Starting a Home Vegetable Garden - West Virginia a Home Vegetable Garden Willi TillS an Pest...
Transcript of Starting a Home Vegetable Garden - West Virginia a Home Vegetable Garden Willi TillS an Pest...
West Virginia
Department of Agriculture
Kent Leonhardt, Commissioner
1900 Kanawha Boulevard, East
Charleston, West Virginia 25035
(304) 558-3200
Starting a Home Vegetable Garden
Willi TillS an
Pest t:antral and
Plant Diseases
andsurroundingareaweed-freeandcontrolaphids.Plantresistantvarietiesofbeansandcucumbers.
Blossom End Rot of Tomatoes – Ablackened,water-soakedareadevelopsontheblossomendoftomatoes.Thisisanon-parasiticdiseasecausedbylackofwaterduringwarmweather.Droughtorrootinjurycanaccountfortheinsufficiencyofwater,soavoiddamagingroots(donothoearoundtheplants)anddonotuseexcessivenitrogenfertilizers.Besuretheareatobeplantedwithtomatoeshassufficientlimeandsuperphosphate.
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WHERE TO PUT ITSituate the garden with these things in mind:
• Locatethegardeninfullsun,awayfromtreesorbuildings.Mostvegetabletypesneedallthesuntheycanget.
• Chooseanareawiththebestsoilpossible.Sandyloamtypesoilsareideal.Heavyclaysoilsarethepoorestchoice.
• Considerthegarden’sproximitytoyourhouseandawatersource.Closerisbetterformostfolks.
THE FOUNDATIONIt all starts with the soil.
• Soilisthemostimportantfactorinvegetableproduction.Muchofhavingahealthygardenisdirectlyrelatedtohowwellyoubuildandmanageyoursoil,soit’simportanttocontinuallyimprovethedrainage,aeration,andnutrientcontentofyourgardensoil.
• Addingcompostisperhapsthebestwaytoimprovesoilstructure.Compostisbasicallydecomposedorganicmaterialsuchasgrassclippings,fallenleaves,manure,etc.Makecertainyourmaterialiscompletelybrokendownbeforeaddingittoyourgarden,especiallywhendealingwithmanure.Someothermaterialsthatwillimmediatelyimproveyourgardensoilarepeat,perlite,andvermiculite.
• MostsoilsinWestVirginiaaresuitableforgardeningexceptforthosewhicharehighinclay.Clayisverycompact,poorlydrained,andcanbeveryacidic.Avoidclaysoilsifpossible.
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“The earth here is so kind, that tickle her with a hoe, and she laughs with a harvest.”
-Anonymous
Vegetable gardening is a satisfying hobby and a great way to put fresh food on your table. Here’s a primer on starting a garden of your own!
THE FUELGood soil fertility will improve vigor and yields.
• Plantsneedcarbon,hydrogen,oxygen,nitrogen,potassium,phosphorus,calcium,sulfur,iron,magnesium,zinc,manganese,boron,andcoppertogrow.
• Plants,likehumansaremainlycarbon,hydrogen,andoxygen.Theother13elementsmakeuponly0.5%ofplanttissue,butwhengrowthislimited,theproblemcanusuallybetracedtoadeficiencyinoneofthem.
• Nitrogen,phosphorus,andpotassiumareconsideredprimarynutrientsbecauseplantsusetheminlargeramountsinrelationtotheothernutrients.
• Calcium,magnesium,andsulfuraresecondarynutrients.Limedsoilrarelyhasproblemswithcalciumandmagnesiumlevels.Sulfurisrarelydeficientinsoilswherecompostisaddedregularly.
• Theothernutrientsnotedarecalledmicro-nutrientsbecauseplantsusethemonlyinverysmallamounts.
• Theonlytrulyaccuratewaytodeterminehowtofertilizeyoursoiliswithasoiltest.TheWestVirginiaUniversitySoilTestingLabwilltestyournutrientlevelsandpHforfree.ContactyourcountyextensionagentortheWVDAformoreinformationonthesoiltest.
UNLOCKING YOUR SOIL’S POTENTIALSoil pH governs a plant’s ability to take up nutrients from the soil.
• SoilpHisameasurementoftheacidityoralkalinityofsoil.ThepHscalerunsfrom0(mostacid)to14(mostalkaline),with7asneutral.
• Technically,pHisthenegativelogarithmofthehydrogenionconcentration.Inanutshell,pHisameasurementofhydrogenions(H+)inthesoil.Themorehydrogenionsthereare,themoreacidthesoil.
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tobirdsorotheranimals!
