Commonsense Vegetable Gardening for the Texas Gulf Coast

Commonsense Vegetable Gardening for the Texas Gulf Coast By Thomas R. Le. Roy Montgomery County Extension Agent - Horticulture

Why Garden? n n Homegrown vegetables taste better. You have control over what pesticides are applied. Good exercise. Fun!

Planting By The Moons?

How to be a Green Thumb Gardener Select Recommended Varieties. n Plant at the Right Time. n Proper Soil Preparation and Fertilization. n Control Weeds, Diseases and Insects. n Adequate Soil Moisture. n Harvest at the Right Time. n

Ideal Garden Location Receives 8 + hours of sunlight. n Soil has good internal and external drainage. n Free of competition from other large plants, buildings, etc. n Near a source of water. n Visible! n

Garden Design Traditional Garden Box Garden Postage Stamp Garden

What is an Ideal Soil? p. H 6. 0 – 6. 5 (Slightly Acid). n 5 – 10% Organic Matter. n 50% Pore Space ( Air, Water, Microorganisms). n Texture - Sandy to Sandy Loam. n

Soil Preparation n n Have a soil test run. Incorporate plenty of organic matter. Add bank sand or sharp sand to improve drainage. Add nutrients if necessary.

Cultural Practices Reduce Pesticide Use Healthy Soils n Resistant Varieties n Planting Time n Proper Watering n Soil Fertility n Sanitation n Weed Control n Diverse Planting n Crop Rotation n

Floating Row Cover 2° to 4° F of Frost Protection. n Wind Protection. n Keeps Out Insects. n Allows 85 to 90% Light Penetration. n

Growing Up Not Out

Composting – Recycle Yard Waste

Mulching Materials Compost n Leaves n Pine Needles n Hay n Grass Clippings n Paper n Plastic n

Starting Your Own Plants from Seeds n n n Select Proper Varieties. Sterile Potting Media. Sterile Containers. High Light Intensity for 14 -16 hours. Regular Applications of Soluble Fertilizer

Container Gardening n n Excellent for small yards or patio homes. Requires more care: n n n Water. Fertilizer. Use large containers with a loose potting media to reduce compaction.

Harvest at the Proper Time Quality can vary greatly depending on time harvested. n Take the time to learn when the various vegetables should be harvested. n

Warm Season Vegetables

Nightshade Family Tomato n Pepper n Eggplant n Potato n Tomatillo n

Recipe for Successful Tomato Production

1. Plant large, vigorous plants. Incorporate ¼-½ cup of complete, slow release fertilizer at planting.

2. Wrap tomato cages with row cover.

3. Apply a weekly foliar spray of a water soluble fertilizer with micronutrients.

4. Work in 2 -3 Tbs. of high nitrogen fertilizer when 1 st cluster of fruit sets.

Growing Potatoes

Eggplant

How to Produce Large Bells n n Select Hybrid Varieties. Plant When Soil Reaches 65 -70° F. Fertilize Frequently With High Nitrogen Fertilizer. Remove The First Fruit.

Everyone's hot for Hot! Peppers

Pepper Varieties Worth Trying Red Cheese Pimento Senorita Jalapeno Mucho Nacho Jalapeno

Common Diseases and Insects of the Nightshade Family

Legume Family n n n n Green (Snap) Beans Lima Beans Southern Pea English Pea Edible-podded Pea Soybean Jicama Runner Bean

Green (Snap) Bean Plant March-April and September n Moderately Fertile Soil. n Harvest When Pods are Young and Tender. n

Lima (Butter) Beans n n n Plant March - Early April and September. Moderately Fertile Soil. Harvest When Pods are Mature and Seeds Fully Developed.

Southern Peas n n Plant April thru August. Prefers warm soil. Requires moderately fertile soils. Harvest when pods are mature and start to yellow.

Edible-podded Peas n n Plant Late September thru January. Moderately Fertile Soil. Most Varieties Need Support. Light Production But High Quality.

Common Diseases and Insects of the Legume Family

Grass Family – Sweet Corn n Plant March – April. Fertilize at Planting, 1 Foot Tall & Tassel Visible in the Whorl with ½-1 Cup 21 -0 -0 per 10 Ft. of Row. 90%+ Harvested the same day.

