Alternative Vegetable Gardening - UF/IFASgcrec.ifas.ufl.edu/GCREC-Garden/docs/pdf/Allt_Veg_Garden... · 2013. 7. 30. · Alternative Vegetable Gardening Sydney Park BrownSydney Park

Alternative Vegetable Alternative Vegetable GardeningGardeningGardeningGardening

Sydney Park BrownSydney Park BrownSydney Park BrownSydney Park Brown

UF Extension Specialist UF Extension Specialist –– Consumer HorticultureConsumer HorticultureG lf C t R h & Ed ti C tG lf C t R h & Ed ti C tGulf Coast Research & Education CenterGulf Coast Research & Education Center

Plant CityPlant City

http://tiny.cc/tm7sx

Edibles!Edibles!

Epcot, April 2010

Edibles!Edibles!

New York BotanicalNew York Botanical Garden – June, 2010

Lots of people want to grow Lots of people want to grow food, but not everyone can or food, but not everyone can or

will dig up the yardwill dig up the yardwill dig up the yardwill dig up the yard

Soil / SiteSoil / Site IssuesIssuesSoil / Site Soil / Site IssuesIssues

Poor soil• Poor soil • Soil pests • Trees • Limited spaceLimited space• Deed restrictions

L th l !• Love the lawn!

Human IssuesHuman IssuesHuman IssuesHuman Issues

Alternative Gardening Demo Alternative Gardening Demo C GC GUF Plant City Teaching GardensUF Plant City Teaching Gardens

Alternative Veggie Alternative Veggie ggggGardensGardens

AboveAbove the ground;the ground;

In some type of In some type of container;container;

In In soilsoil--lessless media;media;

All other veggie rules apply.All other veggie rules apply.

Growing MediaGrowing Media• Perlite

V i lit• Vermiculite• Gravel• Sand• Sand• Sawdust• BarkBark• Rockwool• Coco Fiber• Compost• Combinations of these

C i l il i• Commercial soil mixes• Water + nutrients

Alternative GardeningAlternative GardeningAlternative GardeningAlternative Gardening

S li ht P tSunlight Pests

Minimum of 5-6 hours Scout frequently

Alternative GardeningAlternative GardeningAlternative GardeningAlternative Gardening

Ad t Di d t• Avoid soilAdvantages Disadvantages

• Expensive – some• Good results• Portable – some

• Assembly required – someW i i• Can garden on

hard spaces• Water intensive• Limited growing

/ i ld• Less physical • Great for kids and

space / yields• $$$ Payback?Great for kids and

“challenged”

SmallSmall scalescaleSmallSmall--scalescaleContainersContainersContainersContainers

• Pots – plastic, clay, glazed• Buckets, baskets, barrels, bags• Grow boxesGrow boxes• Vertical systems

ContainersContainers1 l h b ll i

ContainersContainers• 1 gal – herbs, small veggies

• 5 gal minimum – big veggies5 ga u b g egg es

• Provide drainage

• Stake / support

Hanging ContainersHanging Containersg gg g

Topsy Turvy TMTopsy TurvyHeavy! – Need strong support.

Other ContainersOther Containers

Barrels

Baskets

Buckets

G BG BGrow BagsGrow BagsPlastic, mesh or felt bags. Some Plastic, mesh or felt bags. Some , g, g

have handles; some come prehave handles; some come pre--filled filled with mediawith mediawith media.with media.

“Lay“Lay--flat Bags”flat Bags”Pl i b fill d i h ilPl i b fill d i h il l dil diPlastic bags filled with soilPlastic bags filled with soil--less medialess media

Onions

Lettuce

HerbsD f HerbsDwarf Cucumbers

Soil BagsSoil BagsSoil Bags Soil Bags

Grow BoxesGrow BoxesGrow BoxesGrow Boxes• Various sizes• Use potting (soil-less)

mixes• Have a reservoir of water• Fertilize one time

(2 l f tili )(2 cups granular fertilizer) • Keep cover on until you’re

d t l tready to replant• Vining plants need support

EarthBox® EarthBox

http://www.earthbox.com

EarthBox®

1. 3.2.

4. 5.

Grow BoxesGrow Boxes

Tomatoes on a rope

http://www.earthbox.com

HomeHome--made Grow Boxmade Grow Box

http://www.wisefarmer.com/growbox/

Vertical Growing SystemVertical Growing SystemVertical Growing SystemVertical Growing System• Very space efficientVery space efficient• Reduced disease - better air flow

and less soil splashingand less soil splashing• Easy to harvest

Vertical Growing SystemVertical Growing Systemg yg y

• Great for ‘cut and• Great for cut and come again’ crops such as:such as:– Leafy greens– Herbs– Edible flowers

Vertical Growing SystemVertical Growing SystemVertical Growing SystemVertical Growing System

• Commercial kits include: - poles- styrofoam pots- media- fertilizer- drip irrigation- pump, timer

Transplants and nutrient tank not supplied

Vertical Growing Vertical Growing SystemSystem

Examples of CommercialExamples of CommercialExamples of Commercial Examples of Commercial ProductsProducts

• http://vertigro com/http://vertigro.com/• http://www.hydrostacker.com/

htt // f t i /• http://www.futuregrowing.com/…and others

Low Cost Vertical SystemLow Cost Vertical SystemLow Cost Vertical SystemLow Cost Vertical Systemhttp://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/hs1186

LargeLarge--scalescaleContainersContainers

Concrete blocks

• Raised beds• Hay bales

Raised BedsRaised Beds

Raised BedsRaised BedsRaised BedsRaised BedsConstruction4’ wide 6-18” high 24” for wheelchairs6-18 high, 24 for wheelchairsPressure treated lumber?

