GROW YOUR OWN FOOD
A PRACTICAL INTRODUCTORY COURSE
December 7, 2013
Raluca Mocanu & Edward Wazer
Shundahai Farm
Agenda
Starting Requirements for Successful Growing
9:05-9:30
Sun Exposure (Ed)
9:30-9:55
Soil Fertility (Raluca)
9:55-10:15
Animal Management – Fencing & Rodent Problems (Ed)
Preparing the Growing Area
10:15-10:40
Soil Preparation (Ed)
10:40-10:50
Break
10:50-11:30
Plant/Seed Selection, Planting Times, Spacing, Methods (Raluca)
Ongoing Maintenance
11:30-11:45
Weeds (Raluca)
11:45-12:00
Insects (Raluca)
12:00-12:45
Lunch
12:45-1:00
Common Diseases (Raluca)
1:00-1:30
Water (Ed)
The Harvest, Putting Garden to Rest, Resources, and Field Walk
1:30-1:45
Harvest Frequency & Storage Information (Raluca)
1:45-1:55
Putting garden to rest for the year (Raluca)
1:55-2:00
Resources (Raluca)
2:00-4:00
Field Walk – Tools, row covers, mulch, covercrops, seed spacing, etc.
Starting Requirements
• Sun
• Soil
• Water
• Animal Protection
Sun Exposure
Help you Determine
• Hours of sun your site will receive
• Influence of time of year
Questions to ask Yourself
• What do I want to grow?
• What time of year do I expect to grow?
• Will I Cut Trees?
N
Sun Exposure
Understand Your Site
• Where is North?
• Are there trees around
your garden site?
• What will their impact
be?
• Are you on a slope?
Assessing Garden Placement
• Determine what your
plants will experience
• Face the sun at noon
• Fall backwards
• Stretch arms to side
– E/W Sunrise at equinox
E
W
S
Sun Exposure
We’ll Look at arc and sun angle for:
• June 21 – longest day of the year
• April 21/Aug 21 – 2 months earlier/later
• Feb 21/Oct 21 – 2 months earlier/later
• Dec 21 – 2 months earlier/late – shortest day
of the year
N
Sun Exposure
June & July
• Sun swings a large arc
• 15 hours of sun,
5:15am-8:30pm
• Sun is almost directly
overhead (72o) at midday
• Trees East & West will
have the greatest
impact on your planting
E
W
S
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
270
West
180
90
South
East
Altitude (deg)
Growing Info
• Most crops love June,
but some crops won’t
like the heat of July
June 21st
Summer Solstice
N
April→May & Aug→Sept
• Sun swings a large arc
• 13.5 hours of sun
• Sun is relatively high
(61o) in the sky at noon
• Again, trees East & West
will likely have the
greatest impact on your
planting
Apr 21st / Aug 21st
E
W
Growing Info
• Excellent time of year to
grow
• Be careful of frosts
270
through mid-May
West
S
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
180
90
South
East
Altitude (deg)
Sun Exposure
N
Sun Exposure
Feb→Mar & Oct-Nov
• 11 hours of sun
• Trees in the arc from SE
to SW will have the
greatest impact on
your growing
• Sun low in the sky (38o)
E
W
S
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
270
180
90
Altitude (deg)
Growing Info
• Slow growth, but can
get a jump in the
spring, and crops in the
fall will hold on
• Spring and fall will
require plastic
Feb 21st / Oct 21st
N
December → January
• Only a small arc around
due South is critical
• 9 hours of sun
• The sun is very low (25o)
in the sky and trees to
the South must be far
away from the planting
area
Growing Info
• Only a few plants will
grow at this time of
year; minimal growth
occurs
270
• Plastic covers required
December 21st
Winter Solstice
E
W
S
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
180
90
Altitude (deg)
Sun Exposure
Sun Exposure
Hours of Sunlight at different times of the year and
different distances from a tree line
Distance
(in feet)
from 60
feet Tall
Trees
X feet
50
100
150
200
300
400
2000
max
21-Feb / 21-Apr /
21-Dec
21-Oct
21-Aug
21-Jun
Hours of Sunlight Received when X feet
from 60' Tall Trees
0
0
4.5
5.5
0
4
8
9
3
6.5
9.5
10.5
5
7.5
10.5
11.5
6.5
8.5
11.5
12.5
7
9
12
13.5
8.5
10.5
13.5
14.5
9
11
13.5
15
Solar Radiation
Sun Exposure
• Day length & angle of incidence impact
• ⅓ to ½ energy available cold months relative to summer
• Note that March & April are better than October
Average Daily Radiation on Horizontal Surface
(kWh/m2/day)
High Growth
Months
7
6
Slow Growth
Months
5
4
3
2
1
0
Jan
Feb
Mar
Apr
May
Jun
Jul
Aug
Sep
Oct
Nov
Dec
Sun Exposure
Take home messages
• If trees surround your garden and are 50 feet away or
less – hot weather crops will not thrive
• For late spring / summer season, focus on cutting trees
East and West of garden
• If you want to extend season into the fall, cut trees to
the south
• March and especially April get plenty of sun – plant
early!
• If shade is a fact of life:
– check out Mother Earth News – Best Shade-Tolerant
Vegetables By Colleen Vanderlinden
http://www.motherearthnews.com/organic-gardening/shade-tolerant-vegetables-zm0z11zsto.aspx
Sun Exposure
Questions?
SOIL FERTILITY
• What good soil looks like:
–granulation (crumbly, stable), aeration
(porous), water infiltration
–Organic Matter, soil cover, soil biology are
key
• Soil tests: why, when, how to take?
–Why: mineral levels, humus, indicative of
biological activity
–Soil contamination – Lead, Arsenic, other
heavy metals? Test if suspected.
