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
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.