xt7k9882m58d https://exploreuk.uky.edu/dips/xt7k9882m58d/data/mets.xml   Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station. 1939 journals kaes_circulars_003_309 English Lexington : The Service, 1913-1958. Contact the Special Collections Research Center for information regarding rights and use of this collection. Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station Circular (Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station) n. 309 text Circular (Kentucky Agricultural Experiment Station) n. 309 1939 2014 true xt7k9882m58d section xt7k9882m58d  E COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE
  Extension Division
  THOMAS P. COOPER, Dean and Director
  CIRCULAR NO. 309
 t` THE VEGETABLE GARDEN
 _ Lexington, Ky.
 i June, 1939
 I` _ Publislwd in connection with the agrieultural extension work C€1I`l`l€‘d 011 by C00l'J€’T¤· `
` 2011 of the College of Agriculture, University of Kentucky, with the U. S. Department of I
. gnculture and distributed in furtherance of the work provided for in the Act of Congress 3
_ Of Mnr 8. 1914. \
.` l 1
 

 CONrI`1£N'1`S  *
Page  
'l`l1e plztn .,......................,...................,__ _ g; = 
l’lantint>·s lor live iersons .............,................._, _ 4 .2
h l  ,
Length ul time tliztt tlie gmtintl is tiecupietl ...............,_ _ 3  
Soil niitnztgenient ,,.................................,..__ _ 3  
Seed ...,...,..........................................,. j  Y tztl
_  , cu
5eecllJetl ..............................................,, , x  ‘
lie
(lnltivzttion ..............,..............,.,,..........., _ 8  E PT
_ _   mt
Planting eltztrt lor vegetztliles .................,.........., .. it  I
The crops ,.................,.........................., . ltt `
(jronp l. Xspnrztgns, l`lllll)Z`ll`l) ...................,......... , lll   bc
· . <) ) ,. . q -;   
(·1<>t1p-. lt.ts .......................................... , l_·  ·
 i sp:
Group El. 'llte "c<>0l" vegetztlules, trztnspluntecl. Culibatge, ,: gm
l>r<>cct>li, Brussels sprouts, cztulillower, celery .....,.. l·l   mm
(.r<>up ·l. (»reensz1ntlsztlzttls. ltn nip, spniztcli, kztle, enclive,  _. ( `
, . , . .  ‘ slo
lettuce, (llnnese ttztbliztge, rape, Swiss cltztrcl ........ . l»  =
V ns;
(iron > 5. 'l`l1e root \‘e¤»·et;1l>les. l’z1rsni >. sztlsilv, rutlislt, turni 1, _; 
¤ 4
lieet, (`2l1‘l`<)l .................................. . .. Yll Q  0,,
 ~ M
(Lmnp (i. rlillL' H\\'2ll`1]lH crops, sown. Linizt lieztns, snztp beztns. V gill
sl1ell lieztns, eclilile eowpeus, okrzt, sweet corn ....... . Yl
. - Y · .. U . -` , nrt
Group 1. llte warm crops, trztnsplantetl. lonizttties,  » \‘
peppers, eggplant ....,.......................... . Yl   l N
, rm
(Lrottp S., 'l`lit· "n1el<>n" crops. (lll(`lll]]l)C1`.Sl|ltllllC1` sqttztslt,  ·_ nl
winter stptztsli, cztntztlottpe, wuternielmi .,........., gl ¥ gui
Onions .....,.......,,..,......,....,,_,,__,_,.._.....   Tl  _`
_ _ __   plzt
\\»'inter storage ol vegetables ,,,,__,__,,________,,,.,..... .. -°'l { I
P tin

  t
 T Circular N0. 309*
Page  .  
. . . Ii  -
 j; THE VEGETABLE GARDEN
l i i 4 _’  By JOHN S. GARDNER
, . . _) ;‘
  T   The vegetable garden should produce a supply ol` fresh vege-
  y  I mhles lor the family thrttout the growing season, and a surplus for
 _ tanning or storing for use thru the remainder ol` the year. This may
  T   be considered adequately done if the retail value ol` the vegetables
  8  ; produced amounts to one dollar a week, the year thru, lor each
U I  member of the household.