SOIL FERTILITY
• Soil tests: why, when, how to take?
–When: fall, before ground is frozen
• Consistency is very important
–How: Soil probe and follow instructions
–Where we go: Crop Services International
(CSI)
–How often: yearly for first 3 years, then
every other year
SOIL FERTILITY
• Interpreting soil test results
–Sample soil test report
– Recommendations & consultation with
CSI
• Follow-up:
–Order soil amendments from Fedco
–Plan and follow a basic fertility program
SOIL FERTILITY
Basic fertility program: what to apply,
when
1. Broadcast rock powders to balance
minerals
2. Compost for organic matter and to
sustain biological activity
3. Liquid fertilizers: fish and seaweed to
sustain biology
SOIL FERTILITY
• Compost: important for organic matter and
to stimulate biology
–On new ground, start with ~1in.
–Decrease in future years as humus level
increases
–Too little or too much compost can be
problematic
– Blue Slope 860 642 7084 – pick up with your own
vehicle or small deliveries possible (delivery ~ $50 for
4yard truck)
– Beltane Farm 860 208 2887 / Kato Corner 860 537 3884
SAMPLE SOIL TEST REPORT
SAMPLE SOIL TEST REPORT
SAMPLE SOIL TEST REPORT
SAMPLE SOIL TEST RECOMMENDATIONS
SAMPLE SOIL TEST RECOMMENDATIONS
SAMPLE SOIL TEST RECOMMENDATIONS
SOIL FERTILITY
Questions?
Animal Management
Fencing needed for…
•
•
•
•
Deer
Woodchucks
Rabbits
Raccoons
Other furry pests…
• Rodents: mice, moles, voles, shrews
Animal Management
Deer – What you need
– 8 feet fence recommended
– 6-7 feet may work for small garden
– Posts
• Cedar
• or Metal
– Fencing
• Plastic
• or Metal
– Gate
Animal Management
Cedar Posts
• buried 2½-3ft
– (need 11ft pole)
• Space 25ft apart
• Posthole digger & metal
bar best for digging hole
• Time: ½ hour per hole
• Cost: $15-25 per post
• Where: Lou Chilly, Chaplin 377-0066, or craigslist
Animal Management
Metal Posts
• likely need two poles bolted together
– bolt together after pounding in the ground
• Support is needed, rope or cable to the ground to a
metal bar
– These supports are annoying (trip over, mow around)
Animal Management
Metal Posts (continued)
• Post pounder needed
– sledge hammer destroys the post for bolting together
•
•
•
•
Space 10-15ft part
Time: 5 minutes per post
Cost: $8 per section (two metal posts)
Where: Mansfield Supply, Willard's, Thompsons,
Mackeys, John’s scrap metal
Animal Management
Fencing
• Plastic (available from Mansfield Supply,
Thompsons)
– Advantages:
• very inexpensive ($30 for 100ft X 7ft)
• Fairly easy to install
– Disadvantages:
• deer may rip through it, can’t see it at night
• Buttons of shirts always getting hung up on it
Animal Management
Fencing (continued)
• Metal – chicken wire or other metal fence
(available from Thompsons)
– Advantages:
• Deer won’t get through
• Keeps out woodchucks (if buried)
– Disadvantages:
• More expensive and harder to install
Animal Management
Gate – Options
• Make out of wood
– Use chicken wire or finer mesh
– Wood available from Willards, Mansfield Supply
– Chicken wire or mesh from Mansfield Supply, Willards
• or Chain link
– Buy used from John’s scrap metal,
off of Rt. 6 (Columbia)
• No gaps at bottom, keep out woodchucks
– Sill to prevent from going under
Animal Management
Woodchucks, Rabbits, Raccoons
• Woodchucks – Can be devastating to a garden
• Rabbits – moderate pest, much less than
woodchuck
• Raccoons – known for eating corn (and killing
chickens)
Animal Management
Woodchucks, Rabbits, Raccoons
• Keeping them out
– Woodchucks will dig under fences
• Need to bury chicken wire 1 ft deep around garden
– Woodchucks and Raccoons will climb over
• Wire should extend at least a few feet above ground and
“sewn” with upper fence
– Chicken wire from Mansfield Supply or Thompsons
– Other Options for Woodchucks
• Flush them out of their hole, deluge of water
• Have-a-Heart traps
• Easy to shoot with a .22 rifle
Animal Management
Rodents: Mice, Moles, Voles, Shrews
• Can be devastating to roots, tubers and even
spinach
• Solutions
– Cats - we have little to no damage since getting
cats
• They must have access to the garden
– Snap traps at rodent hole entrances
• Dig a small trench at entrance holes
• Use wooden traps with yellow “cheese”
• Bait with peanut butter, re-bait every few days
Animal Management
Questions?
Soil Preparation
From Sod to Garden Soil
• Goals
– Kill sod, including quackgrass
– Eliminate thick fibrous roots
– Loosen subsoil
• Different Methods
– Double-digging
– Mulch Coverage
– Clear Plastic Burn
– Mechanical Tillage
– Raised Beds
Soil Preparation
Double-digging
• Process
– Dig a trench the width of the garden,
one foot deep, placing soil on surface
or in wheelbarrow
– Loosen soil at bottom of trench using
spading fork
– Expand the 1 foot deep trench,
putting the new soil from the top 1
foot into the previous trench
• Flop over sod, putting at bottom of 1 foot trench
• Mix in compost at the same time
– Continue for the entire garden area
Soil Preparation
Double-digging (cont)
• Pros
– Best method for the long-term success of your garden
– Can plant soon after
• Con
– A lot of work
• Sources:
John Jeavons: How to Grow More Vegetables
Soil Preparation
Mulch Coverage
• Process
–
–
–
–
–
Put 1 inch layer of manure or compost over garden area
Put 12 inches of mulch: leaves, hay or straw over garden area
Weed whenever something starts growing through mulch
Wait one year
Remove mulch and plant (do not incorporate mulch!)
