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Veggies in Unusual Places UF/IFAS St. Lucie County Extension http://stlucie.ifas.ufl.edu Vegetables There are many ways to grow vegetables! You don’t need a farm to grow fresh herbs and vegetables. Plant breeders know that aside from great taste, home growers want a high yield in a small amount of space. As long as you have the right amount of sunlight, proper irrigation, and nutritious soil you can have tasty vegetables and herbs. practical for those who do not have sufficient space for a large garden people living in apartments and condominiums small-scale container culture can be both practical and ornamental utilize proper methods and imagination A wide assortment of containers might be used. Most any container is suitable as long as it is sufficiently durable and large enough to hold the fully-grown plant or plants. In this respect, gardeners are limited only by their imagination. Traditional Traditional vegetable gardens use rows for ease of working the soil, some rows may be split for small plantings Raised or Narrow Bed Narrow bed systems can be reached across, avoiding compacting the soil. Rows and/or groups of vegetables can be planted Raised Beds ‘No-Dig Gardening’ Gardening inside a big-sandbox Solution for very poor soils Elevate plants to a convenient level Drainage problems are overcome You don't walk in the bed to work More production per square foot Soil gives high nutrient levels Fewer weed seeds ‘No-Dig’ Gardening Build beds that you can work without walking on Build with timber brick or concrete blocks Clear away any vegetation Paths covered with a mulching material Bottom of the bed lay old newspaper Weed-cloth under your path Best in full sun Conserve Space Varieties with dwarf or patio in their name Varieties that mature at different times Seek out vining crops Interplant your vegetables Stake tall vegetables often Don’t be afraid to prune! Herbs are gifted plants - they give back to the people who tend them. They're easy to grow, have culinary and medicinal properties and can add unexpected aroma and textures to gardens or walkways. Herbs are traditionally used for their scent, flavor or medicine. The Herb Society of America states they include annuals, Annuals: Plants last vines, shrubs one growing season and trees. basil, dill, cilantro, parsley, chamomile, chervil, sweet marjoram and summer savory Perennials: produce year after year thyme, mint, chives, sage, tarragon, lemon balm, lavender, hyssop and lovage Location Same sunlight, soil, and cultural techniques as vegetables Most herbs can be grown in containers Only a small amount of space is required Some herbs are sensitive to soil moisture Sage, rosemary, and thyme require a well-drained parsley, chervil, and mint grow best in damp soil Care A sunny, well drained site is best Pinch and prune frequently Keep moist but not wet Generally pest- and disease-free Harvest herbs in the morning Growing Systems EarthBox EarthBox system provides the best possible growing environment for plants and simple to use Doubles the yield of a conventional garden Half the fertilizer 40 percent of the water Virtually no effort Portable Reusable Vertical Systems Plants are up where air circulation is available Otherwise unusable space for your garden Improve the esthetics of your yard Save space Higher initial start-up cost Usually drip irrigation system Grow Bags More growing space More planting options Ease and convenience Less mess Inexpensive Only need to water every three to six weeks Plants grow up to 50% faster Little or no pesticides are necessary Use smaller containers Disease may only affect one plant Hydroponic Systems Growing plants without soil Basic Hydroponic Systems There are 6 basic types of hydroponic systems; Wick, Water Culture, Ebb and Flow (Flood & Drain), Drip (recovery or nonrecovery), N.F.T. (Nutrient Film Technique) and Aeroponic. There are hundreds of variations on these basic types of systems, but all hydroponic methods are a variation (or combination) of these six. The nutrient solution is drawn into the growing medium from the reservoir with a wick The platform that holds the plants is usually made of Styrofoam and floats directly on the nutrient solution The Ebb and Flow system works by temporarily flooding the grow tray with nutrient solution and then draining the solution back into the reservoir. The timer turns the pump on and nutrient solution is dripped onto the base of each plant by a small drip line. The nutrient solution is pumped into the growing tray (usually a tube) and flows over the roots of the plants, and then drains back into the reservoir. The roots hang in the air and are misted with nutrient solution. The mistings are usually done every few minutes. Increase fruit and vegetable yield Decrease the garden space Automated systems Hydro-Stacker Increase fruit and vegetable yield Decrease the garden space Automated systems Thank You Martin County/ University of Florida Cooperative Extension Service 2614 SE Dixie Highway Stuart, Florida 34996 (772) 288-5654 St Lucie County/ University of Florida Cooperative Extension Service 8400 Picos Rd Suite 101 Ft. Pierce, Florida 34945 (772) 462-1660