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Mittleider Grow Box Gardens PDF
Mittleider Grow Box Gardens PDF
By Jacob R. Mittleider
Adjustments & Improvements Since Publication
41. 12” 1” X 8” or Stake for splicing Treated 12”+ 2” X 8” is recommended for splicing.
End pieces – 5’ long 1” X 8” Use 2” X 8” treated lumber – 18” or 4’.
43. Spreader board – 2” X 4” X 6’ Use 5’ length for 4’-wide box or 2’ length for 18” box.
46. Sawdust – from almost any wood Avoid walnut sawdust, which is toxic to many plants.
48. Pre-Plant formula . . . Pre-Plant - calcium, magnesium, & boron – 80-4-1 ratio.
Apply 12# 2 oz to soil In 18” box apply 1 oz/ft – in 4’ box apply 2 oz/ft.
Apply 5# lime to soil None, only Pre-Plant above.
Weekly Feed – nothing said Apply ½ oz/ft in 18” box – apply 1 oz/ft in 4’ box
See Weekly Feed formula in Mittleider Gardening Course
53. Dates for planting common crops Supplement with Garden Planting Details schedule, and use
Your ADLF (average date of last frost) for planting dates.
54. Sample Planting Layout There is real merit in this, because short rows of many
crops can be ideal for family gardens. However watering,
fertilizing, and difficult access to the center of the bed
convinced Dr. Mittleider that 4’ wide and planting length-
wise is generally a better solution for the home gardener.
After a crop is harvested . . . Apply both Pre-Plant (1 oz/ft) and Weekly Feed (1/2 oz/ft)
mix with the soil, and plant another crop if time allows.
55. A marker for uniform plant spacing Use an 8’-long 2” X 2” board, with dowels 6” apart on one
side and 7” apart on the opposite side.
56. List of plants and spacing. Recommend using Garden Planting Details schedule if
growing lengthwise in 18” or 4’ boxes.
69. “Nearly 95% of a plant’s weight . “ Water constitutes about 80% of a plant’s total weight. As
much as 95% of the water entering a plant on a hot day
passes through as transpiration, to keep the plant cool.
71. Mittleider Nutrient Formula Fertilizer formula in Mittleider Gardening Course Lesson 5
is recommended, or purchase Micro-Nutrients from FFEF
website www.growfood.com and mix as instructed.
Feed 1# 4 oz for 5 X 30 Box Apply ½ oz/ft WF down the center between 2 plant rows.
Stop feeding 2 weeks before harvest Stop feeding 3 weeks before harvest for single-crop plants.
Stop feeding 8 weeks before hard frost for ever-bearing.
72. Optional Nutrient Formula This formula works short-term in many soil-bed gardens
Grow-Box gardens need the complete nutrient mix.
75. How to support tall plants See Mittleider Gardening Course Lesson 15, and the
How to Build and Use T-Frames schedule. Use a single T-
frame with 6’ top for 4’-wide boxes placed in middle.
76-86. Guiding, pruning, & tying Excellent material and highly recommended.
109-110. Filling Grow-Boxes in Greenhouse Use Pre-Plant Mix – 1 oz/ft in 18” & 2 oz/ft in 4’ boxes.
111. “Now add the Pre-Plant fertilizer . . Use Pre-Plant formula of calcium, magnesium, and boron
In the ratio of 80-4-1. Apply 1 oz/ft in 18” box & 2 oz/ft
In 4’ box. Apply Weekly Feed at ½ oz/ft in 18” box & 1
Oz/ft in 4’ box.
112. D. & Note Lime or gypsum is not needed in addition to Pre-Plant Mix.
“Plants in the greenhouse are fed a The same amount of fertilizer is used whether plants are in
larger amount of fertilizer.” The greenhouse or outside in the garden – and whether in
the soil-beds or Grow-Boxes.
115. “After flowering begins . . . to end Continue feeding the same amounts of Weekly Feed until
3 weeks before harvest for single-crop varieties, and until
8 weeks before the first hard frost for ever-bearing plants.
116. “Plants appear to be nutrient hungry Increase the feedings to twice per week for two weeks.
116-117. For training vining and climbing . . Recommend 1 row of plants per bed or box, with alternate
Plants going up baling-twine strings to 2 rows of wire, pipe,
or 2 X 4’s on edge 28” apart. “Aisle” space at the top is
33” in the two aisles.
The bottom end of the string . . . Is tied to tie-wire placed at the base of the plants. The tie-
wire is attached at both ends of the Grow-Box and to
stakes at maximum intervals of 10’ the length of the box.
121. Watering in the greenhouse . . . Watering Grow-Boxes should be daily in greenhouse &
garden.
123. Mild climate greenhouse plastic Use UV-protected 6 mil greenhouse plastic for all climates.
135. Starting seedlings for transplanting Tomatoes and peppers take 8 weeks from seed to trans-
plant-size plants, so growing these in a protected environ-
ment can save you that much time. Large-seeded plants
like beans or squash take much less time to grow to
transplant size, so you will be saving only 3 to 4 weeks.
Bottoms can be made with 3 slats Using 5 or 6 narrower slats to cover the bottom is better.
136. Spread ½ oz lime & ½ oz 0-45-0 Spread 1 ½ oz (3 TBSP) Pre-Plant Mix and mix into soil.
137. Seeds per row in 18” X 18” flat Celery & parsley should be 100-125 /row. Large seeds
Such as beans, squash, etc. should be 25-30/row.
138. Every watering after seeds sprout When sprouts first appear begin watering with “Constant
Feed solution – 1 oz Weekly Feed in 3 gallons of water.
Seedlings are transplanted to . . The first transplant should be into 2” or larger pots, or
Into other flats, 49 to 81 per flat, depending on plant size.
140-141. If flats have been used before . . Methyl Bromide is very difficult to obtain, is very
expensive, and can be deadly. A Pesticide Applicator’s
license is required to handle it. Therefore other methods
of sterilizing your flats should be pursued. Bleach and
water (1 to 10), or vinegar and water (1 to 2) can be used.
145. Common soil us usually more work Many years’ experience in soils all around the world taught
and somewhat less rewarding than Dr. Mittleider that growing in the soil was just as product-
Grow-Boxes or greenhouses. ive as Grow-Boxes & greenhouses. See 6 Steps to Success
ful gardening, Grow-Bed Gardening, and The Mittleider
Gardening Course books for greatest success in the soil.
146-153 Open furrow soil-bed gardening Numerous material changes and improvements have been
discovered and perfected since this book was written.
Raised level 18’-wide beds with ridges are a big factor in
making soil-bed gardening at least the equal of Grow-Box
gardening. The books named above are highly.
Recommended.
ILLUSTRATED BY
DON BERGGREN
Copyright © 1975 by Jacob R. Mittleider, under the title "More Food From Your
Garden."
