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Professional Growers > Growing Info & Resources
Agronomics: Bean–Eggplant
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Beans Beets Broccoli Carrots Chard Corn Cucumber Eggplant
| Bean Agronomics Growing Conditions Beans are a frost sensitive, warm season crop. They grow best on silt-loam or loam soils with a pH above 5.8. Avoid compacted or crusted soils. With good soil moisture retention seed into moist soil and avoid irrigation until emergence to avoid soil crusting or seed rot. Avoid water-stress during bloom and pod set. Bush varieties are most commonly grown commercially as they don't require trellising. Planting Always direct seed beans. Plant in spring when soils have warmed. Innoculate seed with Rhizobium prior to planting to enhance N availability. Germination is best at 60-80°F. Seeding depth: 3/4 - 1.5 in. deep, using more shallow depths in cooler periods, deeper when temperatures are high. Average emergence is 10-14 days. Average spacing: 8-12 seeds/ ft. in rows 15-30 in. apart. Average seeding rates: 75-110lbs./acre, 1 lb./ 175 row ft. at 8 seeds/ft. Harvest/Storage Harvest beans when full size, but before they become tough. Pick frequently to encourage continuous production. Market fresh or store at 40-45°F and 95% RH. Chill-injury may occur below 38°F. Pest and Disease Prevention Avoid rotating beans into fields where crops may have harbored white mold or gray mold. Seed rot may be a problem in cool soils. Irrigate early in the day allowing drying of foliage to avoid white mold and gray mold. Encourage beneficial insect activity, seed late in season and release Pedioubious foveolatus wasps for suppression of Mexican bean beetles. |
| Beet Agronomics Growing Conditions Beets may be grown from early spring through fall and year around in mild climates. They are tolerant of a broad range of growing conditions and soil types, but grow best on silt-loam or sandy-loam soils with a pH of 6.0 or higher. Maintain uniform soil moisture for best quality roots. Irrigate frequently during emergence to avoid soil crusting. Overhead irrigation is commonly used. Avoid water logging soil. Planting Beets are most commonly direct seeded, but may be transplanted. Direct seed beginning in early spring when the soil warms and continue sowing approximately every 2 wks for a continuous supply. Seeding depth: 1/2 - 3/4 in. Average spacing: 10 seeds/ft. in rows 12-24 in. apart. Or drill 15-18 seeds/ft. with a 2-4 in. wide scatter shoe. Thinning is not required, but thinning to 4-6 seedlings/ft. produces the best quality roots. Average Seeding Rates: 10-15 lbs./acre, 1 lb./3,500 row ft., 1 oz./ 218 row ft., at 10 seeds/ft. Transplant: Transplant 4-6 wk old seedlings. Harvest/Storage Roots may be pulled and bunched with leaves on (3-5 beets/bunch is common) or topped and stored for longer periods. Beets are best marketed fresh for optimum leaf and root quality, but store well at 32°F and 98-100% RH. Pest and Disease Prevention Practice crop rotations with all beets and chards. Pronto has been selected for, and demonstrated resistance to, Rhizoctonia, a bacterial disease that causes black scarring on the root surface. Manage leaf-hoppers to avoid transmission of beet curly top virus. |
| Broccoli Agronomics Growing Conditions Broccoli is a cool to moderate climate crop. It grows best on well-drained, loam soils, with high organic matter and a pH of 6-6.8 (higher pH recommended if Club root pressure is present). Excessively high temperatures may result in premature head formation, the presence of leaves in heads, or development of loose heads. Planting Direct Seed: Direct seed when outdoor temperatures are above 50°F (optimum 60-65°F). Seeding depth: 1/2 in. Average spacing: approximately 4-8 seeds/ft. in rows 18-36 in. apart and thin seedlings to 10-24 in. between plants. Average seeding rates: 1-11/2 lbs./ acre, 1/4 lb./2,400 row ft., 1 oz./600 row ft. at 10 seeds/ft. Transplant: