OGQ

Southern Peas

(field peas, crowder peas, cream peas, black-eyed peas) Legume. Fixes their own nitrogen. Because of this they are high in protein. Easy to grow. Dry/hot - *draught tolerant*. 70-75 days to mature. Harvest: pod to be filled. Dry peas become seeds for next crop. support own weight

Squash - winter

(pumpkin, cinderella, butternut) - take long time to grow.

Greens (brassica)

*Cool season crops* - planted in september, harvest with frost on them. Makes them LESS bitter. Cooked generally. Collard greens, kale, mustard greens, turnip greens. (regional favorites) Collard Greens: Get a bad rap because added animal fat. "pot liquor" Caldo Verde "green broth" Kale: nutritional powerhouse Mustard: more pungent than other greens LOUISIANNA Turnip: similar to Mustards in flavor. (human & livestock consumption)

Organic Potting Mix

- 2 parts shredded sphagnun peat moss - 2 parts aged pine bark - 1 part compost - to 1 cubic yard (27 feet) add pulverized dolomitic limestone 3lbs, bonemeal 10 lbs, blood meal 5lbs, wood ash 2 lbs

Tomato Nutritional Value

- Believed to benefit the Heart - Lycopene (red) - other red fruit KETCHUP - Vitamin C - Vitamin A - Variety dependent Fruit but used as a vegetable.

Seeds and Transplants

- Buy current season's seeds. - May have to order unusual varieties. - Look for disease resistant varieties. Ex: VFM tomatoes -Buy good quality plants - look for new shipments, avoid yellow or wilted plants.

Tomato varieties

- Choose for taste - Resistant varieties - Heirloom: open-pollinated (non-hybrid) not resistant to anything Beefsteak: - Largest group, some weight 1 pound -- *Beefmaster VFN (Verticillium, Fusarium, Nematodes)* *Resistant to these diseases and pest!* -- Brandywine (pink heirloom), ugly but tasty (not resistant) -- Arkansas Traveler Salsa/Sause tomatoes (Roma): hold up to heat - Roma - Cherry/Grape: good choice for beginning tomato gardeners (start with these) - San Marzano

Early Garden Planning: Spring/Summer garden

- Develop plans January-February or earlier 1. Select a site: avoid shade, poor soil, wet and low areas, walnut trees 2. List veggies species and varieties: consider season 3. Decide how much to grow - how will produce be used 4. make a planting map

Tomato Horn Worm

- Eats leaves off tomato plants - blend in with leaves Control: - beneficial insects (97%) - Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis): bacterium that kills catapillers - Pyrethrum - Physical removal

Disadvantages of a Raised Bed Garden

- Elevated raised beds tend to dry out more quickly in the hot summer months, increasing watering needs. - Frame and soil materials for establishing a raised bed are an added expense. *Increased plant density may increase some pest concerns, especially foliar diseases.* May not be well suited for vining veggies such as watermelons and sweet potatoes.

Container Garden Care

- Fertilizer: your plants are totally dependent upon you for their food. - Container grown plants are going to require more frequent fertilizing than garden-grown. - less root volume/leaching of nutrients. - Apply soluble fertilizer every week or two. - Foliar feed with seaweed or fish emulsion for a quick pick up if plants look stressed.

Not all vegetables transplant well

- Root Crops (carrots, beets) can change shape - Leafy biennial herbs (dill) - Cucurbits (cucumbers, pumpkins, squash) Do not like root systems to be disturbed. - Vegetables growing quickly when seeded in the garden. (radish, leaf lettuce, spinach) Transplanting is not worth the effort with these.

Preparing the soil for organic gardening

- break up the soil (till,plow) prior to planting. 5 important factors to consider: 1. break up the ground 2. test soil pH and quality (send to lab) 3. add needed nutrients and organic matter 4. Add needed nutrients and organic matter 5. mulch your garden (helps with weeds long-term, conserve moisture, prevents erosion) 6. compost WEEDS #1 concern for organic farmer at first. Est. plant spacing - straight line, gentle slope Small seeds: barely cover. Thinning: don't forget to think seedlings that were sown thick such as carrots.