All rights reserved. This book or any part thereof must not be reproduced in any form
whatsoever. whether by graphic. visual. electronic, or any other means; or be translated
into any language, devices, or symbols. without the written permission of International
Food Production Mettlods. Inc.
Post Office Box 17114. Satt Lake City. Utah 84117.
-The Author
I wish to thank -
-The Author
FORE.WORD... • • • . . . . • . • . . . . . . . . . •. II
OD.... succesSFuL
G~HOU5E GARDENING /O'l
uf6 COL'DWEATHER. ~E.NING ••.•.•..... 11.3
.!§S .. MITTLEIDER
FERTII.-I"l.E.R FOf<,MULA'5 •....•..•. 11~
~..PLANT NUTRIENT
DE.F/CIENCI E'5 183
- The Author
Abundant food now flourishing on once arid and unproductive
land because of the skill and ingenuity of Jacob Mittleider is a
source of great hope to the world's hungry peoples whose desperate
cries have echoed around the world.
I have seen the lifeless eyes and the spindly, wobbling legs of
children denied the balanced nutrition of an adequate food supply.
Hungry children of war-torn countries have snatched food from my
own hands.
Students of the future declare that the prospects for feeding the
increasing millions of the 1980's are grim. Mittleider has the answer.
He is dedicated to the task of meeting the nutritional needs of
poverty-stricken populations wherever they are found.
Single-handedly, he has demonstrated from Alaska to California,
from Fiji to Okinawa and Africa, that even the most unproductive
soils can produce an abundance. In many instances his methods
have doubled and tripled production on abandoned land.
This book, like Food for Everyone, the work coauthored by Jacob
Mittleider and Dr. Andrew N. Nelson, will be hailed by many as a
practical contribution to making food production more efficient.
Mittleider's demonstrations and institutes everywhere have
proved that his method can be used by anyone, anywhere, to
transform unproductive lands and greatly increase crop yields.
I hope that the publication of this book, More Food From Your
Garden, will help dispel hunger and produce beautiful gardens
where now only thorns and weeds are growing.
- Willis J. Hackett
Vice President
World Conference of Seventh-day Adventists
Advisory Chairman
Education and World Relief
Washington, D. C.
1/
".
Jacob R. Mittleider
c
The "miracle" garden yields you may have been reading about
lately are for real- and actually are the result of some fairly simple
r>ew applications of well-established agricultural principles.
Jacob R. Mittleider is the plant"magician"who has been in scores
of countries these past few years turning people on to the thrills of
unbelievable gardening success.
He has moved into food-problem areas of New Guinea, Africa,
Bang ladesh, Lati n America, the U.S.A. - and has started a "food
revolution" every time.
How about 30 tons of sweet potatoes where only 4 had previously
oeen possible? or 6,000 pounds of rice where only 1,000 pounds
..ere considered normal? or 100 tons of tomatoes compared with 20
Ooefore?
Experts say that with Mittleider's simple methods, this earth could
leed nine times its present population - with no further agricultural
<nowledge. That's about 32 billion people!
These same simple methods - now presented for the first time in
a popular book - can help you to feed your family more
abundantly... with food grown more easily ... in less space ... with
'ewer gardening problems ... than you ever thought possible.
The Mittleider Method can be used on any kind of ground -
rocky, hilly. alkaline, clay, depleted; in any kind of climate - hot,
moderate, cold; at any time of year - winter or summer.
If you are so inclined, this method can be used to attain complete
economic self-sufficiency on less than half an acre of land!
/3
Mittleider's university-sponsored demonstration program in New Guinea used poor
land where only scrubby growth had previously been possible (above) and turned it
Into lush, productive gardens (below).
High Commissioner James B~ Lampert (right) end University President Tetsuo
Takara of Okinawa join Mittleider in examining young cauliflower that will produce 18
tons per acre - every 10 weeks - on rocky hillsides of the Ryukyu Islsnds.
15
Struggling bean plants barely survive with conventional gardening methods
(above) but burst into abundance on the very same plot with Mittleider methods
Abandoned as "devil land" - totally useless until the Mittleider Method was applied
- this plot now provides a good diet tor college students, and surpluses to sell tor
additional school funds.
17
Africa to the Arctic - searing heat, freezing cold cannot stop the amazing productivity of
nature when provided with adequate nutrients, water, shelter.
1'1
Mittleider grow·boxes can be used for large-scale production of garden crops - or, in
ones and twos, for backyard family gardens - with the same productivity.
Can you imagine this concentration of luscious tomatoes In ordinary gardening? This
Mittleider grow-box provides ideal soli conditions and adequate nutrllion to support
close planting and heavy bearing - more food In less space!
Rocky hillsides become productive farms with the grow-box technique. The boxes can be
used on any kind ot terrain, over any kind ot soil- previously barren land can "blossom as
the rose"!
2.1
A Mittleider seminar group In Okinawa tills grow-boxes with custom-made
soil - learning how to produce super yields where nothing would grow
before.
One grow-box for 'the back yard or hundreds ot them for a university
demonstration farm - the same spectacular results are realized all over the
world. Mittleider students cover a steep hillside with boxes.
Six thousand pounds ot rice per acre on land that used to produce 800 to
1,200 pounds; 21,000 pounds ot green beans and 28,000 pounds of sweet
potatoes per acre on previously unusable land. That's why the Mittleider
Method is called a "food revolution" In many countries.
Crowds gather in the city to see the simple Mittleider grow-boxes and
super-simple greenhouse-eovering demonstrated as a means toward more
self-reliance in home food production.
Name it and you can plant it in your grow-box - tender bell peppers, melons of atl kinds;
in high concentrations with high yields, for the greatest amount of food possible in
whatever space you have to use.
D
2"\
TI ME. 15 f>ElIEfl. UTiLiZED e€CAUSfO 11IE-
MITTLEIOE./l. GROW-fOX AND 5IMPL.E G~KOUSE
G~TLY EXTEND 11IE. GROWING 6E,A'SON. IN TflE:
MITTLE:IOE.f1. MEfflOO YOU KAVE. A eu:,o.fl. PATT~N
fO FOLl..OW FOfl. SOIL. ~Af'I'TION)6EXOING AND
f'L.ANTING) FEeDING AND WATeRING I PL.ANT CAflC AND
HA~ve5TING I AND f'/2Ol"'eCliON FROM I Hsecr6,
D/9eASe, !'NO WeATHE~. YOU SIMPLY CANNOT FAIL.
___ YOU WILL HAVE A SUCCE.S6FUL. GARDEN IF YOU
FOL.L.OW THE METI-IOO p~reo IN (HI'?
ea:>f'. .
H~ N43; SOME 6PEGIAL FEATUiZE6 OF "WI:.