  THE PLAN
A N W   If the garden is to meet the need of the household, a plan should
  W  · be made. Altho this seems particularly necessary when the garden
  1..   is small and space IUUSL be economized, it is desirable, too, when
 _ space is no item, for both labor and expense can be saved by follow-
  ing a good plan. The hrst step is to measure the garden space and
  N  Q make a drawing ol` it. On this, the north point should be shown.
 I also walks, rows of perennials, high and low spots and direction ol` i
I.   slopes. The position ol' trees should also be indicated in the plan
` M  j as il guide lor placing the vegetables that can abide such conditions.
‘ UU   The liainily’s tastes should be consulted as to the vegetables to be
  ' t  y,`t`owii. The better-known vegetables should form the basis ol the
 5 gittileii, tho some unusual kinds may be included lor \'2ll`lCl}'.
  Bl - The number of servings of each vegetable desired should be esti-
 g mated in order to proportion the space required lor planting.
gl  Z <\>>l|llllllg that the garden is ol` average lertility and that the liéllllili
V In   m¤$iStS oil five persons for whom a serving would be the eqtli\’2\lCl1i
  ol a qttart ol` canned vegetables. the following table will serve as a
. . . Y'?  1 guide.
  fit L? For example, if beans are to be served five times a week, —l0-loot
W   I’l?Ulll|1g`S should be made every [wt) weeks l`l`()lll April l5 to :\U§U$l
·· ‘  » lr. .\ltlio there might he canning surpluses over table needs l`roni i
  time to time, it is safer to produce such surplttses by doubling the g
 "i **7% l
  ‘ This is a revision of Circular No. 243 and is intended to supersede that circular.   V
¥

 "i
·l [\.(’)l[lI('/ty [':.Y[l'}l.Sl()H (I1`r<·11/ur.\’o. 309  
plantings made during june and july. Tomatoes, likewise. may lis   .·\
served fresh live times a week lor ten weeks, which is the aveiyigi.  . l0
harvest season for early tomatoes. A second planting about [lil.  ‘ sei
middle ol june will give enough for the table during the remaiiitln  i in
ol the season, and lor canning. The quantities ol the other veg.   wi
tables in the list may be computed in the same way.   lll
 Q ah
TABLE 1. PLANTINGS FOR FIVE PERSONS   ha
ir iiiii iT» T`"`"”iii`{*iEtE§ QJ Aiii” E§l;.g.  1
i Beans K i V M rzrrz AT rn   40 feet l 10-12  Q  
Tomatoes 20 plants l 50  ‘ ' y
Cabbage i 20 heads 20 “l
Beets   50 feet \ 30 _'  ll
Carrots I 50 feet I 30   on
Parsnips , 75 feet 50-60 ._ 
com [ 100 mus l 25 J I
Comjmnion {md Succession Cropjnfng. lt must not be supposed J 
that vegetables supplying the total amount determined from Table]  
are to occupy the garden at one time. Removal ol early vegetalilo ·; 
gives space lor later plantings. Table 2 gives the length ol time th;  y
more usual vegetables occupy the garden. _
Since our average gardening season begins .—\pril l and entlt  i
October l, that is, l8() days, it is seen that:  ~`
Late beans may lollow early beans, early peas, and even s\t‘tt‘l Q 
cor11.  
Late beets and carrotslmay lollow early beans or early peas.