The American The American Horticultural TherapyHorticultural TherapyHorticultural Therapy Horticultural Therapy

AssociationAssociationhtt // hthttp://www.ahta.org

Raised BedsRaised Beds

Easy Garden BoxTM

1. 2.

3. 4.

Raised Bed BracketsRaised Bed BracketsRaised Bed BracketsRaised Bed Brackets

Hay Bale GardenHay Bale Garden

Hay Bale GardenHay Bale GardenHay Bale GardenHay Bale Garden

FiltrexxFiltrexx Garden Garden SoxxSoxxTMTM

FiltrexxFiltrexx Garden Garden SoxxSoxxTMTM

Raised BedsRaised Beds

2008 Victory Garden in San Francisco

Soil RecipeSoil RecipeSample MixtureFor each b shel of soil less mediaFor each bushel of soil-less media

• 1.25 cups dolomitep

• 1 cup 8-8-8 fertilizer w/ micronutrients

ControlledControlled--release release FertilizersFertilizers

• Ex: Osmocote and Dynamite• Choose products that include

micronutrientsS l t l t b d• Select release rate basedon crop (i.e. 3 month, 6 month etc )month, etc.)

HydroponicHydroponicHydroponic Hydroponic GardeningGardeningGardeningGardening

Growing plants in water and Growing plants in water and di l ddi l d t i tt i t ilildissolved dissolved nutrients nutrients -- no no soil soil

• Potato BoxFl ti G d• Floating Gardens

Potatoes inPotatoes in PerlitePerlitePotatoes in Potatoes in PerlitePerlite

Clean & easy harvestClean & easy harvest

Round II – Sweet PotatoesRound II – Sweet Potatoes

Floating GardensFloating GardensPlants “Float” on Styrofoam Bed Plants “Float” on Styrofoam Bed with Roots in Nutrient Solutionwith Roots in Nutrient Solution

Plants “Float” on Styrofoam BedPlants “Float” on Styrofoam BedPlants Float on Styrofoam Bed Plants Float on Styrofoam Bed with Roots in Nutrient Solutionwith Roots in Nutrient Solution

Floating Garden ConstructionFloating Garden Constructiongg

• 2’x8’ boards used to t t 4’ 8’ fconstruct 4’x8’ frame

• 6 mil plastic lining

Add Simple PVC Structures for Add Simple PVC Structures for Cold or Deer/rabbit ProtectionCold or Deer/rabbit Protection

Use any unUse any un--drained container at least drained container at least 6” high6” high

What Can You Grow?What Can You Grow?What Can You Grow?What Can You Grow?

L tt t d iLettuces, mustard greens, mizuna, kale, basil, green onions, Swiss Chard,

b t Oth ?cucumber, watercress. Others?

Mix Nutrient SolutionMix Nutrient SolutionMix Nutrient SolutionMix Nutrient Solution

2 tsp 20-20-20(w/micros)(w/micros) or equivalentsoluble fertilizersoluble fertilizer

++1 tsp Epsom Salt

…per gallon of water

Drill Holes in Styrofoam Drill Holes in Styrofoam

• 1 1/2 inch styrofoamy• Drill or cut holes

12” apart• Diameter of holes

= size of net pots or cups

3” net pot = 35 cents 35 cents

Plastic CupStyrofoam Cup

Place Transplant into CupsPlace Transplant into CupsPlace Transplant into CupsPlace Transplant into Cups

Bottom of cup should extend no more thanBottom of cup should extend no more than 1/8” below styrofoam

Floating Garden Floating Garden gg

35-gallon Plastic Garden Pond35 gallon Plastic Garden Pond

Floating GardenFloating Garden

Go to http://vfd.ifas.ufl.edu/ for a “how to” video and more info

Choosing VarietiesChoosing VarietiesChoosing VarietiesChoosing Varieties

• Select proven varieties• Try dwarf/“mini” veggies• Choose pest-resistant

varieties

Transplants: StoreTransplants: Store--bought or bought or pp ggHomeHome--grown?grown?

TRANSPLANTS =Faster start

SEEDS =More choiceMore choice

“Bio-sponges” o spo ges(sphagnum mossand composted bark )a d co posted ba )

120 - $12P k S d CPark Seed Co.

Ready for a break?Ready for a break?Ready for a break?Ready for a break?

Thanks!Thanks!Thanks!Thanks!DISCLAIMERDISCLAIMER

Many other products exist. Mention of a company's name/product is notcompany's name/product is not

intended to be an endorsement or a preference over other productspreference over other products.