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In the News - May 2009
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| These beans are planted on ridges formed during cultivation. Planting on ridges improves soil drainage. |
PINE BLUFF, Ark. - Gardeners who are waiting for soils to drain enough so they can plant crops such as English peas, lettuce, cabbage, broccoli, cauliflower, green beans, spinach and mustard greens should rethink their planting plans, says Dr. Obadiah Njue, Cooperative Extension Program horticulture specialist at the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff.
"Unfortunately, it is now too late for these crops, collectively known as "cool season" vegetable crops," says Dr. Njue. A cool season crop is one that grows best under cool and moderate temperatures (60F to 65F) and is intolerant of high summer temperatures. Any crop that requires more than 50 days from seed sowing to harvesting if planted now will mature after mid-July when high summer temperatures have already set in.
If your garden is still too wet to plant, it is time to change plans and get ready to plant the "warm season" crops. Do not be tempted to buy the cool season seedlings still available in the nurseries unless the variety is heat tolerant, advises Dr. Njue. Collards are an exception as they can withstand summer temperatures.
Warm season vegetable crops are those that grow best under temperatures of 65F to 86F. They are usually grown for their fruits and pods, except for sweet potatoes. These include tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, cucurbits (squash, cucumbers, watermelons, cantaloupes, honeydews and pumpkins), lima beans, horticulture beans and southern peas. It’s now time to plant these warm season crops.
Vegetables are generally sensitive to water logging which may be caused by poor drainage and too much water. Water logging causes leaves of the plants to turn yellow or brown and usually drop off and the plant to ultimately die. This is because plants need air as well as water around their roots to survive. Excessive water fills up the air pockets in the soil, says Dr. Njue. Without air, the roots begin to die and are not able to absorb and supply the plant with nutrients to survive.
Soil drainage can be improved by modifying soil conditions, says Dr. Njue, who offers these tips:
May 22, 2009
By Carol Sanders
Writer/editor
UAPB School of Agriculture
Fisheries and Human Sciences
(870) 575-7238
sanders_c@uapb.edu
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