Bacterial Blight – Large,dry,brownspots,oftensurroundedbyyellowborders,appearontheleavesofbeansandpeas.Water-soakedspotswithreddishmarginsmayappearinthepodsandreddishcankersmaybeonthestems.Thebacteriaarecarriedontheseeds.ThisdiseaseisrarelyfoundwestoftheRockyMountains;therefore,wheneverpossible,westerngrownseedshouldbeplanted.Donotplantdiscoloredseedsorthosefromspottedpods.Avoidworkinginthegarden
whenplantsarewet,becausethediseasespreadsmorerapidlyonwetfoliage.
Bean Root Rot – Beansinfectedwithbeanrootrotturnyellow,wilt,andusuallydiewhenyoung.Avoidplantingbeanswhenthesoilisstillwetandcold.Donotplantseedsdeep–about1inchofsoilcoverissufficient.Avoidplantingbeansinthesameareainwhichyougrewbeansinthelasttwoorthreeseasons.
Bacterial Wilt of Cucumbers – Largevinesgraduallywiltanddie(noyellowingofleaves),andyoungplantsrapidlydie.Olderplantsmayhaveonlyoneshootorrunneraffectedatfirst.Thisdiseaseisspreadbycucumberbeetles(stripedcucumberbeetle).Youngplantsaffectedearlyshouldberemovedanddestroyed.
Powdery Mildew –Thisiscommononmanyvegetableplants,especiallycucumbers,melonsandpeas.Thisdiseasefirstappearsasapowderywhitecoatingontheleafsurface.
Mosaic Virus – Thisdiseaseaffectsmanygardenplantssuchascucumbers,beansandlettuce.Leavesofaffectedplantsbecome
mottled(greenandyellow)andcurled.Fruitsmaybewarty,misshapenandspotted.Thisviruslivesinperennialweeds–milkweed,groundcherry,catnipandothers.Itisspreadbyaphids.Keepthegarden
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inthegardentowarrantconcern.Ifcontrolsareneeded,contactyourcountyextensionagentortheWVDAPlantIndustriesDivision.
Slugs and Snails – Slugsarebrownorgray,shinyorslimysnailswithoutshells.Slugsandsnailseatleavesofsmallplants.
Control: InWestVirginia,controlisseldomneededforthesepests.
However,whenslugsandsnailsarepresent,theinfestedareacanbedustedwithhydratedlime.Commercialbaitsarealsoavailable.
CAUTION: Readthelabeltoseewhetherornotthesebaitsarepermittedonorclosetoediblecrops.
Whitefly – Althoughwecallthislittleinsectwhitefly(duetoitscream-coloredwings),itisnotatrueflyandismorecloselyrelatedtothescaleinsects.Theadultsaretiny(1/20inch),four-wingedcreaturesthatreadilyflyoffthefoliagewhendisturbed.Thelarvaeareflatandimmobileandseldomnoticeduntiltheplantsappearsickly.
Itusuallymid-orlateJulybeforethispestisnoticed.Atthistime,controlisdifficultandlittlecanbedonetorestorevigortotheplant.Inthepastfewyears,formanyhomegardeners,thisinsecthasbeenamajorpestontomatoes.
Thisspeciesdoesnotsurviveourwintertemperaturesoutdoors.Infestationscomefromthegreenhousethatproducestheyoungplants.Therefore,controlisbestachievedbyexaminingtheyoungplantscarefullybeforesettingtheminthefield.
Plant Diseases
Therearemanyfungi,virusesandbacteriathatcauseplantdiseasesinthevegetablegarden.Onlyafewcanbementionedhere.Manydiseaseproblemscanbeavoidedbypurchasingonlyplantsorseedsofdisease-resistantvarieties.Mostdiseasecontrolchemicalsmaybemixedwiththeinsecticidesyouuse.Checkthelabel.Diseaseproblemsareoftencompoundedbyplantingthesamecropinthesamelocationyearafteryear.Rotatingthecropsfromplacetoplaceisagreataidindisease-controlactivities.
Seed Decay and Damping Off – Certainchemicalsusedtotreatseedwillpreventthesediseases.Beforeplantingseeds,treatthemaccordingtopackagedirections.Neverfeedtreatedseeds
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• WithafewnotableexceptionsmostplantsgrowbestinapHofabout6.0-6.5.ThisslightlyacidicpHiswherethelargestnumberofnutrientions,suchasnitrogen,potassium,phosphorous,andcalciumareavailableforplantuptake.
• SoilpHisparamounttomanagingagoodgarden.Evenifyoursoilhasplentyofnutrientsinit,ifthepHistoofarawayfrom6.5,mostplantswillnotbeabletoabsorbenoughofthemforoptimumgrowth.