Common reasons for lack of germination

- improper soil temperature - soil too dry - seeds planted too deep - seeds washing away - soil crusting (rain water) - damping off disease (fungus) mulching can prevent these. add organic matter, mulching

Pest Management

- indicators of how far a production system has strayed from the natural ecosystem it should imitate - insect pests are attracted to plant that is weak or inferior - well balanced system: massive pest outbreaks are rare due to presence of natural predators, parasites, and disease agents

Transplant Planting

- plant seeds at depth of 3 times their diameter - broadcast very small seeds such as broccoli or lettuce and cover with a light sifting of soil. Does not have to be deep. LIGHT: can be most limiting. (producing warm season plants in cool season) - directly related to temp and moisture. - Need a lot of light.

Spinach

- popular - high vitamin a & b2 - not an easy crop to grow. Comes up vigorously. Grow spinach mainly in COOL weather. needs 6.5pH, use like herb.

Container Garden Tips

- slightly pre-moisten substrate before putting it in the pots. Sphagnum peat works best with warm water. - if possible, drainage holes should be on the sides of containers rather than on the bottom so excess water can drain out.

Beneficial insects

1. predators - many prey 2. parasitoids - one prey

Parasitic Flies

16,000 species of flies - Tachinid Fly

Peppers

2nd most popular vegetable next to tomatoes. Easy to grow organically. Peppers (capsicum spp) are not related to Black pepper (Piper Nigrum) Peppers: In the nightshade family. Warm season, self pollinated. Originated in S. America. Eating the fruit of the vegetable.

Red Savina Pepper (habanero)

350,00-577,000 (ruin day)

What's the best width for a raised bed?

4 feet

Potatoes (Solanum Spp.)

5,000 varieties world wide. Semi cool season crop. (spring/fall) Grow potatoes from potatoes itself: SEED POTATOES *UNDERGROUND STEM.* Eating a TUBER. Modified stem. not a root. cover with heavy layer of mulch. need loose soil to grow. McDonald's is #1 purchaser at 1.5M Tons per year

Carrots

5th favorite vegetable in the US - rich in vitamin A: see better Cultural requirements: - LOOSE soil - so they can grow to full potential. Harvesting root. No transplants for same reason. COOL SEASON.

Naga Jolokia

855k-1M

Baby Carrots

A true baby carrot is a carrot grown to the "baby stage" long before the root reaches its mature size. "manufactured" baby carrots: Mike Yurosek: CA farmer who used industrial green bean & potato peelers - The baby-peeled carrot was born!! Baby carrot facts: - 190Million tons of carrots are processed into baby peeled carrots. - US sales $400M annually. Sales increased 33% - 80% of all retail carrot sales are baby carrots!

Producing OWN transplants

Advantages - can ensure disease-free transplants - transplants available when needed - best use of expensive seed - produces a transplant you desire - gives you a good feeling (FUN!) Factors to consider for success: - Growing media: NOT SOIL - Light, temp, moisture are essential. Need: - seed, media, containers

Commercially grown transplants

Advantages: They are easy. Inexpensive if you only need a few plants. They do not require that you commit time and money. Better (ideal?) growing conditions. Disadvantages - hard to find Certified organic transplants - you may not be able to find exactly what you want - transplants may introduce diseases, insects, and weeds into your garden. (want to be there when the truck arrives)

Planting a garden

Advantages: exercise, satisfaction, save money, fun for all ages

Container Garden

Allows you to garden in almost any location. What do you need? Plant, place, pots, potting media, Plants/seed, provide water & nutrients. * Soilless substrates contain negligible amounts of nutrients. Must have drainage. - If not already existing need several holes 1/4-1/3 in diameter on the *sides* about 1" from *bottom*.

Beans

Annual. Easy to grow. Trouble free. Pole beans vs. Bush Beans. - PB: Don't support own weight. BB do. - replant every few weeks.

Which of the following is a type of green that is often consumed fresh in salads

Arugula

Greens (salad)

Arugula, Cress, Minutina, Tatsoi, Pak Choi Warm season crops rich in vitamin C

Companion planting

Attractant crops/repellant crops

Okra

Beautiful plant member of *hibiscus family*. - use in gumbo, soups, stews, pickled, raw or deep fried. - Good source of vitamins a & c small seeds. grow as transplants. - harvest early and often. eating the fruit. wear gloves and sleeves. Can harvest everyday AT LEAST once a day. long season- 6 ft tall then cut down spring and fall.

