A-Z of Vegetable growing

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A to Z of Vegetable planting

by Mary Lusk

Artichokes Artichokes do best in mild climates--where winter does not fall below 10 degrees F and summer is no warmer than about 75 degrees F. They take close to 5 months to mature from seed. Plant only outside after all danger of frost has passed. Keeping them well-watered helps speed their growth. Ideal pH 5.5 - 6.5.

Asparagus

Start with a soil rich in organic matter. Add compost or manure to boost organic matter content. Dig it in well before planting. In the fall and spring, cover the asparagus bed with 4 to 6 inches of mulch mixed with manure. Asparagus likes a soil pH around 6.5, so avoid acid additions like aluminium sulphate or acidic mulches like sawdust and pine bark. Plant asparagus roots about 8 inches deep and 18 inches apart. You will need about 25 asparagus roots for each member of your family (each member who eats asparagus, that is). Many gardeners suggest waiting until the 2nd or 3rd year to harvest your first crop of asparagus. You can harvest the first year if you limit the harvest to 2 or 3 weeks. After that, stop harvesting, and wait until next year. The 2nd and 3rd years, you should be able to harvest asparagus for 4 to 6 weeks. After harvest each year, cut off the tops of the plants just above the stem. Ideal pH 6.0 - 7.0.

Beans

Two big rules about beans: plant in warm soil, and never plant in soggy soil. Beans like it warm, and they hate being wet. Wait until the soil is warm enough to walk barefoot on it, and wait until the water from any recent rain has drained away. Beans should be harvested young before the shells dry out. Harvest about every 2 days to encourage more production. The exceptions are shelling beans like pintos or great northerns--you want those to stay on the plant until dry and the foliage begins to wither. Ideal pH 5.5 - 6.5.

Broccoli

Broccoli likes it cool. Plant in early spring or fall to avoid the hot days of Summer. Give it a well drained soil. Dig in compost to your broccoli rows and add about 1 pound of 5-10-10 fertilizer for every 25 feet of row. Ideal pH 6.0 - 7.0.

Cabbage

Put cabbage seedlings in the garden when they have 3 to 5 leaves. Then bury them deep, even covering the bottom set of leaves. Cabbage needs an especially rich soil. Fertilize once a month by spreading a 10-10-10 fertilizer around the base of each plant. Cabbage does best if grown in early spring and fall. Be sure to rotate where you plant cabbage in the garden each year. Cabbage is susceptible to a number of fungal infections, and by moving it to a different spot in the garden each year, you can keep infections in check. Also, cabbage is susceptible to caterpillar damage. An effective caterpillar control is Bt, which is an organic insecticide obtained at almost any garden supply centre. Ideal pH 6.0 - 7.0.

 

Carrots

Plant carrots in a loose soil that has had any rocks and clumpsRemoved. If you have a heavy, compacted soil, you can still grow carrots by making a raised bed. Raise up about 6 inches of soil to form a row, and scatter the carrot seeds over the top. Carrots should be planted about 2 inches apart. Give then a fertilizer rich in P and low in N--to much N takes away the sweet flavour. Water regularly just enough to keep the soil moist. Avoid letting the soil dry out completely--this can cause the carrots to split. Ideal pH 5.5 - 6.5.

 

Corn

Corn needs lots of garden space. Each stalk will produce only 1 or 2 ears, so you will need many stalks. Plant corn in rows--you will need a minimum of 4 rows of 4 stalks each. Corn needs rich, warm soil. Only sow corn after all danger of frost is past, and the soil temperature must be at least 60 degrees F. Before sowing, add compost or manure to the soil and water it. Do not water right after sowing, since this will encourage rot of the seeds. After the plants are 1 to 2 feet tall, sprinkle a high N fertilizer around the base of each plant. Harvest in about 21 days, when the silks emerge and are dried to dark brown. Ideal pH 6.0 - 7.0.

 

Cucumbers

Cucumbers are hard to transplant. Buy them in peat pots that can be directly placed in the ground. Or sow them in peat pots about 2 weeks before the last frost. Set outside in the garden after they have about 3 leaves and all danger of frost is gone. Cucumbers can be trellised--like tomatoes--to save space and train vines upward. Ideal pH 6.0 - 8.0.

Eggplant Eggplant seedlings are tender and like very warm conditions. Buy established plants that have been raised in a greenhouse. Then put in the warmest, sunniest spot of your garden. Do not let the soil get soggy. Ideal pH 6.0 - 7.0.

