Embed Size (px)
Citation preview
Northern RI Conservation District Red Planet Vegetables
Growing Season: The part of the year where temperature and rainfall allow plants to grow. For the purposes of this workshop, growing season refers to frost‐free days.
Hardiness Zone: Geographically defined area where certain plants are capable of growing
Climate: The weather conditions of a certain area over a long period
Microclimate: The climate within a small, specific space as contrasted with the climate of the surrounding area (i.e.. the area in close proximity around a plant or row of plants).
Days to Maturity: The number of days between planting a seed and the harvest of that crop.
•May 8th‐ October 3rd
•Plant Hardiness Zone 6•147 frost‐free days in 2011•120 days with a minimum temperature of 32 degrees and below (on average)
•Grow summer crops that can be harvested through the late fall•Grow hardy crops that can be harvested all winter in altered microclimates•Plant crops later that will be ready to harvest in the spring
It’s all about PLANNING, CREATING MICROCLIMATES, CHOOSING THE RIGHT
PLANTS
•What do you want to get out of your garden?•Do you want to keep it going through the fall and save what’s already growing?•Do you want to harvest all winter?•Where will the garden be located?•What crops do you want to plant?•Do you need to create a protected microclimate?•Make a map!
To extend your summer garden well into the fall, plant later in the season•Plant early‐maturing plants (30 days to maturity) in mid‐September
•Plant mid‐season maturing plants (60 days to maturity) in mid‐ August
•Plant late‐season maturing plants (90 days to maturity) in mid‐ July
*Give yourself 5‐10 extra days to maturity when planting later in the season
Select plants that are winter hardy and thrive in the cold and adjusted microclimates for your winter garden:
When directly seeded in fall, these plants can over‐winter outside. If they germinate and grow quickly, they may be killed by the cold.
* Days to maturity is greatly increased due to winter climates, even in protected microclimates
Plan when you want to harvest the crops that you want to grow and plant accordingly
Succession Plantings
Plan your season now using readily available tools on the internetPlanting Date Calculator
Harvesting Date CalculatorSuccession Planting
(see NRICD.org for links)
Keep records! Save seed packets with notes!Learn from trial and error!Every year is different!Don’t get discouraged!
A microclimate is small, but distinctly different climate within the greater area that surrounds it
Not just increasing the temperature!
•Using south‐facing slopes•Protection from the wind using hedgerows and shrubs & snow fence•Planting in raised beds•Using mulch to protect roots and shoots•Planting along stone walls to trap ambient heat•Using other methods to increase plant temperature, increase sun exposure, protect from wind, and maintain moisture
•Mulching using leaves or wood chips to protect plants•Using raised beds to increase soil temperature•Amending the soil with compost: thermal decay of highly organic soil•Use hay to cover leeks and carrots
•Using Row covers for added protection from the elements•Also protect crops from insects and other pests•Use spun‐bonded, lightweight fabrics for best results
•Grow at summer speed through November, then plants semi‐hibernate•Equivalent of moving plants 1 ½USDA zones south•Must ventilate when inner temperature is around 70 degrees, or after March 1st.
Make with recycled materials that you already have, such as old windows, plastic sheets and wood!
•Generally under 6 feet tall•Can use plastic or metal to make hoops•Cover with spun‐bound fabric or UV resistant plastic dependant on need•Fully secure in areas with lots of snow using sandbags and tie‐downs
•Mainly unheated, non‐mechanically ventilated, generally greater than 6 feet tall•Sold as kits, plant directly in the ground•Unheated, 6‐7 degrees warmer than outside•Funding may be available for extending your growing season using High Tunnels through NRCS
•Permanent structures•Usually heated•Many times has a concrete floor•Maintain summer growing conditions year‐round•Expensive to maintain!
•Use any combination of row covers, low tunnels and high tunnels.•Can be equivalent of moving plants 3 USDA zones warmer
•Soil health and fertility
•Don’t Guess! Soil Test!
•Availability of water
•Availability of electricity
•Availability of materials
•Ventilation
•Enough light
•Budget
•Time
•For more information, please refer to the Northern RI Conservation District website at:
www.NRICD.org
You will find a list of reference materials including:BooksLinks to WebsitesThis PowerPoint
For More Information:
Kate Sayles, Northern RI Conservation District(401) 934‐[email protected]
Justin Tuthill, USDA‐NRCS(401)822‐[email protected]
Matt Tracy, Red Planet [email protected]
