patricia Lanza. It requires no digging, no tilling and no sod removal.

Lasagna Gardening• Select site.

• Put down a layer of cardboard or newspaper; wet thoroughly.

• More layers: shredded leaves, kitchen waste (no fat, bones or oil), straw, composted manure, grass clippings

• Water each layer

• Build to height of 18-24 inches

• Let cook for 6-8 months.