Types of Sweet Corns n n Sweet Corn (su)- Traditional sweet corn with sweet flavor and creamy consistency. Sugar degrades rapidly to starch. Sugary Enhanced (se) – Tender kernels, much sweeter flavor and creamy consistency. Maintains sweet flavor much longer than traditional sweet corn. Super Sweets (sh 2)- Very crisp kernels, even after freezing, and a much higher sugar content. Sugar is very stable within the kernel but it lacks the creamy consistency. Triple Sweets (su x se x sh 2)- A combination of high sugar and creamy consistency, carrying a combination of traits from both sugar enhanced and super sweet varieties.

Plant Corn in Multiple Rows

Corn Insects and Disease

Cucurbit (Gourd) Family n n n n Cucumber Squash Cantaloupe Honeydew Watermelon Pumpkin Gourd

Male and Female Flowers

Cucumbers n n Plant late March – April and September. Moderate Fertility. Easily trellised. Harvest for pickles when fruit reaches desired size and slicers when near maturity.

Squash n n n Plant late March – April and September. Moderate Fertility. Harvest n n Winter Squash when mature, rind hard. Summer Squash when tender and immature.

Melons n n Plant late April thru July. Moderate Fertility. Easily trellised. Harvest at full slip or tendril at base of fruit turns brown.

Pantyhose Melons

Common Diseases and Insects of the Cucurbit Family Squash Bugs & Eggs Squash Vineborer Powdery Mildew Squash Bugs

Mallow Family n Okra Plant April thru July when soils are warm. n Moderate fertility. n Harvest when pods are small and tender. n

Okra Harvest

Okra Disease Solarize Nematodes Elbon Cereal Rye

Morning-glory Family n Sweet Potato Plant after soils have warmed, May thru July. n Moderate fertility. n Harvest when roots are fully cured. n

Cool Season Vegetables Plant from September thru February. n Heavy feeders. Use frequent, small applications of high nitrogen fertilizers. n

Crucifer (Cabbage) Family Cabbage n Broccoli n Cauliflower n Brussels sprouts n Turnips n Kale n Kohlrabi n Radish n Collards n Mustard n

Cabbage

Broccoli

Cauliflower

Brussels Sprouts

Collards, Kale & Kohlrabi

Turnips and Mustards

Radish / Daikon

Composite (Sunflower) Family n n n Cardoon Globe Artichoke Radicchio Lettuce Endive

Lettuce n n n Plant when soil cools in fall & winter. Seed needs light to germinate. Refrigerate before use.

Parsley (Umbel) Family Carrot n Parsley n Fennel n Dill n Celery n Parsnip n

Carrots n n n Plant seed from early October thru December. Seed need light to germinate. Give regular light applications of nitrogen fertilizer.

Amaryllis (Onion) Family n n n Onions Leeks Garlic Shallots Chives

Onions n n n Plant seeds in early November, plants in January. Low sulfur soil for sweet onions. Fertilize with small amounts of nitrogen, frequently.

Leeks n n Plant clusters of 5 -8 seed every 6 inches. Start to thin when pencil size. Apply frequent, small amounts of nitrogen fertilizer. Blanch to improve quality.

Garlic n n n Plant cloves about 4 – 6 inches apart. Small frequent applications of nitrogen. Harvest tops and roots as needed.

Goosefoot Family n n n Beets Swiss Chard Spinach

Cool Season Vegetable Insects

Lily Family n Asparagus n n Plant in well drained, organic soil. Use high nitrogen fertilizers. Harvest for a short period in the spring and fall. Size of spears indicates plant vigor.

Buckwheat Family n Rhubarb Plant, plants in early fall. n Treat as an annual. n Benefits from afternoon shade. n

Know the Good Guys

Know the Good Guys

Integrated Pest Management n n Provide plants with the best care and culture possible. Use only the most adapted varieties. If chemical (organic or man-made) control is necessary start with the most environmentally friendly products first. Apply chemicals, (organic or man-made) properly, safely and according to the label.

The End

Recipe for Successful Tomatoes n n Plant large, vigorous plants. Incorporate ¼-½ cup of complete, slow release fertilizer at planting. Wrap tomato cages with Row Cover. Apply a weekly foliar spray of a water soluble fertilizer with micro-nutrients. Work in 2 -3 Tbs. of high N fertilizer when 1 st cluster of fruit sets.