Life Sciences Commons^™

Sp291-O-Guide To Cool-Season Vegetables, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Home Garden, Lawn, and Landscape

Some of these vegetable varieties and planting dates are not the same as those grown by commercial growers. Commercial growers should be sure to consult the appropriate literature for commercial varieties and planting dates.

Garden vegetables can be divided into warm-season and cool-season vegetables. Cool-season vegetables require cool soil and air temperatures if they are to germinate, grow and mature with maximum yield and quality. They are shallow-rooted and thus are susceptible to drought. They are usually grown for their leaves or roots and respond well to nitrogen sidedressings.

Sp291-M-Planning The Vegetable Garden, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Home Garden, Lawn, and Landscape

A garden plan will save time, space, work and money. Yields will be increased, as will the length of the harvest season. Best of all, you will be able to harvest the amount of high-quality garden produce you desire at the time you choose.

Sp291-K-Tomatoes For The Home Garden, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Home Garden, Lawn, and Landscape

Tomatoes are the most popular vegetable grown in home gardens. They are more nutritious than many vegetables and provide signifi cant amounts of both vitamins A and C. Tomatoes are served fresh, are a major component of many salads and are used in many cooked dishes.

W141-2010 Commercial Vegetable Disease Control Guide, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Commercial Horticulture

The term plant disease, as used in this publication, refers to a plant problem caused by a pathogen, such as a fungus, bacterium, virus or nematode. Other types of plant problems include disorders, caused by cultural or environmental factors, and pest damage, caused by insects or other animals that feed on or otherwise damage plants. This publication only deals with pathogen control and does not address disorders and pest damage.

W208-Vegetable Pests - Colorado Potato Beetle, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Home Garden, Lawn, and Landscape

The Colorado potato beetle, Leptinotarsa decemlineata (Say), is found throughout most of the United States and Mexico and has been introduced into Europe and parts of Asia. Mexico is considered the center of origin for this pest. The Colorado potato beetle is an important pest of Solanaceous plants. Potato is the preferred host, but this insect pest also will feed on tomato, eggplant, pepper, tobacco, ground cherry, horse-nettle, nightshade, belladonna, thorn apple, henbane, buffalobur and other related plant species.

W206-Vegetable Pests - Pickleworm, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Home Garden, Lawn, and Landscape

The pickleworm, Diaphania nitidalis (Stoll) (Family Crambidae, previously Pyralidae), is found from Canada into parts of South America, and as far west as Oklahoma and Nebraska. It is an important pest of numerous cucurbits. Summer squash is the preferred host, but it also feeds on cantaloupe, cucumber, pumpkin and winter squash. Late-planted cantaloupes are heavily attacked in some areas.

W207-Vegetable Pests - Melon Aphid, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Home Garden, Lawn, and Landscape

The melon aphid, Aphis gossypii Glover, is found throughout most of the temperate, subtropic and tropic regions of the world. Although it is a cosmopolitan species, its origin is unknown. The melon aphid has a wide host range and can feed on watermelon, cucumber, cantaloupe, squash, pumpkin, asparagus, spinach, bean, beet, cowpea, tomato, pepper, eggplant, okra, citrus, cotton, hibiscus and many weeds (such as jimsonweed and pigweed). In the South, cotton is an important host, which explains the use of the second common name, “cotton aphid.”

Sp291-L-Fresh Vegetable Storage For Homeowners, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Home Garden, Lawn, and Landscape

Many vegetables grown in home gardens can be stored fresh, but they must be harvested at the proper maturity and kept at the correct temperature and humidity. In addition, proper ventilation and sanitation must be maintained during storage. Basically, storage is placing harvested vegetables in an environment where the life processes, respiration and water loss, are kept at low levels.

Pb901-Growing Vegetables In Home Gardens, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Home Garden, Lawn, and Landscape

Gardening can be highly rewarding, but it is not without problems and efforts. A successful garden requires a good site, careful planning, good management and considerable hard work. Insects, diseases and weeds require control measures. Acidic, infertile, poorly drained or sandy soil may have to be improved. Shade and extremes of moisture and temperature are other problems that must be overcome for a garden to be successful.

For those willing to plan carefully and to perform timely gardening tasks, gardening can be very worthwhile. A vegetable garden can produce a steady supply of vegetables from spring to fall. These vegetables …

Sp277-K-Disease Resistance In Recommended Vegetable Varieties For Home Gardens, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Home Garden, Lawn, and Landscape

Growing resistant vegetable varieties is an important method of controlling diseases. The following information is provided as a reference to disease resistance or tolerance in vegetable varieties presently recommended for the home garden. No attempt has been made to designate or evaluate levels of resistance or tolerance in the varieties listed. Varieties are designated only as having some level of tolerance or resistance.

The information provided here has been compiled from seed catalogs and from research and Extension publications. The user of this reference should seek additional information from seed companies relative to specific varieties and their level of disease …

Sp291-C-Soil Preparation For Vegetable Gardens, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Home Garden, Lawn, and Landscape

The first step in preparing vegetable gardens for planting is cleaning the site. Remove boards, rocks, old plant supports and general debris. Cut or chop weeds and crop residue. If the residue is free of disease and mature weed seed, the material may be worked into the soil or composted. Otherwise, it should be discarded. Bulky plant material, like corn stalks, will need to be chopped before it is incorporated into the soil.

