2003 SWROC Organic Garden
Varieties in the 2003 SWROC Organic Garden

The gardening project started as a way to show organic producers another way to diversify and have marketable products for specialty and niche markets. Even producers with small acreages saw how much produce could be raised to market.

The 2003 garden was a demonstration garden showing; the use of various mulching methods, companion plantings; staking/support systems, and varieties of tomato, peppers, cabbage, greens, and herbs.

The 2003 garden plot plan was designed with three objectives. Rectangular beds, 5 foot across and 8 to 10 foot in length, with 5 feet alleyways, were used for non-vining plant varieties. This allowed maintenance of the plots without soil compaction. Larger alleyways allowed the planting of buckwheat between plots to draw beneficial insects. Lastly, the companion planting, of different varieties of vegetables and herbs together in the same plot was used. This planting method was used to draw beneficial and deter harmful insects from the plants, as well as to maximize the vegetable or herb production in a small area.

Mulch was used to retain soil moisture and to suppress weeds. Straw mulch and newspaper were used. Coco fiber, and corn stover mat were tried later in the season. Weed suppression varied with mulches. Newspaper placed around the tomato plants was aesthetically less desirable, yet when weighted and watered down it created a paper-mache that proved beneficial for moisture retention, weed suppression as well as blossom end rot. The wheat mulch and newsprint were incorporated for organic matter.

Cabbage with bird nettingInsects can be both beneficial and detrimental to a garden. To help deter the cabbage moths from laying eggs on the cabbage, cauliflower and broccoli, bird netting with 1/2-inch holes was put over the plants and supported on black plastic hoops. This method worked well as long as the plants didn’t touch the netting. Netting was not effective in keeping grasshoppers off the plants.

The garden included a variety of organic vegetables selected to grow well in dense soil conditions, variable weather conditions, and with disease resistant qualities. Marigolds were included as companion plants with cabbage and greens for their ability to deter aphids and other harmful insects.

The organic garden was featured at the Organic Field Day, July 25, 2003 and again at the August 20, 2003 “Gardening the Organic Way,” workshop which was sponsored by with the Minnesota Horticultural Society, University of Minnesota College of Ag, Food and Environmental Science and Minnesota Extension Service.

Produce samples from the organic garden were included in the Microbiological Safety of Organic Fruits and Vegetables research conducted by Francisco Diez at the University of Minnesota. Dorinda Speh co-coordinator of the garden at the Southwest Research and Outreach Center worked with Francisco on the project.

The 2004 garden will have research projects conducted by Albert (Bud) Markhardt and Milton Haar. Bud’s research will include the weed management methods of using different concentrations of vinegar for weed control and transplanting sweet corn into the garden. Milton’s projects include a mulch study and cover crops for weed management, eggplant varietal trials and companion plantings (for example the Native American “Three Sisters” method).

Researchers:

Dr. Milton Haar – Department of Agronomy and Plant Genetics

Technical Support:

Doreen Kronback, SWROC Research Plot Technician
Dorinda Speh, SWROC Assistant Scientist