Square Foot Gardening High-Value Veggies
Page 14
1
RADISH
One of the reasons this crop is a favorite for kids’ gardens is because radishes mature amazingly fast. Choose spring varieties for fully grown radishes in less than 30 days. Keep a bucket of sun-warmed water and you—or your children—can pick, wash, and eat the treats as a snack while gardening.
2
SCALLION
Scallions are essentially baby onions. Some varieties take less than 75 days to mature and the smaller onions are often much easier to integrate into salads and cooking than large bulb varieties. You can even harvest them slightly young, cutting even more time off the growing period.
3
LETTUCE
The fastest growing lettuces are loose-leaf varieties, which will be ready for harvest within eight weeks. Start harvesting even before then, by taking a few outer leaves to add to salads or use as garnish with other dishes. One of the great things about these lettuces is the amazing variety of flavors and textures available.
4
SNAP AND SNOW PEA
Choose smaller varieties that will mature 10 to 20 days earlier than more traditional sizes. The harvest will still be abundant, the flavor fresh and succulent.
5
BUSH BEAN
As with other plants, look for varieties that mature quickly; ‘Provider’ and ‘Venture’ are two that will grow beans ready for harvest in just over six weeks. Ensure the fastest germination and growth by soaking bush bean seeds in tepid water for 20 minutes prior to planting (don’t oversoak or the beans will fall apart), and coating with inoculant right before putting the seeds in the soil.
6
CUCUMBER (PICKLING VARIETIES)
Both vine and bush types of cucumbers can be grown in containers, which gives you the chance to control the growing environment and speed up the time to harvest. Pick your variety carefully if speed is your top concern—some take as little as 48 days to mature.
7
SPINACH
One of the fastest and most nutritious leafy greens you can grow, spinach may be ready for harvest in as little as four to five weeks, depending on the variety you’ve chosen. The first leaves are ready to be cut as soon as they are big enough to eat. Keep harvesting the outer leaves as soon as you can use them and the bounty will keep on coming.
8
KALE
Warmer soil temperatures speed up kale growth, so use black plastic or other techniques to warm early spring soil and boost kale growth. Kale will also grow faster in very rich soil and in direct sun. To keep the speedy harvest on pace, immediately remove any mature leaves and don’t allow them to yellow or wilt on the plant.
9
TURNIP
Watering turnips right after the seeds germinate will help the crop grow quicker, although this is already a quick-maturing vegetable. The quickest varieties will mature in a little more than 30 days, and you can begin harvest the leaves even while the root is growing, as soon as they are 10 inches or more.
10
CARROT
For the fastest carrot crop—around two months—grow ball or short varieties. However, carrots, like many other vegetables, are delightful when harvested very young. These are sweet and tender, and make wonderful side dishes to a main course of fish or meat.
10 BEST EDIBLES FOR SHADY GARDENS
Shaded locations are generally not ideal for growing a vegetable garden. Most edibles like to be bathed in sunlight while they grow. However, several different edibles can thrive in partial shade if they receive a bare minimum of strong direct sunlight for a given period during the day. Certain heat-averse plants can even benefit from the cooling effects of modest shade in the garden.
Generally speaking, you’ll have more luck with edibles that you grow to harvest roots and leaves rather than fruits. This is especially true of leafy greens. In any case, check the varieties you choose carefully for those indicated to be shade tolerant.
Also keep in mind that many gardeners misjudge how much shade and sunlight a given area of a yard experiences. If you watch throughout the day, you may be surprised to find that a spot you thought was deeply shaded actually enjoys three to four hours of strong direct sunlight at one point or another. That’s usually enough to grow many shade-tolerant edibles. Here are some suggestions to ensure success when growing edibles in shade.
Start plants indoors: Germinating seeds and getting plants established under optimal conditions will help them thrive in partial shade.
Prune nearby growth: Trim overgrown trees and shrubs near where you’re planting the edibles. You may be surprised at how much additional sunlight the plants receive.
Grow near white or reflective surfaces: Sunlight does not necessarily have to be direct to be effective. Reflected sunlight can be every bit as beneficial to your edibles.
Containerize: Growing edibles in containers allows you move them as necessary to take advantage of whatever sun there is.
1
LETTUCE
Three hours of direct sun per day will usually be enough to grow a crop of leaf lettuces. Although the plants won’t be as prolific as those grown in more abundant sunlight, they will also be less inclined to bolt—which may mean an additional week or more of harvesting the leaves.
2
SPINACH
The base minimum of sun for spinach to do well is four hours a day. Pick leaves early as baby spinach and a shady location will prevent bolting and lead to a significantly longer harvest period.
3
KALE
Kale is one of the best plants to grow in the shade and will be only slighter smaller than a full-sun plant. The leaves will be just as nutritious, though.
