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Professional Growers > Growing Info & Resources
Agronomics: Pea–Tomato
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In the year 2000 73% of the lettuce grown in the United States was from one variety: Iceberg. From 1903 to 1983 92.8% of lettuce varieties were lost. - From Fatal Harvest, Andrew Kimbrell, Editor |
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Seeds of Change is switching out its seed packs to new reusable, recyclable envelopes? This state-of-the-art packaging requires less energy to manufacture, has a longer shelf life, can be resealed to store unplanted seed, reused for other purposes, or recycled as #1 plastic... Learn More |
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Peas Peppers Radish Spinach Summer Squash Pumpkin & Winter Squash Tomatoes
| Pea Agronomics Growing Conditions Peas are a hardy spring crop, tolerant of cool soils. Best planted on uniform, well-drained soils with a pH above 6.5. Trellis fresh market peas for optimum quality and production. Planting Direct seed in spring as soon as the soil can be worked. For a fall crop seed about 60 days before fall frost. Optimum germination occurs at 50-75°F. Inoculate seed with Rhizobium bacteria prior to planting for optimum N fertility. Peas are direct seeded for commercial production. Seeding depth: 2 in. deep. Average spacing: 3-6 seeds/ft. in rows 4-6 ft. apart for fresh market. Do not thin. Average seeding rates: 30-35 lbs./acre, 250 ft./lb. at 6 seeds/ft. Harvest/Storage Harvest fresh market peas frequently to encourage continuous production. Cool immediately after harvest to avoid loss of sugar content. Store at 32°F and 90-95% RH. Pest and Disease Prevention Avoid overhead irrigation. Allow for adequate plant spacing. Bred by Oregon State University, Pioneer is pea enation mosaic virus resistant. Trellis plants to prevent disease. |
| Pepper Agronomics Growing Conditions Peppers are a warm season crop and grow best with warm nights which increase flower and fruit set. Fruit set in many sweet peppers can be low at temperatures over 90°F, but most chile peppers are more heat tolerant. Production is best in fertile, well-drained soils with a pH of 6-6.8. Ensure adequate Ca. availability and avoid wide fluctuations in moisture to prevent blossom end rot. Irrigate as needed throughout the season to maintain uniform soil moisture, especially after fruit set, but avoid water logging roots. In cooler climates cover seedlings with floating row cover to increase temperature, but remove prior to flowering. Isolate hot and sweet peppers to prevent cross pollination which can result in heat in sweet varieties. Hotter growing conditions increase heat in chile peppers. Planting Peppers are most often transplanted due to slow and erratic germination at low temperatures. Optimum germination occurs at 70-85°F. Start in the greenhouse and plant out 6-8 week seedlings when daytime temperatures reach 70°F and night time temperatures are above 55°F. Seeding depth: 1/2 in. Average spacing: 12-18 in. between plants in rows 36-48 in. apart. Average seeding rates: 600 plants/ 1/2 oz., 150 plants/ 1/8 oz. (note: # seeds/oz. varies widely between varieties). Harvest/Storage Harvest when fruits are full grown, but still firm and crisp. Harvest colored varieties when desired color develops. Snap fruits off by hand being careful not to break branches or damage plants. Harvest frequently to maintain production. Market fresh or store at 45-50°F and 90-95% RH. Do not store below 42°F. Pest and Disease Prevention Avoid overhead irrigation. Practice crop rotations with all Solanceae species. Use floating row covers to prevent insect damage, but remove prior to flowering or in hot weather. Increase plant spacing in areas with high disease pressure. Pest and Disease info available at www.chilepepperinstitute.org/Disease_.htm |
| Radish Agronomics Growing Conditions Radishes are a cool or moderate climate crop susceptible to bolting in long days or high temperatures. They are best grown on light, fertile soils with a pH of 6.5-7. They are tolerant of a broad range of soils, but heavy soils may produce misshapen, hairy roots. Smaller, shallow-rooted varieties require frequent, uniform irrigation for best quality roots. Planting Radishes are direct seeded and do not transplant well. Seeding depth: 1/2 in. deep. Average spacing: 12-24 seeds/ ft. in rows 8 in. apart or drill 24 seeds/ft. with a 2-4 in. scatter shoe. Thin seedlings according to variety size (1-11/2 in. apart for Cherry Belle). Average seeding rates: 20-25 lbs./acre, 2,250 row ft./lb., 560 row ft./ 1/4 lb. at 20 seeds/ft. Harvest/Storage Harvest when roots reach full size, but before they split or become pithy. A light irrigation the day prior to harvest may help with ease of pulling roots. Cool radishes immediately after harvest. Market in bunches (6-9 radishes/bunch) or store at 32°F and 95-100% RH. Pest and Disease Prevention Practice 2-4 yr crop rotations with all Brassica species. Cover plants with floating row covers to prevent flea beetle damage to tops. |