Late greens 11ot ol tl1e cabbage [amily may follow early czt|>l>1tQ¤‘-  Q
Late greens belonging to the cabbage family may follow cnrlt  yi
potatoes.  —
Besides these. a munber oi other "succession" schemes mat lit  _ Um
used, depending on tl1e resourcelulness ol` the gardener. E ml
Another way to utilize garden space intensively is to plant wnlitll   lm
('Zll`l§'·lll2ltLll`lllg \'CgCl1ll)lCS near those which are larger and hl<*\\'*"i _ M0
in reaching maturity. After the Hrst are harvested the second tttitl  ;
UCCll[>}' the whole area. .·\n example is to sow or set. between CIllJlli*!"   Hm]
plilllts, lettuce, spinach and even green onions, which are to will   um
out in 6 weeks or so, before the cabbage becomes at all crowtlttl.   I

 "  T/we Vegetable Garden 5
ml\11)C   _.\11(11l1Q1‘ is to SCL lOlll2llO }_)13.lllS lll YOWS ol PCHS, slill being ·1)1Ck@(l_
\,C1_aUl_  _ {`1)1— ;11‘Li\‘C g1`O\\’lll lll ·lOlll2ilO€$ CIOCS HOL l?li1` the Sélllle 1`€€lS<>_1l. 1{il(ilS.ll seed may be l]]1\(j(l
1 www   11-1111 1l1;11 ()[1)2il`Sll1l)$ aud salsily, hall and hall, llie r;ul1sl1es 111 1111111
N  { 1|11· 1·1111· ol the lll()l`C Slowly gCl`llllllZ1l.lllg parsnlps and salsily, I)111
  111111 10 be pulled and used, long before the l)Zll`Sllll)S and s;11$11`11
j  illl\`l? need ol the space.
 . _\ll permanent crops such as rhubarb, asparagus, grapes and
 i berries should be placed al one side ol` Lhe garden, oul ol the way.
 g The same applies LO 1)2l1`Slll})S, winter and spring greens, and salsily,
wliich may be left in the garden to be harvested during the wiiuer.
·  ll is imporlanl that perennials and the winler crops should he placed
  ou sites that are well drained in all seasons.
  TABLE 2. LENGTH OF TIME THAT THE GROUND IS OCCUPIED.
  Beans ................................................................ 50- 70 days
,.  Beets ..................................................... . ............ 30- 60 days
lilmcll   Carrots .............................................................. 50- 70 days
ilblcl  1 Peas .................................................................. 40- 60 clays
U*ilbl"‘  1 Tomatoes ............................,......................... about 80 days
me lll;  1 Peppers ..............................................................., all season _
1 Early cabbage .................................................. 90-120 days
11 M11  1 Early potatoes ..............,................................. 120-150 days
` 1 Corn ...............................,.................,................ 50- 60 days
 l Radishes .,.............................................,.......... 25- 40 clays
1 ,11111 1  Lettuce .................,.........,.................................. 30- 40 days
r`  Early greens ..,..........,.,.................................... 40- 50 days
 · Parsnips ,........................ . .................................... all season
“· A Late greens .......................................,.. from August 1 on
ll)l)1lQl‘.  X
" °""l` 1  s01L MANAGEMENT
WH1]1   i[`·ll(` planning done, the nexl (j()IlSi(i('l`ZlIl()l] is the soil and its
 k` llllldllloll. .·\llho fl S§ll](i)' Io:1111 is idea], il is noi essellliill. lif>l` C\`€ll
I 51111111   Tll ll|l'(lC‘sll`zrl)Ie 1igl11, (T]Z`l·}' 111;11’ he [l`2l]lSii()l`l]l(’(i into il good g‘2ll`ll l`il(ilCl` than so1I (`()l](llIl()l] g`O\`(’l`I]S the choice Ol il g°2ll`(lCll
1d 111:11  - I i
H1)1,1111  i MON ¥?U`(l<`ll \'Cg`(?l?ll)lC$ are prized because ol` {heir s114·(·11le11(·l·, 1
) (mm   Ml¤l1¤s1l1·1¤·11(1s1m (1111(`k g1·¢1w1h_ Quick gl`()\\'lll is pl`et‘<>111· T l’f`l
established before fall. Vetch is particularly valuable as it fll1`lll\1’1l1 l"   **11*

 ‘
Q,  T/ze Vege/afzfe Grtrrfen 7
;€mi,lc K  qwmg, hence it is useful for the late garden. The sowing rate is
mm-C"  1 one-half peck to 100 feet square,
best nl  { yan greens are more important as a cover crop than is generally _
¤l€l‘l¤l   mgtygiriretl. The ease with which they can be sown makes them
 Q [,m·ueri1ai·lyl desirable in the small, handworked garden. An exeel.