If initiating a new garden into a sodded area, it is beneficial to plow the sod in the late fall or winter. The heavy root system of …

Sp291-D-Care Of The Vegetable Garden, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Home Garden, Lawn, and Landscape

A productive garden requires considerable attention and care. Insects, diseases and weeds must be controlled; water and nutrients must be supplied; plants must be supported; and harvests must be made at the proper time for best fl avor, yield and nutritional quality. This factsheet discusses these practices.

Sp291-B-Growing Vegetables From Seed, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Home Garden, Lawn, and Landscape

Growing vegetables from seed is often more demanding than growing vegetables from transplants. There are more steps in the process, as well as more critical tasks to perform. Yet most vegetables are commonly planted in the garden as seed; thus, it is important that the essential operations be understood and followed.

Sp291-Q-Rhubarb In Home Gardens, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Home Garden, Lawn, and Landscape

The rhubarb or pie plant (Rheum rhaponticum) belongs to the Polygonaceae or buckwheat family. The plant is a herbaceous perennial with leaves growing directly from the crown. The leaf petioles or stalks are used in making pies, sauces and various tart food items. The leaf blades contain considerable soluble oxalic acid and are poisonous to humans. Less oxalic acid is present in the petioles. The lower concentration and the decreased solubility of the oxalic acid in the petioles make them edible for human beings.

Nutritionally, rhubarb provides appreciable amounts of Vitamins A and C. It also contains moderate …

Pb1215-Disease Control In The Home Vegetable Garden, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Home Garden, Lawn, and Landscape

Control of vegetable pests (diseases, insects, weeds) involves a total production program that includes both chemical and non-chemical means of pest control. The establishment of a healthy, vigorous crop is central to a successful pest control program. Production practices such as maintaining proper soil pH and fertility are helpful in reducing potential losses from all types of pests.

This publication deals mainly with chemical and biological pest control, because these recommendations change more often than do cultural practices. Cultural practices of pest control are extremely important and are addressed throughout the publication.

Sp291-P-Guide To Warm-Season Vegetables, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Home Garden, Lawn, and Landscape

Some of these vegetable varieties and planting dates are not the same as those grown by commercial growers. Commercial growers should be sure to consult the appropriate literature for commercial varieties and planting dates.

Warm-season vegetables require warm soil and air temperatures if they are to germinate, grow and mature properly. They will not tolerate any frost and may be severely damaged by prolonged temperatures as much as 15 degrees above freezing. They are deep-rooted and generally quite resistant to drought. However, irrigation may increase yields. They are frequently grown for their fruit or seed and thus do not require …

Sp291-G-Fall Vegetable Gardens, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Home Garden, Lawn, and Landscape

Spring-grown, cool-season vegetables are frequently finished by early summer. Some warm-season vegetables also cease production before fall. The absence of fallgarden vegetable production from these crops and the open garden space when they are finished both present an opportunity for a fall garden.

Fall gardens, however, are considerably more difficult to grow than spring gardens. Problems include extreme heat, drought, difficulty in seed germination, insects, diseases and weeds. Successful fall gardens require close attention and considerable care from planting to harvest.

Sp291-R-Growing Asparagus In Home Gardens, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Home Garden, Lawn, and Landscape

Asparagus (Asparagus officinalis) is a member of the lily family. It has been grown for more than 2,000 years and is quite popular in the home garden today. Asparagus is an excellent source of vitamin A and contains significant levels of calcium, phosphorus, riboflavin, thiamine and Vitamin C.

Sp291-E-Growing Sweet Corn In Home Gardens, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Home Garden, Lawn, and Landscape

Corn is one of the most popular and diverse vegetables. Many types are grown, including field corn, ornamental corn, popcorn, sweet corn, several different supersweet corns and even broomcorn. Corn may be white, yellow, bicolor and many shades of red, blue or even black. Most home gardeners grow white, yellow or bicolor corn or supersweet corn, so this factsheet will be restricted to these.

The yield and quality of home-grown corn also vary more widely than the yield and quality of most other vegetables. The type of corn grown, cultural conditions of growth, harvest and post-harvest treatment all affect yield …

Sp291-A-Growing Vegetable Transplants For Home Gardens, The University Of Tennessee Agricultural Extension Service

Home Garden, Lawn, and Landscape

Some of the most frequently grown and productive vegetables are commonly set into the garden as transplants. These include tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, headlettuce, cabbage, cauliflower, broccoli and brussels sprouts. Other vegetables that are some times set as trans plants include kohlrabi, can ta loupe, watermelon, summer squash, okra and cucumbers.

There are several advantages to using trans plants rather than direct seeding. Even more advantages can be realized from pro duc ing your own transplants.

Transplants allow you to replace early-harvested vegetables immediately and to produce an oth er crop quickly. Yield losses from poor ger mi na tion are …