Page numbers in italics indicate drawings; page numbers in bold indicate charts.
A
abbreviations, common, 13
Abelmoschus esculentus. See okra
Alium spp. See chives, leeks, onion, garlic
Allium cepa. See shallots
aphids, 131, 131, 136–37, 143, 145, 147, 147, 292
Apium graveolens. See celery
artichoke (Cynara scolymus), 171–73, 416
asparagus (Asparagus officinalis), 174–83, 416
perennial companions, 182–83
spears, harvesting, 179–180
white, 181
B
Bacillus subtilis, 142, 146, 406
Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt), 132, 152, 155
Bacillus thuringiensis (Bt) var. kurstaki, 157–58
bacterial wilt, 377
beans, 31, 58, 184–96, 416. See also trellis
asparagus beans (Vigna unguiculata var. sesquipedalis), 187
chickpeas or garbanzo (Cicer arietinum), 187
cowpeas (Vigna unguiculata ssp. unguiculata), 187–88
dry beans, harvesting, 123
fava (Vicia faba), 188
harvesting, 192–94
lima (Phaseolus lunatus), 186
soybeans (Glycine max), 154, 188
beds
block planting, 203
raised, 17, 23, 72, 72, 81–82, 81–84
striped cucumber, 131, 152, 152, 377
Mexican bean beetle, 153–54, 153
beets (Beta vulgaris), 21, 58, 61, 197–209, 416
beneficial insects, 130, 136–39
biodynamic gardening, 17
birds, 140–142
bottom rot, 293
Braconid wasp, 139
Brassica oleracea. See broccoli, Brussel sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, collards, kale, kohlrabi
hardening off, 214
pests, 226
spacing, 212
succession planting, 215
Brassica rapa. See Chinese cabbage and turnips broccoli (Brassica oleracea), 15, 21, 24, 26, 58, 210–30, 417
supporting, 117
Brussel sprouts (Brassica oleracea), 21, 26, 61, 417
growing, 224–25
supporting, 117
bug zapper, 140
C
cabbage (Brassica oleracea), 21, 24, 26, 58, 210–30, 417
Chinese cabbage (Brassica rapa), 218
growing secrets, 217
seed, 28
cabbage maggots, 160–161
caliche, 85
Capsicum annuum. See peppers
carrots (Daucus carota), 14, 58, 231–43, 417
controlling rabbits, 243
growing in trenches, 234–35, 234–35
insect pests, 241–42
planting carrot seeds, 236–37
caterpillars, 134, 136, 139, 145, 152, 155. See also squash vine borer
caulifl ower (Brassica oleracea), 26, 58, 210–30, 417
buttoning, 227
celery (Apium graveolens), 244–47, 417
chives (Allium spp.), 314–15
Citrullus lanatus. See watermelons club root, 161
cold tolerant. See crops
collards (Brassica oleracea), 222, 229, 417
companion planting, 17, 138–39, 182–83
compost, 87–98
bagged, 88
making, 87
containers
fertilizing plants in, 122
growing tomatoes in, 389–90
soil for, 86
Cooperative Extension Service, 12, 27, 76, 170, 420
cross-pollination, 251–52
earworms, borers, armyworms, 140, 256
germinating, 250–51
three kinds to grow, 248–49
watering, 253
crops
cool-season/cold tolerant, 26–27, 68, 125
(See also mulch, green manures)
easiest to grow, 14
heavy feeders, 62–63
light feeders, 62–63
cucumbers (Cucumis sativus), 14, 15, 257–69, 417
cross-pollination, 258–60, 260
monoecious, gynoecious, parthenocarpic, 258–60, 264
pickling vs. slicing, 257, 257–58
watering, 101
cucumber beetle, striped, 131, 152, 152, 377
Cucumis melo. See melons
Cucurbita spp. See pumpkins, squash
cutworms, 157
collar, 53, 130, 132, 157–58, 157
Cynara scolymus. See artichoke
D
Daucus carota. See carrots
deer, deterring, 163–66
disease
prevention, 128–33
resistance, 11
drainage, 75
drip irrigation, 104–5
dwarf tomatoes, 21
dwarf varieties, 21
edible fl owers, 284
eggplant (Solanum melongena), 21, 58–59, 61, 154, 269–74, 418
F
fast-to-mature vegetables, 61, 125
fertilizer, 119–22
boost, 119
for seedlings, 38
how often to feed, 119
how to fertilize, 121–22
fish emulsion, 172
floating row covers. See row covers
foliage disease, 150
French intensive gardening, 17
frost date, 26
frost protection. See row covers
full sun, 20
G
garden
maintenance, 118
two-season, 125
garlic (Allium spp.), 14, 314–16, 326–31, 418
harvesting, 331
germinating seeds, 28–30
grass
controlling, 115
removing, 78
green manure. See mulch
greenhouse, 25
H
hardening off seedlings, 53–54
harvesting, 122–25
best time of day for, 123
tools, 124–25
when to harvest, 122–23
heat-loving plants, 26
hills, 87
hoes, types of, 112
horticultural oil, 144–45
I
insecticidal soap. See pesticides
Ipomoea batatas. See sweet potatoes
irrigation. See watering
J
journal, 8
K
kale (Brassica oleracea), 14, 222, 229, 418
kaolin clay, 133, 152, 154, 158
kohlrabi (Brassica oleracea), 222–23, 223, 230, 418
L
leafy crops
harvesting greens, 123
mustards (Brassica spp.), 281, 283
