Grow Your Own Food? Of Course You Can! (Part 1) Lee Young, Extension Educator, and Deb Andrus, Master Gardener Site Soils Planting Watering Techniques
Grow Your Own Food?
Of Course You Can! (Part 1)
Lee Young, Extension Educator, and Deb Andrus, Master Gardener
Site Soils Planting Watering Techniques
in-ground vs. containers
GARDEN SITE NEEDS• Sunlight, 8-10 hours• Level land• Good drainage• Avoid low areas• Avoid windy sites• Near water source• Distance from trees• Protect from wildlife
Soil: a mixture of weathered minerals and decaying organic matter, covering the
earth in a thin layer.
When combined with air and water, soil provides mechanical support and nutrients
for plants.
Soil Pie
Solids50 %
Pore Space50 % Minerals
45 %Sand, silt,
clay
Air25 %
Water25 %
O.M.
Organic Matter Matters!
• Biological activity=healthy soil
• Water and nutrient retention and release
• Buffers pH
• Improved soil tilth=better root growth
Soil texture
Relative proportion of: – Sand = large particles
– Silt = medium particles
– Clay= very, very small particles
Which type do we have?
Testing the Soil
8
Effect of pH on availability of plant nutrients
pH can be changed
• Lime will raise pH (reduce acidity)
Fertilizer Basics
Why fertilize?
Calcium deficiency
Fertilizer not Food
Fertilizer basics
A fertilizer supplies one or more “essential nutrients”.
Not “Plant Food”
Plants make their own food…
Essential nutrients• Nitrogen• Phosphorus• Potassium• Calcium• Magnesium• Carbon • Hydrogen• Oxygen• Sulfur
• Iron• Manganese• Zinc• Boron• Copper• Molybdenum• Chlorine• Cobalt
Macro - nutrients
Primary• Nitrogen (N)• Phosphorus (P)• Potassium (K)
Secondary• Calcium (Ca)• Magnesium (Mg)• Sulfur (S)
Carbon, Hydrogen, Oxygen
How do we provide them to plants ?
• Complete fertilizer - N - P - K
• Lime - Ca, Mg
• Air/Water - C, H, O, S
“Complete” fertilizers contain:
• Nitrogen
• Phosphorus
• Potash (K)
What’s in the bag?
Nitrogen - N
• Shoot growth
• Green color
• Vegetative vs. reproductive
• Ex. 31 - 0 - 0
10 - 10 - 10
Phosphorus - P
• Seedling development
• Root growth
• Ex. 0 - 46 - 0
10 - 10 - 10
Potassium - K
• Regulates water movement
• Affects drought, disease, cold hardiness
• Ex. 0 - 0 - 50
10 - 10 - 10
Manure (fresh is not best!)
Nutrient value of manuresNitrogen Phosphorus Potassium
dairy cow 0.5 % 0.3 % 0.5%
steer 0.7 % 0.5 % 0.5 %
poultry 2.0 % 2.0 % 1.0 %
hog 0.5 % 0.3 % 0.5%
Cow manure analysis 0.5 - 0.3 - 0.5
Careful: low analysis but high rate!
Ball Park recommendations
Vegetable gardens
1 - 2 lbs 10-10-10 per 100 square feet5 lbs lime per 100 square feet, based on soil
test results
Composting Short Course
Recipe for compost
• Mix equal proportions of green stuff and brown stuff
• Add a shovel full of black stuff
• Mix well
• Wait
• Stir occasionally
Green Stuff• Stuff that decomposes quickly
• Will rot and get slimy
• Low C: N ratio– Grass clippings– Kitchen waste– Weeds
Brown Stuff
• Stuff that decomposes slowly
• Will remain intact for months or years
• High C: N ratio– dry leaves– wood chips– paper
PREPARING THE SOIL
• Test soil• Deal with sod• Add organic matter• Add nutrients• Till (or alternatives)
Goal: a great environment for roots.
PLANTING
IRRIGATION• Why?
– Aids in seed emergence– Reduces soil crusting– Improves germination and plant stand– Reduces wilting– Increase fruit size – Prevents premature ripening of peas, beans and
sweet corn– Improves quality of yield
IRRIGATION, cont.• What should you know?
– 1 inch of rain per week– 65-130 gallons of water per 100
square feet or 2-3 gallons per foot square
– A.M. watering preferred– Know critical watering period
Putting It All Together
• Raised bed gardening
• Lasagna gardening
Continued in Part B:
• Container gardening
• Tips for small spaces
Raised Bed Gardening
Reasons to Used Raised Beds
• Ease of use
• Higher yields
• Improved soil conditions
• Warms up quicker in spring
• Better drainage
• Soil does not compact
• Less maintenance once established
Lasagna Gardening
Lasagna Gardening
A time-saving organic method of gardening first developed by Patricia Lanza. It requires no digging, no tilling and no sod removal.
Lasagna Gardening• Select site.
• Put down a layer of cardboard or newspaper; wet thoroughly.
• More layers: shredded leaves, kitchen waste (no fat, bones or oil), straw, composted manure, grass clippings
• Water each layer
• Build to height of 18-24 inches
• Let cook for 6-8 months.