Gulf Coast Research and Education Center - Alternative...
Transcript of Gulf Coast Research and Education Center - Alternative...
3/23/2011
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Alternative Vegetable Alternative Vegetable GardeningGardening
Sydney Park BrownSydney Park Brown
UF Extension Specialist UF Extension Specialist –– Consumer HorticultureConsumer HorticultureGulf Coast Research & Education CenterGulf Coast Research & Education Center
Plant CityPlant City
http://tiny.cc/tm7sx
Edibles!Edibles!
Epcot, April 2010
Edibles!Edibles!
New York Botanical Garden – June, 2010
Lots of people want to grow Lots of people want to grow food, but not everyone can or food, but not everyone can or
will dig up the yardwill dig up the yard
Soil / Site Soil / Site IssuesIssues
• Poor soil • Soil pests • Trees • Limited space• Deed restrictions• Love the lawn!
Human IssuesHuman Issues
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Alternative Gardening Demo Alternative Gardening Demo UF Plant City Teaching GardensUF Plant City Teaching Gardens
Alternative Veggie Alternative Veggie GardensGardens
AboveAbove the ground;the ground;
I t fI t f t it iIn some type of In some type of container;container;
In In soilsoil--lessless media;media;
All other veggie rules apply.All other veggie rules apply.
Growing MediaGrowing Media• Perlite• Vermiculite• Gravel• Sand• Sawdust• Sawdust• Bark• Rockwool• Coco Fiber• Compost• Combinations of these• Commercial soil mixes• Water + nutrients
Alternative GardeningAlternative Gardening
Sunlight Pests
Minimum of 5-6 hours Scout frequently
Alternative GardeningAlternative Gardening
• Avoid soil• Good results
Advantages Disadvantages• Expensive – some• Assembly required
• Portable – some• Can garden on
hard spaces• Less physical • Great for kids and
“challenged”
– some• Water intensive• Limited growing
space / yields• $$$ Payback?
SmallSmall--scalescaleContainersContainers
• Pots – plastic, clay, glazed• Buckets, baskets, barrels, bags• Grow boxes• Vertical systems
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• 1 gal – herbs, small veggies
• 5 gal minimum – big veggies
P id d i
ContainersContainers
• Provide drainage
• Stake / support
Hanging ContainersHanging Containers
Topsy Turvy TM
Heavy! – Need strong support.
Other ContainersOther Containers
Barrels
Baskets
Buckets
Grow BagsGrow BagsPlastic, mesh or felt bags. Some Plastic, mesh or felt bags. Some
have handles; some come prehave handles; some come pre--filled filled with media.with media.
“Lay“Lay--flat Bags”flat Bags”Plastic bags filled with soilPlastic bags filled with soil--less medialess media
Lettuce
HerbsDwarf Cucumbers
Onions
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Soil Bags Soil Bags
Grow BoxesGrow Boxes• Various sizes• Use potting (soil-less)
mixes• Have a reservoir of water• Fertilize one time
(2 cups granular fertilizer) • Keep cover on until you’re
ready to replant• Vining plants need support
EarthBox®
http://www.earthbox.com
1. 3.2.
EarthBox®
4. 5.
Grow BoxesGrow Boxes
Tomatoes on a ropeon a rope
http://www.earthbox.com
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HomeHome--made Grow Boxmade Grow Box
http://www.wisefarmer.com/growbox/
Vertical Growing SystemVertical Growing System• Very space efficient• Reduced disease - better air flow
and less soil splashing• Easy to harvestEasy to harvest
Vertical Growing SystemVertical Growing System
• Great for ‘cut and come again’ crops such as:
L f– Leafy greens– Herbs– Edible flowers
Vertical Growing SystemVertical Growing System
• Commercial kits include: - poles- styrofoam pots- media- fertilizer- drip irrigation- pump, timer
Transplants and nutrient tank not supplied
Vertical Growing Vertical Growing SystemSystem Examples of Commercial Examples of Commercial ProductsProducts
• http://vertigro.com/• http://www hydrostacker com/• http://www.hydrostacker.com/• http://www.futuregrowing.com/
…and others
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Low Cost Vertical SystemLow Cost Vertical Systemhttp://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/hs1186
LargeLarge--scalescaleContainersContainers
Concrete blocks
• Raised beds• Hay bales
Raised BedsRaised Beds
Raised BedsRaised BedsConstruction4’ wide 6-18” high, 24” for wheelchairsP t t d l b ?Pressure treated lumber?