• Pros:
– Very healthy for the soil
– Minimal effort
• Cons:
– Takes one year
– Sub-soil not loosened
Soil Preparation
Clear Plastic Burn
• Process
–
–
–
–
Lay clear plastic over garden area
Weigh down edges, tighter the better
Wait months
Loosen using a shovel, till lightly or mulch over winter
• Pros:
– Easy
– Kills quackgrass
• Cons:
– Need to do at the hottest time of the year
– Sub-soil not loosened
Soil Preparation
Mechanical Tillage
• Process
– Put 1 inch layer of manure or compost over garden area
– Till garden with roto-tiller
– Wait 4 weeks, depending on soil structure, till again
– Loosen soil with rake and Plant
• Pros
– Its fast and easy
– Good growth first year
– Breaks up sod
• Cons
– Causes soil compaction and damages soil structure
– Sub-soil not loosened
– Need to rent or buy tiller, or hire someone
Soil Preparation
Raised Beds
• Process
– Build raised bed structure to desired height (8 to 12 inches)
– Width of 3’ reasonable, length as much as desired
– Bring in quality soil: mix of fill, topsoil and compost/manure
• Pros
– Excellent for wet soils, raised beds will stay drier
– Can plant immediately
– Weeds won’t encroach
– Slightly less bending
• Cons
– A lot of work
– Need to find uncontaminated soil
– Bed barriers will rot, or you’ll need to use pressure treated wood
Soil Preparation
Questions?
PLANT AND SEED SELECTION
• How many plants and of what type?
–consider growing area
–yields
–planting & harvest schedules
–crop needs (trellising, picking, covering)
–pests & disease
• Make a week-by-week planting schedule
• Plan to feed your family year-round from
your garden
7/15(10/22) squash, winter
S21 S20 S19 S18 S17 S16 S15 S14 S13 S12 S11 S10 S09 S08 S07 S06 S05 S04 S03 S02 S01
C22 C21 C20 C19 C18 C17 C16 C15 C14 C13 C12 C11 C10 C09 C08 C07 C06 C05 C04 C03 C02 C01
Week-by-week planting schedule (field and soil blocks)
4/16(6/17) lettu
10-Mar
17-Mar
24-Mar
7-Apr
9/23(1/0) covercrop 4/9(7/20)
9/23(1/0)
7/7(10/9)
covercrop 4/9(7/20)31-Mar
squa
carrots
carrots
1-lettuces(E06,E06)
2-spinach(E04-05)
1.5-carrots(E10-11)
1.5-beets(C04,J06)
5-kale(C01-03,S01-02)
2-carrots(E07-08)
3-beets(E09,W05,W09)
0.67-arugula(N04,N04)
2-carrots(C21,S21)
9/23(1/0) covercrop
9/6(1/0) covercrop
4/16(6/17) lettu
5/7(8/14)
7/30(9/20) cucumbers,1.5-radishes(E11,W10)
slicers 7/30(9/18)
cucumbers,
picklercarrots
4/4(7/16) carrots
1.4-lettuces(W06-07)
2-claytonia(W04,W11)
5-peas, snap(Y01-03,Z01-02
1.33-spicy mix(N04,S04)
2-cabbage(Y04-05)
2-carrots(W08,X03)
) 2-carrots(S20,X22)
4-broccoli(Y06,Z04-06)
9/6(1/0) covercrop 4/22(7/31) carrots
9/6(1/0) covercrop
7/7(10/9) squa
4/22(7/31) carrots
2-spinach(J01,Z03)
1-lettuces(Y06)
10-onions(Y07-11,Y11,Z07-1
26 Total Beds
7/30(10/12) squash, summer & z.
7/30(10/12) squash, summer & z.
9/6(1/0) covercrop 5/7(1/0) carrots
9/6(1/0) covercrop 5/7(8/14) carrots
5/7(11/1) parsley
9/6(1/0) covercrop 5/7(8/14) carrots
7 Total Beds
10 Total Beds
5/17(9/19) eggplant
12-Maycrop, dates)
Field Map (bed
ID,
5/17(9/19)
eggplant
1.25352112676056X2-lettuce
2-eggplant(C14-15)
5-May
3-carrots(C16-17,C20)
2-arugula(N07,S16)
5/18(9/20) eggplant
2-carrots(S17,Z24)
5/17(9/19) eggplant
1-bok choy(W29,W29)
5/18(9/20) eggplant
5/18(9/20) eggplant
5/18(9/20) eggplant
7/5(10/4) cabbage
2-Jun
9-Jun
1.8-arugula(Y29,S03)
2-basil(E11,W11)
7/5(9/12) broccoli
1.17307692307692X2-brussel 2.5-sweet potatoes(Z07-11)
s sprouts(S03,X25)
7/5(9/12) broccoli 5/22(6/30) arugula
2-basil(B01-02)
5-okra(C32-36) 7/17(9/23) broccoli 4/4(7/14) beets
3-beets(Y27-28,Z27)
1-spicy mix(Z28)
#N/A
4/8(11/29) kale
4/8(11/29) kale4.5 Total Beds
30.25 Total Beds
s(N06,X05)
6-lettuces(N08,N10,N12,N14
5/18(9/20)
eggplant
1.6056338028169X2-cucumber
,N16,N18)
s, slicers(X05,X07,X07,X07)
2-eggplant(S14-15)
5/18(9/20) eggplant
1.39171259440702X2-cucumbe 1-quinoa(Y35-36)
rs, 5/18(9/20)
pickler(X09,X09,X11)
8-eggplant(C10,C10-13,S10eggplant
2.01449275362319X2-squash,
13)
5/18(9/20)
eggplant 5/18(9/20) eggplant
summer
& z.(X13,X15,X15)
7-sweet potatoes(Y12-14,Y1
7/5(10/4)
cabbage
4,Z12-14,Z14)
38.5307205552154 Total Beds
C
7/5(10/4) cabbage
S
7 Total Beds
7/5(10/4) cabbage
6.5 Total Beds
5/17(9/19) eggplant
7/5(10/4) cabbage 7/5(10/4) cabbage
7/5(10/4) cabbage
5/17(7/12) lettu
7/7(10/9) squa
5/17(7/12) lettu
23 Total Beds
7/7(10/9) squa
19-May
#REF!
