Organic Vegetable Gardening

Mary Lou Roberts, Master Gardener

WHAT IS ORGANIC GARDENING?

A Common Sense Approach

December 2013

WHAT WE’RE GOING TO COVER

• What is the meaning of “Organic?”– How do we identify it?

• How about “Natural? Fresh? Local?”• Organic Vegetable Gardening• Flowers?• The Wonders of Compost

December 2013 Mary Lou Roberts, Master Gardener

SHOULD YOU TAKE NOTES?

Please do if you want to remember any of my ‘words of wisdom.’

However, I’ve posted these slides on the Internet.I’ll give you that link and links to

Other important resourcesAt the end.

Mary Lou RobertsMary Lou Roberts, Master GardenerDecember 2013

How Many of You Are Organic Gardeners?

Entirely?Partly?Not Sure?

Mary Lou Roberts, Master GardenerDecember 2013

ORGANIC AND RELATED CONCEPTS

THE DEFINITION OF ORGANIC

Organic is a labeling term that indicates that the food or other agricultural product has been produced through approved methods. These methods integrate cultural, biological, and mechanical practices that foster cycling of resources, promote ecological balance, and conserve biodiversity. Synthetic fertilizers, sewage sludge, irradiation, and genetic engineering may not be used.

From the USDA National Organic Program websitehttp://www.ams.usda.gov/

WHAT ORGANIC IS NOT

• Not Just the Avoidance of Conventional Chemicals

• More Than Just Substituting Organic Inputs for Inorganic Ones

PROVIDING THE LIGHT, WATER, NUTRIENTS, AIR THAT PLANTS REQUIRE

Courtesy Russell NortonCape Cod Cooperative Extension Education Officer

HOW DO WE IDENTIFY ORGANIC PRODUCTS?

There are other symbols. This is the official USDA symbol.

http://theorganicfoodguide.com/location/102/

RELATED SYMBOL

Certifies products for use on operations that are certified organic under the USDA National Organic Program.

https://www.omri.org/

ADDITIONAL SYMBOL

The definition of organic specifically excludes genetically engineered products (GMOs).

Council for Responsible Genetics a non-profit organizationhttp://

www.councilforresponsiblegenetics.org/

There is no official definition of

Natural.

‘Natural’ Can Mean Anything a Marketer Wishes!

DO YOU VISIT THE FM?

THE KEYS TO ORGANIC

• The Soil• Fertilizers, Herbicides and Pesticides• Maintenance, including Watering• Seeds and Plants

ORGANIC SOILAs Defined by the NOP

• MAINTAIN or IMPROVE the Organic Content of Soil – By Using Compost, for Example

• WITHOUT– Contaminating CROPS, the SOIL itself, or WATER

• Possible Contaminants– Fertilizers with Non-Approved Additives (e.g. Vermiculite with Asbestos

Content)– Disease-Causing Organisms (e.g., Salmonella, E coli)– Heavy Metals (e.g. Lead from paint disposal, Arsenic from Old Orchard

Insecticides and many others)– “Residues of Prohibited Substances”

• http://www.ams.usda.gov/AMSv1.0/getfile?dDocName=STELPRDC5087122

USE ORGANIC FERTILIZERS, HERBICIDES, PESTICIDES

• First, Look for ‘Organic’ and Possibly one of the Symbols

• Then Read the Label – Fertilizers Need Appropriate Balance of NPK and

other Desirable Elements– Herbicides and Pesticides• Are they Appropriate for Your Issue?• At What Time of Year/State of Pest Development Are

They Effective?

ORGANIC AMENDMENTS

MINERALS FOR FERTILIZER USE

CONSIDER ALTERNATIVES TO PEST/HERBICIDES

Sticky Yellow Paper Beneficial Insects

Ladybugs for mail order GardensAlive.comPraying Mantis Egg Case ces.ncsu.edu

PHYSICAL BARRIERS CAN BE HELPFUL

Photo Courtesy Russ Norton, CCCE

PLANT AN INSECTARY GARDEN

http://www.pallensmith.com/articles/marge-says-plant-an-insectary

MAINTAIN THOUGHTFULLY

• Water As Needed– Morning; Keep Water off Foliage

• Intensive Planting and Weed Barriers• Weed ‘Mechanically’ As Much as Possible

THE DEMO GARDEN APPROACH

At the Fairgrounds Planting Through Black Plastic

Both Photos Courtesy Susan Sweeney, Master Gardener

PLANTING THE RAISED BEDS

Soaker Hose, Hay Everywhere Black Plastic for Heat Loving

Both Photos Courtesy Susan Sweeney, Master Gardener

CHOOSING SEEDS AND PLANTS

• To Be Entirely Organic– Use Organic Seeds– Organically-Grown Plants

• How Far You Choose to Go is a Personal Decision

ORGANIC VEGETABLE GARDENING

START EARLY!

