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Vegetable Gardens 101. The Basics of Growing Food at Home Prepared by Ariel Agenbroad Horticulture Extension Educator. Why Grow Food at Home?. Can save you grocery money 11 ¢ pack of seeds can = 50 lbs. carrots 100 lbs. squash 50+ lbs. of tomatoes 100+ lbs. of cucumbers
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Vegetable Gardens 101 The Basics of Growing Foodat Home Prepared by Ariel AgenbroadHorticulture Extension Educator
Why Grow Food at Home? • Can save you grocery money • 11 ¢ pack of seeds can = • 50 lbs. carrots • 100 lbs. squash • 50+ lbs. of tomatoes • 100+ lbs. of cucumbers • 50+ lbs of peppers
Why Grow Food at Home? • Fresher • Better quality • Better taste • More variety • Great learning tool for children • It can be a lot of fun!
Freshness, Quality & Taste • 1500 • How many miles food travels on average! • Vitamin and mineral losses • Bruising, damage • Food safety issues…E. Coli? • Picked at the peak of ripeness…no gas!
What Do I Need to Get Growing? • The bare essentials: • Soil • Water • Sunlight
Soil…What’s the Dirt? • Mineral particles: sand, silt & clay • Air • Water • Organic Matter: decomposed plants & animals • Microorganisms • What about Potting Mixes? • Peat moss, compost, perlite, vermiculite, fertilizers
Water… • Most vegetables need between1-2 inches of water per week (or, about 1-2 hours of watering) • Can use a watering can, regular hose, sprinkler, irrigation system, drip hose • Can capture and use rainwater • Can reuse some household water
Sunlight • Most vegetables require at least 6-8 hours of full sun every day • South and west sides are best • North and east sides can be shady • Some lettuces, strawberries and herbs can do with 5-6 hours of sunlight
What Can I Grow Here? Warm Weather Crops Peppers Tomatoes Squash Green Beans Eggplants Edible Flowers Pumpkins Melons Tomatillos Corn Cucumbers Cool Weather Crops Peas Potatoes Lettuce Cabbage Broccoli Swiss Chard Kale Onions Leeks Carrots Beets May June March May-June
And… • Tree Fruits • Apple, pear, plum, peach, nectarine, pluot • Nuts • Walnut, hazelnut • Berries • Raspberries, blackberries, strawberries • Grapes, Rhubarb, Asparagus
Evaluate Your Site • Where do I get full sunlight? • What is my soil like? • Where is my water supply? • Will the garden be safe from my kids, pets, neighbors, etc?
Evaluate Your Eating Habits • What do we like to eat? • What can we grow to save money? • Are we going to can/freeze/dry food? • Are we going to grow enough for others? • What will we do with 1000 lbs. of zucchini?
Getting Seeds & Plants • Seeds are cheaper, but more work… • Buy from Catalogs, Garden Centers, Discount Stores, Online • Start inside (with lights) or outside • Seedlings give you a head start • Buy from Farmers’ Market, Garden Centers, Mail Order
Getting Supplies • Thrift Stores and Yard Sales • Hardware Stores • The Basics: • Shovel, rake, hoe, hand trowel, hose, sprinklers or nozzles • Fertilizer
Make Your Own Fertilizer • Compost Happens! • 2 parts “brown” waste • Leaves, straw, dried and crunchy plants • 1 part “green” • Grass clippings, vegetable peelings • Don’t add meat, fats or pet animal waste • Add water, and stir…use in and on the garden!
What About Bugs and Disease? • Start with a healthy, diverse environment for plants and insects • Provide habitat for beneficial insects • Keep it clean…pick up after yourself! • Use natural controls first, and then ask your Extension office or Garden Center Employee to suggest something else
When Do We Eat? • 30 days after planting • Radishes, lettuces • 60 days after planting • Beets, green onions • 80 days after planting • Carrots, cabbages, summer squash, corn • 100+ days after planting • Tomatoes, Pumpkins, Cantaloupe, Watermelon
How Do I Learn More? • Seed catalogs (free!) • Gardening websites (free!) • Library books (free!) • Friends and Neighbors (free?) • Books, magazines, television • Classes (University, Extension, Community)