nd do  A [ent plan is to begin Sowillg greens 011 vacated portions or rows of
U mm  T the garden from August 1 on, to keep the table supplied, and the
mlmw   surplus for Lllflllllg lll1£lC1` to ll12ll(C l1ll1l1llS. Seven-top tttrnips and
HgC U].   hardy kale are best. The sowing rate is one pound to 100 feet square,
ll€llll’ll   Fall-sown spring oats fit well into the plans of a gardener who
 j has a small area. lf sown as space becomes available, from August
lem in { 1 to September 15, they sometimes make as much as 15 inches of
Suggg,   growth before frost. \*\’hi1e growing, they keep down foxtail and
a dm  t rrabgrass, and the fallen tops lessen winter soil washing. 'l`he sow»
asl mt.  ; ing rate is two pecks to 100 feet square.
J€l`l7l*lll if  When humus is to be furnished by green manure crops, plant
1 grttit   food should be supplied by means of a complete fertilizer; usually
e 1‘<>\t’~  s a 3-8-ti mixture will be found satisfactory. The rate of application
l`alCgl‘1l  1 broadcast after the ground has been plowed.
   g Aeidity is an important factor in soils used for growingvege- -
‘ -. tables. Nearly all vegetables grow best on soils that are slightly
n some . acid. 'l`he soil should contain lime but not enough to make it alka-
garcleiii  T line. lf manure is used freely the quantity of lime present usually
better   is adeqttate.
>\\'lJCi\i. ‘  I SEED
iossiblt  5 r _ _
Uruing y  · lhe use of good seed is an important part of satisfactory garden-
vlamujé   lllg. Too often, buying seed is put off so late that the variety and
 1_ quality desired are unobtainable. lt is here that planning helps, for
_Q  a gardener who has prepared his plan early knows what seed he
WS ""l  . tleslres to plant. No better advice may be given than to deal only
l`lill*'m`   Wllll firms whose seed has proved satisfactory. Price is not always 21
lglllfll   #l`ll?ll`lllll§` of quality, but it is gtnierally a good iiltlicalioll. illlllf
·>petl~   lientuttky seed law requires that each package of one pound or
  niore of garden seeds offered or exposed for sale in the state shall
)eronl¤  Z lm I’l?lllll}‘ Illélrkecl with the approximate percentage of gCl`lll1ll2ll ltrll l
mi<]1t·~  V all-ll lll<‘ year when the test was made, rl`ht‘ l)ll}'(‘l` sl1<>lIl(l lf>0l< l
· fd
Preparation of the seedbed begins with breaking the soil as deep   2
as possible, turning the manure under. Next should [ollow a tlmr¤·   E
disking, to cut the lurrow slices hne. Then the commercial lertilixut  { 5
should be broadcast and worked in by smoothing the seedbetl with   5
an A—harrow or a plank drag or, better, with both.  i E  
The depth of seed sowing is determined by the size ol the seul:  T it
the larger the seed, the deeper it may be sown. It has been  E V
mined by experiment that the proper depth is eight times tl1t·  ` IL ' V
thickness of the seed.  . ,, l
CULTIVATION  l  
Cultivation should always be level. This is true even lor tltt  » E _
earliest "cool" vegetables, but much more so [or those whose giw ii  Y
ing season extends into dry summer weather. Altho a ridge drawn   I ·
to the row may be ol` beneht to vegetable roots in extremely W   I
seasons, it is ol great disadvantage in dry weather, lor the soil m·¤l~·  S
lure level is lowered. (Zultivation should always be shallow. ll t·;ttt~it ,
down, it is important not to disturb the roots. Generally speakiwt-  
a depth ol` working no greater than one-hall inch sufiiees to tipmtn  
small WCC:J¤¤°°~¤¤1?»*¤::S¤»PP;—;§···<¤··'¤~··¤`¤··
U**<>H· — jg? ;;,¤5 ;j,“,§:¤:‘&35¤¤¤¤¤¤~¤c¤ ggggiggcgggéiétgg
· ~  ` T§“: 0 E :
[SlIl.ll1_ { fi: gmm'-'?   §Nc\1C\1g·-¢r:x1gg>>g_x;g_¤qgg2,N
Q . Ol ,.4 O]
· x
 Y `
ll
§·;‘>.\¤»i O O gc D GG
~,r: ‘ W
IW 3   $v$$$?$$$$$<=“$$$$$$?~“$ $2 %%8=“2¤¤%
·‘   xii ccoccccmcc¤¤c>c>u>mc>0c¤<;>c>c>¤c>o:>.}~»;>.I$¤$¤§>LQ;' "
5 2::: ¤D0O1n¤3m · ,4 yé   z°P°T‘°FT‘°?`f"T’°T‘°P°?‘F ‘€"T"?"!'T°‘?‘T‘°T‘°?°T"{°°T"f‘$$$"
-£- -4 :»-10l 5 gg ·?