Peas Mid-May

One Raised BedTwo Crops

Peas Early June

December 2013

Peas in Mid-July When Other Vegs are Established

Kale, Broccoli Raab and Chard early AugustIntensive Planting Chokes out Weeds

Thin by Eating!

BUT THIN ADEQUATELY

Raab Smothering Kale Raab Gone

October 1 – Chard Providing Bountiful Harvest

Single Plant With Adequate Room Much Larger

Planting Tomatoes—Getting Manure and Compost Down to Roots

Seems to WorkCukes and Beans on Same Trellis Didn’t

HAVE SOME FUN!

Purple Beans Get Attention

Profusion of Sunflowers—Also Edible

Beans Use Sunflowers for Supports

Flowers Like Asters Attract Polinators

MAINTAIN

WEED AND WATER FAITHFULLY

PLASTIC, CAGES KEEP PRODUCE OFF GROUND

Zucchini Directly on Plastic ‘Home Made’ Tomato Cages

Both Photos Courtesy of Bob Brancale, Master Gardener

INTENSIVE, SUCCESSION PLANTING OF VEG WITH DIFFERENT REQUIREMENTS

Courtesy of Bob Brancale, Master GardenerMary Lou Roberts, Master GardenerDecember 2013

Carefully Maintained Blackberries with Bird Deterrent Photo Courtesy Al Saperstein, Master Gardener

Blueberries in the Demo GardenPhoto Courtesy Bob Brancale, Master Gardener

ADD EDIBLES

Calendula, Fennel in mid SeptemberFall Peas in Background

December 2013

Nasturtiums

Basil Flowers, Other Herbs, are Excellent

OTHER EDIBLE FLOWERS

• Bachelor’s Buttons• Dianthus• Some Marigolds in Addition to Calendula– Signet Paprika, Mexican Marigold Mint

One Theory is That If the Leaves are Edible,Flowers are Also (Borage, for example)

THE WONDERFUL WORLD OF COMPOST

How Many of You

Make Compost?

COMPOSTING

Composting is a process by which organic wastes are broken down by microorganisms,

generally bacteria and fungi, into simpler forms.

From UMass Extension Fact Sheet “Waste Management and Composting”

BASIC COMPOSTING ISSUES

• Materials – 30 Carbon: 1 Nitrogen• Temperature = 160°– 3’ x 3’

• Environment– Warm, Damp Well Aerated

• Container

I Use Both a Plastic Composter and Wire Bins

Note Soil fromNon-Organic

Flower Containers

SOME DESIRABLE MATERIALS

http://extension.umass.edu/cdle/fact-sheets/waste-management-and-composting

UNDESIRABLE MATERIALS

• Too Much Nitrogen, Water, Large Items• Cooked Material, Especially Meat• Inorganic Materials• DISEASED PLANT MATERIAL

THE ULTIMATE GOALS

• Abundant, Healthful Food for Our Families and Communities

• Sustainable Practices for the Environment

MASTER GARDENERS OF CAPE COD

THANK YOU!

Questions/Discussion?

A FEW RESOURCES• • UMass Cooperative Extension many good fact sheets written for the MA farmer or gardener• http://ag.umass.edu/• • • Maine Organic Farmers & Growers Association fact sheet• http://www.mofga.org/Portals/2/Fact%20Sheets/TB%201%20Organic%20Gardening%20Basics.pdf• • Composting Website• http://howtocompost.org/• • Waste Management and Composting fact sheet• http://extension.umass.edu/cdle/fact-sheets/waste-management-and-composting• • Edible Flowers• http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/hil/hil-8513.html• • Organic Gardening Soil Amendments• http://www.your-vegetable-gardening-helper.com/organic-gardening-soil-amendments.html• • • Videos• • How to Grow an Organic Garden• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lFsSlS7IHBg• • Composting• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IKG8xRTFktg• • • Newsletters, etc. (there are many, but 2 I especially like are)• • Mother Earth newsletters• http://www.motherearthnews.com/• • Renee’s Garden• http://www.reneesgarden.com/•

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