Download Same crop, successive plantings

PECONIC LAND TRUST
Agricultural Center
at Charnews Farm
Local Resource List The Internet is the best way to access information regarding each of these companies. It has become the most wonderful tool for lifetime learning. Many of today’s supply and seed catalogs are loaded with planting, cover crop, and pest control charts and are a tremendous source of information. I encourage you to tap into the free resources available on the internet and in these catalogs:  NOFA – NY ‐ Northeast Organic Farming Association  Green Island Distributors ‐730 West Main St. Riverhead. Growing supplies, tools and some soil amendments  Island Bio Greens –Shelter Island ‐ Organic Fertilizers and soil amendments, and also sells North Country Organics – Vermont ‐ Organic Fertilizers and soil amendments  LICA ‐ Long Island Cauliflower Association – Marcy Ave. Riverhead  Green Island Distributors –Riverhead ‐ horticultural supplies  Agway‐ Southold & Riverhead ‐ Espoma soil amendments and gardening supplies  Cornell Cooperative Extension –Riverhead ‐ information re: regional agriculture  Peconic River Herb Farm – Calverton ‐ Christine Spindler programs, great source of creative and diverse plant materials and supplies Local Garlic Growers & Suppliers :  Golden Earthworm Organic Farm, 652 Peconic Bay Blvd., Aquebogue, NY 11931 (631) 722‐
3302  Garden of Eve Organic Farm , 4558 Sound Avenue, Riverhead, NY 11901 (631) 722‐8777  Sang Lee Farms, 25180 County Road 48, Peconic, NY 11958 (631) 734‐7001  Peconic River Herb Farm, 2749 River Rd. Calverton, NY 11933 (631) 369‐0058  PLT ‐ Quail Hill Farm, Old Stone Rd. Amagansett, NY (631) 283‐3195  Garden Fusion Herbs 540 Rocky Point Rd. East Marion, NY (631)477‐1210 ATTRA SARE MOFGA NOFA GSF Denise’s Favorite Educational Resources: National Sustainable Agriculture Resource Association Sustainable Agriculture Resource & Education Maine Organic Farmer/Gardeners Association Northeast Organic Farming Association Garlic Seed Foundation Rose Valley Farm Rose, NY Seed Companies: Fedco Johnny’s Seeds of Change The Cook’s Garden Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds High Mowing Organic Seeds Ronnigers Seed and Potato Company Seed Savers Exchange Albert Lea Seed House Mail Order Suppliers: Gardeners Supply ‐ Vermont Peaceful Valley Farm Supply Harmony Farm Supply Co. Bountiful Gardens & Ecology Action ‐ Willits CA The Fertrell Company Vermont Compost Company Vermont Bean Seed Company Filaree Farm Garlic McEnroe Organic – potting mixes and compost North Country Organics Fertilizer– Vermont Prepared by
Sandra Menasha
Vegetable/Potato Specialist
Cornell Cooperative Extension – Suffolk
[email protected]
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What you need to start your seeds indoors
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Creating a fertile soilless mix
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Timing
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Transplanting vs. direct seeding
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Hardening
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Succession Planting
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Wider range of varieties to choose from
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Less expensive
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Organically available varieties as well
Cheaper to grow your own
Rewarding and Fun!
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Seeds
Light
Seed starting mix
Containers
Covered trays or plastic bags
Heat mat
Watering can, spray bottle, and/or bottom tray
Markers
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Best to start with new seeds each year
If older may need to plant extra
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Germination/seed viability lessens each year
Purchase from a reputable source
Use disease/insect resistant varieties where
applicable
Heirloom vs. open pollinated vs. hybrid
Choose varieties that perform well in our area
www.gardening.cornell.edu
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An heirloom is an open-pollinated variety of a
plant that can reproduce itself from seed and
was introduced more than 50 yrs ago
Open-Pollinated is a non-hybrid plant that will
“come true” from seed year after year
Hybrid is a plant variety that has been
selectively bred utilizing 2 different inbred
lines as parents
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Only save seed from open pollinated varieties
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Hybrids will not be “true” to type
Store in a cool, dry place
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Silica gel or powdered milk added to container to reduce
moisture
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Store in an air tight container
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32 - 41 degrees F and low humidity
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LABEL!