Pepper Types

Bell group (2/3 of US production) (colored are grown in greenhouses 3x price) - most are non pungent - includes Pimientos as a sub-group Anaheim group - most are mildly pungent, some non Jalapeño group - pungent (new varieties are mildly pungent) Cherry group - pungent or nonpungent Wax group - yellow mature color Tabasco Group - processed, very pungent *Habanero Group* - *MOST pungent commercially available.*

Tomatoes are

Berries

Birds & Bats beneficial

Birds (day): active during the day - caterpillars, other insect, may eat fruits ex: martins One problem: diet changes from insect to fruit Bats (night): nocturnal - Mosquitoes, moths, other nocturnal insects

Where is the best place for drainage holes to be located on containers used for gardening

Bottom,sides

Brussel sprouts

Brassica - Similar to broccoli in their helpfulness. - Little cabbages Cultural requirements: - 100 days to mature - Can be picked for CHRISTMAS dinner

Cauliflower

Brassica! - Head is an *aborted floral meristem* 75% loss od beneficial compounds after 30 min boil. COOL WEATHER. 2 crops/year - transplants in spring when evening temps are 50F. 50-80 days from sowing to harvest. Different colors.

Broccoli

Brassica! Tasty indeed, bountiful looking plants. Large plants - contains a wide range of cancer-fighting compounds - constant water moisture in soil - edible buds. harvested before flowering.

Dimensions for a raised bed

Can vary. 1. Height: minimum 8"-12" is needed for proper root development. - need room for adequate drainage. 2. Width- 4 feet is ideal to allow one to reach into the bed from both sides. 3. Length: 12 feet is ideal to minimize walking.

What makes peppers pungent (spicy)?

Capsaicin: discovered in 1816 can be isolated to use for different things. Colorless, odorless. HYDROPHOBIC: Fat soluble, not water soluble. MILK takes away burn from hot peppers than water. Active ingredient in pepper spray. Unpleasant to most mammals, whereas BIRDS are unaffected; seeds are spread. - highest concentration in placental tissue (not seeds) - inside lining. Bell pepper has a recessive gene resulting in a lack of capsasin.

Which of the following is NOT a brassica?

Carrots

Tomato Blossom end rot

Caused by: Lack of calcium. - Add Ca to soil to get around this. Mulch and irrigate. Provide abundant soil p to pH. - prepare in advance

Which of the following is not an advantage of growing plants in raised beds?

Decreased disease pressure due to high planting density.

Tillage

Disrupts life cycle of pest and beneficals, lose carbon. Can expose pests to predators, the elements. Till before planting to control weeds, armyworms, curworms, plant bugs, aphids Till in the fall cto destroy overwintering.

Soil management

Drainage level, affect soil and plant health. Chemical ph, salt content - increase biodiversity and soil organic matter, keep soils covered with mulch to reduce erosion and keep moisture in.

Which of the following is the most efficient combination of method and time to supply water to your garden

Drip irrigation; 7:00 AM

Squash- SUMMER

Easy to grow and harvest. Yellow - straight & Crock neck. Zucchini and yellow and green squash. Warm season plant. Big plant. Harvest when Glossy. Has male and female flowers.

Beets

Eat Root and Greens. (more iron than spinach) - purple/green foliage Do not grow transplants. No root crops are grown as transplants - restricts its growth. - liquid seaweed adds boron to plant

What is the name of the gas that is used to ripen tomatoes (and other climacteric fruit)

Ethylene

All vegetables must be grown from seed

False

An annual plant typically lives for several years before completing its life cycle and dying.

False

Garden soil is the primary component of the growing media in container gardening

False

In general, soil pH can be raised by adding sulfur to the soil.

False

Incandescent lamps are superior to fluorescent lamps for growing plants

False

Leaves are the only part of the vegetable that are never consumed by humans.

False

Melons, such as watermelon and cantaloupe, are considered cool-season plants.

False

Peppers (capsium spp.) are closely related to black pepper (piper nigrum)

False

Plants grown in containers often needs less water than those grown in soil.

False

Since botanical pesticides are derived from plants they are all approved for use in organic crop production

False

The best media in which to grow vegetable transplants is garden soil

False

The first step in hardening off plants is to increase fertilizer rates

False

Tomato horn worms only feed on tomato fruit

False

Very small seeds should be planted as deeply as possible.

False

Cucumbers are cool season plants?

False. Warm season!

Which of the following is NOT a type of biological pest control used in organic crop production?

Flaming

Container Garden Location

Full sun for fruit or root: at least 6 hours of sun or 8-10 is better. Leaf can have less.