I A >   <9< <¤c0<¤gSoo<:cc<¥* {Mmm {SC*':°Ol!¤;°;££;0;°0;g0·-·c>;oc>§ggggg£g§·'E°·;§ggggg;§
dmwn I %*·*`5§"‘:01v-<:C\l '·'*··• I i··*"‘·-< 2·—<;jg;:y— :2: 2 f ;
surlxlll ·c·§\¤n€n°¤‘wE¤>q_, g~-ogg; ¤E.¤::L’im ; C1:. V ,
 ` ETA ““"·B`°Dr/2.».> '°·’°-’OEs-4: ¤·:>.`·§¢-··L**¤,q_¤O
; .,-4: F-4;..i/Bmw ;_vjq_)OUZI>>··¤JJEN UQEMN ¤¤·»-¤.»¤¤¤ www -¤<¤¤¤s¤s¤;¤¤:S<°F¤.¤.¤~¤·0¤
 ? <¤<¤¤¤¤i1¤¤¤QDOOOOOr0O£¤1’¢d»J»-1OBEOOO¤4¤4¤..t1·n4¤icnc¤mc0E-·&<
 » y
\
I

 lll l(r·n/ur/.·y l·[.v/z·n.riorz (Jini:/nr .\'o. 300  
THE cnoes Y
The vegetables will be discussed in the groups into which thc]   I,
fall because of similarity in cultural rc<]uiren1ents. The culture i  o
of potatoes is discussed in Kentucky Extension Circular No 30]   ]]
"l’otato Growing;" and sweetpotatoes are discussed in Kenturt]  V U
Extension (Zircular No. $08 "Sweetpotato (}rowing." '  Il
GROUP 1. ASPARAGUS AND RHUBARB   (I
j- lt
Asparagus and rhubarb are truly luxuries in the sense that their  -
flavors are unique. They are not luxuries, however. in the sem]- i  li
that they are dilhcult to grow, for their culture presents no difhculu  i W
that any gardener may not overcome. Because the methods of gruw·  L ],]
ing them are similar, they will be discussed together. Both are por-   I]
ennials. Asparagus may occupy the same ground sometimes fur   H]
as long as 30 years, and rhubarb, 3 to 6 years. Because of this fact,   C]
the site for the planting should be chosen where there is perfect   ,,.
drainage the year thru, for neither can long abide "wet l?eet." ,~\g;iin.  Y ]]—
the site must be such that there is no interference with preparing  ' ],]
the garden for the annual vegetables. The best location is along out ¤  ty]
edge of the garden. The soil should be fertile and deep.  i pl
Preparation of the bed is critical. The ground should be plowed  _ in
or spaded deep and a heavy coat of manure worked into it or. il  i tu
manure cannot be had. a heavy sod or a growth of rye, soybeans ut  ` in
cowpeas, purposely sown to furnish humus should be turned untluz  l th
/f5/)((l`(lg`7I.S`. The parts of asparagus used for food are the gl`t‘\’1l rj  W
shoots that arise from the roots, and the deeper these lie, the lottgct ’  ld
the planting will stay in production. For this reason, 21S])lll`i\§{ll`*  _ Mi
crowns are always set deep. A trench should be made, 15 iud1C~ E 
wide and l2 inches deep. As the trench is being made the lop soil .  ar
should be laid to one side; the subsoil, to the other. ln the liottmti Z  tu
of the trench two inches of manure are tramped and covered with it ii  PT
few inches of top soil. The crowns are set, their roots fully s]>i‘<*:ttl   sp
Otlt and covered with the remaining top soil. The spacing of thc   to
crowns is l8 inches to 2 feet. The wide spacing is the more usual   zu
unless heavy fertilizing can be continued, for crowding shortens tltr I 
lif€ of the planting and reduces the size of the shoots, Roto Ul  ’ (1]
21S]>2ll`2lgLlS should be at least 3 feet from any other vegetal)lC Xlllfl S;]
fl`<>lll each other; ·’l feet is better, Wlhen the shoots have gltllfll   sit
above the garden level, the trench is filled with the subsoil.   *}]

   ']`/te I’t·ge/rt/Jie (Qur;/en ll
No harvesting should be done in the year of setting, and prefer-
1 they  V ably not in the year after, for the object is to establish heavy mats
ulturi E of roots, necessary for the production of fleshy shoots later. In the
>. 307   third year of the planting, cutting may begin, but should not be
ttutkt  n continued longer than 6 weeks. Thereafter systematic harvesting
T-  may be done, but in any year it is unwise to continue long after the
T  end of june, for opportunity must be given the roots to recover, and
_:  to add reserves from which future harvests must come.