Transplant 5-6 wk old seedlings. Harden off for 5-7 days prior to transplanting. Maintain greenhouse temperatures above 45°F night and below 85°F day. 1 oz. starts approximately 2,000 row ft. of transplants spacing plants 12 in. apart. Harvest/Storage Harvest heads and side shoots when buds are still small and tightly closed. Broccoli is highly perishable and should be hydrocooled and marketed as soon as possible after harvest. If storage is necessary, store at 32°F and 90-95% RH. Avoid contact with ethylene gas. Marketing fresh or proper cooling and storage preserves vitamin C content. Pest and Disease Prevention Practice 2-4 year crop rotations between all Brassica species. Maintain a pH above 7.5 for suppression of Club root disease. Encourage beneficial insect activity for suppression of aphids. |
| Carrot Agronomics Growing Conditions Carrots are best planted in deep, fertile loamy soils with a pH of 5.5–7. Bed soils for optimum depth and drainage. Heavy soils can result in split and hairy roots. Even soil moisture, avoiding wet-dry periods, produces the best colored and shaped roots. Avoid excessive soil moisture causing anaerobic conditions. The use of overhead or furrow irrigation is most common. Maintain surface soil moisture during seedling emergence. Planting Always direct seed carrots. Seed from early spring through summer, sowing fall carrots 80-90 days prior to the first fall frost date. Seeding depth: 1/8 - 3/8 in. Average spacing: 10-20 seeds/ft. in rows 16-30 in. apart. Seedlings are often not thinned, but for best fresh market quality, thin to 1-3 in between roots. Use greater spacing for full size Chantenay varieties. Average seeding rates: 2-4 lbs./acre, 1/4 lb./4,000 row ft., 1 oz./1,000 row ft. at 15-20 seeds/ft. Harvest/Storage To prepare carrots for market hydro-cool and wash the roots thoroughly. For extended storage wash carefully, avoiding injury or store unwashed and topped at 32-34°F and 98-100% RH. If storing in bins line with plastic. If packing in bags use mesh bags or plastic bags with holes for air circulation and avoid contact with ethylene gas to avoid development of off-flavors. Pest and Disease Prevention 3-4 yr crop rotations are recommended to avoid Alternaria leaf blight, Cercospora leaf blight, downy mildew, and white mold. Avoid overwatering to prevent root diseases. Cover seedlings with remay and harvest as soon as roots are mature in areas of high Carrot Rust Fly incidence to avoid buildup of pest populations. Avoid overwatering seedlings during cool periods to prevent damping off. Minimize physical injury of roots prior to storage to prevent post harvest diseases. |
| Chard Agronomics Growing Conditions Chard may be grown from early spring through fall. It is tolerant of a broad range of growing conditions and soil types, but grows best on silt-loam or sandy-loam soils with a pH of 6.0 or higher. Maintain uniform soil moisture. Irrigate frequently during emergence to avoid soil crusting. Overhead or drip irrigation are commonly used. Avoid water- logging soil. Planting Direct seed: Begin seeding in early spring when the soil warms. Seeding depth: 1/2 -3/4 in. Average spacing: 6-10 seeds/ft. in rows 24-36 in. apart. Thin to 10-15 in. between plants. Average seeding rates: 6-8 lbs./acre, 1/4 lb./900 row ft. at 8 seeds/ft. Transplant: Transplant 4-6 wk. old seedlings 10-15 in. apart. Harvest/Storage Harvest chard leaves when 10-18 in. long and sell in bunches. Cool or hydrocool post harvest. Chard is best marketed fresh but may be stored for short periods at 32°F and 98-100% RH. Pest and Disease Prevention Practice crop rotations with all chard and beet varieties. Cover seedlings with floating row cover to prevent insect damage. Manage leaf hoppers to prevent the spread of beet curly top virus. |
