Summer Vegetable Gardening

Cynthia Sandberg Love Apple Farms

www.LoveAppleFarms.com

Class Introduction

Please keep your talking to a minimum, allowing you and your neighbors to get the full value of the class.

Please raise your hand if you have any questions, but try to hold them for later - have faith in my agenda.

Add your name/email to Links List if you'd like to receive a PDF of this presentation as well as links to resources discussed in class. What this class doesn't cover:

● Every possible topic a gardener should know.● Winter vegetable growing.● Every possible method of organic gardening.

Class Agenda

● Soil fertility● Starting seeds vs. buying transplants● Direct sowing seeds in garden● Bed Amending● Individual fruits and veg● Irrigation● Pests● Flat sowing● Germination instructions● Supplemental fertility and next steps

Start from the Ground Up

Soil pH

X● Rainfall causes soil acidity ● Add lime to raise pH● Add sulfur to lower pH

Importance of N-P-K: Macronutrients● Nitrogen (N): Green growth

● Phosphorus (P): Root growth and flower/fruit production

● Potassium (K): Overall plant health

Micronutrients● Calcium (Ca), Magnesium (Mg), Molybdenum (Mo), Boron (B),

Copper (Cu), Manganese (Mn), Zinc (Zn), Chlorine (Cl), Iron (Fe), Nickel (Ni)

● Needed in trace quantities, too much can hurt plants more than it

can help ● Regular additions of organic matter usually meets micronutrient

needs

Purchase Good Top Soil If you Need to Fill New Beds

50/50BLEND

OF THESETWO

Mulch on Paths for Weed Suppression

Double-Digging Technique

Organic Amendments

●Feed your soil like you feed your body●Cannot "Miracle Gro" soil into good health●Vegetables are fast-growing plants●Need more fertilizer than perennials because you

are harvesting (taking away nutrients)●Always amend beds before planting ●Soil test will reveal deficiencies and make amendment recommendations

X

Every Garden Should Have a Compost Pile and Worm Bin

Bed Amending RecipeFor a 50 square foot bed:

●1 wheel barrow homemade compost OR 1 bag Gardner & Bloome Harvest Supreme●2 quarts G&B 4-6-3 Tomato, Veg, & Herb Fertilizer●1 quart pure Worm Castings

Note: Double up if your soil is poor

Bed Amending Step by Step

●Sprinkle all amendments evenly on

top ●Turn over soil using a spade fork

●Rake smooth

Our new favorite "Magic Bullet"Mykos Mycorrhizal Fungi

● Sprinkle on root ball● Beneficial "live" fungus that attaches and

spreads with rootzone● Keeps plant from being infected by soil borne

diseases● Helps plants "communicate" to each other when

under insect attack and produce enzymes to ward off attackers

● Helps plants use water more efficiently

Starting from Seed vs. Buying StartsAdvantages:● More variety ● Less expensive

Disadvantages:● More work● Riskier ● Must plan ahead

Sowing Requirements for Summer Veg

Must Direct Sow Either Must TransplantCarrot Greens: Lettuce,

Mustards, Arugula, Chard, Kale

Tomato

Beet Squash, Zucchini, Melon, Cucumber, Pumpkin

Pepper

Radish Onion, Leek EggplantTurnip Corn, Bean Basil

Direct Sowing Root Vegetables

● Sow seeds 1 per square inch● Cover with 1/4 inch of soil● Don't let surface dry out● Use floating row cover● Use thinnings as flavorful,

unusual garnish

STRETCH BREAK!

Solanaceae Family: Nightshades

Tomato● Start from seed in Feb or

March or buy transplants instead.

● 2' - 3' spacing● Lots of fertilizer● Trellis with tomato cage● More in Tomato Masters

classes

Pepper & Eggplant● Start from seed in Jan or Feb or buy

transplants instead.● Plant outside late April or May● 18" spacing● 2' - 4' tall● Trellis with small tomato cages,

bamboo, or trellis netting

Growing Potatoes In Pots

● Buy certified organic seed potatoes

● Ronniger's Catalog○ www.potatogarden.com

● "Chitting" seed potatoes: Lay out seed potatoes by sunny window until the sprouts are 1" long

● Cut seed potatoes into smaller pieces with at least 2 "eyes" each

● Let cuts callous over for a day or two before planting

Growing Potatoes In Pots● Use new 15 gallon pots, or sterilize used 15 gallon pots with bleach

solution ● Use sterile (new) potting soil ● Fill pots with 2" soil, add 4 - 5 potato pieces, cover with 2" soil

Growing Potatoes in Pots● Once shoots reach 8 - 10",

cover up to top leaves with soil● Continue until they grow out

of the pot● Keep watered● Once potato flowers and dies,

potatoes are ready to harvest● Potatoes require full sun

Pole Beans

● Many different varieties and colors○ Green○ Yellow○ Red Long○ Rattlensnake○ Purple

● Requires tall trellis○ Bean Tepee○ 7' tomato cages○ String trellis

● 6" spacing● Edible flowers● Longer season

Bush Bean● 1' - 2' tall● Green, Yellow, Purple ● 8" - 10" spacing ● Small tomato cage, trellis netting, or

bamboo● Edible flower ● Shorter season

Lima Bean● Bush Bean● Shelling bean● Harvest fresh all season● Allow bean to dry on plant and then

store for winter● Edible flower

Fava Bean● 4' - 5' tall ● Cover crop● Edible leaves - harvest tops

to encourage branching● Edible flower ● 1 foot spacing ● Individual bean must be

shelled too

Let’s talk about Cucerbits

Melons & Summer Squash Cucumbers & Winter Squash

Melons● Vining plant ● 1' spacing

Issues:● Wet soil contacting

skin makes it susceptible to pests

● Don't like cold soil/low nighttime temps

Solution...

