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Alternative Vegetable Alternative Vegetable GardeningGardeningGardeningGardening
Sydney Park BrownSydney Park BrownSydney Park BrownSydney Park Brown
UF Extension Specialist UF Extension Specialist –– Consumer HorticultureConsumer HorticultureG lf C t R h & Ed ti C tG lf C t R h & Ed ti C tGulf Coast Research & Education CenterGulf Coast Research & Education Center
Plant CityPlant City
http://tiny.cc/tm7sx
Edibles!Edibles!
Epcot, April 2010
Edibles!Edibles!
New York BotanicalNew York Botanical Garden – June, 2010
Lots of people want to grow Lots of people want to grow food, but not everyone can or food, but not everyone can or
will dig up the yardwill dig up the yardwill dig up the yardwill dig up the yard
Soil / SiteSoil / Site IssuesIssuesSoil / Site Soil / Site IssuesIssues
Poor soil• Poor soil • Soil pests • Trees • Limited spaceLimited space• Deed restrictions
L th l !• Love the lawn!
Human IssuesHuman IssuesHuman IssuesHuman Issues
Alternative Gardening Demo Alternative Gardening Demo C GC GUF Plant City Teaching GardensUF Plant City Teaching Gardens
Alternative Veggie Alternative Veggie ggggGardensGardens
AboveAbove the ground;the ground;
In some type of In some type of container;container;
In In soilsoil--lessless media;media;
All other veggie rules apply.All other veggie rules apply.
Growing MediaGrowing Media• Perlite
V i lit• Vermiculite• Gravel• Sand• Sand• Sawdust• BarkBark• Rockwool• Coco Fiber• Compost• Combinations of these
C i l il i• Commercial soil mixes• Water + nutrients
Alternative GardeningAlternative GardeningAlternative GardeningAlternative Gardening
S li ht P tSunlight Pests
Minimum of 5-6 hours Scout frequently
Alternative GardeningAlternative GardeningAlternative GardeningAlternative Gardening
Ad t Di d t• Avoid soilAdvantages Disadvantages
• Expensive – some• Good results• Portable – some
• Assembly required – someW i i• Can garden on
hard spaces• Water intensive• Limited growing
/ i ld• Less physical • Great for kids and
space / yields• $$$ Payback?Great for kids and
“challenged”
SmallSmall scalescaleSmallSmall--scalescaleContainersContainersContainersContainers
• Pots – plastic, clay, glazed• Buckets, baskets, barrels, bags• Grow boxesGrow boxes• Vertical systems
ContainersContainers1 l h b ll i
ContainersContainers• 1 gal – herbs, small veggies
• 5 gal minimum – big veggies5 ga u b g egg es
• Provide drainage
• Stake / support
Hanging ContainersHanging Containersg gg g
Topsy Turvy TMTopsy TurvyHeavy! – Need strong support.
Other ContainersOther Containers
Barrels
Baskets
Buckets
G BG BGrow BagsGrow BagsPlastic, mesh or felt bags. Some Plastic, mesh or felt bags. Some , g, g
have handles; some come prehave handles; some come pre--filled filled with mediawith mediawith media.with media.
“Lay“Lay--flat Bags”flat Bags”Pl i b fill d i h ilPl i b fill d i h il l dil diPlastic bags filled with soilPlastic bags filled with soil--less medialess media
Onions
Lettuce
HerbsD f HerbsDwarf Cucumbers
Soil BagsSoil BagsSoil Bags Soil Bags
Grow BoxesGrow BoxesGrow BoxesGrow Boxes• Various sizes• Use potting (soil-less)
mixes• Have a reservoir of water• Fertilize one time
(2 l f tili )(2 cups granular fertilizer) • Keep cover on until you’re
d t l tready to replant• Vining plants need support
EarthBox® EarthBox
http://www.earthbox.com
EarthBox®
1. 3.2.
4. 5.
Grow BoxesGrow Boxes
Tomatoes on a rope
http://www.earthbox.com
HomeHome--made Grow Boxmade Grow Box
http://www.wisefarmer.com/growbox/
Vertical Growing SystemVertical Growing SystemVertical Growing SystemVertical Growing System• Very space efficientVery space efficient• Reduced disease - better air flow
and less soil splashingand less soil splashing• Easy to harvest
Vertical Growing SystemVertical Growing Systemg yg y
• Great for ‘cut and• Great for cut and come again’ crops such as:such as:– Leafy greens– Herbs– Edible flowers
Vertical Growing SystemVertical Growing SystemVertical Growing SystemVertical Growing System
• Commercial kits include: - poles- styrofoam pots- media- fertilizer- drip irrigation- pump, timer
Transplants and nutrient tank not supplied
Vertical Growing Vertical Growing SystemSystem
Examples of CommercialExamples of CommercialExamples of Commercial Examples of Commercial ProductsProducts
• http://vertigro com/http://vertigro.com/• http://www.hydrostacker.com/
htt // f t i /• http://www.futuregrowing.com/…and others
Low Cost Vertical SystemLow Cost Vertical SystemLow Cost Vertical SystemLow Cost Vertical Systemhttp://edis.ifas.ufl.edu/hs1186
LargeLarge--scalescaleContainersContainers
Concrete blocks
• Raised beds• Hay bales
Raised BedsRaised Beds
Raised BedsRaised BedsRaised BedsRaised BedsConstruction4’ wide 6-18” high 24” for wheelchairs6-18 high, 24 for wheelchairsPressure treated lumber?