Grafting Tomatoes

Grafting has been used on woody plants for centuries. More recently used for herbaceous plants like tomato. Why? Combination of desired characteristics. Disease resistance/toelrance and desirable fruit quality. Use a disease-resistant rootstock on which to graft a scion that possesses desirable fruit quality. *Rootstalk: below ground portion of plant.* *Scion: top of plant to be grafted onto rootstock.* Once the graft union is healed, the grafted tomatoes can be planted in the garden. We get the flavor characteristics we desire (scion) combined with disease resistance (rootstock).

Which of the following is an important factor to consider when growing vegetable transplants

Growing media, light, temperature (all of the above)

Hardening-off Transplants causes and ways

Hardening-off causes: - A slowing of growth - Greater cuticle thickness and waxes on leaves - build up of sugars Ways to harden off transplants - only water the transplants when they start wilting. (cycle water) - Stop fertilizing - exposure to cool temps and/or higher levels of sunlight

The condition of cabbage that is caused by abundant moisture following a period of drought is called:

Head Splitting

Which of the following should make up 25% or less of transplant growing media due to possible high levels of soluble salts

Homemade compost

Predatory Flies

Hover fly, robber fly

Garlic

In the onion family. - 77% produced in China - Antiinflammatory, heat benefits WWII used as antispetic Cultural requirements: easy to grow, longterm. Plant in fall after first frost. Mulch after planting to reduce spring weeds. - not transplant or seed - plant october - harvest in summer when green crop begins to brown.

GARDEN CALENDAR

Jan: look at seed catalogue Feb: order seeds March: seed most transplants March: test garden soil April: TAX DAY: no frost chance - plant early season crops May- September: grow garden August-september: fall crops

TRAP CROPS

LURES insect pests away from cash crop. attract insects away from cash crop. pests in one place, kill trap crop to kill pests.

What is the term that Thomas Jefferson used to describe tomatoes

Love Apples

The compound present in tomatoes (and some other red fruits) that has been linked to cardiovascular benefits is:

Lycopene

Corn

Maize. Grass. WARM SEASON PLANT Eating the seeds. 332 million tons in the US. 42% of worlds population gets corn for US. - grown in mid-west. Field corn - Iowa & Nebraska Sweet corn- we eat Cultural requirements: - Tip to plant corn early is not a good tip. ( can help business wise) - plant hairy vetch to get nitrogen bc its a grass -direct seed,, not transplants white corn: silver queen, sweet corn

Raised bed Garden advantages

Maximize all available space in areas with limited space. Good for areas with poor, rocky, or sloped terrain. Filled with high quality of soil mixes that have large amounts of organic matter which improves drainage and may increase yields. Drain better and warms up fast; better seed germination and transplant growth. Dense planting techniques results in higher production per sqft of garden and helps reduce weed seed germination. Can be tended soon after rains or irrigation without compacting soils. No expensive power cultivation equipment is needed.

Celery

Negative caloric content. Blood pressure benefits - anti inflammatory. - LONG season crop. - Heavy feeder. Needs constant moisture.

Sweet Potato (Ipomoea batatas)

Not closely related to irish potatoes. ROOTS vs idaho potatoes are STEMS - more starchy - can eat foliage Morning Glory family. plant april 15th (cuttings or transplants) Fall crop plant June 15th high pH 4.5-7.0 Can grow in adaptable conditions. 90-120 days to mature

Container Garden Watering

Often, early. Throughly and deeply. never let media dry out completely. too much can kill plants. Drip; 7:00am

Leeks

Onion family. - White base, green stem Edible: Stalk Cold weather plant. Transplants. Want to plant deeply to develope white stem under the ground. - sweeter when bottoms are white. Harvest in winter through spring. COLD HARDY. need frost to become sweeter. Hill them up as they grow.

Pest Management approach

Organic approach: enhance habitat for beneficial insects. increase pop of 97% good insects. holistic approach - total system approach not just remedial (not just treating systems) prior planning helps. choose resistant varieties, use crop rotation (soil born pests, botanical family), companion planting, timing of planting ( keep notes, avoid peak pressure, experiment with different plants, plant crops susceptible to nematodes), sanitation ( select healthy plants, rogue (remove) and prune, remove crop debris promptly to reduce overwintering sites for pests, soil management. Can do these things through: Mulches, composting, tillage, flaming, and trap crops. Pest problem usual indicates sub-optimal growing conditions and imbalance. Emphasis on biodiversity and optimal cultural practices. normal resort: *Spray insecticide* - remedial approach, organic grower cannot think this way.