| Spinach Agronomics Growing Conditions Spinach is a cool, mild climate crop with ideal growth at 52-60°F. It grows best in fertile soils with a pH of 6.2-7. Bolting increases with increasing day length, temperature, and plant density. Faster growing (faster bolting) varieties are fall planted and overwintered for spring harvest, while slower growing (slower bolting) varieties are used in spring and summer plantings. Irrigate regularly as spinach is sensitive to drought, but avoid irrigation that splashes leaves spreading disease and soiling the leaves. Planting Direct seed from early spring through fall. Planting depth: 1/2 in. deep. Average spacing: For full sized plants, 10-12 seeds/ft. in rows 18 in. apart. For baby leaf, 20-30 seeds/ft. in rows 12-18 in. apart. Average planting rates: For full sized plants, 7-8 lbs./acre, 3,800 row ft./lb., 950 row ft./ 1/4 lb. For baby leaves, 35 lbs./acre, 1,200 row ft./lb., 300 row ft./ 1/4 lb., at 30 seeds/ft. Harvest/Storage Harvest whole plants for bunching when they reach a desirable size, but prior to bolting. Cut the whole plant just below the crown and bunch several plants together. Remove old, dirty, or yellowed leaves. For baby leaf, harvest leaves when 2-4 in. long and wash. Handle carefully in washing and packaging to prevent bruising. Market immediately or store at 32°F and 95-100% RH. Pest and Disease Prevention Practice crop rotations. Avoid irrigation that splashes the leaves. Increase plant spacing to enhance air circulation in cool, moist conditions or in areas with high disease pressure. Cover seedlings with floating row cover to prevent insect damage. |
| Summer Squash Agronomics Growing Conditions Summer Squash (zucchini) is a warm season, frost sensitive crop. It grows best in well-drained, fertile soil with a pH of 6-7.5. Healthy insect activity is required for good pollination. Planting Plant when soil temperatures reach 60°F. Germination is optimum at 70-85°F. Plant every 10-14 days to maintain a continuous supply. Summer Squash is most often direct seeded as it is fast growing and sensitive to transplant shock, but may be carefully transplanted. Direct Seed: Seeding depth: 11/2 in. Average spacing: 2-4 seeds/ft. in rows 36-40 in. apart. Thin to 18-36 in. between plants. Average seeding rates: 8-12 lbs./acre, 1,100 row ft./lb., 275 row ft./ 1/4 lb. at 3 seeds/ft. Transplant: Transplant 3-4 wk. old seedlings when soil temperatures exceed 60°F. Handle transplants carefully and irrigate post-transplant. Harvest/Storage Harvest when fruit is of desirable size. Zucchini are commonly picked when fruit is 1¼ -2 in. diameter and 7-8 in. long, but may be harvested smaller for gourmet markets. Harvest frequently to encourage continuous fruit set. Handle carefully to avoid scarring fruit. Market fresh or store at 40-50°F and 95% RH. Pest and Disease Prevention Avoid overhead irrigation. Cover young plants with floating row covers to prevent insect damage, but remove prior to flowering to allow for pollination. Ensure any crop residue is well broken down prior to seeding to prevent seed corn maggot damage. |
| Pumpkin & Winter Squash Agronomics Growing Conditions Winter squash and pumpkins are a warm season, frost sensitive crop. They grow best on fertile, well-drained soils with a pH of 6-7.5. Healthy insect activity is required for pollination. Bee hives are often placed in commercial fields after the first female flower opens. Supply adequate irrigation to maintain uniform soil moisture throughout the season. Reduce irrigation when fruits are near maturity Planting Direct seeding is most common. Plant when soil temperatures reach 60°F and all danger of frost has passed. Seeding depth: 1/2-1 in. deep. Average spacing: 2 seeds/ft. in rows 5-6 ft. apart. Thin to 1.5-3 ft. between plants. Average seeding rates: For Blue Ballet, Butter Cup, Queensland Blue, and Pumpkins 8-12 lbs./acre, 600row ft./lb., 150 row ft./ 1/4 lb. For Sweet Dumpling, and Butternut, 3lbs./acre, 2,400 row ft./lb., 600 row ft./ 1/4 lb. at 2 seeds/ft and 5 ft. spacing between rows. Harvest/Storage Harvest pumpkins when the skin is hard, has turned orange, and there is a slight yellowing on the ground side of the fruit. Harvest winter squash when fruit are full sized and have turned their final color. Cut fruit leaving 3-4 in. stem on pumpkins and 1-2 in. stem on winter squash. Pumpkins without stems do not store as well. Store at 50-55°F and 50-70% RH. Chilling injury may occur in some varieties when held below 50°F. Pest and Disease Prevention Practice crop rotations with all Cucurbit species including melons, cucumbers, gourds, and summer and winter squash. Cover young seedlings with floating row covers to prevent squash pests including cucumber beetles, squash-vine borer, squash bugs, and leafhoppers which vector curly top virus. Remove row cover to allow for pollination when flowering. |
| Tomato Agronomics Growing Conditions Tomatoes grow best with hot days and warm nights. Deep, infrequent watering encourages deep rooting and higher quality fruit production. In areas with a low water table dry farming may be possible. Moderate to high fertility soils with a pH of 6.0 to 6.8 are best. Tomatoes prefer moderate to high levels of P and K which should be amended with rock powders on soils low in availability. Ensure adequate Ca levels to prevent blossom end rot. Plastic mulches are often used to increase earliness and yield of tomatoes. Indeterminate varieties should be staked, caged, or trellised to obtain optimum yields and prevent disease. Planting Tomatoes are best started in a greenhouse and transplanted. Seeding depth: 1/8 - 3/8 in. deep. Average spacing: 18-24 in. in rows 5-6 ft. apart. Average seeding rates: (For transplants) 1 oz./acre, 1,200 row ft./ 1/4 oz. at 3 seeds/pot, 80% germination, 24 in. spacing and 5 ft. between rows. Harvest/Storage For storage and shipping harvest at the "breaker" stage when the blossom end turns pink. For fresh market harvest when color develops but fruits are still firm. Market fresh or store at 45-50°F and 90-95% RH. Hold mature-green tomatoes for ripening at 65-70°F. Pest and Disease Prevention Produce healthy transplants. Practice 3 year rotations with all Solanaceae species. Staking and orienting rows to increase air circulation can aid in disease prevention. Avoid overhead irrigation. |
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