4
SWISS CHARD
Chard grown in shade generally produces smaller leaves, but the flavor and tenderness will be just as good as with the leaves of a large, sun-drenched plant.
5
BROCCOLI
Two to three hours of full sun is the minimum for this vegetable. But because it doesn’t like heat, partial shade can actually benefit the plant.
6
BEET
Although you can grow beets in shade, they should ideally have more than four hours of direct sunlight per day. The less sun, the longer the root will take to mature.
7
RADISH
Although they do fine in full sun, radishes will also thrive in partial shade. They also do best in cooler temperatures, so shade that alleviates a hot sun in the middle of the day is ideal.
8
CARROT
Give carrots four hours of sun per day and they’ll be fine—especially if you plant smaller varieties or harvest the root as a baby carrots, which will be delectable.
9
TURNIP
Turnips will tolerate a small amount of shade, but will not flourish in deep shade. A minimum of five hours of direct sun is best.
10
CABBAGE
Growing cabbage in partial shade is a trade-off. Although the plants will grow, the heads will be smaller and looser than they otherwise would have been. The ideal shade condition is one in which the plant starts out in full sun (such as under a tree that will leaf out as the weather warms), and then partial shade provides relief from hotter temperatures.
FAMILY NAMES OF VEGETABLES
Solanaceae—The nightshade family: tomato, pepper (sweet and hot), eggplant, tomatillo, and potato (but not sweet potato). Verticillium and fusarium wilt are common fungi that build in the soil when nightshades are planted in the same spot year after year.
Cucurbitaceae—The vining gourd family: cucurbits, cucumber, zucchini, summer and winter squash, pumpkin, melon, gourd.
Fabaceae—The legumes and nitrogen fixers: pea, bean, peanut, and cowpea.
Brassicacae—The cole crops, the mustard family, cool-season plants: broccoli, cauliflower, cabbage, kale, Brussels sprouts, radish, turnip, and collard greens.
Liliaceae—The onion family: onion, garlic, chive, shallo
t, or asparagus. When selecting a new site for asparagus beds, make sure that no other family members have been grown nearby for several years.
PHOTO CREDITS
Crystal Liepa: 94-95
Jay Windland: 7
Paul Markert: 6
Shutterstock: 5, 8, 13, 14, 16, 21, 33, 36, 45, 46, 51, 60, 61, 62, 66, 70 (top), 71, 75, 85, 86
W. Atlee Burpee & Co.: 34, 35, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 47 (both), 48 (both), 49, 50, 52, 53, 54, 55, 56 (both), 57, 58, 59, 63, 64, 65, 67, 68, 69, 70 (bottom), 72, 73, 74, 76, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 84, 87, 88, 89, 90, 91, 92 (both)
RESOURCES
USDA Agricultural Research Service
www.ars.usda.gov
W. Atlee Burpee & Co.
www.burpee.com
Harris Seeds
www.harrisseeds.com
Johnny’s Selected Seeds
www.johnnyseeds.com
Park Seed Company
www.parkseed.com
PlanGarden (yield and price calculator)
www.plangarden.com
Renee’s Garden Seeds
www.reneesgarden.com
METRIC CONVERSION
Metric Equivalent
Converting Measurements
TO CONVERT:
TO:
MULTIPLY BY:
Inches
Millimeters
25.4
Inches
Centimeters
2.54
Feet
Meters
0.305
Yards
Meters
0.914
Miles
Kilometers
1.609
Square inches
Square centimeters
6.45
Square feet
Square meters
0.093
Square yards
Square meters
0.836
Cubic inches
Cubic centimeters
16.4
Cubic feet
Cubic meters
0.0283
Cubic yards
Cubic meters
0.765
Pints (U.S.)
Liters
0.473 (lmp. 0.568)
Quarts (U.S.)
Liters
0.946 (lmp. 1.136)
Gallons (U.S.)
Liters
3.785 (lmp. 4.546)
Ounces
Grams
28.4
Pounds
Kilograms
0.454
Tons
Metric tons
0.907
Inches
Millimeters
25.4
Inches
Centimeters
2.54
Feet
Meters
0.305
Yards
Meters
0.914
Miles
Kilometers
1.609
Square inches
Square centimeters
6.45
Square feet
Square meters
0.093
Square yards
Square meters
0.836
Cubic inches
Cubic centimeters
16.4
Cubic feet
Cubic meters
0.0283
Cubic yards
Cubic meters
0.765
Pints (U.S.)
Liters
0.473 (lmp. 0.568)
Quarts (U.S.)
Liters
0.946 (lmp. 1.136)
Gallons (U.S.)