| Corn Agronomics Growing Conditions Corn is a warm season crop sensitive to cool soil conditions. It may be grown in a wide range of soil types with a pH of 5.5-6.8. Corn is wind pollinated and the pollen may travel 1mile or more. It must be isolated from other types of corn or genetically modified varieties to ensure crop integrity. Planting Always direct seed corn. Begin seeding when soil temperatures reach 60°F. Emergence is 5-20 days depending on soil temperature. Seed approximately every 2 wks. For continuous harvests. Plant in blocks for optimum pollination and kernel set. Seeding depth: 1/2 -1 in. Average spacing: 6 seeds/ft. in rows 24-36 in. apart. Thin to 10-12 in. between seedlings. Average seeding rates: 12-15 lbs./acre, 1 lb./330 row ft. at 6 seeds/row ft. Harvest/Storage Normal sugary varieties such as True Gold are best marketed fresh. Harvest ears when kernels reach 70-75% moisture or release milky liquid when punctured with a fingernail. Cut ear tips to remove corn ear worm damage if necessary. Ears should be cooled post harvest to reduce respiration and moisture loss. If storage is necessary hold at 32°F and 95-98% RH. Pest and Disease Prevention Avoid planting in cool soils. Practice crop rotations. Destroy crop residue or incorporate well to prevent several diseases including, downy mildew and southern corn blight. Use Bacillus thurengensis (Bt) for suppression of corn ear worms or cut off damaged portion of ears. Plant summer squash on perimeter of field and plant away from wooded areas to prevent raccoon damage. |
| Cucumber Agronomics Growing Conditions Cucumbers are a frost sensitive, warm season, crop. They grow best on fertile, light soils with a pH of 6-6.5. The use of row covers for 4-8 wks after planting can aid in frost and insect pest protection, but remove cover when flowering to allow for pollination. Drip irrigation is preferable. Satsuki Midori and Suyo Long varieties must be trellised to produce straight fruit. Planting Plant when soil temperatures reach 65-70°F and all danger of frost has passed. Direct seed: Cucumbers are almost always direct seeded. Seeding depth: 1/2 -1 in. Average spacing: 6 seeds/ft. in rows 36-72 in. apart. Thin to 8-12 in. between seedlings. Average seeding rates: 2-4 lbs./acre, 1 lb./2,500 row ft., 1/4 lb./625 ft., 1oz./156 row ft. at 6 seeds/ft. Harvest/Storage Harvest regularly and remove old fruit to encourage continuous fruit set. Cucumbers are best marketed fresh, but may be stored at 50-55°F and 90-95% RH. Chilling damage may occur at temperatures below 45°F and yellowing will quicken at higher temperatures. Avoid contact with ethylene gas. Pest and Disease Prevention Avoid overhead irrigation or water early in the day. Practice crop rotations with all Cucurbit species. Cover young seedlings with floating row cover to prevent cucumber beetle damage, but uncover plants during flowering for pollination. |
| Eggplant Agronomics Growing Conditions Eggplant is a cold sensitive, heat loving crop. It is best grown on moderately fertile, sandy-loam soils with a pH of 6-6.8. It is often grown with the use of plastic mulch or plastic covered hoops to increase soil temperatures. The use of drip irrigation is preferable. Planting As eggplants require a long season they are most commonly transplanted. Start seeds 9-10 wks prior to planting. Optimum greenhouse temperatures are 64-70°F at night and 70-81°F daytime. Seeding depth: 1/4 in. Use cells at least 1-2 in. (2-3 in. pots preferable). Average spacing: 18-24 in. apart with 36-48 in. between rows. Average seeding rates: For transplants: 1 oz./900 row ft. at 3 seeds/pot and 2ft. spacing between plants. Harvest/Storage Harvest when fruits have developed color, but are still firm to the touch. Market fresh or store at 50-55°F and 90-95% RH. They are chill sensitive below 50°F and deteriorate readily at higher temperatures. Pest and Disease Prevention Practice crop rotations avoiding planting into fields where tomatoes, peppers, potatoes, strawberries, or cranberries had been planted. Avoid overhead irrigation. Use row covers to prevent flea beetle damage. |
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