● Wait to plant until May● Lay clear or black UV plastic over amended bed● Cut "X"s in plastic to plant through● Must have drip irrigation under plastic

June 24, 2010

July 25, 2010

'Hearts of Gold' Cantaloupe

'Eden's Gem' Muskmelon

Sugar Baby Red WatermelonItalian Honeydew

Charentais Melon

Cucumber● Use trellis to grow cukes on

(plant lettuce or spinach in their shade)

● Lemon (Yellow), American Slicing (Green), and Pickling (Miniature White and Green)

● 8" spacing

Summer Squash vs. Winter Squash● Large, bushy plants● 2' spacing● Grow very quickly - harvest

often during season's peak● Soft, edible skin● Eaten fresh

● Large, long vining plants● 1' spacing● Harvest entire crop at end of

season, when tendril closest to fruit has dried up

● Hard skin● Cured and stored, eaten in

fall/winter

Summer Squash

Patty Pan, Zucchini, Yellow Crookneck, Romanesco Zucchini

Trombetta Summer Squash

Winter Squash

Waltham Butternut Jarrahdale Red Kuri

Mini Pumpkin"Jack Be Little"

Spaghetti

Blue HubbardDelicata

Ornamental Winter SquashTurks Turban Speckled Swan Gourd

Corn● Miniature Rainbow Popcorn (7')● Bi-color (5')● Yellow for cornmeal (7') ● Hybrid varieties will yield more● 1' spacing● Must sow/plant in blocks 4' x 5' for

adequate pollination

Okra● Heat loving ● 5' tall● 2' spacing● Beautiful plant

SUMMER GREENS:Arugula, Mustards, Bordeaux Spinach

● Transplant in bunches of 2 - 3 plants

● Plant bunches 6" apart● Edible flower

LUNCH BREAK

Visit Ivy’s cute shopsVisit farm storeBell will ring when we start back up

Irrigation ● Drip irrigation is more efficient than hand watering, soaker hoses,

or sprinklers● Easy to install from your spigot● Water early in morning● Don't rely on a timer - check each bed daily

Gopher Trapping - Not Wire!

Deer Fencing

● Necessary to keep them out● 8' tall● Attach to T-posts

Organic Pest Control● Be an observant gardener - inspect leaves on regular basis● Act on an issue immediately with appropriate controls before the

population gets out of control● Organic controls must be reapplied● Remove overpopulated plants and dispose of responsibly● Use preventative methods

○ Proper spacing in between plants for airflow○ Biodiversity○ Proper watering with irrigation○ Weed control

Aphids● Green, Black, Red, Grey● Watch for curling leaves● Organic pesticide: Gardner & Bloome Insect

Control Spray, Pyrethrin, Safer Soap● Organic preventative: Garlic spray● Beneficial bugs: Lacewing, Ladybug● Give infested leaves to chickens

Squash Bug● Attack all cucerbits, not

just squash● Smell like bananas when

squished● Hand pick early in season

before population explodes

Cucumber Beetle● Striped or spotted● Carry diseases ● Pyrethrins● Hand pick ● Attracted to yellow flowers● Floating row cover before

flowering

Slugs, Snails, Earwigs, and Pillbugs

● Sluggo● Diatomaceous Earth● Hand pick late at night with

flashlight

Leaf Miner

● Beets and chard are most susceptible● Remove affected leaves and feed to chickens or seal in bag and

dispose● Rub out egg sacs● Trichogramma wasps

Beneficial Bugs Lacewing Soldier Beetle

Lacewing larva and aphid Soldier beetle larva

Beneficial Bugs

Parasitic Wasp (Trichogramma)

Spider

Beneficial Bugs

Ladybird beetle

Honeybee & Bumblebee

Ladybird beetle Larvae

Flat Sowing Instructions

● Sow 3 cells of each type of vegetable/fruit = 16 per flat ● Don't poke seeds into soil or make a divot● Only use as many seeds as what is written on seed canister/packet● Space seeds apart evenly● Half labels, pencil only, push label in so it contacts bottom of flat● Pass in circle, clockwise● Seeds will go around several times● Only have 1 container open at a time● Put lids back on tight after selecting

Seedling Tray Care● Flat care instructions will be in links list email ● Water flat 3 times and cover with plastic● Optimal temperature: 75 degrees ● Remove plastic cover once 1 seed sprouts● Regulate heat mat with instant-read meat thermometer or soil probe

with thermostat● Heat mat might not need to be on during day

Seedling Tray Care● Bring sprouted 6-packs outside in morning and inside at night● Once sprouted, do not overwater to avoid rot● Transplant into 4" containers once seedlings show several sets of

leaves, and outside in light all day and night.● Transplant deeper than they were before once you put out in a bed.● Use Sunshine Mix or Fox Farms for potting up● Fertilize seedlings with worm casting tea

Supplemental Fertilizing● Plants will need additional fertilizer, particularly if yellowing● Best fertilizer: Worm Casting Tea● Recipe: Big handful of castings in a 5 gallon bucket of water● Let sit for two days● Stir and dilute X2● Strain through cheesecloth or FRC or strainer and apply to plants

with a watering can or garden sprayer● Do twice a month during growing season● WCT has been shown to: increase fertility, reduce incidence of

disease and reduce bug stress

Annual Spring Tomato Plant Sale - Also with Peppers & Eggplants!March 19 to end of May

Weds & WeekendsLocation: Ivy's Porch in Scotts Valley

5311 Scotts Valley Drive, Scotts Valley

Amendments for Sale Today

- G&B Fertilizers- G&B Planting Mix & Raised Bed Mix- G&B Potting Soil- Worm Castings- Organic Pesticides - Set-ups: 32 pots and one tray-Jams & Pickles -Seedling Heat Mat