MITTl.EIl/~ ME-fHOD :
I. "CUSTOt-01- MAoe; 601L."
IN OF'EN-FUF<ROW C7AF<OENING Of'.. FAAMING',
MITTLE:IDE.,CZ. PLANT NUTiZlflON COM PE.NSATE6
FOfZ. NATUAAL 601L. VEFICISNCIE:S. IN G~'OOXE'3,
SOIL CAN ee. ''ClJ0T0t-01- t-01A1/E.'' J!1'( COM~ININC7
NUT~IENT5 WITH INEJ2.f ANO OI'6ANIC wrrEf/.LAL5
L1fl€ 5IWO ANo q,o.WOU5T. (CHl\f'T'ef'.. 4o)
2. SIMPLE. I GN<-OEN GflOW - eooXE'3
OPEN I WOOD FAAME5, FIL.LED WlfH
"CUSfOM-/'o1AOE'. '301L.", PiZOVIOf:. RJfZ. CON~17
FaJl7 Pf2OOUCTION IN LlMITEO SPKE Of'. ON
OIFFICULT TEiZAAI N ,WliH NO '3P&C1AL. EllIUIf'ME.NT
OF,ANY ""ND. "THE E!:OI<E5 !'lAo Ei<TEND 1116
GROWING 5E/'6ON ANI? '3IMf'L-IFY THE. "\IIOfl.l<'-"
OF C7~ING. (~F"1'"E.f2-. 3)
3. P~eN PLANT NUTf'.liION
THE MITTL.EJOEf'. NUif'.leNi FOf<MULA'3 GIVEN TO
•
You IN THIS !!a?k__ H,wE. C31fZf3.AT VI\l-UE j
THE 1"&6UI-T OF ?O '(EAI<6 OF EX~E:NCE:. IN
Al-M05i E:lfEfZ.Y Pf'F':( OF iHE WO/4.0. THEY iHE
THE. GU&.;<;;WOfZlL OUT OF PLANT FEEDING.
CCI\'f'l"E.f'. 1 ; APPE.N0 1)1. IT )
4: '6YGTEMi'"G WbiEf'.lNG
THE. tvlITTlEJDEf'. tvlE::Tf-\OV U5f;S 40 PEfZ.GE::NT
LEGS WAIE:f'. THAN 1XI€'3 WNVENTIONAL.
~IN(7. P<T THE ~E' TIME. IT GIVE'S THIf'.ST,(
?>I
GITH /HE. MIl"Tt..eIOE.f2. METHOD::J
I. OJ2VINAI<'( PEOPLE: q>.N ro ~F-OINAI<Y
~ING.
The best
features of
organic,
hydroponic,
and regular
gardening
produce
outstanding
quality in
the Mittleider
Method
Corn and tomatoes, cabbage and
potatoes, broccoli and onions,
melons, squash, and cucumbers -
or papaya and rice - name it and
you can grow it the Mittleider way!
Nitrogen Potassium
Symptoms of nutritional
deficiencies. You no
longer need to leave
plants to the mercy of
depleted or hostile soils.
The Mittleider nutritional
program will prevent Potassium
most deficiencies and
provides help should they
appear. See Appendix III
for description of
symptoms and corrective
measures.
Calcium
Boron Molybdenum
~~
000 ~ ~ ruro ~ ~ 000
.1
EVEN IN Nl&6
WITH <;£VE:(Z€. WINTE.F-
TEMPEf2,A.TUFCS ,1111:: ~-eo)(Ee>
CAN e>E COIfE:/ZE.O ~IL-Y TO ~ IN~9IVe
G HOU%~ f'6 q,IlOWN IN QVo.PT"Ef2- "I.
35
WHAT Af;OJT NUT~TIONAL- 6llJAL-liY ~
?
?
--
~
NAIL A ,'xe," sire I!:Q'fO Fl.lJ~
WITH lOP OF STF*Eo NeJ\I2E"'T A
l!:OI\ END. D!"lVE 5T,AfE ~D <SIDE
~D -DEEfEIZ. TOSETHEI'!- UNTIL ecrrOM E:C\9E: OF SlOE
e:o,..,e.oTOUCHES -mE Gf2O(JNO. PJ2<XEEO TO eecotJo
~.
40
= WITH Po LElIa ON ToP
OF e.::#O """ISS
Of'- LOWE!"- ~ TO
LEva Fl::>SITION j
Ol'IVE ~ veEI'EJ2.. /1
/1
UNTIL. FLLJ!'>H WITH I
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THEN NAIL. ~ TO
"'Tm Wlnl "TWO NNL.'2>.
/'£PEAT 11110 SAME AT E/ICI1
STN'-€: TO 0fI/EI2. END OF !!:OJ<..
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f!>OX ENO- PIEce (I".ei')
r \~;::'>
0
.
~c;i
TO E/>Ql END OF -me
LEVELED 51 DE. •
41
])~IVI?-
A ST!'J'€ NEAl'- mE
ceJTEI' OF eoTH 5-FOOT ea<
!:NOS IN l-INE WITH "THE COF'-D.
PI.;'CE l.I?-VEL. l-I/l& A TJ2.lAN6L.E f>C./ZO'2I& TOPS OF eoTH
5101i- ~D eND WAf2.PG. l.I?-VEL.. 11-IE S>.Fa1T ~)
Of2.vl?- 9fN'e 70 fl2Opef2.. t:EPTH I AND ~ L.. W !5-Fa1T
@JD-Pl~E. f'Ef'EAT "OlE ~e f<"IZ. "F'I"O"'ITE El<O OF!!t'l'.
TO l-EVEl.- "OlE Of!'05ITe 6108 ~ ~ PL.'CEo LEVEL-)
Ae>\lN l-11'e A TJ?1.A1/ISL.E I ~ 1/iE s;-=r E'NO-F'IEa':
AND THE TOP OF THE I"xe" SID£ eoAF'-D. I.ElIa SI06
~I'O TO I-'IATCH S-FaJT ENO- PIECE' . Of(lVE: 5T!'J<E.
TO f'IZOfEI!. rePrH I f-\<\IL.. ~ TO 5TAI'e.
42
WHEN MANY 61'DW- eo~E<S Aflf:. TO e£; BUILT,
HEJ'E; IS A METHOD TO 6F'EED UP CONsnauerION.
STI'E-TCI1 AND STAi<E COf2.D6 R:1f". nll= 'TWO eo~ EN OS
AND ON/..Y ONE SI\?E.. /..E.VEl- THE- '5IOE AL.ONG -mE COf2.D.
use; ,~ ~"ANI? 11-15 lEl/EL.- TO L.EVE:L. 1l!£
01\l~ SlOE Al-JD THE- 1WO ENPS.
~ .~~ ~ II IS A Z"X4" X cD-FCOT-
LOI-6 ecAJZ.O WITH 'l"X4" ~cD II·L.CNG e>~ NAILED
<DO INCHES !'f'AI"-T (ourSIDE DIMENSION). THE TWO
et..ocre CONTWL. THE IN51tlE WI'D1"H OF THE eo)/..
