UF/IFAS
Okeechobee County Extension Service
458 Highway 98 North
Okeechobee, FL 34972-2578
Phone: (863) 763-6469
E- mail: dfculbert@ifas.ufl.edu
September 12, 2007
| Quick Links: First steps Prepare soil pH & fertilizer Irrigation 4-H Club References |
Feature Article - for release the week of September 16, 2007
Dan Culbert – Okeechobee Extension Horticulture Agent
FALL INTO VEGETABLE GARDENING
Ask a gardener what they should be doing in the September vegetable garden. Almost anyplace else, the tasks will relate to their final harvest or retiring their plants to the compost heap. But, here in south- central Florida, fall is the time for soil preparation and planting. Our spring and fall gardening chores are backwards from other areas of the country.
If your dinner plate desires high quality produce, your body craves some useful exercise, and your pocketbook could stand to save a few pennies, why not revisit the old Victory Garden in your own back yard. Today’s column will offer a few reminders and local tips to get springing into the fall gardening season from University of Florida’s Vegetable Extension Specialist Emeritus, Jim Stephens.
Site - Locate the garden on a site close to a source of water with at least six hours of direct sunlight. Vegetables may also be included in your Florida Yard among ornamental plants. Where possible, don’t plant the same kinds of vegetables in the same spot year after year - you will make pest management easier.
Plan - Before planting, make a paper plan, including which vegetables you intend to plant, where you will plant them, and when they need to be planted. Home gardeners can use the Florida Vegetable Gardening Guide to help develop your plan. This bulletin can be picked up free at our office or viewed on line: http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/VH021 .
Commercial vegetable growers take note: the 2007-08 Florida Commercial Vegetable Production Guide will be available in our office in the next two weeks – call us to reserve your copy!
Make a list of supplies, and then order or purchase what you need. Since every other place is gardening at the wrong time, finding gardening supplies at the right time in Florida is often a challenge. Ask our locally owned garden centers to locate what you need.
Soil Preparation - While most gardeners plant on whatever soil is available, your gardening success will be much greater if apply lots of organic materials to your garden. Spade or rototill the plot at least three weeks before planting. Then, rework the soil into a fine firm seedbed at planting time.
Bedding - Elevated soil beds may be a good idea if flooding might occur. Raised beds also reduce the chances of diseases and insects that cause root damage, and are good when growing root crops. Raised beds can be constructed with a hoe, wheel plow or garden tractor. They can be made in multiple rows, or in raised four-foot wide beds. Usually, a bed height of 6 to 8 inches is plenty high.
Organic Matter – Organic materials such as animal manure, rotted leaves, compost, and cover crops improve water and nutrient holding capacity of our sandy soils. Thoroughly mix in the organics at least a month before seeding. If you do not expect to use granular fertilizer, use 25 to 100 pounds per 100 sq. ft. More well-composted materials may be added at planting. If using composted yard trash or other organic amendments low in nitrogen, choose to use additional fertilizer to avoid plant stunting.
Adjusting Soil pH - soil pH determines if fertilizers can get into your plants. Why not bring a soil sample to our office to find out your soil pH. The best soil pH range for vegetable gardens on sandy soil is between pH 5.8 and 6.3.
If soil pH is between 5.5 and 7.0, no change in pH is needed. If your soil pH is below 5.5, apply lime at the rate recommended by a reliable source. If your soil pH is above 7.0 (alkaline) because marl or shells are present, there is no practical way of lowering the soil pH. Beware: adding lime to alkaline soil will create problems.
Fertilizing - commercial fertilizer is usually needed for Florida gardens. Gardeners find it convenient to use grades such as 8-8-8 or 15-15-15, and may broadcast up to 2 pounds of Nitrogen per 100 square feet to a garden. Check the fertilizer bag for appropriate rates. Choose the best application method, broadcast or band, depending on the sizes of the vegetable plants.
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A small drip irrigation system will use water efficiently and keep the tops of plants dry, avoiding diseases. Adding mulch will reduce weed problems. Photo: Bob Hochmuth, NFREC/IFAS/UF. |
Irrigation and Drainage – Raised beds provide for good drainage of excessive rainfall, but also arranging for irrigation during dry periods. Frequency of irrigation depends upon your soil type: sandy soils need water 2 or 3 times a week. Conserve water by using mulch, organic matter, and techniques such as drip irrigation. And remember we must follow water management district restrictions as well.
Weed control is probably the hardest task a vegetable gardener faces. Weeds are easier to control when small – large weeds will rob your garden of water, nutrients and room to grow. In gardens, practical weed control is best done by hand-pulling, hoeing, mechanical cultivation, or mulching. Chemical herbicides are not suggested.
Many more useful suggestions can be found free Extension bulletins available at our office. An expanded paperback book, Vegetable Gardening in Florida, covers the subject for local conditions. It can be found at better bookstores, or can be ordered directly from the Extension bookstore: http://ifasbooks.ufl.edu .
Mighty Sprouts 4-H Club begins!
Okeechobee Master Gardener Bobbie Fuller met with a few young people last week and got our new 4-H Horticulture club underway. There’s still room for your budding gardener in the club – and in other 4-H Clubs as well. If you’re interested, the next meeting will be held Monday September 24, 5 PM. They will be making paper pots to plant seed, and then start growing vegetable transplants. Please call our office for more information.
I’ve placed more about vegetable gardening on our Okeechobee web page, http://okeechobee.ifas.ufl.edu. If you need additional information, please email us at okeechobee@ifas.ufl.edu or call us at 863-763-6469. Local residents can stop by our office at 458 Hwy 98 North in Okeechobee, and visit our Okeechobee County Master Gardeners from 1 to 3 PM on Tuesday afternoons. GO GATORS!
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Trade names, where used, are given for the purpose of providing specific information. They do not constitute an endorsement or guarantee of products named, nor does it imply criticism of products not named. The Florida Cooperative Extension Service - Institute of Food and Agricultural Sciences is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer authorized to provide research, educational information, and other services to individuals and institutions that function without regard to race, color, sex, age, handicap, or national origin. Florida Cooperative Extension Service / IFAS / University of Florida. Larry A. Arrington, Dean. Last update: 09/13/2007. This page is maintained by Dan Culbert
UF/IFAS Home vegetable
Gardening bulletins can be found at this website:
http://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/TOPIC_Vegetable_Gardening
McAvoy,
Gene. Vegetable Gardening in
Stephens
J.M. and Gray S.D. Vegetable
Gardening Project Manual & Suggested Program Plans for
Leaders.
Watkins,
Teresa. The
ABC’s of Vegetable Gardening.