Seed Starting Tips
Seed starting tips from our on-farm technicians Too early to start seeds? Maybe, but not too early to start preparing to grow next year’s transplants. It seems to always be a rush in late winter to get all the supplies together for seed starting (especially for high tunnels and spring crops), and timing is everything when you are growing your own transplants. Some of you who are lucky might have heated greenhouses, but many of us will be starting plants under lights in our homes and basements – but it works! Shelving and shop-light systems can work well if you follow some simple rules: Keep the lights close to your plants – Do this to avoid leggy transplants. It is best if you can adjust the lights up or down with chains or a pully system to keep the lights just a few inches above your growing plants.Don’t let them dry out – Bottom-water systems can be helpful for this. I use heavy duty trays without drainage holes and add a few inches of water every 2-3 days, letting the trays fully dry out in between to avoid keeping the planting medium overly saturated. Use heat mats to warm
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Online Databases
New Entry Sustainable Farming Project Resource Library
You can search the directory below for downloadable digital resources, helpful websites, and online farming videos.
AgEcon SEARCH – Research in Agriculture and Applied Economics
Access to free agriculture journals and papers from thousands of topics and sources.
https://ageconsearch.umn.edu/search?ln=en&p=tomatos&f=&sf=&so=d&rg=10
US Departement of Agriculture publications
304,305 full-text journal articles on agricultural topics. Search specific plants, diseases, production techniques, and more.
USDA Plants database
The PLANTS Database provides standardized information about the vascular plants, mosses, liverworts, hornworts, and lichens of the U.S. and its territories.
Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations Resource Library
Collection of resources available to look through and learn from.
Directories
Alternative Farming Systems Information Center
The Alternative Farming Systems Information Center (AFSIC) specializes in identifying resources for food systems and practices that support the United States Department of Agriculture’s effort to ensure a sustainable future for agriculture and farmers worldwide.
Farmer Resource Network
This online directory contains more than 750 organizations all over the United States that work directly with farmers on a variety of issues.
Local Harvest
This directory lists over 40,000 family farms and farmers’ markets, along with restaurants and grocery stores that feature local food. Users can create listings for their own small agricultural businesses and farms.
Organic Farming Research Foundation
Sign up for online training programs, farming guidebooks, webinars, reports, and instructional videos.
USDA’s Local Food Directories are the gateway to locate local food retail and wholesale market outlets.
The directories are a free service to help you find local food businesses. You can search for markets and operations according to zip code, product availability, payment method and even whether the market participates in Federal nutrition programs such as the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP).
https://www.ams.usda.gov/services/local-regional/food-directories-listings
Growing Manuals
Appalachian Sustainable Development’s introduction to organic farming.
Chapter 1: Understanding Soil & Garden Preparation
Chapter 2: Organic Techniques for a Healthy Garden
Chapter 3: Insects and Pests
Chapter 4: Plant Profiles
Chapter 5: Seeking Seed, Storing and Resources
University of Kentucky’s guide to Home Vegetable Gardening
Chapter 1: Plans and Preparations
Chapter 2: Planting
Chapter 3: Growing More with Less Space
Chapter 4: One Garden Plot: Three Garden Seasons
Chapter 5: Caring for Your Vegetables during the Growing Season
Chapter 6: Diseases, Insects and Weeds
Chapter 7: What You Should Know about Asparagus through Watermelons
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Pest, Disease & Weed Management tips from Build it Up East Tennessee.
Grow Appalachia Technical Gardening Manual
PLANTING CONSIDERATIONS – 3
MULCHING – 9
WATERING – 12
WEEDING – 15
FERTILIZING – 18
PEST DISEASE AND CONTROL – 20
SMALL LIVESTOCK – 24
DRIP IRRIGATION – 29
FLORIDA WEAVE – 32
PROTECTED AGRICULTURE – 34
SOIL HEALTH – 36