• MostWestVirginiasoilsareacidic.Youcanbringanacidsoilcloserto6.5withlime.
• TheonlywaytoknowforsurewhatyoursoilpHisandhowmuchlimewillbeneededtobringitto6.5iswithasoiltest.Again,theWestVirginiaUniversitySoilTestingLabwilltestyoursoilpHandgivealimerecommendationforfree.ContactyourcountyextensionagentortheWVDAformoreinformationonthesoiltest.
PLAN AND PRACTICEGardening, like most things, requires planning and effort to be successful.
• Agardenplanisparticularlyimportantforbeginners.Itshouldincludewhatvegetablesyouwillplantandwhereyouwillplacetheminthegarden.
• Prepareyourplotduringthefalloronanicedayinearlywinter.Atilleristheeasiestwaytoformyourplot.Ifyoudon’thaveaccesstoatiller,goodoldfashionhandshovelingwillhavetodo.Thegoalistotrytocleartheareaofexistingvegetationandloosenthesoil12-18inchesdeep,formingrows24-36inchesapart.
• Inearlyspring,makefurtherimprovementstoyourplotbyclearingweedsandaddingsoilamendments,suchaslime,gypsum,andcompost.
• Addnutrientstoyoursoilinaccordancewiththerecommendationsofa
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soiltest.
• Growingsomesortoflegumeduringthefallandwinterseasonssuchashairyvetchandthenincorporatingitintothesoilinspringisagoodwaytoaddnitrogenandothernutrientsnaturally.
OLD FAVORITESOnce you’ve chosen your site, prepared your soil with amendments for pH and fertility, you’re ready to set out some plants. Here are some commonly grown vegetables that have been filling gardens for years:
• Bush and Snap Beans:Plantthemevery10daysfromApriltoMay.Sowseedsdirectlyintheground,1inchdeepand2inchesapartinarow.Thintheseedlingstooneplantevery6inches.
• Corn: Makethreeoffourplantingseverytwoweeks,startinginAprilatadepthof1.5inches.Allow8inchesbetweenseedsinarow.Cornshouldbeplantedinblocksof3orfourrows,ratherthanasinglerow.Goodpollinationisessentialforthedevelopmentoffullearsandablockplantingwillallowmoreuniformpollinationthanasinglerow.
• Cucumbers: Plantseeds9to12inchesapartinrowsormoundswhichareabout4feetapart.Waterandharvestfrequently.
• Hot peppers:Plantyoungplants24to36inchesapartinarowafterdangeroffrosthaspassedandthesoilhaswarmed.Mostwillyieldheavy,sojustafewoftheseplantswillbeenough.
• Potatoes: Plantseedpotatoes4inchesdeepand12inchesapartinrows.Potatoescanbeharvestedafterthevinesdie.Theharvesttimevariesfromlatesummertofalldependingonthevarietyused.Mostvarietieswillkeepformonthsinacoolcellar.Differentvarietieswillkeepfordifferinglengthsoftime.
• Sweet Peppers: Sameashotpeppers,butyoumaywantto
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stemby½inchallaroundwillusuallypreventdamage.
Flies
Seedcorn Maggot – theseareyellowishwhite,leglessandapproximately¼inchlongmaggots(orlarvae)ofasmall(1/5inchlong)grayishbrownfly.Themaggotshatchfromeggslaidbythefemaleflynearsproutingseeds.Theyboreintothesproutingseedandpreventthedevelopmentofplants.
Control: Purchaseinsecticide-treatedseedsandplantwhenthesoilhaswarmedupandisdry.Replantifseedsaredestroyedbymaggots.
Cabbage Maggot – Theadultisagrayishflyalittlesmallerthanahousefly.Thefemaleflylayseggsonthegroundnearcabbage,broccoli,cauliflowerandrelatedplants.Beets,radishes,turnipsandceleryareamongotherplantsthatmaybeattacked.Themaggottunnelsintotherootsandstemsofyoungplants,causingrot;plantswiltanddie.
Control: Applyagranularinsecticideaccordingtolabeldirectionspriortoplanting.
Onion Maggot – Thisisaflylarvaeabout1/3inchlongwhichburrowsintothebulb,causingtheplantstoyellow,wiltanddie.Cool,wetweatherfavorsthedevelopmentofseriousinfestations.
Control: Applyagranularinsecticideaccordingtolabeldirectionstotheopenfurrowinwhichonionsaretobeset.