Tomato History - culturally and historically important

Originated in South America? - China #1, India #2, US #3 Cali. & Mexico are big producers. Thomas Jefferson called tomatoes "love apples"

Parasitic wasps

Parasitoid. lay eggs in and on host insects. egg hatches and kills bugs. Braconid Wasp - parasitize tomato horn worm,

Asparagus

Perennial Edible spears (flower stalk) Little harvest until 3rd year. Prepare beds with compost. Separate Male & female asparagus (only want males, females have red berries) diecious - Larger plant. - Likes high pH 7.0

Artichokes

Perennial in warm climate Edible flower Harvest: Unopened flower heads Tall plant: 3 foot tall, 6-8 flower heads per plant Cultural requirements: - Transplants - Keep roots cool (mulch)

The two primary categories of beneficial insects are

Predators and parasitoids

Planting Map suggestions

Put vine crops on edge. (watermelon & cantaloupe) Plant 3 rows of corn for pollination. (wind) Put tall plants (corn, tomatoes) on north side to avoid shade. Plant small amount several times to extend the harvest season. 1,000 sq ft. takes about 1 hr per week of care. - plant in rows - easier to care for. - consider equipment size for row spacing. - Double crop to use space efficiently - harvest radishes, sugar snap peas, lettuce early then plant, later-season crop in same space (peppers, beans, summer squash) - Start small

Scoville Units

Rating of Capsaicin. Bell Peppers: 0 Anaheim peppers: 500-1,000 Tabasco Sauce: 2,500-5,000 Cayenne Pepper: 30,000-50,000 Habanero Chile: 100,000-350,000

Container Garden- Selecting containers

Recycled containers: scrub well. Rinse with 10% bleach before you use them. Container dictates the environment. - Temperature extremes. - Overheating can mean death. - Thick wood insulates best. - Colors: Dark absorbs heat. Light reflects heat. Choose the right size container for the plants that you want to grow. - Bigger is better... small containers dry out faster.

Chard

Salads, steamed, sauteed. - vitamins/fiber "Bright Lights" Direct seed because they germinate fast. - Thin to one seedling (aggregate seed. 4 crops can come from 1 seed). Sow a crop every two weeks. Kinda heat tolerant.

The rating scale used to determine the pungency of pepper is comprised of:

Scoville Units

physical barrier

Small scale: bagging fruit, crawling pests, row covers, mulches (commercially), trenches, trunk bands, bates, traps, and lures

Vegetables traditionally transplanted

Small seed vegetables (tomatoes, peppers, head lettuce, broccoli) Sweet potato, irish potato - transplanted because on their own, they do not produce seed or the seed lacks vigor

Container Media

Small volume is needed to support plant growth. Desirable traits: - Water and nutrient retention - high porosity to ensure good aeration and root growth. - low bulk density (fluffy and light) easy to move. - Free from weeds, diseases and human pathogens. Low soluble salts.

Peas

Snap peas, sugar snap Eat in pod, COOL Season plant Need to be trellised. Like long, narrow things to wrap around. Sugar snap peas can produce in low sunlight.

Which of the following does hardening-off NOT cause

Softening of stems

Raised Bed Gardening

Soil is formed in *3-4 foot wide beds*, which can be of any length or shape. The soil is raised above surrounding soil, sometimes enclosed by a frame generally made of wood, rock , or concrete blocks, and enriched with compost.

Which of the following is NOT a cultural method commonly used for pest management in organic production systems?

Soil sterilization

Radishes

Spring's tangy farewell to winter Cool weather plant! - Quick plant to grow - Direct seed (not radishes - root crop, high germination) 3-4 weeks maturity. - Rich in vitamin C

A good way to maximize your space using a raised bed is to plant according to the ____ method.

Square foot

Melons

Summer's reward for hot, humid weather. - taste will beat anything you can find in the store. Muskemelon: cantaloupe Watermelons: 6% sugar, 92% water - *red: lycopene* (also in ketchup) healthy for you. take long time to grow. *Harvest muskmelons at full slip*: Stem almost falls off fruit. Harvest watermelons, when curled up *tendril (pigtail)*, turns brown and dies. - seedless watermelon, you need a pollinator Yubari melons: 6,000-15,000 yen. Pair auctioned in 2008 for 2 million yen

The best way to tell if your garden needs to be watered is:

Testing soil moisture with your finger

Tomatoes

The difference is in the taste. Buy local: Harman family farms. Supermarket variety: Most are picked at mature green and Ethylene Gas matures them. Warm season plant.

