460 likes | 686 Views
Start to Finish Vegetable Production. Juan Anciso Texas AgriLife Extension Service. Why Grow Vegetables?. Market What pesticides are applied. Organic vs. Man-made (synthetic) Heirloom vs. Current varieties Some vegetable grow well down here. Source of Water. Municipal Costly
E N D
Start to Finish Vegetable Production Juan Anciso Texas AgriLife Extension Service
Why Grow Vegetables? • Market • What pesticides are applied. Organic vs. Man-made (synthetic) • Heirloom vs. Current varieties • Some vegetable grow well down here.
Source of Water • Municipal • Costly • Drip Irrigation • Well • Know salt content • <1,400 ppm TDS good for vegetables • 1,400 – 2,100 TDS doubtful but good drainage, more tolerant • >2,100 TDS TDS doubtful but only drip irrigation should be used • Canal • May not be available in your area
Irrigation Method • Drip • Furrow • Sprinkler
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 .
Location • Receives 8 + hours of sunlight. • Soil has good internal and external drainage. • Free of competition (weeds and trees). • Near a source of water.
Drainage Bedded Ground Raised Bed Flat on the Ground
Soils in the Valley • pH 6.5 – 8.3 • < 0.8% Organic Matter. • High in Potassium and Calcium. • Textures - Clay Loam to Sandy Loam.
Soil Preparation • Have a soil test run. • N-P-K • Incorporate plenty of organic matter. • Add compost to improve drainage. • Add nutrients if necessary.
Planting Equipment • Push planter – gravity and pore size • Tractor equipped – gravity and pore size
Planting Equipment Tractor-equipped – vacuum and pore size
Integrated Pest ManagementInsects, Diseases, Weeds • 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.
Floating Row CoverPrevent Insects • 2° to 4° F of Frost Protection. • Wind Protection. • Keeps Out Insects. • Allows 85 to 90% Light Penetration.
Soil-borne Diseases Solarize Nematodes Elbon Cereal Rye
Cool Season Vegetables • Plant from September thru December. • Some are heavy feeders of nitrogen.
Cabbage Cauliflower Broccoli (difficult to get size) Kale Kohlrabi Radish Collards Mustard Turnips (greens) (easy) Crucifer (Cabbage) Family
Goosefoot (Purslane) Family • Beets (easy) • Swiss Chard (easy) • Spinach (easy)
Lettuce – Asteraceae family (Head –difficult Leaf - easy) • Plant when soil cools in fall & winter. • Seed needs light to germinate. • Refrigerate before use.
Umbel (Parsley) Family • Carrot (easy) • Parsley (easy) • Cilantro (easy) • Fennel (easy) • Dill (easy) • Celery (difficult)
Amaryllis (Onion) Family • Onions (easy) • Leeks (easy) • Garlic (difficult) • Shallots (easy) • Chives (easy)
Onions • Plant seeds in September thru late November, transplants in December . • Varieties are short day sweet onions (1015).
Warm Season Vegetables • Plant Mid Feb- April 1 and August 15 to September 15 • Some require moderate levels of nitrogen.
Nightshade (Tomato) Family • Tomato (Roma or cherry) (easy) • Pepper (Hot types) (easy) • Eggplant (All types) (easy) • Potato (Difficult) • Tomatillo (Difficult)
Pepper Varieties Worth Trying Hidalgo Serrano Mild Habanero Tam Mild I Jalapeno Senorita Jalapeno
Legume (Bean) Family • Green (Snap) Beans (easy) • Southern Pea (easy) • English Pea (difficult) • Edible-podded Pea (difficult) • Soybean (difficult) • Jicama (difficult) • Pinto/black Bean (easy)
Cucurbit (Gourd) Family • Cucumber (easy) • Summer Squash (difficult) • Winter Squash (easy) • Cantaloupe (difficult) • Honeydew (difficult) • Watermelon (difficult) • Pumpkin (difficult) • Gourd (easy)
Male and Female Flowers Female Male
Cucumbers • Plant mid Feb to April 1 and August 15 to September 15. • Moderate Fertility. • Easily trellised. • Harvest for pickles when fruit reaches desired size and slicers when near maturity.
Squash • Plant mid February to April 1 and August 15 to September 15. • Moderate Fertility. • Harvest • Winter Squash when mature, rind hard. • Summer Squash when tender and immature.
Watermelons and cantaloupes • Plant mid Feb to March 15. • Moderate Fertility • Harvesting criteria important.
Mallow Family • Okra (easy) • Plant March 1 through April 15 when soils are warm. • Moderate fertility. • Harvest when pods are small and tender.
Okra Harvest Too Large Just Right
Grass Family – Sweet Corn(difficult) • Plant mid Feb. to April 1 and August 15 to September 15. • Fertilize at Planting, 1 Foot Tall, & Tassel • 70 to 90 days until harvest. Su - type Se - type
Types of Sweet Corns • Sweet Corn (su)- Traditional sweet corn with sweet flavor and creamy consistency. Sugar degrades rapidly to starch . • Sugary Enhanced (se) – Tender kernels, much sweeter flavor and creamy consistency. Maintains sweet flavor much longer than traditional sweet corn. • Super Sweets (sh2)- Very crisp kernels, even after freezing, and a much higher sugar content. Sugar is very stable within the kernel but it lacks the creamy consistency. • Triple Sweets (su x se x sh2)- A combination of high sugar and creamy consistency, carrying a combination of traits from both sugar enhanced and super sweet varieties.