Miscellaneous
Millipedes – Thesearebrownorgrayishworm-likecreatureswithmanylegs;theyattainlengthsofseveralinches.Thesepestsusuallyfeedonorarefoundinorganicdebris.However,theymayfeedonstems,roots,tubers,bulbsoronnewlyplantedseeds.
Control: Theseareusuallynotnumerousenough
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Squash Vine Borer – Thisisastoutwhiteborerupto1inchlongwithabrownhead.Itboresintovinesandeatsholesinthestemnearthebaseofrunnersandsquash,cucumbers,pumpkinsandmuskmelons.Thevinewiltsandmaydie.
Control: Dustorspraystemsatregularintervalsduringegg-layingperiod(aftermid-June).Whenavineisinfested,locatethepointofinjury,slitthestemandkilltheborer.Putamoundofmoistsoiloverthesplittopreventdryingandtostimulaterootgrowth.Thiswilloftensaveavineor
portionofit.
Common Stalk Borer – Thisslendercream-coloredlarvaehasadarkerbrownfronthalfandstripesrunninglengthwiseonthelighterportion.Thesestripesdisappearasolderborersattainlengthsupto1½inches.
Thecommonstalkborerinfestsawidevarietyofcrops,includingtomatoes.Italsoattacksawidevarietyofweeds,wheretheyounglarvaedevelopinsmall
plantsandthenmovetoeitherlargerweedsornearbygardenplants.Thestemsofplantsaretunneledandwillwitheranddie.
Control: Keeptheareaaroundyourgardenfreeofweeds.Mowasfararoundthegardenaspossible.Aninfestedstemmayoftenbesavedbyusingthesametechniqueasdescribedforsquashborer.
Cutworm – Manykindsofcutwormsattackvegetablesgardens.Theadultsaredull-coloredmothswhichlayeggsthatdevelopintodestructivecaterpillarsorcutworms.Whenfullgrown,thesecutwormsareupto1½incheslong.Theycurlupintoa“c”shapewhendisturbed.Mostcutwormsaredullincolorandhavehairsontheirbodies.
Cutwormscutoffplantsabove,at,orbelowthesoilline.Inthedaytime,theyhideinthesoilorindebrisnearthedamagedplants.
Control: Applyagranularinsecticideaccordingtolabeldirectionspriortoplanting.Theinsecticideshouldbeworkedintothesoil.A3-inchcollarofstiffcardboardplacedaroundthestems(1inchintothesoiland2inchesabove)andclearingthe
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setoutmoreplantsbecausetheyieldiscomparativelylower.Mayrequirestakingforsupport.
• Squash & Zucchini: Sow3seeds18to24inchesapartinrowsormoundswhichareabout3feetapart.Harvestgenerallyoccurswhensquashisabout8incheslong,butyoucanharvestthematsmallersizesformoretendervegetables.Waterandharvestfrequentlytoencouragehigheryields.
• Tomatoes:Setyoungplants24to36inchesapartinarow.Tomatoesneedstakingforsupport.
HOME VEGETABLE GARDEN PEST CONTROL
Thereareabout25ormoreinjuriousvegetablegardenpestscommontoWestVirginia.Fortunately,noteveryoneoftheseisapesteveryyear.However,wegenerallycannotpredictfromyeartoyearorseasontoseasonjustwhichwillbeproblems.Afewinsects,suchasbeanbeetles,arecommonnearlyeveryyear.Others,likeJapanesebeetles,arecommonsomeyearsandscarceduringothers.
Mostpeoplecannotidentifyonebugfromanotherwhentheybegintogarden,butitdoesn’ttakelongbeforeyourealizethatthelittlewhitebutterflyflittingaroundyourcabbagewillsoonproduceabatchofleaf-eatingcabbageworms.Onceyouhavelostyourcucumberstoadiseasetransmittedbythestripedcucumberbeetle,youwillbeonthelookoutforthatfellowandcontrolhimbeforehestrikesagain.Andonandonitgoes.
Ifyouneedhelpinidentifyingthepestproblemsyouhave,contactyourcountyextensionagentortheWestVirginiaDepartmentofAgriculture’s(WVDA)PlantIndustriesDivision.Theywillidentifyyourproblemsandmakerecommendationsfortreatmentorcontrol.Whenpesticidesarerecommended,followthedirectionscarefully,andaboveallREADandHEEDthelabel.
Some Common Pests of Vegetable Gardens
Aphids
Thereareseveralkindsofaphids(orplantlice)commoninWestVirginiagardens.Theyaresoft-bodiedinsectswhicharegreen,black,redorwhiteincolor.Somehavewings,butmostindividualsfoundclusteredandfeedingontheundersidesofleavesoronthestemsarewingless.