1.5X2-tomato, field(E24,E2
10/29(1/0) gar
1.5X2-tomato, heirloom(E26
10/29(1/0) ,W2
gar
2X2-tomato, cherry(W26,W28
10/29(1/0) ,W2
gar
1X2-tomato, heirloom(W30,W
10/28(1/0) gar3
1X2-tomato, paste(W32,W32)
10/28(1/0) gar
2-beans, bush(Y15-16)
10/28(1/0) gar
10/28(1/0) gar
16-Jun
23-Jun
2-potatoes(Y21,Z21)
3-beans, dry(K01,K01-02)
, summer & z.(N07,N0
7/5(9/12) broccoli
10/28(1/0) gar
3-lettuces(B03-05) ∞
3-corn, grain(K02-03-03)
2X2-cucumbers, pickler(N09
5-carrots(C26-30)
3-beans, dry(K04,K04-05)
,N1
7/5(9/12) broccoli 5/22(6/30)
10/28(1/0) garli
arugula
2-arugula(E04,F10)
4-corn, grain(K05-06-07)
1X2-cucumbers, slicers(N13
2-lettuces(F11,F14)
∞ broccoli2X2-celeriac(K11,N01)
7/17(9/23)
10/24(1/0) garli
4/4(7/14) beets
2-spicy mix(X33-34)
2X2-squash, summer & z.(N0
3-beans, bush(K08-10)
3,N05,N05)
4/8(11/29) kale
10/24(1/0) garli
2-beets(X35-36)
1X2-cucumbers, pickler(N07
4/8(11/29) kale
10/24(1/0) gar
,N07)
0.478260869565217X2-squash
10/23(1/0)
4/8(11/29) kale
21 Total Beds
29.9565217391304
Total garlic
Beds
PLANT AND SEED SELECTION
• Sequential plantings for continual harvest
• Hybrid vs. Heirloom: taste, productivity,
vigor, seed saving
• Seed Suppliers (none of these carry GM)
–Johnny’s Selected Seeds
(johnnyseeds.com)
–Fedco (fedcoseeds.com)
–High Mowing Organic Seeds
(highmowingseeds.com)
PLANT AND SEED SELECTION
• Seed Storage/Life
– Cool, dry place (freezer)
– Onions, parsley, parsnip – 1 year; 3 years for
most other crops
– When in doubt, use new seed
• Inoculate seeds for improved plant
health & yields:
– Myco Seed Treatment (mychorrhizal fungi-covers
for veggies and legumes; Fedco $50)
– Garden Combination Legume Inoculant $5
(Rhizobium bacteria - Johnny’s and Fedco)
PLANTING TIMES
• Plant crops considering frost dates
• Frost dates in CT (2001-2010 data):
– Last frost date: 3rd week of May
– First frost date: 1st week of October
• Plant crops at their most favorable time
of the season:
–Weather
–Insect & disease cycles
• ex: radishes – insects
• ex: cucumbers – disease
PLANTING TIMES
● Highs for that day
● Lows for that day
▬ Rolling Average High
▬ Rolling Average Avg
▬ Rolling Average Low
PLANT SPACING AND METHODS
Direct seeding vs. transplanting
• Benefits of Transplanting:
–better care of seedlings
–jump start over weeds
–can handle rougher ground
–no thinning
–can transplant into mulch
PLANT SPACING AND METHODS
Direct seeding vs. transplanting
• Drawbacks of Transplanting :
– possible transplanting shock/setback
– some plants do not transplant (carrots, beets)
– need supplies (potting soil, pots or soil block
maker)
– have to plan ahead (schedule)
• Buy seedlings from reputable, disease free
source
Seeding soil blocks
Seedlings coming up
PLANT SPACING AND METHODS
Direct Seeding
• Start with well prepared seed bed
• Use correct seeding rate (ref: our chart)
• Weed & water regularly, especially when
plants are small
• Thin if necessary (beets, carrots particularly
important)
1 C20 C19 C18 C17 C16 C15 C14 C13 C12 C11 C10 C09 C08 C07 C06 C05 C04 C03 C02
1 S20 S19 S18 S17 S16 S15 S14 S13 S12 S11 S10 S09 S08 S07 S06 S05 S04 S03 S02
9/23(1/0) covercrop 7/30(9/20) cucumbers, slicers 7/30(9/18)
9/6(1/0) covercrop
5/7(8/14)
cucumbers,
picklercarrots
4/4(7/16) carrots
PLANT SPACING AND METHODS
• Map your garden area
–Grid your garden (ex: Bed A, Section 3)
–Arrange crops so all have adequate sun
–Rotate plant families to minimize disease &
pest problems
9/6(1/0) covercrop 4/22(7/31) carrots
9/6(1/0) covercrop 4/22(7/31) carrots
7/30(10/12) squash, summer & z.