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Name, variety, date collected
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Most vegetable and flower seeds can be kept
for 1 year without a significant drop in viability
1-2 years
3-4 years
5-6 years
Leek
Bean
Beet
Okra
Carrot
Cucumber
Onion
Celery
Eggplant
Parsley
Cole crops
Lettuce
Parsnip
Pea
Muskmelon
Pepper
Squash/pumpkin
Radish
Corn
Tomato
Cress
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Beans, tomato, lettuce, pea, pepper
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Best chance for success
Produce seed the same season
Self pollinating
 Minimize need to be mindful of cross pollination
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Corn, squash, melon, radish, spinach
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More for experienced saver
Produce seed the same season
Cross pollinating
 Require separation to avoid cross pollination
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Total of 12-16 hours required
 Stocky, medium sized plant
 Low light = leggy and weak
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Natural Light – south facing window
 Rotate flats to promote even growth
 Supplemental lighting necessary
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Fluorescent lights
Forty watt, 48-inch long tubes
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Full spectrum or one cool and one warm (shop fixtures)
Placed 2-4 inches above seedlings
Attach aluminum foil to light fixture to reflect
more light onto plants
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Sterile
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Well drained and well-aerated
Commercial Soilless mixes
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Free from disease, weed seeds, and insects
Damping off (Phythium species)
Contain peat moss, vermiculite, perlite
Low fertility and total soluble salts
Organic and conventional blends available
Convenient
Soil from garden NOT recommended
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Peat moss
Perlite
Vermiculite
Coconut Coir
Top soil
Sand
Compost
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Compost
Worm castings or Vermicompost
Alfalfa meal
Kelp meal
Greensand
Rock phosphate
Bone meal
Limestone
Fertigate with liquid fertilizer at 1st true leaf
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If using Peat add limestone
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Compost common
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pH of peat is low = 3.5
About 20-30%
Do not exceed 50% compost in a blend
Vermicompost, backyard compost, etc.
Good nutrient source
Disease suppression
Nutrient sources
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Alfalfa meal, rock phosphate, etc.
Conventional Blend
4 qts sphagnum peat
 4 qts fine vermiculite
 1 Tbsp triple
superphosphate
 2 Tbsp ground limestone
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Organic Blend
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6 gallons peat
¼ cup lime
4 ½ gallons vermiculite
4 ½ gallons compost
1 ½ cups fertility mix
made of:
2 cups rock phosphate
 2 cups greensand
 ½ cup bone meal
 ¼ cup kelp meal
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https://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/viewhtml.php?id=47#appendix2
http://attra.ncat.org/attra-pub/potmix.html
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Flats, pots, cell trays, peat pots, peat pellets
Drainage holes a MUST!
Clean and sterile
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Wash of debris with warm soapy water
Sanitize
 Bleach solution (1 part bleach : 9 parts water)
 Hydrogen peroxide (1 part hydrogen peroxide : 3 parts
water)
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Selection depends on seed size, space, time,
and number needed
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Plant cucumber, muskmelon, watermelon into
individual pots or larger cell packs
Tomatoes, lettuce, cole crops, can be seeded into
flats and then transplanted into larger containers
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Done when first true-leaves appear
Carefully lift out a group of plants and let fall apart
Avoid tearing roots in the process
Handle by leaves
Set in new container at same depth, firm soil and water in
Pepper, eggplant, onions, leeks, herbs
Don’t handle transplanting as well
 Seed into individual cells
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DON’T START PLANTS TOO EARLY!!!
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Elongated, pale green, weak transplants
Based on average last spring frost
Frost-free date
 April 20th
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 Most of Suffolk and Eastern Nassau
 Colder parts of central Suffolk – after April 20th
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Fall harvested crops based on average first frost
date
 October 20th most of Suffolk
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Seed packets will direct you to start seeds indoors
a set number of weeks before last spring frost
Warm Season
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Tomatoes
Peppers
Eggplant
Corn
Cucumbers
Squash
Basil
Beans
Planted after frost-free date
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Set in garden end of
May/early June
Cool Season Crops
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Lettuce
Peas
Broccoli
Spinach
Leeks
Onions
Kale
Carrots
Planted before frost-free date
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Set in Garden early April
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Tomatoes
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Set in Garden 4-6 weeks after last frost date – April 20th
Set in Garden May 20th
Need about 5-6 weeks to produce adequate size
transplant
Work backwards from field setting date
 Subtract 5-6 weeks from May 20th to get seeding date
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Seed indoors on April 13th
Direct seed
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Corn
Beans
Peas
Carrots
Beets
Squash (summer/winter)
Spinach
Radish
Garlic
Transplant
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Tomatoes
Peppers
Eggplant
Melons**
Cucumbers**
Basil
Lettuce**
Broccoli
Cabbage
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**can also be DS
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Most herbs from Mediterranean
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Temperate Climate
Most all can be started as transplants indoors
like basil, parsley, dill, mint, thyme, rosemary
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Seeds are usually very small
Can also be direct seeded into the garden
 Weeds
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Perennials once established will come back
Can allow to re-seed themselves
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Most can be started indoors
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Zinnias, cosmos, echinacea, pansies, marigolds,
calendula
 Can also be direct seeded but transplants provide a
good start
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Sunflowers, nasturtiums, sweet pea
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Direct seeded in the garden
Seed or transplant in garden after last frost
Seed packets – informative!
