Transcript File
Vegetable Gardens 101 The Basics of Growing Food at Home Prepared by Ariel Agenbroad Horticulture Extension Educator CANYON COUNTY HORTICULTURE 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 CANYON COUNTY HORTICULTURE Why Grow Food at Home? • Fresher • Better quality • Better taste • More variety • Great learning tool for children • It can be a lot of fun! CANYON COUNTY HORTICULTURE 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! CANYON COUNTY HORTICULTURE Variety is the Spice of Life CANYON COUNTY HORTICULTURE CANYON COUNTY HORTICULTURE CANYON COUNTY HORTICULTURE CANYON COUNTY HORTICULTURE What Do I Need to Get Growing? • The bare essentials: – Soil – Water – Sunlight CANYON COUNTY HORTICULTURE 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 CANYON COUNTY HORTICULTURE It’s Busy Down There! CANYON COUNTY HORTICULTURE Water… • Most vegetables need between 1-2 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 CANYON COUNTY HORTICULTURE 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 CANYON COUNTY HORTICULTURE In a Perfect World… CANYON COUNTY HORTICULTURE In Reality… CANYON COUNTY HORTICULTURE Or Even… CANYON COUNTY HORTICULTURE What Can I Grow Here? Cool Weather Crops Warm Weather Crops Peas Potatoes Lettuce Cabbage Broccoli Swiss Chard Kale Onions Leeks Carrots Beets Peppers Tomatoes Squash Green Beans Eggplants Edible Flowers Pumpkins Melons Tomatillos Corn Cucumbers March May-June CANYON COUNTY HORTICULTURE May June And… • Tree Fruits – Apple, pear, plum, peach, nectarine, pluot • Nuts – Walnut, hazelnut • Berries – Raspberries, blackberries, strawberries • Grapes, Rhubarb, Asparagus CANYON COUNTY HORTICULTURE How Do I Get Started? CANYON COUNTY HORTICULTURE 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? CANYON COUNTY HORTICULTURE 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? CANYON COUNTY HORTICULTURE CANYON COUNTY HORTICULTURE 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 CANYON COUNTY HORTICULTURE Getting Supplies • Thrift Stores and Yard Sales • Hardware Stores • The Basics: – Shovel, rake, hoe, hand trowel, hose, sprinklers or nozzles • Fertilizer CANYON COUNTY HORTICULTURE 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! CANYON COUNTY HORTICULTURE CANYON COUNTY HORTICULTURE 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 CANYON COUNTY HORTICULTURE 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 CANYON COUNTY HORTICULTURE 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) CANYON COUNTY HORTICULTURE Questions? Let’s Give It a Try! CANYON COUNTY HORTICULTURE