PI.ACt. THE SPf2EAVE,e. ~ fJOf'-IZONTAl-L-Y /'C.flO'3J3
-mE eo)'.. I?Y AAISING O~ LOW~NG -mE I..OOe£ SlOE
~ TO THE- LEVa.. ON THE- "Sf'l2EKJE-fl. ~II
You CNJ MAI'E- THE LCo.3E- SIDE- lEVEL-) UN8 IT
UP SfAAIGHT) 5TP-I'E 11'+10 NAIl.- IT iN ONE
opE.!2ATION !
-
"' t
I
Members of a Mittleider class and workshop clean up the area after construction of
grow-boxes. The boxes are now ready to be filled with custom-made soli.
'If>
o~
IICU5TO!'.H"VVE. €OIL II 15
USeD TO {WOlD C~p FAH.U~S.
CflOPG FAlL. IN 5TUe:>e:oFaN)
HAW-TO-MANAGe €OILS
~.J.cp:. ~USe OF €OIL 'D1Ge:ASE
../-.....-.uI.,.;>L--U-"l.LJu.l-~~--.c~~
AND INSECTS )GOPflE.l26) MOlES)
,AloJD ~TS, 1'J..'20 WEfZ.6 IS
THE CONSTANT E!l'\11'LE. ~INST We::r>G) #10 THE NumENT
'DEFICIENCIES IN SOILS WHICH NZf!:. ee.coHING tv1Of2G
ANO MOF!e SE«/OUS. "CU6TOM-~ €OIL II-THE HeA<!=r
OF 1}Ie MITTLEl0E.{2. M8THOO- 15 U6€O '-0 MOlD f"J..J.-
THE:OSG 'DISAPPOINTMENTS. I,. AflGUfl.E.'S GUCC8SS
EVE:fi1.Y TIME) AND G~TL'(' INGreAGE'S Yla~!
~: OVE~-FIUEO
EOXE,S CAN NOT ee.
WATEf2erl ,bCCUAATel.'(.
41
HE~ ~ Tf-lE. INSj2.E.DIWTS FOF- THE MITTLEIOEF-
P~-PLANT FE.f2..TIL.lze~ M 1)(.. CAfl.E.FUL.L'( WE.IGH
AND MIX TOOE.THEf2. THE:. FOL.L.OWING, WHICH AfC.E.
AVAIr..Ae>t..F3. AT YOUp- (;I~OE.N SUPPLY 5TOf!..C. •
.~
52
HEr<£ IS " LIST SHOWING THE. LATEST D~I'Af;LE.
!li'TE.S FOfO- PLANTING SOME COMMON Cf'.OPS.
(SEEV IN MOST CASES) TI't'NSPLANT IN OTHEfO-S.)
ro" -4 "_._ .
~ LEAF LeTTUCE:
._.. _
rows e" f>.PNLT•
._._.-._ ....
lO'l --"
II -~--------
_ t=>-
TU~ IP rows eo
II M!'f'.i.
10 - _.._._.. _._._ ~I'eO ear rows 2>" M!'f'.T.
II _._-._--._._.-
10 --- _ . - - SWISS CHAf'.O.
14" - - - - - - - ..-- ~ /4-" VI/lMEl"E.eS.
14"1 ---'l' _ . _ _ _ _ <--- CAUL.IFLOWEf'.- /4-" VIAMen;.e.s.
14-"~"'-" <-- e>fZOCC01.-1 14-" VIAMETE:f'.6.
le'l --t ._._._._
> flOWS OF PEAS Ie> II A"Ml-T.
..- ea-L.. ~ '8 Pl.t"N1S K-F'086.
Jel' _.}
""" .. _-----
7FOTATO I20WS Ie." APAJ2.T
?XiI -) 7
?Oil ---,
.----CUCUMe>EF- rows '!Io" APMl-T
(oNE P-OW)
55
HEi<E. IS I>. LiST OF PLANTS I>.NO
SPI'CING !'ECOMMENOATION5.
5eD
YOU CAN f£JW SEEDS PIi>ECTl.Y I Of'. YOU CAN
TAANSPLANT PLAN'-S INTO YQUf'. GI2OW-eoxES.
IF You €ON €EGOS VIJ2€CTl.Y INTO YOUf'.
(?;p.j)W- f!:O'/. I1a--1EH!!:€I'- THSGG WI t-JTS :
I. use. c.af2.TIFIEO %Eo) WHeNEVE:F- F!>9SIe>l.6.
(CSMIFIEO 0EEr;I '''' f'F'Ot:>UC€O UNPef2. i"-"Of25
"'GID IN~TION .)
~. ee SUI2e THE <;:OIL. MIXTUI2e !'NO THE <;:o'L
SU/2F,bCe IN THE 0fZ.OW-f!:OX !'f'€. weT) NOT
JUST VAMP.
3. t:l:lNT PL.ANT TOO EP;2L.Y WHIl-E -me. SOl/... IS COW!
4. t:l:l NOT COV&.fZ. 65EDS VEEP. USE THE
Fi:lU.OWING AS A GUIDE..
COVE/<- SEEDS 2~ TIMES THEIl'-
THICi<NESS (NOT THEIf'.. LENGTH).
Healthy young seedlings off to a good start In a Mittleider grow·box filled with nutrient·
rich, custom-made soil.
(01
GENTLY ~~VE {>, PLANT
FPOM THE SEED eo'" (FLAT)
e>Y ~ING THE. !'COTS
WITH TWO FING>e.f'.'3 WHIl.E
LIFTING> THE PLANT E>Y
THE SEED LEAF WITH
THE OTHEF- HAND.
Al.WAYS HANDt-EO PLANTS
/l>Y THelf'. l.eAVES.
TAANSPLANTING 5OWTION
A FIVE-G.'-l.LON E!>l'-TCH WILL Tf!.CAT
40 PLANTS
5 GoALLON'" OF WATEfL
2.~OUNce5 AMMONIUM NITAATE
I".. OUNCE'S VIAfVlMONIUM PHOSPHATE
2.0 0AAM'3 f!:)fASSIUM SULFATE O~ CHLOf2-/0E.
'20 0AAtv1S fv\AGNESIUM SULFI'rrE (EI"SOM SALT)
..
0
00
o·
0 .
.
~
.Q? .
'
.J"
•/'<:- .0.
TO CONTF'OL "WHIPTAIL- VISEASC"Jl-CAUSED E!>Y
MOLYI?OE:NUM VEFICIE.NCY AVO 20 Gl2AINS
(Naf GAAt-1S) S?VIUM MOLY~Ol'TE OP-
MOLYe>'DIC !'CIV. TO CCNTiZOL '.:OIL MASGOTS
1'00 20 GAAMS VIA'ZINON POWVE:f2.
(Of!. '.:OME. SIt-1ILAf2. P/ZOVUCT).
cDS
THE flf2.ST WI',Ef2.ING I'FTE.f2. Tf2.I'N'SPt..>-NilNG
15 THE MOST IMPOf2.TAN, ONE. IT SHOUI-D e>E
GENTI-E. I!>UT THOf2.0UGH ENOUGH TO SETTI-E.