A virus that readily infects tomatoes which necessitates that growers refrain from smoking near their tomatoes is called:

Tobacco mosaic Virus

A parasitic wasp deposits its eggs on or in unsuspecting prey

True

Addition of organic matter, such as compost, to a sandy soil can improve that soil's water and nutrient retention.

True

Cucurbits (squashes, cucumbers, melons) make for good crop rotation with nightshade (tomatoes, potatoes, eggplant)

True

Growing media used in a containers is typically made of soilless componenet

True

In general, it is best to err on the side of caution and plant tomatoes late to avoid any possibility of encountering a late frost.

True

In general, tomatoes purchased from your local supermarket were picked green and commercially ripened

True

In general, vegetables are considered healthy foods because they are low in calories, but high in vitamins, minerals, and other beneficial compounds.

True

In general, vegetables should be harvested when they still have glossy, as opposed to dull, finished:

True

It is not a good idea to let very young seedlings dry out

True

Southern peas are generally very *drought tolerant*

True

The very popular, peeled baby carrots available in your local grocery story are actually regular carrots that have been peeled and cut into pieces.

True

Two ways organic matter can improve water relations in soils are by increasing water holding capacity of a sandy soil or improving drainage of a clayey soil

True

Water does not relieve burning due to capsaicin because capsaicin in not water soluble

True

providing structure for tomatoes via staking or caging is important

True

Tobacco Mosaic Virus TMV

Virus that is carried by tobacco plant. Crickly leaves. No smoking around tomato plants - can give this virus to plants.

Cucumbers

Vitamin C, Fiber, Skin has beneficial minerals. Field seed or transplant. Eating the fruit. Cucumber is fruit by botanically, use it as a vegetable. Preserved: pickle cucumbers

Peppers cultural requirements

Warm season crop - transplants (sow eight weeks before transplanting out) Warm season - very heat tolerant!

Tomato Cultural Requirements

Warm season plant, grow through summer. Good soil, organic matter pH 6.0-6.8 Mulch & irrigation needed Grow as transplants, almost always! Like a lot of nutrients and water. need stakes to support plant. Crop rotation: VERY IMPORTANT to break disease cycles > nightshade family: Solanaceae - potatoes, eggplant, peppers. > Rotate with non-solanaceae (cucurbits are best) crop every 3+ years Growth Habit - Determinate (bush) - Indeterminate (vining) Both cannot support itself. Staking/caging: - individual - multiple Florida weave - twin around plant- all leaning on the same post - Topsy, turvy

Tomato Cracking

Warm, rainy weather after a dry spell. (same as cabbage head splitting) there are crack resistant varieties.

Growing media

Why not use garden soil? - tends to be poorly drained and subject to water logging. - Contains insect pests, diseases, and weed seed. GOOD: - Free of pests - Good water-holding capacity - Well aerated and drained - Low in soluble salts Examples:- Vermiculite: mica-like material that has been heated to high temps, helps water drain. - Perlite: An inert lightweight volcanic material - adds air space. Coconut Coir (husks) - peat substitute also called coco peat Peat Moss: #1 for small plants. #1 component: Aged Pine Bark: used in S.E. majority of what is in the pot. - Rice Hulls: a perlite substitute. Cannot grow in compost: salt concentration is too high and will burn plants. Containers: - plastic trays, containers, peat pots (disintegrates), jiffy plugs, used, creative

Transplants

a plant grown in one place (usually a container) to a certain stage before planted in another place. Goal: to produce vigorous plants ready to be planted in the garden. -Can avoid problems of seed emerging. -You can more closely control depth of planting. - Seeds will germinate under ideal conditions. - Extends growing season (early start, later finish)

assassin big

adults, nympths attack many insects, including flies, tomatoes, hormworms

Lettuce

an organic grower's best friend (leafy types) Medeterrian plant. COOL SEASON crop. *when a place switches to organic - lettuce will be #1* - easy to grow -fast - direct seed not transplant - Generally NOT hear tolerant. > flowers. - grows all winter in an unheated green house. - CA, Arizona - Harvest small plants. Types: romaine, boston butterheads, bibb butterheads, leaf types.

