Transcript Commonsense Vegetable Gardening for the Texas Gulf Coast

Commonsense
Vegetable
Gardening
for the
Texas Gulf Coast
By Thomas R. LeRoy
Montgomery County Extension Agent - Horticulture
Why Garden?
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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
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Select Recommended Varieties.
Plant at the Right Time.
Proper Soil Preparation and Fertilization.
Control Weeds, Diseases and Insects.
Adequate Soil Moisture.
Harvest at the Right Time .
Ideal Garden Location
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Receives 8 + hours of sunlight.
Soil has good internal and external
drainage.
Free of competition from other large
plants, buildings, etc.
Near a source of water.
Visible!
Garden Design
Traditional Garden
Box Garden
Postage Stamp Garden
What is an Ideal Soil?
pH 6.0 – 6.5 (Slightly Acid).
 5 – 10% Organic Matter.
 50% Pore Space ( Air, Water, Microorganisms).
 Texture - Sandy to Sandy Loam.
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Soil Preparation
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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
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Healthy Soils
Resistant Varieties
Planting Time
Proper Watering
Soil Fertility
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Sanitation
Weed Control
Diverse Planting
Crop Rotation
Floating Row Cover
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2° to 4° F of Frost
Protection.
Wind Protection.
Keeps Out Insects.
Allows 85 to 90%
Light Penetration.
Growing Up Not Out
Composting – Recycle Yard Waste
Mulching Materials
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Compost
Leaves
Pine Needles
Hay
Grass Clippings
Paper
Plastic
Starting Your Own Plants from
Seeds
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Select Proper
Varieties.
Sterile Potting
Media.
Sterile Containers.
High Light Intensity
for 14-16 hours.
Regular Applications
of Soluble Fertilizer
Container Gardening
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Excellent for small
yards or patio homes.
Requires more care:
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Water.
Fertilizer.
Use large containers
with a loose potting
media to reduce
compaction.
Harvest at the Proper Time
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Quality can vary
greatly depending
on time harvested.
Take the time to
learn when the
various vegetables
should be
harvested.
Warm Season Vegetables
Nightshade Family
Tomato
 Pepper
 Eggplant
 Potato
 Tomatillo
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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 1st cluster of fruit
sets.
Growing Potatoes
Eggplant
How to Produce Large Bells
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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
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Green (Snap) Beans
Lima Beans
Southern Pea
English Pea
Edible-podded Pea
Soybean
Jicama
Runner Bean
Green (Snap) Bean
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Plant March-April
and September
Moderately Fertile
Soil.
Harvest When
Pods are Young
and Tender.
Lima (Butter) Beans
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Plant March - Early
April and September.
Moderately Fertile
Soil.
Harvest When Pods
are Mature and Seeds
Fully Developed.
Southern Peas
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Plant April thru
August.
Prefers warm soil.
Requires
moderately fertile
soils.
Harvest when pods
are mature and
start to yellow.
Edible-podded Peas
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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
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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
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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 (sh2)- 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 sh2)- 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
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Cucumber
Squash
Cantaloupe
Honeydew
Watermelon
Pumpkin
Gourd
Male and Female Flowers
Cucumbers
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Plant late March –
April and September.
Moderate Fertility.
Easily trellised.
Harvest for pickles
when fruit reaches
desired size and
slicers when near
maturity.
Squash
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Plant late March –
April and September.
Moderate Fertility.
Harvest
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Winter Squash when
mature, rind hard.
Summer Squash
when tender and
immature.
Melons
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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
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Okra
Plant April thru
July when soils are
warm.
 Moderate fertility.
 Harvest when
pods are small and
tender.
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Okra Harvest
Okra Disease
Solarize
Nematodes
Elbon Cereal Rye
Morning-glory Family
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Sweet Potato
Plant after soils
have warmed,
May thru July.
 Moderate fertility.
 Harvest when
roots are fully
cured.
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Cool Season Vegetables
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Plant from
September thru
February.
Heavy feeders.
Use frequent,
small applications
of high nitrogen
fertilizers.
Crucifer (Cabbage) Family
Cabbage
 Broccoli
 Cauliflower
 Brussels sprouts
 Turnips
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Kale
 Kohlrabi
 Radish
 Collards
 Mustard
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Cabbage
Broccoli
Cauliflower
Brussels Sprouts
Collards, Kale & Kohlrabi
Turnips and Mustards
Radish / Daikon
Composite (Sunflower) Family
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Cardoon
Globe Artichoke
Radicchio
Lettuce
Endive
Lettuce
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Plant when soil
cools in fall &
winter.
Seed needs
light to
germinate.
Refrigerate
before use.
Parsley (Umbel) Family
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Carrot
Parsley
Fennel
Dill
Celery
Parsnip
Carrots
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Plant seed from
early October
thru December.
Seed need light to
germinate.
Give regular light
applications of
nitrogen fertilizer.
Amaryllis (Onion) Family
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Onions
Leeks
Garlic
Shallots
Chives
Onions
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Plant seeds in early
November, plants in
January.
Low sulfur soil for
sweet onions.
Fertilize with small
amounts of nitrogen,
frequently.
Leeks
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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
 Plant cloves
about 4 – 6
inches apart.
 Small frequent
applications of
nitrogen.
 Harvest tops and
roots as needed.
Goosefoot Family
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Beets
Swiss Chard
Spinach
Cool Season Vegetable Insects
Lily Family
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Asparagus
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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
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Rhubarb
Plant, plants
in early fall.
 Treat as an
annual.
 Benefits from
afternoon
shade.
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Know the Good Guys
Know the Good Guys
Integrated Pest Management
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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
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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 1st
cluster of fruit sets.