7/30(10/12) squash, summer & z.
9/6(1/0) covercrop 5/7(1/0) carrots
9/6(1/0) covercrop 5/7(8/14) carrots
5/7(11/1) parsley
9/6(1/0) covercrop 5/7(8/14) carrots
5/17(9/19) eggplant
5/17(9/19) eggplant
5/17(9/19) eggplant
5/17(9/19) eggplant
5/18(9/20) eggplant
5/18(9/20) eggplant
5/18(9/20) eggplant
5/18(9/20) eggplant
5/18(9/20) eggplant
5/18(9/20) eggplant
5/18(9/20) eggplant
5/18(9/20) eggplant 5/18(9/20) eggplant
7/5(10/4) cabbage
7/5(10/4) cabbage
C
7/5(10/4) cabbage
S
7/5(10/4) cabbage
7/5(10/4) cabbage 7/5(10/4) cabbage
7/5(10/4) cabbage
7/5(9/12) broccoli
7/5(9/12) broccoli
7/5(9/12) broccoli 5/22(6/30) arugula
7/5(9/12) broccoli 5/22(6/30) arugula
7/17(9/23) broccoli 4/4(7/14) beets
7/17(9/23) broccoli 4/4(7/14) beets
#N/A
4/8(11/29) kale
4/8(11/29) kale
4/8(11/29) kale
PLANT AND SEED SELECTION
PLANT SPACING AND METHODS
crop
arugula
basil
beans, bush
beets
bok choy
broccoli
brussels sprouts
cabbage
Weeks
Direct
to
Seed
seeded/
TransVarieties
Company Transplant plant
Arugula
Johnny's
Direct
Genovese
Johnny's
Direct
Provider, Royal Burgundy
Johnny's
Direct
Red Ace, Early Wonder Tall Top
Johnny's
Direct
Mei Qing Choi
Johnny's
Direct
Diplomat, Bay Meadows
Johnny's
Transplant 3 to 5
Diablo
Johnny's
Transplant
5
Tendersweet, Storage#4, Ruby Johnny's
Perfection Transplant 3 to 5
PLANT AND SEED SELECTION
PLANT SPACING AND METHODS
crop
arugula
basil
beans, bush
beets
bok choy
broccoli
brussels sprouts
cabbage
Between
Frost
Typical
In-row
rows
Hardiness Thinning
spacing spacing
distance Yield
Su
(w /
(in.)
(in.)
covers)
(in.)
per ft2 Units pla
0
9
~10F
don't thin
0.09
lbs
0
11
will die
don't thin
0.4
bunch
2
22
will die
don't thin
0.9
pt bskt
1
11
~25F
3
0.2
bunch
1
11
~25F
don't thin
0.3
lbs.
18
22
~25F
n/a
0.2
lbs
18
22
~25F
n/a
0.10
lbs
18
22
~25F
n/a
1.0
lbs
PLANT AND SEED SELECTION
PLANT SPACING AND METHODS
Plant Date
crop
arugula
basil
beans, bush
beets
bok choy
broccoli
brussels sprouts
cabbage
Mar.
April
May
1 1 1 1 1 1 2 2
2
2
2 2 2 2 2 2 2 2 1 1 1 1
1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1 1
1 1
1 1
June
July
Aug. Sept.
2222222222222222
22
2222
11111111
2222111
2222
22
2222
Oct.
Nov.
PLANT AND SEED SELECTION
PLANT SPACING AND METHODS
crop
arugula
basil
beans, bush
beets
bok choy
broccoli
brussels sprouts
cabbage
Succession
plantings?
Notes
y
y
y
y
thinning is very important for good root size
y
n
n
n
Plant Family
Brassica
Labiatae (mint)
Legume
Chenepodia
Brassica
Brassica
Brassica
Brassica
PLANT AND SEED SELECTION
PLANT SPACING AND METHODS
Questions?
WATER
• How much do plants need
• When do plants need it
• How to calculate watering times
WATER
• Our rule of thumb: 1 inch water/week (rain +
irrigation)
• Soil observation is important
• Lack of water or too much water both cause
serious problems
• Rain gage strongly recommended (Johnny’s
or Fedco)
– proper placement is important
– What a weather station in Windham receives can be
much different
WATER
• Keep track of rain fall and watering amounts
• Critical watering times:
–At seeding and transplanting
–During germination and until plants
develop a mature root system (2+ weeks)
–Other growth stages: plant dependent (ex:
potatoes, beets, cucumbers)
WATER
• Straw or hay mulch prevents soil from drying
• Irrigation:
–overhead (watering can, wand or sprinklers)
–drip tape
–buried soaker hose
• Watering should be done with a gentle
shower!
• Water in early morning – watering during hotsunny part of day wastes water and crusts soil
WATER
• Watering in the evening can cause problems
with leaves being wet overnight
• Keep water in the root region. Wet leaves for
long periods can lead to disease
• Optimize frequency and amount of watering
– Not too much, not too little, not too often…
• Know the flow rate of your watering device:
fill a 5gal bucket and time how long it takes.
• Record how much water you’re putting down
each time you water.