Lettuce

an organic growers dream

bio control

animals, insects, microorganisms Augmentation: increase pop. through purchase and release ladybugs Conservation: increase existing pop through conservation and other means

Red vs. Far Red Light

avoid spinly plants. (made in dark light, sick) PAR 400-700nm - controlling the red to far red light ratio is a means of controlling seedling height. - incandescent lamps, low R:FR ratio, frequently lead to stem elongation. - fluorescent light sources, high R:FR ratio, produce short and compact plants. - use fluorescent lights: on for 12-16 hr/day No farther than 4inches above plants. - one cool-white and one warm-white tube. OR full spectrum grow lights. Bottom heating with cool lights is the way to go. Avoid: cool temps, dark conditions, too much water. (cover with humidity dome to maintain 1st water level) - if seedlings/young plants dry out, they die.

Cabbage

bigger isn't better. - Cancer fighting compounds -Cardiovascular benefits Red foods are good for your heart - french paradox. - Protects against Alzheimer's disease (red cabbage)

Brassica

collards cabbage, cauliflower, brussel sprouts, kale, mustard green, turnips Level moisture level, large plants Cool weather

Pathogens

colonize and kill host - nematodes,bacteria, virus, fungi

Pests can be:

diseases, insects, or weeds 75% spend beginning life in soil

Eggplant

easy to grow and attractive. - China produces 56% of world's eggplant. 20lbs of eggplant = 1 cigarette. HOT WEATHER plant. - large, slow crop, cover crop between rows Harvest when glossy. Mulch well.

A tomato is legally a fruit, but botanically a vegetable

false. Tomato is botanically (scientifically) a fruit, legally a veggie.

ground beetle

forge for insect at night - predator

difference between fruit & vegetable

fruit- dessert veggie - main course

The ________ group contains the most pungent commercially-produced peppers.

habanero

High tunnel production

if you can go to farmers market first, you can command a price.

Parasitoids

immatures develop on or inside a host, killing it as they mature. Only eat one insect

Flaming

kills colorado potato beetle. propane burners - plant bounces back, kills pests

Green lacewing*

larvae attack soft-bodied insects including aphids, thrips, mealybugs, scales, mites, and caterpillars. & ladybeetles best predators!

OMRI (organic materials review institute)

list of all things that are acceptable in organic systems. - Founded by organic certifiers but SEPARATE from USDA

predators

not picky eaters. Larva and/or adult hunt, attack, consume prey. (lady beetles, lacewings, prang mantis) Eat many insects

pesticides in organic productions

on OMRI. consult with agency and OMRI. *Botanical pesticides*: plant derived materials *NEEM & PYRETHRUM* - break down rapidly in the environment, toxic, broad spectrum, used carefully Pyrethrum: Flour extracted, contact with poison *Wasp spray* Neem: fruit of a true extract. hormore mimic, repellant. kills fungi and insects. Wide variety of insects. *microbial pesticides:* slow, need favorable environment, UV light affects persistence ex: BT - has to be injested by catilpiller to work *parasitic fungi*: spores of fungus - penetrates skin/softbody insect. can take while to work - 1 week. Ex: Spinosad

Flies are

overall beneficial

NO GMO Fruits & veggies except

papaya

Mulches

plastic mulches can speed up plant grow, repel insects, increase plants ability to withstand insects Reflective mulches can confuse insects that fly. Straw mulch can reduce problems with COLORADO POTATO BEETLE

Seed depth: transplant

right below ground- same depth of container. (Except tomatoes and leeks)

Resistant varities

some varieties may be less attractive to pest species or tolerate more damage than others. Plant size, shape, coloration, hair, cuticle thickness, and natural chemicals

When to water

the difference between knowing and thinking you know is checking. - Your finger- the best water made sensor made It may be okay for the first 1-2" inches of soil to be dry if below is wet. Timing: Water in the morning! - Deeply and infrequently. Big root systems. Water application: no over head irrigate. BEST: DRIP IRRIGATION. or hand water.

Hardening off Transplants

the process whereby transplants stop growth and develop greater tolerance to the weather so they can survive being planted into the garden. - critical for both commercially grown transplants and transplants that you grow on your own.

A disadvantage to raised bed gardening: Increased plant density may increase some pest concerns, especially foliar diseases.

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Peppers are warm season plants

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weed feeders

weeds can be attacked by arthropods, vertebrates, and pathogens (fungi, viruses, bacteria, bacteria, and nematodes)