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Earth-Kind® Vegetables and Herbs

Tim Hartmann Program Specialist

Texas A&M AgriLife Extension

Goals of Earth-Kind

1. Conservation of water AND quality

2. Reduction of chemical and fertilizer use

3. Energy conservation

4. Reduction of solid waste

Seven principles of Earth-Kind:

1) Planning and design

2) Soil analysis and preparation

3) Practical turf areas

4) Appropriate plant selection

5) Efficient irrigation and rainwater harvesting

6) Effective use of mulches

7) Appropriate maintenance

Why Grow Vegetables

Grow your own food

High quality, fresh produce

Concern over chemical use

Save money

Recreational value

General Guidelines for Vegetable Planting

∗ Select Recommended Varieties.

∗ Plant at the Right Time.

∗ Proper Soil Preparation and Fertilization.

∗ Control Weeds, Diseases and Insects.

∗ Adequate Soil Moisture.

∗ Harvest at the Right Time.

Photo credit: Juan Anciso

Photo credit: Juan Anciso

Site Selection

Full sun (8+ hours direct sunlight)

Well-drained soil (internal and external) pH 6.5 to 8.3

Clay loam to sandy loam

Dependable water source

Protections from herbivores

Free of competition (weeds and trees)

Photo credit: Juan Anciso

Photo credit: Juan Anciso

Ideal soil type??? Meanwhile in Norththeast Texas….

Soil Preparation ∗ Disking, spading hard / compacted soil

∗ Incorporation of > 3” of finished compost

∗ Fully-composted materials (especially for manure)

∗ Drainage through creation of structure

∗ Water / nutrient retention

∗ Slow-release source of nutrients

∗ Soil microbial populations

∗ Raised planting beds in heavy soils

∗ Addition of nutrients, ONLY if necessary!!!

∗ Maintain 1 to 2 inch layer of mulch http://www.cranfordinc.com/

Not all composts are created equally…..

http://mea.com.au/soil-plants-climate/soil-moisture-monitoring/learning-centre/what-is-soil-structure http://www.cranfordinc.com/

Soil Testing

∗ First step in preparing for planting

∗ Identifies problems / deficiencies

∗ Basis for accurate fertility management

http://soiltesting.tamu.edu/

Sampling Procedure Matters!

http://www.sbreb.org/brochures/soilsampling/figure6.jpg

http://bionutrient.org/soil-test

http://soiltesting.tamu.edu/publications/E-534.pdf

Fertilizing Vegetables ∗ Based on soil tests

∗ Smaller applications

∗ Organic fertilizers

∗ Less concentrated

∗ Slower-release time

∗ Typically several nutrients

∗ Synthetic Fertilizers

∗ More concentrated (burning)

∗ Granular (quick- and slow-release)

∗ Liquid / water-soluble

http://www.fertilome.com/product.aspx?pid=dfa64b62-dbfd-4e90-bd42-8f31e20625e5

http://www.fertilome.com/product.aspx?pid=211613d9-475d-4ab3-b8ac-645863e69fcd

Irrigation

Furrow Method

Soaker Hose

Tee Tape

Drip Tubing

Common Vegetable Pests

Know the Good Guys

Integrated Pest Management

∗ Provide plants with the best care and culture possible.

∗ Use only the most adapted varieties.

∗ If chemical (organic or man-made) control is necessary start with the most environmentally friendly products first.

∗ Apply chemicals, (organic or man-made) properly, safely and according to the label.

∗ Easy cool season vegetables

∗ Direct seed in rows

∗ Thin to 3 to 4 inches apart

∗ Rapid growers (45 days or less)

∗ Greens can be re-cut until bolting

Turnips and Mustard

Radish / Daikon

Radish - Cherry Belle, Easter Egg Blend II, French Breakfast, White Icicle Daikon – April Cross

∗ Easy cool-season crop

∗ Direct-seeded early fall, late winter

∗ Beets: direct seed in rows

∗ Swiss Chard: direct seed or transplant

∗ Caterpillars and Harlequin bugs

Beets and Swiss Chard

Carrots

∗ Carrot

∗ Well-drained soil

∗ Nematodes in sand

∗ Direct-seed, thin

∗ Bolting

Onions

∗ Plant seeds in October thru late November, transplants in December

through February . ∗ Varieties are short day

sweet onions Red Burgundy, Granex, Grano 1015Y

∗ Bunching / Green Evergreen Long White Bunching Red Baron White Bermuda

Lettuce

∗ Fast, easy cool-season crop

∗ Tolerates some shade

∗ Direct seed or transplant (4 to 6”)

∗ “Bibb” and romaine types easier

∗ Harvest in 30 to 45 days

∗ Loopers, cut worms, and stem rots

∗ Full sun

∗ Well-drained soil

∗ Plant crowns in fall / winter

∗ Space one foot apart

∗ Allow 1 to 2 years before harvest

Asparagus

∗ Tropical warm-season plant

∗ Plant in April when soil warms

∗ Direct seed in furrow or transplant

∗ Space 12 to 18 inches apart

∗ Clemson Spineless, Cajun Delight, Oscar

∗ Nematodes, fire ants, deer

Okra

∗ Full sun

∗ Deep, well-drained soil

∗ Plant slips in spring / early summer

∗ Drought tolerant

∗ Few disease / pest problems (deer)

Sweet Potatoes

∗ Full sun, well-drained soil

∗ Good air movement

∗ Indeterminate “cherry” or “grape” cvs.

∗ More heat-tolerant

∗ Continue to produce all summer

∗ Staking or caging

∗ Hornworms, nematodes, blossom-end rot

Tomatoes

Why Herbs?

∗ Fresh source for culinary use

∗ Adapted to low-water and fertility

∗ Most are evergreen

∗ Perennial

∗ Many landscape uses: ∗ Groundcovers ∗ Shrubs ∗ Topiaries ∗ Perennial borders

Five Locations

1. Austin, TX

2. Cleburne, TX

3. Conroe, TX

4. Georgetown, TX

5. San Antonio, TX

Sage Salvia officinalis

Bergartten Purple Sage Dwarf Sage

Oregano Origanum vulgare

Hilltop Hopley’s Purple Hot & Spicy

Rosemary Rosmarinus officinalis

Arp Blue Lady Creeping / prostrate Gorizia Spice Island

Umbeliferous Herbs

∗ Carrot ∗ Parsley ∗ Cilantro ∗ Fennel ∗ Dill

Vegetable Seed Sources

http://aggie-horticulture.tamu.edu/vegetable/

Thank You!