WATER
Example of Watering Records
• Keep track of rain • Plant date
• When it needs to be watered
• crop
• Target 1” per week
• bed
Crop
carrots
beets
tomatoes
D
F
O
Bed(s)
Rain
E12
X01
GH
O
O
F
S
July
S M T W H F S S M T W H F S S M T W
29
30
1
.35
2
3
4
5
P √
6
7
8
.5
P
9
10
11 12 13
14
15 16 17
WATER
Watering
• ¼ inch of “rain” at one time is reasonable
– More than this can be too much
– less than this is watering too often
• Using a Watering Can (calculations)
– For a ¼ inch equivalent of rain:
• Water Required (gallons) = Area (ft2) X (0.16)
– Example
• Area: 10 ft2
• Water Required = 10 X (0.16) ≈ 1½ gallons
gallons required = 𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎 𝑓𝑡 2 ×
1
4
1 𝑓𝑡
𝑖𝑛𝑐ℎ 𝑟𝑎𝑖𝑛 × 12 𝑖𝑛𝑐ℎ𝑒𝑠 ×
1 𝑔𝑎
0.134 𝑓𝑡 3
WATER
Watering - Using a Wand
• For a ¼ inch equivalent of rain:
– Time Required (minutes) = Area (ft2) X 0.16 / wand flowrate (gpm)
– Need to calculate wand flowrate
• Fill a 5 gallon bucket with wand, calculate gallons per minute (gpm)
• Example
–
–
–
–
Area: 100 ft2
Wand Flowrate: 6 gpm
Time required = 100 X 0.16 / 6 ≈ 2½ minutes
Note: using a wand on less than 100 ft2 is likely to much water in
to short a time. We normally do a minimum of 300 ft2 when using
a wand at 6 gpm flowrate
𝑚𝑖𝑛𝑢𝑡𝑒𝑠 𝑟𝑒𝑞𝑢𝑖𝑟𝑒𝑑 = 𝐴𝑟𝑒𝑎 𝑓𝑡 2 ×
1
4
1 𝑓𝑡
𝑖𝑛𝑐ℎ 𝑟𝑎𝑖𝑛 × 12 𝑖𝑛𝑐ℎ𝑒𝑠 ×
1 𝑔𝑎
0.134 𝑓𝑡 3
÷ 𝑤𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑓𝑙𝑜𝑤𝑟𝑎𝑡𝑒 (𝑔𝑝𝑚)
WATER
Questions?
WEEDS
• Weed regularly
• Don’t let the weeds go to seed
• Do not use herbicides
• Pull weeds out by the root or cut
below the soil line
WEEDS
MULCH
• Helps control weeds
• Straw is better than hay because it won’t drop
seeds
• Hay is better than bare soil
• For heat loving crops (tomatoes, peppers,
eggplant, cucumbers, squash), wait until soil
has warmed up (70F, early summer) before
mulching
WEEDS
HOEING
• We use wheel hoe, hand hoes, standup
hoes, grub hoes, cobra weeder
• Works well when weeds are small, and
with proper technique (practice!)
• Helps soil aeration especially if you have
crusty soil or soil compaction
• Too much leads to oxidation of organic
matter
WEEDS
HAND WEEDING
• Takes longer than hoeing but can be
more effective and longer-lasting
• When we direct seed a bed, we hoe it
once or twice when the plants first come
up and weeds are small, and any
weeding after that is by hand
WEEDS
• Keeping the garden weed free pays back
in future – weeds will gradually become
less of a problem
• Certain periods are more challenging /
critical than others
• Plan to be on top of weeds during growth
spurt in early summer, and when plants
are small
WEEDS
Questions?
INSECTS
Beneficials
• Pollinators - needed by many plants
• Control pests by eating or parasitizing them
• Need water and source of nectar
Pests
• Pests are outnumbered by beneficials and
other insects
INSECTS
BENEFICIALS
• Plant herbs and flowers to attract them (dill,
carrot, queen anne’s lace, cosmos, mustard
family, cilantro, basil, clovers, etc.)
• Let them go to flower!
• Some beneficials we see: different kinds of
wasps, tachinid flies, praying mantids, lady
beetles, assassin bugs, spiders, lace wings,
ground beetles, etc.
INSECTS
Common Pests
Colorado Potato Beetle
Flea Beetles
Imported Cabbage
Butterfly
Tomato Horn Worm
Cross Striped Cabbage Worm
Tomato Horn Worms with
and without parasitic wasps
Beneficial Insects on dill:
Honeybee and wasps
INSECTS
PESTS:
• Flea beetles on brassicas
– cause problems in spring;
– can be significant problem on eggplant
– use row covers
– hand pick when wet/cool (tedious)
• Colorado Potato Beetle:
– regular inspection and hand picking
– recognize and kill adults and larvae
INSECTS
PESTS:
• Tomato horn worm
– regular inspection
– hand pick except for parasitized ones
• Cucumber beetles, squash bugs, bean
beetles
– regular inspection, hand pick, destroy eggs
• Root Maggots
– Radishes, turnips
– Worse in spring – shift planting to fall
INSECTS
PESTS:
• Squash borer
–find location and hand remove
• Imported cabbage worm, cross striped
cabbage moth
–use row covers;
–hand remove;
–soak broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower
heads in salt water after harvest
INSECTS
Pests
• Leaf miners:
–chard, beet leaves, less on spinach;
–squish larva borrowed in leaves
• Cutworms:
–active in spring until June;
–dig around plant with damage and kill
the worm
INSECTS
Pests
• Aphids:
–may signal too much N
–hand remove and/or wash off at harvest
–Lady Beetles will eat them
• Slugs
–like moisture - maximize ventilation
–hand remove
INSECTS
General Recommendations
• Healthy plants are less susceptible to pests
– make soil health a priority
• Do not use pesticides (harmful to nontarget insects)
• Identify pests and their different stages
(eggs, larvae, adult)
• Make sure you’re not killing beneficials or
other insects
INSECTS
General Recommendations (cont.)
• Schedule planting to avoid pest cycles
• Mulch may harbor pests like slugs but
overall we believe benefits outweigh
drawbacks
• Inspect plants regularly and keep garden
tidy
INSECTS
Questions?
