Vegetables
As organic producers, we try to mimic nature in order to grow food with a minimum of external inputs. If we plan to mimic nature, we need to understand as much about the biology of plants and ecological systems as we can. The following introduction may be a review for some, but it will hopefully give new producers an understanding of seed and seedling biology and a framework for analyzing cultural practices for producing healthy seedlings.
Potting mixes should support developing seedlings. Most potting mixes are soilless to avoid soilborne diseases and promote good drainage. A mix of peat moss, vermiculite or perlite, and compost or organic fertilizers can provide a suitable environment with sufficient water-holding capacity, nutrient content, and aeration for plant growth and development. However, because organic nutrients are supplied slowly over time, meeting seedling nutrient needs can be difficult. This fact sheet outlines basic recipes for potting media and research on organic transplant production.
What is a plant disease? A plant disease is a dynamic process where a living or nonliving entity interferes with the normal functions of a plant over a period of time. Things that happen just once, like lawnmower blight or lightning strikes, are not considered diseases, but rather injuries. Plant diseases result in visible symptoms that can help diagnose the disease or disorder.
Something is wrong with your plant. What is the cause? Don’t assume you know the answer and accidently treat for the wrong problem. Use this step-by-step method to narrow down the possibilities, but don’t forget to ask the experts, if you need to.
In order for a plant to become diseased, three conditions must be present: (1) a pathogen, (2) a favorable environment where the pathogen can thrive, and (3) a susceptible host. All the strategies we use to manage plant diseases work to remove or limit one of these factors, thus breaking the plant disease triangle.
Successful weed management can make or break a new organic farm. These steps will help you get the upper hand on weeds.
Figure out which strategies and what equipment fit with your scale, your finances, and your style with this overview.
A spader is a conservation soil preparation tool. This short video demonstrates pros and cons, set up, and use.
Raised bed plastic layers are standard equipment on vegetable farms. This video shows set up, and use.
Small scale farms often use hand push seeders. This video shows Earthway, jang and European push seeders.
The paper pot transplanter is designed to allow small farmers to plant many small transplants such as onions in a short period of time. This video demonstrates set up and use.
Quiet Creek Farm shares their transplant production system in new video. John and Aimee Good run Quiet Creek Farm, a certified organic CSA raising vegetables, berries, flowers and herbs for 200 members. The farm is located on eight acres of land leased from the Rodale Institute in Kutztown, PA.
John and Aimee Good run Quiet Creek Farm, a certified organic CSA raising vegetables, berries, flowers and herbs for 200 members. The farm is located on eight acres of land leased from the Rodale Institute in Kutztown, PA. As part of the Penn State Start Farming Farm Profiles John shares his experience with insect management.
As part of the Penn State Start Farming Farm Profiles Quiet Creek shares their experience with weed management. John and Aimee Good run Quiet Creek Farm, a certified organic CSA raising vegetables, berries, flowers and herbs for 200 members. The farm is located on eight acres of land leased from the Rodale Institute in Kutztown, PA.
If you have not done it yet, now is the time to finish up your crop plan for next year. Soon it will be time to start seedlings and the whirlwind will begin. At a recent CSA day organized by Lehigh County Extension’s Brian Moyer, I shared some tips for crop planning. What follows is a teaser, just the first few steps of the crop planning procedure I put together based on the great crop planning information Josh Volk from Slow Hand Farm recently shared with us. For the full procedure and example spreadsheets click the links below.
An overview of transplant production at Red Cat Farm, Germansville PA. Farm Profiles are designed to give new producers ideas and advice from experienced producers. Individual products are mentioned as examples not as an endorsement.
An overview of transplant production at Shooting Star Farms. Farm Profiles are designed to give new producers ideas and advice from experienced producers. Individual products are mentioned as examples not as an endorsement.
An overview of transplant production at Eckerton Hill Farm. Farm Profiles are designed to give new producers ideas and advice from experienced producers. Individual products are mentioned as examples not as an endorsement.
An overview of weed management at Branch Creek Farm. Farm Profiles are designed to give new producers ideas and advice from experienced producers. Individual products are mentioned as examples not as an endorsement.
Mark and Judy Dornstreich have been farming for over 30 years in beautiful Bucks County, PA. They produce baby greens, specialty vegetables and edible flowers year-round in 3 greenhouses. Come summer, they shift their attention out to the field where they grow unique vegetable varieties on about 5 acres. They provide Philadelphia and New York City restaurants with only the highest quality, mouth-watering produce.
An overview of insect management at Branch Creek Farm. Farm Profiles are designed to give new producers ideas and advice from experienced producers. Individual products are mentioned as examples not as an endorsement.
Cornell Cooperative Extension, NY State IPM, and the NY State Department of Agriculture and Markets teamed up to product Organic Production Guides for: Snap Beans, Carrots, Cole Crops, Cucumbers, Squash, Lettuce, Peas, Potatoes and Spinach.
Plant, weed, hoe, cultivate, water, plant, fertilize, water. . . .No time to stop and take a close look for pests and diseases? Take a few minutes. It could save your crop.
Onion seeding is just around the corner. If you are a new organic grower there are a lot of things to consider. As you plan for success in 2012 here are a few things to consider for healthy transplants.
In late January I was fortunate enough to hear Dr. Galen Dively of the University of Maryland give an overview of organic insecticides at the Mid-Atlantic Fruit and Vegetable Grower’s Conference. Did you miss it? I’ll try to provide a recap.
For small scale vegetable growers just getting started, these two hot bed systems are a step up from growing under lights or in your kitchen window without all the costs of heating an entire greenhouse. Hot beds provide enough bottom heat to transplants enhancing germination, stimulating root growth and keeping transplants above freezing on cold nights. I have been using both systems for three years and thought I would share some pluses and minuses as well as step-by-step instructions on how to build them.
A recent article by Vernon Grubinger, Vermont Extension, made me think to remind folks to price compare their organic nutrients. Below are a couple of thoughts from Dr. Grubinger and some of price per pound comparisons from sources I know of locally. There are many more sources out there. The point is -- Price it Out!
If you rely on a backpack sprayer, whether using organic products such as copper or synthetics it is important to choose the right sprayer, calibrate, measure correctly and use the right nozzles. Rutgers has a new set of online videos to help you with this process.
Do you know what pests and diseases are a problem in your area? There are several online tools to help you monitor and keep up to date on the proximity and likelihood for pests and plant diseases. If you grow vegetables take a look to make sure you are receiving current information.
At Pennypack farm in Horsham PA Andy and his crew grow thirteen acres of produce using no synthetic fertilizers or pesticides. The farm feeds 350 CSA members during the spring-summer and 150 CSA members during the winter. They also provide many educational programs for the community.