The American The American Horticultural TherapyHorticultural TherapyHorticultural Therapy Horticultural Therapy
AssociationAssociationhtt // hthttp://www.ahta.org
Raised BedsRaised Beds
Easy Garden BoxTM
1. 2.
3. 4.
Raised Bed BracketsRaised Bed BracketsRaised Bed BracketsRaised Bed Brackets
Hay Bale GardenHay Bale Garden
Hay Bale GardenHay Bale GardenHay Bale GardenHay Bale Garden
FiltrexxFiltrexx Garden Garden SoxxSoxxTMTM
FiltrexxFiltrexx Garden Garden SoxxSoxxTMTM
Raised BedsRaised Beds
2008 Victory Garden in San Francisco
Soil RecipeSoil RecipeSample MixtureFor each b shel of soil less mediaFor each bushel of soil-less media
• 1.25 cups dolomitep
• 1 cup 8-8-8 fertilizer w/ micronutrients
ControlledControlled--release release FertilizersFertilizers
• Ex: Osmocote and Dynamite• Choose products that include
micronutrientsS l t l t b d• Select release rate basedon crop (i.e. 3 month, 6 month etc )month, etc.)
HydroponicHydroponicHydroponic Hydroponic GardeningGardeningGardeningGardening
Growing plants in water and Growing plants in water and di l ddi l d t i tt i t ilildissolved dissolved nutrients nutrients -- no no soil soil
• Potato BoxFl ti G d• Floating Gardens
Potatoes inPotatoes in PerlitePerlitePotatoes in Potatoes in PerlitePerlite
Clean & easy harvestClean & easy harvest
Round II – Sweet PotatoesRound II – Sweet Potatoes
Floating GardensFloating GardensPlants “Float” on Styrofoam Bed Plants “Float” on Styrofoam Bed with Roots in Nutrient Solutionwith Roots in Nutrient Solution
Plants “Float” on Styrofoam BedPlants “Float” on Styrofoam BedPlants Float on Styrofoam Bed Plants Float on Styrofoam Bed with Roots in Nutrient Solutionwith Roots in Nutrient Solution
Floating Garden ConstructionFloating Garden Constructiongg
• 2’x8’ boards used to t t 4’ 8’ fconstruct 4’x8’ frame
• 6 mil plastic lining
Add Simple PVC Structures for Add Simple PVC Structures for Cold or Deer/rabbit ProtectionCold or Deer/rabbit Protection
Use any unUse any un--drained container at least drained container at least 6” high6” high
What Can You Grow?What Can You Grow?What Can You Grow?What Can You Grow?
L tt t d iLettuces, mustard greens, mizuna, kale, basil, green onions, Swiss Chard,
b t Oth ?cucumber, watercress. Others?
Mix Nutrient SolutionMix Nutrient SolutionMix Nutrient SolutionMix Nutrient Solution
2 tsp 20-20-20(w/micros)(w/micros) or equivalentsoluble fertilizersoluble fertilizer
++1 tsp Epsom Salt
…per gallon of water
Drill Holes in Styrofoam Drill Holes in Styrofoam
• 1 1/2 inch styrofoamy• Drill or cut holes
12” apart• Diameter of holes
= size of net pots or cups
3” net pot = 35 cents 35 cents
Plastic CupStyrofoam Cup
Place Transplant into CupsPlace Transplant into CupsPlace Transplant into CupsPlace Transplant into Cups
Bottom of cup should extend no more thanBottom of cup should extend no more than 1/8” below styrofoam
Floating Garden Floating Garden gg
35-gallon Plastic Garden Pond35 gallon Plastic Garden Pond
Floating GardenFloating Garden
Go to http://vfd.ifas.ufl.edu/ for a “how to” video and more info
Choosing VarietiesChoosing VarietiesChoosing VarietiesChoosing Varieties
• Select proven varieties• Try dwarf/“mini” veggies• Choose pest-resistant
varieties
Transplants: StoreTransplants: Store--bought or bought or pp ggHomeHome--grown?grown?
TRANSPLANTS =Faster start
SEEDS =More choiceMore choice
“Bio-sponges” o spo ges(sphagnum mossand composted bark )a d co posted ba )
120 - $12P k S d CPark Seed Co.
Ready for a break?Ready for a break?Ready for a break?Ready for a break?
Thanks!Thanks!Thanks!Thanks!DISCLAIMERDISCLAIMER
Many other products exist. Mention of a company's name/product is notcompany's name/product is not
intended to be an endorsement or a preference over other productspreference over other products.