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Pre-moisten germination mix
Mix with water or set filled containers in a tray of 1”
water overnight
 Allow to drain
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Fill containers about ¾ way full with mix
Using a pencil or tray make holes ¼ inch deep
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Place one seed per hole
Cover lightly with more mix
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Generally, cover to a depth 2x diameter of the seed
Extremely fine seeds like snapdragon, petunia, begonia
do not cover but mist in
Spray bottle better than watering can
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Doesn’t displace small seeds
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Moisture and warmth required
Temperatures between 70-75 degrees F ideal for most
vegetables, herbs and flowers
 Night time temperatures between 60-65 degrees F
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 Cool season crops like lettuce, broccoli can be kept cooler
both day and night
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Heating mats
Plastic bags, wrap or plastic domes to keep in
moisture
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Surface should be kept moist not wet
Remove once seeds germinate
Keep out of direct sunlight until germination
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After germination provide light
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Keep day temperatures between 65-70 F and night
temperatures between 55-60 F
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Ensure hardier, stockier plants
Begin fertilization at start of first true leaves
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12-16 hours a day
Light 2-6 inches above plants and adjusted as needed
Fish emulsion
Once every week
Plain water in-between fertilizer applications
Most transplants take 4-6 weeks
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Cucurbits about 2-4 weeks
Peppers and eggplant about 6-8 weeks
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# 1: Do Not Overwater!
Damping off
 Seed rot
 Fungus gnats
 Weak and stunted plants
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Allow to dry out between watering but avoid
wilting
Bigger container = bigger plant
Do not allow seedlings to become root bound
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Stressed seedlings that don’t transplant well
Transplant seedlings from flats at first true leaves
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Method used to better acclimate the seedlings to
outdoor conditions
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Harden plants by bringing outdoors during the
day
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Gradually increase sun exposure each day
Avoid windy days or temps below 45 °F
Reduce watering slightly to reduce growth
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Cold frame works well here
Shady location at first
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Grown in protected ideal conditions
Do not allow to wilt
Do this 7 to 14 days before ready to field plant
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Choose healthy, disease free plants
Transplant on a cloudy day with little to no
wind if possible
Plants grown in peat pots or pellets do not
need to be removed from container
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Break base of peat pot to help roots establish
Cover top edge of pots
 May evaporate moisture from root ball
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Carefully remove plants from plastic pots or
cells retaining as much soil around roots as
possible
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Dig a hole about 2x as large as the soil mass
around roots
Set plants in the ground at same level
previously growing
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Tomatoes can be planted deeper if lanky
 Develop roots along the stem
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Gently but firmly pack soil around roots
Water transplants in
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Mix with liquid fertilizer
Reduce Transplant Shock
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Corn
Carrots
Beets
Spinach
Summer/winter
squash
Pumpkins
Peas
Beans
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Cucumbers
Lettuce
Chard
Radish
Garlic
Herbs
Potatoes
Beets
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Seedbed preparation important
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Right temperature, moisture, and air needed
for germination
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Smaller the seed the finer the soil surface
Soil broken up to fair depth for root crops
Organic matter helps retain moisture and fluff in soil
Good seed to soil contact
Rows or patches/beds
Seeding equipment or by hand
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Cool Season crops planted before or on frost free date
Peas, lettuce, broccoli, cauliflower, radish, beets, leeks, potatoes,
onions, carrots, spinach
 Soil Temperatures 40°F – 50°F
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Warm season crops planted 4-6 weeks after frost free date
Tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, melons, squashes, corn, green beans
 Soil temperature 55°F – 60°F
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Soil Thermometers
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Inexpensive
Take temp same time over several days and average out
7 am best time of day
At 2” and 4” depth
Planting methods that increase crop availability during a growing
season by making efficient use of space and timing.
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Two or more crops in succession: After one crop is harvested, another is
planted in the same space. For example, a cool season spring crop could
be followed by a heat-loving summer crop.
Same crop, successive plantings: Several smaller plantings are made at
timed intervals, rather than all at once. The plants mature at staggered
dates, establishing a continuous harvest over an extended period. Lettuce
and other salad greens are common crops for this approach.
Same crop, different maturity dates: Several varieties are selected, with
different maturity dates: early, main season, late. Planted at the same
time, the varieties mature one after the other over the season.
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Plant at 1-3 week intervals
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Beets
Carrots
Lettuce
Broccoli/ Cabbage
Spinach
Tomato planting Late May, and Late June
Cool season vegetables can be grown mid summer
but quality reduced and bolt sooner
April-May
 August-September
 Skip planting June-July : warm season crops
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Thank you