The American The American Horticultural Therapy Horticultural Therapy
AssociationAssociationhttp://www.ahta.org
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Raised BedsRaised Beds
1. 2.
Easy Garden BoxTM
1. 2.
3. 4.
Raised Bed BracketsRaised Bed Brackets Hay Bale GardenHay Bale Garden
Hay Bale GardenHay Bale Garden FiltrexxFiltrexx Garden Garden SoxxSoxxTMTM
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FiltrexxFiltrexx Garden Garden SoxxSoxxTMTM Raised BedsRaised Beds
2008 Victory Garden in San Francisco
Soil RecipeSoil RecipeSample MixtureFor each bushel of soil-less media
• 1.25 cups dolomite
1 cup 8 8 8 fertilizer w/ micronutrients• 1 cup 8-8-8 fertilizer w/ micronutrients
ControlledControlled--release release FertilizersFertilizers
• Ex: Osmocote and Dynamite• Choose products that include
i t i tmicronutrients• Select release rate based
on crop (i.e. 3 month, 6 month, etc.)
Hydroponic Hydroponic GardeningGardening
Growing plants in water and Growing plants in water and dissolved dissolved nutrients nutrients -- no no soil soil
• Potato Box• Floating Gardens
Potatoes in Potatoes in PerlitePerlite
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Clean & easy harvest
Round II – Sweet Potatoes
Floating GardensFloating GardensPlants “Float” on Styrofoam Bed Plants “Float” on Styrofoam Bed with Roots in Nutrient Solutionwith Roots in Nutrient Solution
Plants “Float” on Styrofoam Bed Plants “Float” on Styrofoam Bed with Roots in Nutrient Solutionwith Roots in Nutrient Solution
Floating Garden ConstructionFloating Garden Construction
• 2’x8’ boards used to construct 4’x8’ frame
• 6 mil plastic lining
Add Simple PVC Structures for Add Simple PVC Structures for Cold or Deer/rabbit ProtectionCold or Deer/rabbit Protection
Use any unUse any un--drained container at least drained container at least 6” high6” high
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What Can You Grow?What Can You Grow?
Lettuces, mustard greens, mizuna, kale, basil, green onions, Swiss Chard, cucumber, watercress. Others?
Mix Nutrient SolutionMix Nutrient Solution
2 tsp 20-20-20(w/micros) or equivalentor equivalentsoluble fertilizer
+1 tsp Epsom Salt
…per gallon of water
• 1 1/2 inch styrofoam• Drill or cut holes
Drill Holes in Styrofoam Drill Holes in Styrofoam
12” apart• Diameter of holes
= size of net pots or cups
3” net pot = 35 cents
Plastic CupStyrofoam Cup
Place Transplant into CupsPlace Transplant into Cups
Bottom of cup should extend no more than 1/8” below styrofoam
Floating Garden Floating Garden
35-gallon Plastic Garden Pond
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Floating GardenFloating Garden
Go to http://vfd.ifas.ufl.edu/ for a “how to” video and more info
Choosing VarietiesChoosing Varieties
• Select proven varieties• Try dwarf/“mini” veggies• Choose pest-resistant
varieties
Transplants: StoreTransplants: Store--bought or bought or HomeHome--grown?grown?
TRANSPLANTS =
SEEDS =More choice
Faster start
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“Bio-sponges” (sphagnum mossand composted bark )
120 - $12Park Seed Co. Ready for a break?Ready for a break?
Thanks!Thanks!DISCLAIMER
Many other products exist Mention of aMany other products exist. Mention of a company's name/product is not
intended to be an endorsement or a preference over other products.