Well-planned, properly managed home gardens can furnish Oklahoma families with flavorful, high quality, fresh vegetables from spring through fall, as well as for processing or storing for winter.

The amount of money invested in seeds, fertilizer, pesticides and a few tools is more than offset by the enjoyment, healthful outdoor exercise, and fresh homegrown flavor.

Choosing the Site

The selection and preparation of the garden site is an important key to growing a home garden successfully. An area exposed to full or near full sunlight with deep, well-drained, fertile soil is ideal. The site also should be located near a water supply and, if possible, away from trees and shrubs that would compete with the garden for light, water and nutrients.

While these conditions are ideal, many urban gardeners have a small area with a less-than-optimal site on which to grow vegetables. Yet, it is still possible to grow a vegetable garden by modifying certain cultural practices and types of crops grown. Areas with light shade can be used, such as those under young trees, under mature trees with high lacy canopies or in bright, airy places which receive only one to two hours of direct sun per day. There are several vegetables which will grow under these conditions, including beans, beets, broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower, chard, kohlrabi, leaf lettuce, peas, potatoes, radishes, rhubarb, spinach and turnips. Size and form of harvestable plant parts will be reduced depending on amount of light reaching plants. Fruiting vegetables may benefit from afternoon shade during hot periods in the summer.

If the site is poorly drained or the topsoil layer is thin or has too much sand or clay, raised beds or container gardening may be a better alternative. With a raised bed garden, a good-quality garden soil should be used and non-soil growing media are used in container gardens.

Planning the Garden

The chart on page 2 should be of help in determining family requirements of the different vegetables.

Perennial vegetables (asparagus, rhubarb, winter onions, etc.) should be planted at one side or end of the garden for efficient operation. The hardy vegetables planted early in the season should be planted together, so they may be followed with late-season plantings of the same or other vegetables. Vegetables requiring similar cultural practices should be grouped together for ease of care.

The recommended spacings are based on best practices in the traditional row method of gardening. Smaller spacings can be used in alternative gardening methods such as container or square-foot gardening. In these situations, compact varieties of plants such as tomato and eggplant are a good choice.

The chart groups vegetables as cool season or warm season crops, indicating under which conditions they grow best. Crops classed as cool season may be planted earlier in the season and do best under cool conditions (average daily temperatures of 70 F or less), while those grouped as warm season crops grow better during warm temperatures (average daily temperatures ranging between 70 F to 90 F).

Based on the temperature the plants will withstand, vegetables are hardy, semi-hardy, tender or very tender. Hardy types may be planted before last frosts or freezes in the spring and are tolerant of cold weather in late autumn. The semi-hardy ones will be injured by a hard frost, but will grow in cool weather and not be harmed by a light frost. Tender plants are injured or may be killed by a light frost but can withstand cool weather, while the very tender are injured by cool weather.

Differences in suggested planting dates range from the earliest for southeast Oklahoma to the latest for the northwest part of the state. Planting dates also may vary when season extension techniques are used.

Gardening Tips

In order to have a successful garden, the gardener must follow a few guidelines. The following tips may help to prevent some common garden problems from occurring, or help overcome those that do arise:

• Sample soil and have it tested every three to four years.
• Apply fertilizers in the recommended manner and amount.
• Add organic materials such as yard waste compost or composted manure to improve soil organic matter.
• Use recommended varieties.
• Thin plants when small.
• Use mulches to conserve moisture, control weeds and reduce fruit rots.
• Avoid excessive walking and working in the garden when foliage and soil are wet.
• Examine the garden often to keep ahead of potential problems.
• Keep the garden free of weeds and diseases.
• Control only those insects in the garden that are known to be pests.
• Wash and clean tools and sprayers after use.
• Rotate specific crop family locations each year to avoid insect and disease buildup.
• When possible, harvest vegetables during the cool hours of the day.

Avoid the Following Mistakes:

• Planting too closely, which prevents walking or working in the garden, may favor diseases and interferes with normal plant development.
• Placing fertilizer directly in contact with plant roots, stems, or seeds.
• Cultivating deeply, resulting in injury to plant roots.
• Planting varieties not recommended for your area or the season; however, do try newly released varieties.
• Watering frequently or excessively so that the soil is always wet and soggy.
• Allowing weeds to grow large before elimination.
• Applying home remedies, fertilizers or pesticides in a haphazard manner, or without reading and following product instructions. (Remember, these materials are being applied to your family's food!)
• Using chemicals not specifically recommended for garden crops.
• Storing leftover diluted spray.

Table 1A. Garden Planning Guide, Cool Season.

Table 1A. Garden Planning Guide, Cool Season. (cont'd)

These dates indicate planting times from southeast to northwest Oklahoma. Specific climate and weather may influence planting dates. For cool season vegetables, the soil temperature at the depth where the seeds are planted should be at least 40°F.

Table 1B. Garden Planning Guide, Warm Season.

 Table 1B. Garden Planning Guide, Warm Season. (cont'd)

 **These dates indicate planting times from southeast to northwest Oklahoma. Specific climate and weather may influence planting dates. For warm season vegetables, the soil temperature at the depth where the seeds are planted should be at least 50°F.

Table 2. Common Garden Problems

Other OSU Extension Gardening Publications

• BAE-1511 — Trickle Irrigation for Lawns, Gardens, and Small Orchards
• HLA-6005 — Mulching Vegetable Garden Soils
• HLA-6007 — Improving Garden Soil Fertility
• HLA-6009 — Fall Gardening
• HLA-6012 — Growing Tomatoes in the Home Garden
• HLA-6013 — Summer Care of the Home Vegetable Garden
• HLA-6032 — Vegetable Varieties for Oklahoma
• HLA-7313 — Home Garden Insect Control
• HLA-7625 — Common Diseases of Tomatoes, Part I: Diseases Caused by Fungi.
• EPP-7626 — Common Diseases of Tomatoes, Part II: Diseases Caused by Bacteria, Viruses, and Nematodes
• EPP-7627 — Common Diseases of Tomatoes, Part III: Diseases Not Caused by Pathogens
• EPP-7635 — Diseases of Cucurbits (Watermelons, Cucumbers, Cantaloupes, Squash, and Pumpkins)
• EPP-7640 — Solar Heating (Solarization) of Soil in Garden Plots for Control of Soil-Borne Plant Diseases
• EPP-7646 — Diseases of Asparagus in Oklahoma