Infestedleavescurl,thicken,orbecomedistortedandthewholeplantmaybecomeyellowedorstunted.Someaphidscarryplantdiseaseviruses.Nearlyallvegetablesmaybeattackedbyaphids.
Control: Considertreatingaphidswithinsecticidalsoapwheninsectsappearindamagingnumbers.
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Beetles
Bean Leaf Beetle – Thisisasmallreddishoryellowishbeetle,upto¼inchlong,withblackmarkings.Iteatsregularlyshapedwholesinleaves.
Control: Dustorspraywithaninsecticidelabeledforvegetables.Besuretotreattheundersidesofleaves.Cleanallplantdebrisfromgardenattheendofseason.
Flea Beetles – Therearemanyspeciesoffleabeetlesthatattackpotatoes,tomatoes,eggplants,peppers,beets,
spinach,turnip,radishesandcolecrops.Youngplants,especiallytransplants,maybeseverelydamages.Theirleaveslookasiftheyhavebeenshotfullofholes.Thebeetlesareverysmall,areblack,brown,orstriped,andtendtojumpwhendisturbed.
Control: Dustorspraywithaninsecticidelabeledforvegetables.Besuretotreattheundersidesofleaves.Cleanallplantdebrisfromgardenattheendofseason.Newlysettransplantsshouldbetreatedsoonafterplanting.
Mexican Bean Beetles – These¼-inch-longbeetlesarecopper-colored,ovalandhave16blackspotsontheirbacks.Thelarvae,orimmaturebeetles,areyellowtoorange,fuzzyorspiny,andabout1/3inchlong.Bothadultsandlarvaefeedonthepodsandleaves,skeletonizingthem.
Control: Dustorspraywithaninsecticidelabeledforvegetables.Besuretotreattheundersidesofleaves.Cleanallplantdebrisfromgardenattheendofseason.
Spotted Cucumber Beetle – The¼-inchlongbeetlesareyellowishgreenandhave12blackspotsontheirbacks.Theyeatholesintheleavesandpodsofbeansandcucumbers.
Control: Dustorspraywithaninsecticidelabeledforvegetables.Besuretotreattheundersidesofleaves.Cleanallplantdebrisfromgardenattheendofseason.Treatatthefirstsignofthebeetle.Continueatweeklyintervals.
Striped Cucumber Beetle – Adultbeetlesareyellowtodark-coloredandhavethreeblack
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stripesdowntheirbacks.Thelarvaeare1/3inchlong,slender,whiteandbrownishattheends.Thelarvaeboreintotherootsandstemsbelowthesoilline,andtheadultsfeedontheleaves,stemandfruit.Theyspreadbacterialwiltofcucumbersandusuallyattackyourplants.Damagedvineswillwiltandoftendie.
Control: Dustorspraywithaninsecticidelabeledforvegetables.Besuretotreattheundersidesofleaves.Cleanallplantdebrisfromgardenattheendofseason.Treatatthefirstsignofthebeetle.Continueatweekly
intervals.
Butterflies and Moths
Cabbage Looper – Thesearepalegreenmeasuringwormswithlightstripesdowntheirbacks.Theymaybeupto11/2incheslong.Theyfeedontheundersidesofleaves,producingraggedholes.Largerloopersburrowinthecabbageheads.Theseinsectswillattackcabbage,broccoli,brusselsproutsandcauliflower.
Control: ConsidertreatingfoliagewithBacillusthuringiensis (Bt).Repeatatweeklyintervals.
Imported Cabbageworm – Thiscaterpillaristhelarvaeofthewhitebutterflyseensocommonlyinfieldsandaroundthecabbagepatch.Itisvelvetygreenandgrowstoabout1inchlong.Itfeedsontheleaf,producingraggedwholesandwillboreintothehead.
Control: ConsidertreatingfoliagewithBacillusthuringiensis (Bt).Repeatatweeklyintervals.Removeplantdebrisafterharvest.
Corn Earworm – Theadultmothisseldomnotedbythehomegardener,buttheupto1:-inchlonggreen,brown,orpinkwormwithlightstripesonitssideisoftenseenburrowingthroughthesilkofsweetcornandfeedingonthekernelsnearthetipontheear.Whenthisinsectappearsontomatoeseatingholesinthefruitorbuds,itiscalledthetomatofruitworm.
Control: Oncorn,dustorspraysilkseveryotherdaybeginningat10%silkingandcontinuinguntil90%ofsilkshavewiltedandturnedbrown.Ontomatoes,dustorspraywhenplantsattaingoodgrowthandwhenfruitbeginstoset.
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