COMMON DISEASES
General Recommendations:
• Crop rotation, soil fertility / health, and
basic field hygiene minimize disease
• Avoid disease prone times when
designing planting schedule
• Do not use fungicides or anything that
harms soil life
• Purchase plants from trusted sources
COMMON DISEASES
• Do not touch plants leaves when wet
• Do not touch healthy plants after
diseased ones.
• Remove diseased plant parts from the
garden.
• Avoid fungal diseases with good air
circulation.
• Look into disease resistant varieties when
purchasing seed.
COMMON DISEASES
Diseases We Experienced:
• Cercospora:
–beets, chard, carrot leaves
–prolonged high humidity and heat are
problematic (August)
• Early blight & septoria on tomatoes:
–avoid wet leaves
–mulch
–trellis to encourage good air circulation
COMMON DISEASES
Late Blight on tomatoes and potatoes:
• Very serious - rapidly kills plants
• Know where your plants come from
• Avoid wet leaves, esp. overnight and
during cooler periods (70F and lower)
• Trellis tomatoes for good air circulation
• Do not touch plants when wet/dewy
• Remove diseased plants from field
COMMON DISEASES
• Mildews on cucumbers and squashes for
plantings July and later. Plant early (June)
• Mildews on Basil: plant no later than 1st
week of June
• Fungal diseases on lettuces: plant early
and use disease resistant varieties
Septoria / Early Blight on tomato leaves
Cercospora on beet leaves
Trellised tomato plants: support, air circulation, ease of
harvest
COMMON DISEASES
Questions?
THE HARVEST
• Some vegetables need to be harvested
promptly and regularly (ex: broccoli,
tomatoes, cucumbers, okra).
• Others are more flexible (ex: chard, kale,
carrots, beets).
• Lettuces, spinach, greens such as arugula,
mustard, mizuna, bok choi and other brassicas
will bolt in the spring if not harvested on time
THE HARVEST
• Some vegetables produce all season (kale,
chard), others produce heaviest in a smaller
window of time (cucumbers, broccoli, etc.)
• Some veggies store for months under the
right conditions (ex: root veggies), others only
days.
• Be prepared to do something with your
vegetables (plan your harvest)
THE HARVEST
• Prepare meals around what’s in the garden
(in-season cooking)
• Use long-term storage techniques
–freezing (blanching or not)
–canning (hot water bath vs. pressure
canning)
–dehydrating (dehydrator or oven)
–fermentation
Short Term Storage
Short and
Long Term
Storage
Information
Location
fridge
counter
fridge
fridge
fridge
fridge
fridge
fridge
fridge
fridge
fridge
fridge
fridge
fridge
counter
fridge
pantry
fridge
fridge
fridge
pantry
fridge
fridge
fridge
pantry
fridge
fridge
fridge
fridge
fridge
pantry
fridge
pantry
counter
fridge
fridge
fridge
Storage Method
in plastic bag, loosely closed
roots in water (NOT IN FRIDGE)
in plastic bag, loosely closed
in plastic bag, loosely closed
in plastic bag, loosely closed
in plastic bag, partly open
in plastic bag, loosely closed
in plastic bag, loosely closed
in plastic bag, loosely closed
in plastic bag, loosely closed
in plastic bag, loosely closed
in plastic bag, loosely closed
in plastic bag, loosely closed
in plastic bag, loosely closed
store in jar, stems in water, loosely covered
in plastic bag, loosely closed
out of sun
in plastic bag, loosely closed
drain water from bag periodically
in plastic bag, loosely closed
out of sun
store in jar, stems in water, loosely covered
in plastic bag, closed
in plastic bag, loosely closed
in paper bag (need darkness)
in plastic bag, loosely closed
loosely covered (eat within 1 day)
in plastic bag, loosely closed
drain water from bag periodically
in plastic bag, loosely closed
out of sun
lightly covered
out of sun
in plastic bag, loosely closed
in plastic bag, loosely closed
* For long-term storage there are other options, such
as canning and freezing. Feel free to ask us.
Long Term Storage
Vegetable/Fruit
arugula
basil
beans
beets
bok choy
broccoli
brussels sprouts
cabbage
carrots
celeriac
chard
cilantro
corn, sweet
cucumbers
dill
eggplant
garlic
kale
lettuces
okra
onions
parsley
peas, snap
peppers
potatoes
radishes
raspberries
rutabaga
spinach
squash, summer & z.
squash, winter
strawberries
sweet potatoes
tomatoes
turnips, salad
w. turnips
watermelon
Ideal Temp.
(F)^
Humidity*^
52-59
40-45
32-40,32
32-35
32-40,32
32
32-40, 32
32
32
32
M: 90-95%
M: 95%
VM: 98-100%
M: 90-95%
D: 80%,VM: 95-100%
M: 95%
MM: 80-90%, 98-100%
VM: 95-100%
VM: 95-100%
VM: 95-100%
40-45, 32 MM: 80-95%, 95-98%
45-55
M: 90-95%
32-40, 46-54
32
32-40
32-40
45-50
36-40, 32-35
32
32
45-50
55-60, 45-50
32
31-32
32
32
40-50
55, 50
32-36
55-60
45-50, 55-70
32
32
55-70
Ethylene
Producer
Sensitive to
Ethylene
No
Yes
No
No
No
Yes
Yes
Yes
Very Low
Yes
Storage
Duration
7-10 days
4-5 months
10-14 days
3-5 weeks
5-6 months
2 weeks w/ tops, 7-9 months w/o
6-8 months
10-14 days
5-8 days
10-14 days
MM: 80-90%, 90-95%
No
Yes
1 week
VD: 65-70%
No
No
6-7 months
MM: 80-90%, ,VM: 95-100%
2-3 weeks
MM: 80-90%
M: 90-95%
Very Low
Yes
7-10 days
VD: 65-70%
No
No
8 months
VM: 95-100%
2-3 months
VM: 95-100%
1-2 weeks
MM: 80-90%
2-3 weeks
M: 90-95%
No
Yes
4-6 months
M: 95%
2-4 months
M: 90-95%
Very Low
No
2-3 days
M: 90-95%,98-100%
4-6 months
VM: 95-100%
10-14 days
VM: 95%
1-2 weeks
VD: 50-70%
1-6 months
M: 90-95%
Very Low
No
3-7 days
MM: 80-90%
No
Yes
4-7 months
M: 90-95%
4-7 days
M: 90-95%
2-4 months
M: 90-95%
2-4 months
M:85-95%
No
Yes, Very
* Very Dry, Dry, Moderately Moist, Moist, Very Moist
^ When there are multiple entries, different sources had
different recommendations.
