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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!