THE <:;OIL.- FII'-MI-Y AL.L. Af2.0UNP THe;. i<OOT ~,
/PI<>
D
PLANTS Q>.N BE
WATEf1.EV WITH A
SPI2.I N1'-L1NG - aN)
012.,0. fIOSE- WITH
SPAAY ATTPCH Iv1 ENT •
you CAN USE A HOSE
WITH THE END
CLOTH-COVE,<tED TO
,Ai...Low FUl-l-
VOL.UME. WITHOUT
OAMA6ING PLANTS
012. EfZODING THE SOIL.. ~ '"
THIS GIVES GOOD PENET""'TION
"NO f2.eDUC£S Wf'-TEf'-ING TIME..
<DB
FI'OM THE ENO OF THE DEEPEST OF'-
LONGE'S! F'CO! IN THE SOIl.- TO THE 8NP OF
THE HI0HEST LEAF-TIP," PLANT IS"
CONTINUOUS W"TEF- PIPE.
,
NEAALY 95 PEPaNT Of A PLANTS WEteliT
IS WATEfI-. EVEI'-Y DAY PLANTS LOSE.: Gll-u..oNS
OF WATf-R (DEPENDING ON PLANT SIZE) TO
THE ATMOSPHE..'<E THFZOUGf.l "T!".ANSPlf'tI-TION ".
NOW THAT THE G>I'OW-ec>l'- is PLANTED; yOU
S~OuL.O e€G>IN A I'EG>UL./'1'- WEEJL<..Y FEEDING> PI'OSAAM
TO SUPPLY PLANTS WITH THE: NUTfl.IENTS NE'CE!J-N'Y
TO VE.Vaop THE. W5CIOUS VEGETAE:>LE. CfZOPS
YOU WANT. (YOUr<. Gf'OW- W)'. ALflCAoy HPG THE.
PF1e-PLANT FE/2:fIL.lZE.F- NUTFtIENT MI)(
iNCLUDED IN ITS ItCUSTO/VI-MAVE "=OIL-It
- CHWTEf2. 4.)
THE MITTLE.lDE.F- METHOD USE5 Df'.Y, G\ZIINULf>.Ft-
NUTi<lEN,<;; FOf'. ,~E WEEi<-L-Y FEEDING Pl'OGf'I'oM.
Melons flourish, fed by dry, granular nutrients spread in a narrow band down the length of
grow-box. Regular watering dissolves nutrients, carrie. them to plant roots. This grow-box
Is watered by means of • plastic pipe, drilled with ,mall holes.
"'7'1.
HE.~'5 HOW YOU APPLY THE. Oi<-Y FEIZTILIZEfl.-
Hill TO THE. 0f20W- E::Ql<.ES :
WITH ,HE HAND) JUST e:€.FOf2t WATE.f2..ING)
SPf'E;f>.O ... NAAF"OW !?I'ND OF THE FEFtfILIl.8f2-
MIXTU 142- eoE.TWEEN THE. PLANT !'OWS I'<GHI
ON THE SOl L SUi<-Ff'CE.. IF Ft:lS'31 E>LE. ) i"CEP
THE. MI)(TU~ 4- INCHE0 AWAY Ff20M STEM';:' OF
PLANT0 AN 0 OFF ALL. LEAVE'?
'v(J//~ f ~~ ~ ¥
_.,,,,,,,,,"!";:'!!!:·:"~"_;·,':-3:.';?·':::··~'··"P"1"'5:1t;::'·~}t~'~"':}?:~'.
74
pOLLINATION 15 USUALLY AUTOMATIC, BUT
TAAINING) P~UN ING) WEEDING ANO PFOTEC,ING
PLAN,S F~M VI5€,A.SE: AND PESTS 15 NECESSN''1'.
TO MAi'-E. e:EST USE OF ALL f"JAJL.Af:>l-.E Sp,oa:.)
INCWDING THE: Sf'i'CE OVEf2.l1EAV, P~VIVE.
sUPpOJq FOfZ.. TAu..~ PLANTS. THIS ALLOWS
M~ uGtlT ANV AI12-, TOO.
0/.. " .
II
WH~N TH~ GTE:M5 N'-E e. INCHE:", HI6HE:f2. THAN
THE 5TI'IN65 CUT -rwo INCHES OFF THE: eND OF
THE: STEM. THIS STOPS THE:. STeM FI'OM GI'OWIN6
LONGEI"-. P/WNING HE.LPS po. PLANi TO ee MO!'-E
Pr<GOUCTIVE.. HERE'S HOW -ro Pf2.UNE; %VE;F2/>L
I'-IN~ OF PLANTS.
( ft?LE eEANs AND RJL-E PEAS)
PLANT 3 SEeDS fE/<. PLANi LOCAi/ON) IN LINE
WITH iHE 0T/Z.INGS. iHflEZ VINe; CAN CL//VI1!7 A
51 NGLE STf2.1 NG.
WA,CH FOf2. NEW
f2.UNNEf2.S iHi'T GflOW
OUT FI2O~ iHe; II MIU", II
/
OF THE MMJ STE.t-01. k:/
(THE AXIL. 15 iHE UPPEf2.
f'lN6LE. eeTWEEN
L.EAF AND 5I'Et-01 •)
78
CUCUMe>E12-6 t\NO ME.LOfJ6 AfZB
Pf'1.uNED AL-I!LC,
PLANT '2. 5EW6 PE.I2- f'l./IoCC:.. mez. se:e:z:;>;.
HAVE SPf2QUTEO J PUL-L. OUT THE. W~f2-.
PLANT) L.EAVING ONe PL.ANT PEt<- L.O<:ATION.
AL.L.OW ONL.Y ONE MAIN /2.UNNCf2-. (STEM) TO
CLIM~ THE STf2ING. WATCH THE MAiNSTEM
LEAF NOVE-'S (THAT PAf!.T OF THE STEM NOJ'.MAU.Y
CAAAYING A L.EAF.). EVEI'-Y NOPE. HAS A e>uD.
THESE e>uJ?o? BeCOME NEW flUNNEi<S. {l.L-L.OW
THEM TO GfiOW TO THEIf2. FIF'ST L.E,AF. THEI'-E
YOu WILL SEE -? THINGS.
7"1
• . ,' ','" I .":'C'."· .'
FOLLOW IN5TF<UCTIONS T',
/
• J1J
, , I"
CAf2.e.FU LL. Y
80
THE. NE.W ~NNEf2-'S) IF NOT PP-UNE.D) WIL.L
0f2.0W L.I!<C THE MAIN STEM. THEIf'. NOVES
WIL.l- Pt<oDUec. MO!'-E. F'UNNEf<.S) ETC j THE
VINE? WIL.L e>ECOME UNMAN/>6EJ\1';>LE) THE;
MASS OF FOL.IAGE: WILL. CUT OFF UGHT
NECESSA/<.Y TO VE:VEL.OP Ff'.UIT AND THE
CI"OP FAI L'S •
Pf<.UNIN6 Pf'.E.VENl'S
TIllS.