their   Asparagtts needs plant food in quantity and if the bed is to con-
sensr  _ timte productive, fertility should be kept up carefully. The best
llCl1ll}   way is to spread a heavy mulch of manure, not early in the spring,
grt>w—  E hut at the end of the cutting season, after having hoed Otlt any weeds
C ptr- Q  that may have started. In the years the bed is being established, the
BS far  — manure should be spread early in the spring before the shoots begin
s fact. ‘  emerging. The reason for manuring a bearing bed after cutting is
»erfctt   over is that until that time the roots do not take plant food from
\gain.  ~ the soil but produce the shoots from reserves that have been stored
narint  ‘ in them in the previous season. It is only after the plants begin to
tg out   branch and to form leaves that the roots can actively begin to absorb
of plant food from the soil. Each spring, as early as the weather per-
lowttl  i mits. the bearing bed should be hoed or harrowed deeply, but not
or, it i to touch the roots. This puts the humus from the previous Slllll· `
zuts at T mer`s manure mulch into deeper soil, and helps the shoots to come
tntler.   thru straight.
Umm  U. There are several varieties of asparagus but because of the pre-
Engg   \`P!lt’H(`C ol the rust disease, it ts recommended to use only the rust·
U_ugu__  i resistant varieties, Mary or Martha \’V2lSlllllg`l()ll.
inthe»  '_ Asparagus may be grown “white" or “green." If white spears
tp soil Q  are desired, a mound is thrown over the row, and the asparagus is
ottnm Q tut about 8 inches beneath the surface, just as the tips appear. To
yith ;t   ]>1`<>\’iR1`21§lIS suffers from only one pest, the IlS[)2ll`Z`tgllS l>CCllC, Z1
'llli U]  · (fllCWlI\§§ ll1SCt§t‘. Control consists in cutting stalks C\'C1`§' 0[llCI` (l2l§'·
C mul   Sl?llli$ \\'l1l(‘h have been lelt to grow should be thly (`<>\'C1`CPl`L‘1`·
  tent lll(`<>llll(‘ S(>lllll()llS are I`C('<)llllllCll(lC(l. l)irections lor using are
ll  lound (ill llI(’ (`Ulllllllltfl`. Two percent nicotine dust is tl1e 111ateriaI
 T to use tl dusting is prelerred. This is obtainable ol tl1e lll2llllll`2l(`llll`·
 '_ t‘1`\ ol nicotine soltttloll.  
 5 `
 =` l
 ; i

 tit
l·l l{al1l11v/cylfxtrzlsirnl Cirrrl1lr1r1\'o. 309 .
GROUP 3. THE "COOL" VEGETABLES. TRANSPLANTED ` H
  )
Vegetable and ` _ 1 ‘r\
variety Characteristics · lj
” '""'_‘__‘”;  “ ol
(Talmage u
Winningstadt Pointed heads; earliest of all; weight, 12 oz. to 1 lh,
Jersey Wakefield Pointed heads; next early; weight, 1 to 2 lbs,  ` I,]
Charleston \\’al