Greens

For maximum production of green leaves and stems, you need a rich soil. Before planting, add compost or manure to the soil. Add about 2 pounds of 10-10-10 fertilizer for every 50 square feet.Fertilize again midseason. Ideal pH 6.0 - 8.0.

Lettuce

Plant lettuce where it will have plenty of afternoon shade. Lettuce prefers mild temperatures, and the ideal is about 65 degrees F. Water regularly so that the soil does not dry out. Ideal pH 6.0 - 7.0.

Melons

Sow in the garden only when the soil temperature is at least 70 degrees F. You should have a loose, well-drained soil. Melons like lots of sun, so give them a warm, sunny spot in the garden. Mulching with about 1 inch of straw helps control weeds and keeps the soil warm. Water melons once a week. Ideal pH 6.0 - 7.0.

Okra

Okra is a Southern delicacy that likes it hot! Seeds must be sown in warm soil, at least 70 to 75 degrees F. Okra benefits from regular watering. Give at least 1 inch of water weekly and mulch to conserve moisture. In the hot days of mid-summer, okra may need daily watering. Fertilize with a high potassium (K) fertilizer. Harvest the pods when they are about 1 inch long. Okra will produce many pods throughout the summer if harvested regularly. Japanese beetles love okra. Pinch them off daily and treat with an appropriate pesticide. Ideal pH 5.5 - 6.0.

Peppers Peppers should be started indoors about 8 weeks before placing outside. Plant outside about 1 month after the last frost. Peppers need warm soil and benefit from a light mulch of hay or grass clippings. The soil should also be loose and well-drained. Ideal pH 5.5 - 7.0

 

Potatoes

Be sure to plant certified disease-free seed potatoes that are appropriate for your climate. Before planting, dig in about 2 pounds of compost for every 10 feet of row. Keep the soil piled up around the base of the plants so that sunlight does not reach the tubers. Light can cause the potatoes to turn green. Sprinkle a potassium nitrate fertilizer around the base of the plants when they are about 8 inches tall. Potatoes are ready to harvest when the foliage withers and dries. Try to harvest on a cloudy day to avoid exposure to sunlight. Ideal pH 6.5 - 7.0.

 

Pumpkins Sow pumpkins outside when the threat of frost is past. They need about 110 frost-free days and love the summer heat. To encourage giant pumpkins, start with a rich soil and fertilize with potassium. Let the plant form only 3 fruits, then cut off two. The remaining fruit will continue to grow. Fertilize the side vines regularly by sprinkling potassium around their bases. Ideal pH 6.0 - 8.0.

Radishes

Radishes like it cool! Plant in early spring or fall. They like plenty of water and will grow faster if you never let the soil dry out. Keep them protected from hot afternoon soil by planting in a spot where they will have afternoon shade. Ideal pH 6.0- 7.0.

 

Spinach

Grow in early spring or fall. Spinach prefers cool conditions and will wither in hot summer heat. Water regularly and prevent the soil from drying out by using a mulch. Spinach does well when plantedwhere it will receive afternoon shade. Fertilize weekly until the plants are about 3 inches tall. Ideal pH 6.5 -7.0.

Squash

Squash grows prolifically. Grow only one plant per person in your family. Squash demands a rich soil with lots of organic matter. Give it a sunny spot that has been amended with compost or manure. Squash rarely needs fertilizing if planted in a rich soil. Ideal pH 6.0 - 8.0.

Tomatoes

Sow tomatoes indoors about 8 weeks before the last frost. Keep the seedlings in a warm spot until they have 4 leaves. Then move them to a cooler spot during the night. This slows down their development and keeps them from getting too lanky while they wait to be transplanted outside. Tomatoes need a rich, well-drained soil with lots of organic matter. Before transplanting, dig in a handful of bonemeal and 1 teaspoon of Epsom salts to each planting hole. This boosts the calcium level in the soil and helps prevent blossom-end rot. It also helps keep the pH at a neutral level, which tomatoes prefer. Also, use a low N fertilizer, such as 4-8-4, and fertilize only once a month once fruit is set. Keep the soil evenly moist and prevent it from drying out. Tomatoes become cracked when wet periods follow dry spells. Ideal pH 6.0 - 7.0.

 

Zucchini

Zucchini produce lots of fruit. Plant only one plant per family member. They like warm spots, so plant in a sunny spot. Harvest when the fruits are 4 to 6 inches long. Ideal pH 6.0 - 8.0.