spicy greens, 281
leaves
damaged, 147–50
holes in, 151–55
leeks (Allium spp.), 26, 61, 314–15, 323–25, 324, 418
legumes
dwarf white clover, 63
hairy vetch, 63
legume family (See beans)
lettuce, 14, 15, 21, 26, 58–59, 61, 275–93, 418
bolting, 291
leaf lettuce, 14
planting, 282
light for seedlings, 24–25, 25, 41
M
melons (Cucumis melo), 58, 87, 294–310, 418
dwarf or bush-type muskmelons, 21
muskmelons, 294–95
storage, 307
mesclun. See leafy crops
microherd, soil, 65–66
how much to use, 108
options, 107
N
neem, 142–43, 147–49, 154, 161
O
okra (Abelmoschus esculentus), 26, 58, 310–314, 418
onions (Allium spp.), 26, 61, 314–32, 418
harvesting, 123
sets, 319–20
open-pollinated (OP) vegetables, 11
organic gardening, 128–46, 411
P
parasitic nematodes, 66, 152, 157, 160, 209, 241, 412
parsnips (Pastinaca sativa), 197–209, 418
germinating seeds, 202
peas (Pisum sativum), 21, 27, 58, 333–39, 418
seed, 28
trellis for, 46–47, 46–47, 336, 336
types of, 333–34
peat pots, 34
peppers (Capsicum annuum), 14, 15, 21, 26, 58–59, 61, 340–50, 418
growing tips, 344–46
supporting, 117
types of, 342
pesticides
horticultural oil, 144–45
insecticidal soap sprays, 143–46, 147–49, 154, 161
organic and homemade, 128, 142–146
pests
daily inspection for, 131
handpicking, 133
organic pest control, 136–46
prevention, 128–146
symptoms and solutions, 146–162
Pisum sativum. See peas
plastic mulch. See mulch
plastic tunnel, 60, 60, 285, 285
poison ivy, killing, 80
potatoes (Solanum tuberosum), 123, 351–61, 419
potting soil, 32–33
powdery mildew, 162
pumpkins (Cucurbita spp.), 15, 87, 361–378, 419
growing tips, 366–71
harvesting seeds, 365
storing seed, 28
types of, 364–65
R
radishes (Raphanus sativus), 14, 21, 58, 61, 197, 197–209, 237, 419
watering, 101
raised beds, 17, 23, 72, 72, 81–84, 81, 82
Raphanus sativus. See radishes
rhubarb (Rheum rhabarbarum), 182–83
row covers, 55, 130, 132, 134–36, 135, 149, 152, 154, 159, 349, 349
row spacing, 17
rust, 150
rutabagas (Brassica napus), 197–209, 419
S
schedule for planting, 12, 27–28, 56–58
seedlings, 23
feeding, 38
hardening off, 53–54
rotting, 40–41
temperature for, 36
transplanting, 35
seeds
evaluating, 28–30
germinating, 28–30
seed packets instructions, 26
spacing out, 44–45
supplies for starting seeds, 32
watering, 33
shade, 20
shallots (Allium cepa), 321, 321
sidedressing, 122, 217, 217, 414
slow-growing vegetables, 61
small garden, 15–17
snap peas, 14
soaker hoses, 104
soap sprays, 143–46
soil
clay, 67
drainage, 75
for containers, 86
loamy, 67
microherd, 65–66
mistakes to avoid, 74
mix for starting seed, 24, 31–33
potting soil, 31–32
preparing garden soil, 43–44, 78–79, 78–79, 80
testing, 76
thermometer, 77
soil-improvement system, 17
Solanum melongena. See eggplant
Solanum tuberosum. See potatoes
spider mites, 136–37, 145, 148, 148, 149
spinach, 14, 21, 58–59, 61, 275–93, 419
bolting, 291
growing, 283
harvesting, 290
spinosad, 132, 142, 149, 152, 154
split growing season, 57
squash (Cucurbita spp.), 58, 87, 158–59, 419
growing tips, 367–71
harvesting, 373–76
seed, 28
squash vine borer, 158, 158–59, 377
staggered planting, 16
staking
peas, 336
peppers, 345
transplants, 48
succession gardening, 17
succession planting, 59–60
sulfur
powder, 150
summer, 14
summer squash, harvesting, 123
sun protection, 20
supplies for starting seeds, 32
sweet potatoes (Ipomoea batatas), 58, 378–83, 419
harvesting, 381–83
Swiss chard (Beta bulgaris). See leafy crops
T
temperature, 24
for seedlings, 36
tiller, 80
tilth, 65
tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum), 14, 15, 26, 58, 61, 383–407, 419
cages, 116, 116, 393, 393, 398–401, 399, 400
determinate, indeterminate, 387–88
growing in containers, 389–90
planting strategies, 390–94
problem-solving, 403–7
staking, 117
transplanting
special care, 53
hardening off, 53–54
staking, 48
warnings not to buy, 52
where to find, 50–51
trellis, 48
A-frame trellis for melons, 302, 302
A-frame trellis for peas, 336, 336
helping beans to climb, 192, 192
turnips (Brassica rapa), 197–209, 419
W
warm-season crops, 58
watering
principles, 103
soaker hose, 104
watermelons (Citrullus lanatus), 294–310, 419
dwarf, 21
harvesting, 304–10
storage, 307
weeding
weeds, 8
in compost, 115
managing, 109–16
mulching and smothering, 110, 110
what to grow, 10
whiteflies, 161
wilt disease, 159
windbreak, 19
winter squash, 15
harvesting, 123
winter, preparing for, 126
wireworms, 241–42
Z
Zea mays. See corn
zucchini, harvesting, 123