Primary sources for the above information are:
The Gardener's A-Z Guide to Growing Organic Food, Tanya Denckla
Putting Food By, Janet Greene, Ruth Hertzberg, Beatrice Vaughan
www.engineeringtoolbox.com/fruits-vegetables-storage-conditions-d_710.html
THE HARVEST
Questions?
PUTTING THE GARDEN TO REST
• Remove plant debris
• Protect the soil with mulch or cover crop
MULCH
• Cover the ground with thick layer of
straw or hay mulch
• Keeps soil from eroding and oxidizing
• Helps earthworm / biological activity
PUTTING THE GARDEN TO REST
• COVER CROP:
–Plant after harvest, by September
–Rye, vetch, clover, pea combination does
well (Johnny’s fall green manure)
–Many types available for different purposes
PUTTING THE GARDEN TO REST
• COVER CROP BENEFITS:
–Prevents erosion
–Sustains soil biology over winter and early
spring
–Suppresses weeds
–Increases soil organic matter
PUTTING THE GARDEN TO REST
• COVER CROP DRAWBACKS:
–Needs to be managed
• Plant early
• Incorporate on time, giving enough time
to break down
• Or remove by hand before planting
other crops
–May encourage certain pests
PUTTING THE GARDEN TO REST
Questions?
Tools
• Soil Testing Probe
• Shovel / Spade: for initial work area preparation
• Tools for seed bed preparation: wheel cultivator (Lehman’s ~$100); three tooth
cultivator (Johnny’s $44), regular rake, leaf rakes
• Cobrahead weeder for soil preparation and weeding (Johnny’s $25)
• Hoes for weeds and soil aeration: wheel hoe (Lehman’s ~$100); stand up hoe
(Colinear Hoe Johnny’s $35)and hand hoes (Johnny’s $16).
• Hose & Watering wands / waterning cans / sprinklers (Wonder Waterer, Johnny’s
$40)
• Rain Gage (Johnny’s $5)
• Earthway Seeder - Johnny’s ~$109
• Potting Soil – McEnroe / Johnny’s/Willimantic Food Co-op
• Soil Block Maker 2” & 4” – Johnny’s ($30 & $99); Willimantic Food Co-op
• Tray for mixing potting soil
• 5 gallon bucket
• Wheel barrow
USEFUL RESOURCES
• Wheeler, Philip and Ward, Ronald: The Non-Toxic Farming Handbook
– Good, in-depth resource for soil fertility (including soil testing), from the people
who established Crop Services International.
• Coleman, Eliot: The New Organic Grower
– Covers the most important aspects of growing; geared to small farmers.
• Denckla, Tanya: The Gardener’s A-Z Guide to Growing
– Provides crop-specific as well as general information for gardeners.
• Rodale: Encyclopedia of Organic Gardening
– Great overall reference.
• Rodale’s Successful Gardening: Controlling Pests and Disease
– Basic information and good pictures on pests & diseases.
• Whitney and Cranshaw: Garden Insects of North America
– Excellent, comprehensive resource for insect identification. This is the book we
go to when we have insect problems.
USEFUL RESOURCES
• Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences: Identifying Diseases of
Vegetables
– Has good pictures for easy identification of common diseases.
• Greene, Janet; Hetrzberg, Ruth; & Vaughan Beatrice: Putting Food By
– Excellent resource covering most practical methods of food storage and
preservation; includes recipes.
• Katz, Sandor: Wild Fermentation
– Great resource on why and how of fermentation, with many practical recipes.
• The Natural Farmer, published by NOFA 4 times per year
– Geared for organic farmers of our size or larger; good publication to get you
acquainted with various aspects of farming, from growing practices to food
politics.
• The Natural Farmer - Special Supplement on Food Preservation, Fall
2013
– This issue gives an excellent overview of different methods of food preservation
USEFUL RESOURCES
• The Maine Organic Farmer & Gardener
– Another periodical, form Maine, similar to The Natural Farmer in what it
covers.
BACKUP
Sun Exposure
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
10
0
noon
21-Jun
21-Apr / 21-Aug
10am
21-Feb / 21-Oct
21-Dec
8am
6am
360
270
180
Azimuth (deg)
90
0
Altitude (deg)
Sun position throughout the day
ROW COVERS
• Offer frost protection
• Insect protection
• Extra heat/faster growth in spring, fall &
winter
• Reduce light transmitted to plants
• Plants in the ground from October to May
should be protected against frost
• Available at Johnny’s, Fedco, Nolt’s, and
other suppliers
ROW COVERS
• Depending on type, can be used directly on
plants or with hoop tunnels
• Need to be vented to prevent overheating
• Difficult in windy conditions
• For some crops, row covers must be removed
at flowering to allow insect pollination (ex:
cucumbers, squashes, melons)