MALE FLOWEI<-_ _
A NOVE IS TH"T_--"\
PAf'.T OF" STEM
TH"T CAP-f2.IE'S A
L.E'AF AND e>UV
Af.lV HaJ~ ONTO
THE MAIN VINE
0(2. STEM •
81
MEL.ONS OTi-lE.1'- TAAN WATE'I"-MEL.ONS
N'£ PF'UNED THE:. S/'.ME /'.S CUCUMe€f"S.
WATEl'-ME.LONS f'.E:QUIf'-E SPECIAL. PI'VNING
Pf<CJC.EDUf2-E.S. THEY Af'f3. A L.J>.W TO THEMSEL.VES
ANO EXf'EI1.IENCE. IS THE eEGT TE,ACltE./'-.
TEI'M/NAG BUD'?
012- CJZOWNS.
:::--r--..,
-
12&10VE. ONl.Y THE. NEW 'STeM SHOOTS TAAT
Gf'.OW OUT AT THE NODE'S AND THe ow
YELL..OWING l.EAVeS THAT N'-E. D/<.YING.
"7"1---SUCI'£f'. TO E:E.
!'-€MOVED! CUT
Of'- E>J2.CAt'- OFF.
(tEA'S'I"USH) !'-EGul..N'- e.USH PEA,? PF'ODUCE
HEAVI~ CflOP5 WHeN THEY Afl-E. GI'OW~
IN
GI'OW-eo)(E.S. PL.ANi PEAS IN MULTIPL.E.
I'OW5. EXAMPL.E ~ J 4 J iP ALL.OW TKE. PLANTS
TO GflOW UP~16HT
UNTIL. TKE-Y e>f.6IN
To FAL.L oVErt.
WITH A t"1E.TAL"u"
CLAt-1p; NAIL THE I-INCH
PIPE TO THE SIDE.
BOA~V OF THE.
Gf'OW-BOX.
PLASTIC TEE5, AND 45"
ELE::OW FITTINGS MME. IT
EASY TO TURN CORNERS
AND CuRVE THE. i<OOF
Af?CH.
,,
:: N'TE~ cunl NG THE.
PLA~TIC PIPE INTO
PROPE.R LE.NGTHS,GLUE
TOGETHER EACH OF THE.
EIGHT FRAtv1E.S.
~ g THE. TOP PIPE
15 CURVED TO PROVIDE. THE PITCH OF THE
~F. WHE.N COVE.RED WITH PLASTIC IT SHEDS
MIN IQUICi<J..Y.
90
HEf'.E. IS "N El>6Y WM TO eoE
SUi<.E "L.L. E.IGHT "'~CHES ME
--
EVE.N AT THE F<iOGE'S AND TOP.
MARK E,AD\ PI..ASTIC LEG THAT
FIT6 INTO THE I-INCH PIPE,
G> INCHE5 Ff<OtvI END OF-
THE PIPE I-E.G.
p~u... A 5MAI-L...
HOI-EO AT tvIAf<-K
.N-lD PUSH A 'l.-INOl
NAIl.- THf<.OUGH IT.
WHEN THE. PIPE. 15
SI-IPPE.P INTO THE:
I-I NeH PI FE THE: NAJ l.- f<.E5TS ON THE TOP
OF THE I-INCH PIPE. ANO HOL...V<S II "T
THAT P051\10N.
AFTER PLACING N-L. EIGHT FAAMES,
ATTACH A I"~ 'L" WCOD SIDE.-Wf>..f<.V WITK
ME-TAl.- nU" CL.,bM P<3> TO THE.. LEGS OF TKE.
Ff<.AME.5 (IN<3>IDE.). AI-SO ATTAO! A 1")('2."
WooO TIE. TO THE. f'.IVGE.. OF IKE CUi<.VEO
f<-1e>6 (OUi'?IDE.). USE METAL. "u "CLAtvlFS
TO !'\TACH. "'"
.'1>'
. / ........•..
';., .
. : --
'
. -.'/:"/1Y I
"12.
WITH "LL TH~ FAAM~S IN PLACE. "NO PflOPE$l.Y
~D THE STi<UCTUF<E IS F<EADY TO E>E.
COVEi<ED. USE 4-·t-1IL) TAAN'SPAAENT
F'L,"6TIC f~t-1 E>UILOING 'SUPPl.Y COMPANY.
,
.............
, , ',
\ \
I I
I I
I I
I I
___J. I
. . . .- -t -L
---- --c,:t'F',,-
CUT F~""
A II:;'-FOOT-WIDE.)
4-MIL WLL OF
TAANSPAAE.NT PLAsTIC ONE ~I-FCOT
LENGTH. THis WILL CO""PLE.TE.LY COVER
THE. sTRUCTURE. '13
L/>oP THE. TOP PIE.CE. OVE./< THE. E.NDS AND
STITCH JUST THE. CURVED FORTI ON OF THIS
TOP PIECE TO THE. END FRAMES.
,- /~
;' -- /
,, I
I
"
I
I
,
,
I
I
I
I
,,
,
,,
I
v!"'~r---~~~_
I
I,
---
:
,
---.JI
I
~ - __ -,.,.'rl1"" ___
,
I
/ ,; ! I
II I
/ /
'15
THE.RE. ARE. MANY GOOD ~SON5 R:JR
GREENHOUSE GARDENING:
CONT~L OF PE.STS AN'D DISEASE.S.
EXTENDED GI<OWING SEASON.
CONTINUOUS CROP P~uCTION.
E.NHANCED NUTRITIONAL. cl;>uAL.llY.
CON~VAT\ON OF WATEF- /'NO NUTRlE.NTS.
PREDICTABLE. YIELD AND COSTS.
FAR MOf':E. RXlt> ON A GIVEN LAND Af!..EA.
USE LAND OTHERWISE UNSUITABL.E.
FOR GARDEN I NG •
IN ANY Cl../MAiE ~OEN Cf'!Of'5 CAN
e>E G~WN.
ACTUALLYITHE.SUP~-~E.
FARMING ~NHOU5E IS NOT AS
PROPUCTIVE IN F!ELATION TO SIZE AS
THE 5TAN'DA!<D-'5/ZS MITTL.E/DEf'1..
6f':EENHOUSE f'l<E5E.NTE.D IN THE
NEXT CHAPT~.
THE. FIRST POINT TO e>E. 'DECIDED 15 WHERE. TO
e>UILD youR G~HOU6E.! PLEASE. FEAD
AGAIN CH,I>.PTE«. 3) "HOW TO I'1Aj{G 6i<OW-eoXCS Il •
THAT CHAPTER DEALS IN DETAIL. WITH WCATION AND
THE. 'St'ME INFO~"'TION APPL.IE.S TO ~HOUSE.S.
i<£ME.M e>e:R - YOU Q>.N WI LV 0I/f.F. AL.MOST ANY
KIND OF SURFACE IF IT CAN BE LE.VEL.ED TO
ACCOMMODATE THE. 6f<.E.ENHOUSE..
