Vegetable Gardening When Mother Nature Doesn’t Cooperate Erica Smith Montgomery County Master Gardener
Vegetable Gardening When Mother Nature Doesn’t Cooperate
Erica Smith
Montgomery County Master Gardener
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College of
Agriculture and Natural Resources
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Our Vision:
A healthier world through
environmental
stewardship.
Our Mission:
To support the University
of Maryland Extension
mission by educating
residents about safe,
effective & sustainable
horticultural practices
that build healthy
gardens, landscapes, &
communities.
Successful Design with Nature in Mind
• More native plants
• Right plant, right place
• Plants with same needs grouped together
• Reduced water and energy consumption
• Composting, recycling
• Follow nature’s cues
Vegetable gardening
• Uses mostly non-native plants
• Often uses a lot of water
• Can require supplemental fertilizer
• Often puts plants with different needs together through necessity
• Is often designed to keep nature out or battle with it
Why grow vegetables?
• To keep your food locally sourced
• To provide fresh and nutritious food
• To save money
• To get exercise, relax, have fun
• To teach children where food comes from
• To learn about the natural world
• To take on a new challenge!
Abiotic challenges
• Abiotic = nonliving, not caused by pests or disease, though symptoms can mimic these
• A large percentage (maybe half!) of plant problems are caused by abiotic factors
• Diagnosis can be difficult
• Problems can be caused by site conditions, cultural practices, or weather issues
• Weather is the least controllable factor
Weather extremes, local
• December 2015: warmest December on record, with a 70-degree Christmas
• February 2016: record-setting blizzard
• May 2016: record-setting days of consecutive rain (also see June 2015)
• 1000-year rain event in Ellicott City
• July/August 2016: 100+ heat index, records set
• DC area saw warmest fall on record
• ???
Climate change, global
Extreme weather increase linked to climate change: The New Normal
• Storms
• Heavier (if less frequent) rain and snow
• Floods
• Heat waves
• Warm overnights
• Droughts
• Habitat changes
American Scientist, YouTube
If you don’t like the weather…
Pexels stock photo publicdomainpictures.net
Weather issues and solutions
• Cold
• Rain
• Drought
• Heat
• Storms and flooding
• Success despite challenges!
Cold
• Frost injury – wind also a big factor
• Poor pollination
• Poor flower and fruit set
• Low yields
• Germination delays
• Buttoning (cauliflower)
• Fruit deformation, rotting
• Nutrient deficiency
Effects of cold
Phosphorus deficiency Catfacing
Cold soil germination
• Consult charts for germination ranges
• For example, peas germinate in 40-85° F soil but optimum is 75°
• Starting plants inside helps control soil temp
• Or try pre-sprouting
• Using raised beds or containers can also help
• Black plastic warms soil
Chill out! Some solutions
• Know your average last frost date
• Look at the weather forecast!
• Check soil temperature
• Wait to set out your plants
• Be ready to protect your plants
• Use covers and/or mulch
Autumn cold
• Check that forecast for first frost!
• Sometimes you can get summer crops through early frost with protection
• But also know when to give up!
• Fall chill can be great for cool-season crops
Rain
• Excessive soil moisture/poor drainage
• Runoff/soil erosion• Seed/root rot• Wilting• Late start in spring• Poor pollination• Poor taste• Nutrient leaching• Cracking, fruit injury• Fungal diseases• Slugs
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Fungal diseases
Choanephora rot Downy mildew
Fruit cracking
Keep your watering even!
Dry out! Some solutions
• Look at the weather forecast!
• Mulch!• Improve soil quality: add
organic matter• Avoid poorly-drained areas• Try raised beds• Monitor and remove
affected plant parts• Water deeply on a regular
schedule – don’t overwater• Harvest prior to full
ripeness (tomatoes)
Harvesting early
• Pick at “breaker” stage, when fruit is just blushing color
• Ripen on your counter –taste is still great!
• Helps with fruit cracking and other damage
• Gets in ahead of damage by stink bugs, squirrels, birds
Drought
• Wilting/death
• Low yields
• Bitterness (esp. in cucumbers) and other unexpected tastes
• Fertilizer burn
• Blossom-end rot
Blossom-end rot
• Occurs in tomato, pepper, eggplant, squash, watermelon
• Caused by calcium deficiency
• Can be caused by inability of plant to take up calcium due to low pH, insufficient watering, or excessive use of nitrogen fertilizer
• Some varieties more susceptible
Hose off! Some solutions
• Watch the forecast!
• Water regularly
• Use drip irrigation
• Mulch, keep soil covered
• Improve soil quality by adding organic matter
Pexels.com
Heat
• Plant stress
• Low yields
• Poor flower and fruit set
• Bolting
• Germination issues
• Sunscald
Poor flower and fruit set
• Beans: above 85° F.
• Peppers: above 95° (or nights above 75°)
• Tomatoes: above 95°
• Squash and cucumbers: high temperatures can mean insufficient female flower production
Hot soil germination
• Consult charts for germination ranges - e.g. beets germinate in 40-95°F., but ideal temperature is 85°
• Cool soil by using shade cloth, planting in shade, watering frequently, covering soil with boards or row cover to keep moist, using nighttime temps
• Ideal growing temps also important
• Soil temperature and days to maturity often don’t mesh
Start plants inside
• Control of soil and air temperatures
• Avoids insect damage
• Can water evenly
• Make sure to harden off before setting out
• Pre-sprouting seeds before sowing outside also helps
• Or you can buy plants!
Cool down! Some solutions
• Watch the forecast!• Water regularly – including
plant leaves in high heat• Mulch; improve soil quality• Use shade cloth• Be flexible about planting
schedule• Start fall seedlings inside• Plant quicker-growing spring
and fall plants, heat-tolerant varieties
• Harvest “nontraditional” plant parts (e.g. broccoli leaves)
• Take care of the gardener too!
Photo by Julie Mangin
Storms and floods
• Storms can break plant stems and cause plants to fall over
• Hail can damage leaves
• Flooding can contaminate soil and plants – use caution when harvesting
• Strong supports can help – be aware of forecasted storms and tie plants up ahead
• Harvest ahead of storms
Hurricane effects
How to succeed despite challenges
Watch the weather forecast!
• Be ready to leap into action
• Which means being prepared ahead of time:
– Access to water
– Mulch
– Plant supports
– Row covers
– Soil amendment completed
– Frequent monitoring
Keep the soil covered
• Mulch helps:– Keep soil temperatures even– Prevent moisture loss, runoff– Smother weeds that compete
for water
• Mulch can be:– Organic materials such as
shredded leaves, straw, compost, etc.
– Newspaper with organic material on top
– Plastic (for warming soil in spring)
• Also consider using cover crops, intensive planting
Be flexible
• Don’t fix on specific dates for sowing or transplant – use the range and the forecast
• Adapt to longer growing seasons and extreme weather patterns
• Keep transplants coming
• Be ready to fill open spots
• Grow varieties that work for you
• Relax – failure is a learning experience!
• Keep records of what worked and what didn’t
Think like a plant!
• Know the ideal temperature ranges for seed germination and plant growth
• Don’t let your plants get hungry and thirsty
• Understand plant reproduction
Work with the New Normal
• “Old reliables” may not work – try new varieties
• Look south – what can take the heat and drought?
• Read the catalog or packet description for phrases like “heat-tolerant” or “slow to bolt”
• Try short-season species and varieties
• Grow in the winter
• Plant herbs and flowers to attract pollinators and beneficial insects
• Conserve energy and water, be an informed citizen, respect nature
This program was brought to you by
The Master Gardeners Program of
Montgomery County
University of Maryland Extension