Liters
3.785 (lmp. 4.546)
Ounces
Grams
28.4
Pounds
Kilograms
0.454
Tons
Metric tons
0.907
Millimeters
Inches
0.039
Centimeters
Inches
0.394
Meters
Feet
3.28
Meters
Yards
1.09
Kilometers
Miles
0.621
Square centimeters
Square inches
0.155
Square meters
Square feet
10.8
Square meters
Square yards
1.2
Cubic centimeters
Cubic inches
0.061
Cubic meters
Cubic feet
35.3
Cubic meters
Cubic yards
1.31
Liters
Pints (U.S.)
2.114 (lmp. 1.76)
Liters
Quarts (U.S.)
1.057 (lmp. 0.88)
Liters
Gallons (U.S.)
0.264 (lmp. 0.22)
Grams
Ounces
0.035
Kilograms
Pounds
2.2
Metric tons
Tons
1.1
Converting Temperatures
Convert degrees Fahrenheit (F) to degrees Celsius (C) by following this simple formula: Subtract 32 from the Fahrenheit temperature reading. Then mulitply that number by 5/9. For example, 77°F - 32 = 45. 45 × 5/9 = 25°C.
To convert degrees Celsius to degrees Fahrenheit, multiply the Celsius temperature reading by 9/5, then add 32. For example, 25°C × 9/5 = 45. 45 + 32 = 77°F.
INDEX
artichoke, 31, 81
arugula, 30, 60
asparagus, 29, 31, 87, 103, 110, 111
basil, 39
‘Spicy Globe’, 97
bean, 23, 29, 31, 85, 101, 109, 110, 111, 113
Dragon Tongue, 107
beets, 31, 80, 99, 111, 121
‘Bull’s blood’, 97
bell pepper, 29, 89, 103, 105
borage, 116
Brassicacae family, 122
broccoli, 31, 76, 99, 111, 113, 121
Romanesco, 107
Brussels sprouts, 29, 31, 90, 99, 103, 111
W. Atlee Burpee & Company, 108
bush bean, 23, 29, 31, 85, 101, 105, 119
Dragon Tongue, 107
cabbage, 74–75, 99, 121
green, 29, 31, 75, 111
Napa, 31, 75, 111
red, 31, 75, 111
‘Ruby Perfection’, 97
Savoy, 31, 74, 111
calendula, 116
cantaloupe, 30, 69
carrot, 70, 101, 109, 111, 113, 115, 119, 121
heirloom, 31
hybrid, 31
cauliflower, 31, 82, 111, 113
celery, 29, 31, 84
children’s gardens, 100–101
chives, 37, 97
cilantro, 43
cold frames, 114
collard greens, 31, 72, 99
community gardens, 24
compost, 20
container gardens, 104–105
cooking techniques, for health, 98
corn, 31, 73, 101, 103, 109
Coronado, Shawna, 96
costs
edible portions and, 12
ledger for recording, 11
per unit of produce, 12–13
produce diversity and, 15–17
regionality and, 17
return on investment formula, 9
USDA per pound averages, 13–14
weather’s effect of, 17
See also expenses
Creasy, Rosiland, 116
cucumber, 30, 61, 101, 109, 113, 115
Mexican Sour Gherkin, 107
pickling, 119
Cucurbitaceae family, 122
Daikon radish, 31, 71, 111
daylily, 116
dill, 41
diversity, 15–17
drip irrigation systems, 23
eggplant, 30, 68, 103, 105, 110, 113
equipment, 19
expenses
compost and, 19
equipment, non-tool, 19
labor, 23–24
land and, 24
soil amendments, 19
tools, 17–18
type of starter, 24–25
water, 17, 21–23
Fabaceae family, 122
family names, 122
Farmers Market Coalition, 15
farmers’ markets
benefits and, 15
costs and, 14–15
fascination gardens, 106–107
fennel (bulb), 30, 67
fermentation, 98
Fields, Chelsey, 108
Food Marketing Institute, 15
French tarragon, 38
garden investment ledgers, 11
garlic, 28, 30, 49, 111
grilling, vegetables for, 102–103
health benefits, 98–99
herbs, 28, 30–31, 32, 105, 110, 111
See also individual types
hot pepper, 23
Jerusalem artichoke, 107
Johnny-jump-up, 117
juicing, 98
kale, 78, 99, 111, 113, 119, 121
curly/purple/lacinato, 31
dinosaur, 97
karela melon, 107
kohlrabi, 30, 66
purple, 107
labor costs, 23–24
land costs, 24
lavender, 117
leek, 28, 30, 51
lettuce, 58–59, 101, 105, 109, 115, 119, 121
butter, 30
green/red leaf, 30
mesclun, 30
romaine, 30
Liliaceae family, 122