THE SfANOAf<.V - SIZE. MITTLEIO~ GF!E:ENHOUSE.
15 8 FEET WIDE) 30 FEET LONG) ANO 10 FEET
HIGH. YOu Q>.N 2>ulL.O ANY SIZE.)OF COUf'1.SE,
TO fiT YOUf<. PATIO) YAAV) oP- oPEN Nl.EA !
ATYP/q>.L MITTLEJOE,R. ~HOU6E. ~UIf2.€5
NO SPECIAL i.f'8OAATO~Y EtS;lUiPMENT)
PUt-1PS ) fANS I PH t-1E~S )TANi£6) Of<.
CCOLING PADS.
"17
If SEVEAAl- G~HOUSE6 N>E CONSTRUCTED,
SEPARATE. THEM (D fEET J>.T THE. END5 ilNO SIOE:S.
THIS IS E.SoSeNTIAl- fOf<. ADE6IUATE: l./GHT
AND AlE<...
""
.'_. \9"1···
...
~:n"
- ~"
I
I
./~
I (
I
II
I<' I I
'...... I
' ......
LEVEL ENOUGH "...... I /
GPQUND FOP- E;A.cH ...... ,-J-,/
GP-EENHOUSE:. uSE: ST,AJ«:S) COP-D) ~U~),ANO
LE-VEl. ,0
LiNE UP YOU«. G~NHOU6E 5TAAlGHT-
eoTH LeNGTH ,AND WIDIH -,AND TO COIJSTretJCT IT
PLUMe>. ST",e::,CH ,HE COf"O !'Nt:' TIE IT TO STAI'eS
THE: t.eN6TH OF ONe '7loE OF THE Gf'EENHOI..I?E:: P~oT.
(
/
.... -~
---- ------
,---
I I
I ---- -;-~
I I / \
I I {I
I
I
~ ........
......... I II
, I I
..............
E'STAe>L.ISH ....... , ......
,AND 'S>TN'G iHe::
FOUfiL COfiLN~
OF THE Gl:EENHOUSE.
"l"l
MEASURE AND cur
TO l.ENGTH J EI6HT
~DWOOD (OR CEDN<)
4",4" Fl?5TS
'I F!?ET LONG.
MEASU~ AND
MAF11'- Ie. INCHe;:S
FflOM ONE:. END
OF EACH OF THE:.
POSTS. THIS /S THe;:
PORTION OF THE POST TO ~
EMI?>EOVED IN THE: 6FaOUNO.
100
LDWEF- " 4'~4-" fl:)5T INTO CO~ER HOLE Ca) TO
THE IB-INCH MAi<-!<-. USE L.E.va TO Pl.UMB THE
POST (Mf'.I'.E IT VE.RTICJI,l.» THEN TAIv1P iT FIRMl.Y
INTO PLACE WITH OII'<T. THE '5E:COND POST TO
SET 1'5 THE OPPOSITE COP-NER (b) j BUT ~
SETTING THIS POST TIGH'I YOu MUST E5TMLiSH
THE. L.EVEL. OF THE. GF<E.ENHOUSE.. 00 THIS WI,H
A COF<O, LEVE.L. I AND CAF<PENTEFl'5 5<S(UAfl.E,
L.I t<C. TH 1'5 :
Dfl.IVe A NAIL. Cc) NEAR THE TOP OF POST
Ca) . TIE. THE COi<.D TO THIS
'1l~ ,....................................
IIJ NAiL..
.
'N.lR\ "LEVEL eeJ (C)
.. .-& .."""
----=----~
(b)
.~
102
THE FOUl<. COf<.N~S N'.E ESTABL.ISHED J L.E.VE.L..,
AND pL.UMe. NOW SET THE SIDE. POS,S
(TWO ON EACH SIDE).
----/
/
/
J ISo "
lB"
:;0" "a Ul
I ..
I 16\
,
'"z
-0) III
Iw 15"
w w w
THE WI~'S
MUST
e>E STRONG ENOUGH
TO CM<RY TIlE ENT/r<:E.
CROP. INSTALL 2"X4-"
BAACE.S IN END WALLS.
105
THE. WOOD FAAMIN0 AND B~ING IS COMPLETE..
NE.)(T IS THE: Pi...ACCME.NT OF THE. Pl-,6-STIC PIPE.
FOR THE. CUF<VED i<lXJF. THE """.'SIC ~CE.DURE
FOR INSTAL.UNG THIS Pl-,6-STIC PIPE IS 51MILM
TO THAT AL~Y VISCU9SE.D IN CHp.PTEFl q
ON 0J<EENHOU0E.-0HELTE.f!CV 0I'OW-eoXE.S.
-------
-------
.. (a)
(al
(a)
. (b)
108
NOW YOU AA£:. READY TO PREPAA£:. THE
C;i<:OW- BOXCS IN YOUR Gr<:E.eNHOUSE. FOR
PLANTING. "CUSTOM- MADE. 'SOIL" TO FILL THE.
THi<:EE Gi<EE.NHOUsE. ep.QW- BO)(E.S CAN ee:.
THE
~E. yOU MADE. FO/<. THE OUTOOO/<. Gf'OW-
f>OXE5. CHOOsE. ANY OF THE COKf>INP-TIONS
LISTED IN
CHAPTEr<: 4.
"CUSToM-HAre
HEDIA IS "WEt>SOI~:"~~~~~~~;~:::~
TO FILL THE
6~W·~S.
/II
D) NOW I f<.IGHT O~ TOP OF ,HE FEI<II L.rz:.E.f1.
MIXTU~E, EVENLY SFREAD I pOU~D ,4 OUNCES
6YPSUM I FO~ E.6CH IS-INCH BOX ,!'-NO Z FOUNDS,
8 OUNCE'S GYPSUM J FO~ EACH W-INCH
ceNTEf<. BOX.
~ ~ USE GYF5UH, IF ftJ5SIBLE, FO~ LIME
IN A~ID AfIEA'S GETTiNG l£SS THAN Ie, INCHE.S
MIN ANNUAL.LY. IF YOUr<. Ar<EA GETS fYIOf'E.
THA~ 10 INCHES OF RAIN PER YEAR, USE.
AG~ICULTUAAL LIME': 012- VOLOHITE L.IME':,
IF POSSIe>LE..
E.) MIX EVEr<.YTHIN6 TOGETHEr<. E>'( HAND OJ<.
WITH A CU/1.VED -TINED FORt'-.
