The Art of Vegetable Gardening Vincent J Mannino

The Art of Vegetable Gardening Vincent J. Mannino, County Extension Director – Fort Bend

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

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

Get a Quality Start! - SEEDS n Seed sources to use: n n n – Reputable catalogs – Reputable local retailers – Saved from open-pollinated sources – New varieties – Heirloom varieties

Getting a Quality Start! - SEEDS Saving your own seed: – Hybrids will not be same as what you purchased – Disease potential. – Pick when mature. – Process properly – Store properly *** Keep accurate records each year! 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 Gardens (raised) Box Garden (raised) Postage Stamp Gardens

What is an Ideal Soil? p. H 6. 0 – 6. 5 (Slightly Acid). n 5 – 10% Organic Matter. n 40 – 45% Inorganic Matter (Sand, Silt or Clay) n 50% Pore Space ( Air and Water). n Texture - Sandy to Sandy Loam. n

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

Cultural Practices Reduce Pesticide Use (IPM) 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

Growing Up - Not Out

Composting – Recycle Yard Waste

Compost Materials Household organics n Leaves n Pine Needles n Hay n Grass Clippings n Paper n

Starting Your Own Plants from n Average last frost ~ Seeds n n n March 5 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

Vegetable Family Members n n n Nightshade – Tomato, potato, eggplant, pepper Legumes – Peas, beans (same family as clover) Grass – Corn Cucurbit – Squash, pumpkin, watermelon, cantaloupe, cucumber, gourds Mallow – Okra Morning Glory – Sweet Potatoes

Vegetable Family Members n n n Composite – Lettuce, chicory, endive, escarole, salsify, dandelion, Jerusalem artichoke Parsley – Carrots, parsley, celery, parsnip Amaryllis – Onions, garlic, leek, chive, Goosefoot – Spinach, beets & chard. Lily - Asparagus Mustards – Cabbage, collards, Brussel sprouts, kale, radish, cauliflower, broccoli, kohlrabi, turnip

Nightshade Family Tomato n Pepper n Eggplant n Potato * Transplants n

Recipe for Successful Production *Tomatoes can be temperature sensitive for fruit set

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

Tomatoes - May plant as early as January 15 th in 1 -gallon containers and grow in full sun until after the last killing frost.

Apply a weekly foliar spray of a water soluble fertilizer.

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

Fertilize every two weeks with 21 -0 -0 at 1 Tablespoon per plant.

Common Diseases and Insects of the Nightshade Family

Legume Family Green (Snap) Beans n Lima Beans n Southern Pea n English Pea n Edible-podded Pea n Soybean n Runner Bean * Direct Plant Seeds n

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. Direct plant seed 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 Sweet Corn (su)- Traditional sweet corn with sweet flavor & creamy consistency. Sugar degrades rapidly to starch. n Sugary Enhanced (se) – Tender kernels, much sweeter flavor and creamy consistency. Maintains sweet flavor much longer than traditional sweet corn. n

Types of Sweet Corns Super Sweets (sh 2)- Very crisp kernels, even after freezing, and a much higher sugar content. Sugar is very stable within the kernel but lacks the creamy consistency. n Triple Sweets (su x se x sh 2)- Combination of high sugar and creamy consistency, carrying a combination of traits from both sugar enhanced and super sweet varieties. n

Plant Corn in Multiple Rows

Plant Corn in Blocks

Corn Insects and Disease

Cucurbit (Gourd) Family Cucumber n Squash n Cantaloupe n Honeydew n Watermelon n Pumpkin n Gourd n *Temperature sensitive for fruit set * Usually direct seed n

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 Powdery Mildew Squash Vineborer 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 Plants or “slips” n

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

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 *Direct Seed 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 Beets n Swiss Chard n Spinach * Direct plant seed n

Lily Family n Asparagus n n n Plant in well drained, organic soil. Deep Use high nitrogen fertilizers. Harvest for a short period in the spring and fall. Size of spears indicates plant vigor. Takes 2 -3 years to establish

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.

Recommended Pesticides n Insecticides n n n insecticidal soaps malathion carbaryl permethrin Fungicides n pesticidal oils- petroleum based copper base sulfur base captan daconil n ALWAYS FOLLOW LABEL DIRECTIONS n n

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