Vegetables
Growing and Garden Maintenance
Cultivation
Weeds compete with vegetable plants for water, sunlight and plant nutrients.
Destroy them so that the vegetables develop properly. Generally, practice
shallow cultivation. After a vegetable plant has obtained good size, many of its
roots are in the upper two inches of soil. Deep cultivation injures roots and
decreases growth and yield.
Early in the season following heavy beating rains, cultivation is a means of
loosening and aerating soils. Deeper cultivation can be practiced at this time.
As the season advances, cultivation should be only deep enough to control the
weeds and keep a loose soil mulch on the soil surface.
Watering the Garden
Water is a must for the garden to produce good quantities and quality
vegetables. When irrigating your garden thoroughly, wet the soil at least once a
week unless there is sufficient rainfall to moisten the soil around the roots.
One inch of water will usually moisten the soil to a depth of 5-6 in. Light
sprinkling of water every day only wets soil surface and encourages shallow root
development, which is undesirable.
Fertilizing the Garden
Most garden soils in Arkansas need to be supplied with plant food. Commercial
fertilizer, animal manures, chicken litter, compost or decomposed organic matter
can be used to provide plant nutrients for growing crops.
Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium are generally the food elements most
needed in garden soils. Calcium may be needed as a plant food and to correct pH
or acidity levels. Minor elements are usually sufficient for normal growth,
although boron, magnesium and manganese may be below normal levels in some
soils.
A soil test is desirable to determine the pH level and the amount of
nitrogen, phosphorus, potassium and calcium in the garden soil. Your county
Extension agent will have information on this procedure. After the soil test is
made, the county Extension agent will recommend the amount and kind of
fertilizer that your garden soil needs.
Commercial fertilizer may contain only nitrogen, phosphorus or potassium, or
all three in various combinations. If a soil test is not available, use a mixed
fertilizer such as 12-12-12 (12% nitrogen, 12% phosphorus and 12% potassium) or
12-20-20. Additional nitrogen may be needed and can be supplied by applying
nitrate of soda, ammonium nitrate, or urea.
Some commercial fertilizers, in addition to nitrogen, phosphorus and
potassium, may contain small amounts of various minor elements.
A garden soil may be too acid for normal plant growth. A pH level ranging
from 5.8 to 6.8 would be satisfactory for most vegetable crops. A soil test will
show whether or not lime may be needed to correct soil acidity.
Where a soil test has not been made, apply 6-8 lbs. of a mixed fertilizer per
100 feet of row or 300 square feet. For most crops, additional nitrogen as side
or top dressing may be made one or more times, using 1 lb. of ammonium nitrate
or 2 lbs. of nitrate of soda per 100 feet of row.
Damaging vegetable plants by using excessive amounts of fertilizer is
possible. Such damage can occur from the seedling stage to full plant
development.
Apply mixed fertilizer broadcast or under the row. Under the row applications
may be done by opening a furrow 3-4 in. deep, placing the fertilizer in the
bottom of the furrow, mixing it with the soil, and then leveling or filling in
the furrow. Or, the fertilizer could be placed in bands at one or both sides of
the row. Apply mixed fertilizer ten days to two weeks before planting seed or
setting plants.
Make broadcast fertilizer applications on the garden soil after spading or
plowing, then work into the soil as the ground is raked and leveled.
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