1/4
THE FE~TILIZE.R MIl<. IS SPf2.EAO IN" NJ>&>.OW
UNO N-ONG THE flOWS OF PLANTS (t<E.E.PING
3 TO 4 INCHES "WAY FflOtvI THIO PLANT STE.MS
THE E.NTI~ l.ENGTH OF THE flOWS). BE CAl<CFUl-
NOT TO eET THE MIX ON THE. LE:f>..VES OF THE: PLANTS.
AfTE~ flOWE.RING e6SINS (USUALLY 4 TO Co
W~S) INc~ THE FE.eTIl-lzerz. NUTfi1.leNT
AMOUNT TO 1'2. OUNCE.S FO(Z. EPCH I!HNCH e>Y
3O-FCOT !lO></AND TO
I pOUNO} 4 OUNces FO(Z.
THE. ?O-INCH e>Y 2l;>-FCOT
Ce:NTE:i<- !lOl<.
"
11 !
IIG:>
THE. OVEJ<J4E,A!) WI""''''' w.y
BE ~N OV~ O~ Tflf/OUGH ,I
I'
THE: CE:NTE:R OF THE. '2.'
WOOD cross - t-1EMBe;J<.5
FAAIvII NG eE"fWEEN THE. 4-.4- f\?5TS.
DE-PENDING ON THE. WElGflT OF FF-UIT TO e>E
SUPPO~ED et( THE. OV~E:AD WIIZCS) Tfl£ '2..
CI'055-t-1EMBE.i<. MAY F-E<QUIr<E, BAACES TO
THE 4,4 ro5TS 1'6 6I1OWN.
THE. eoTTOM END OF Tfl£ STf'lING FOf'. TF1AINING
Tt\L.[..-GF'OWING Of'. CLIt-1BING PLANTS IS TIE.D
m ANOTKE.Ft- NYLON STRING p..T THE. Bl\'SE.
OF TKE:. PLANTs. THIS f\NCHO~
"'TFtI NG IS i\TT,l>CKE.O TO
E,ACH END OF THE Gf2OW-W>c
GENTl.Y GUIDE. THE PL.ANTS
~
-"""'/' CLOCi<-WISE:. (TO THE ~GHT)
g. Af?OUND TflE.. Ve;J<.TICAL
....../ / STRI NG. PO THI5 TWO Of<-
.,' THI'EE TIME'=> A WE.E.I<- AS
f<.E~UII'EDJ p..S OlSCU55ED
PREVIOUSL.Y IN a-IAPTE.Ft- B. PFtUNE
\11 IF NECES5MY AT THE ":3,"IME TIME.
SOME. PLANTS RElSlUIRE HAND POLLINATION
IN THE. G/'l.E.E.NHOUSE. DURING THE:. WINTER. SEASON
WHEJIl IT IS I<E.PT CLOSED M05T OF THE:. TIME. •
ZUCCHINI J ME.LONS, CUCUM~S (EXCEPT THE
PARTHENOCARPIC) APe. EAAMF'LES. CONTAAFtY
TO POPULAR BELIEF J TOMATOE::; AND f1:)LE.
"!:.AN'S PO NOT f<.E&u I t<G ARTIFICIfl.L ftJLLINATION
e,y SHAJ<.jNG OR THE BLOWING OF WINO ON THE.
PLANTS. HEi-E NZE SOME. POINTER::; ON HAND
POLLINATION. THIS I'S 'SIMPLY THE. F'~E9':>
OF TFWJSFEOR~N6 POLLE:.N FFOM THE. MALE:.
FLOW~ ONTO THE STIGMA
(PISTIL) OF THE:. FEMALE. FLOweR.
STIGMA (PI5TIL)--:z..--_....-.-
-----
\1\'::
~FRUIT~ J,i~/V'\i;;;'I;. ~ ~,
'.; '; .1' FEMALE. FlOWER
FLOWEI< "N~
lie I
t'\{l.LE FLOWEF.
CLO$E.D ft)51T10N
MALE FLOWE~
OPEN POSIT JON
GENTLY TE.AI'l OFF AND ~OVE. THE PETALS
OF THE MALE FLOWEf1..
II"!
POLLINATE. 6<S!.uASH f'E..TWeE.N 1:00 AND
'1:00 A.M. PAIL.Y. POLLINATE. CUCUMe>Efl.S I AND
MELONS eETWEE.N 11:00 M'I. AND 1.;~ P.M.
VAlLy'o POLWJATE ONLY HeALTHY) F~5H)
FULLY OPENED FEMALE. FLOWeRS. POL.L.INATE
OAIL.Y FOf'. MAXIMUM FF<UIT SET (CONTINUE.
FOfl. 11. TO /15 WEEJ<.S). POL.L.EN IS VlAe>L.E
FOfl. JUST A FEW 110UI':-S AS 15 ALSO THE
f'.ECEPTIVE STAGE OF fEMALE fLOWE.J<5.
EVEN THOUGH MOST VEGET,ABLE Cf<Of'S W
WELL. IN A AATHE.I':. WIDE TEMP~TUI'!-E
f'.ANGE THEY U';UALL.Y W eE'.3T e>E.TWE,EN
lS"F AND 85" F. THE. Oe-JEeTIVE. IN EITHEf'...
HEATING AND VENTILATING Yauf'. Gf1E.ENftJU5E
15 TO MAINTAIN THIS IDEAl.- AANGE..
r r
\. 1...........
\._--
~
.-.J
\....}
12/
YOU CN4 ENJOY THE
PL.EASU~S OF
Go\,R.DEN ING EVEN IN ~.
THE Q;>L.DEST WEATHER Y
IF YOU P/WVIDE: i .
AD82uATE 5HaTE~ \ .
AND WARMTH. _ ........
AT SO"F Ofl. LOWER,
PL.ANT5 BECOME. DOf<.MANT. AT 32."F MANY
WIL.L. DIE.. Gf<.E,ENHOUSE. ~DENING
fl.E.vuCES THE: NUMB~ OF "NO-GFOWTH"
VAY6. IN SEVE.PoE. WEATHE.R) OF COUf'/SE.)
Gf1.EENHOU% HE;A.T1NG roEs COST MONEY.
THIS Q-I!,-PTEJ<. SHOWS yOU %VEfl.N-- WAYS
TO MINIMIZe. SUCH COSTS.
HE.f<e ME. f!8:OMME.NDATIONS FOf<.
0~ENHOUSE Gi'-F-DENING IN THfl..E.e
DIFFEftE.NT CL.IMATIC Af<-E.AS - MIl-V,
MOVERATE I AND COl.V.
MIL.D Cl.IMI'-TE.
GREENHOUSE GARDENS Af<.E EASY TO
MANAGE IN MILD ~S. roUBLE-wALL
e 'l.-O~ 4-MIl. TAAN5Pf'$ENT Pl.ASTIC)
TIGHTl..Y eU1L.T J Pl.ASTIC GREENHOUSES
11.?J
ARE i>-OElSlU,o.:fE TO I'-EE.P PLANT€> G~WING
STEADILY AL.L. WINTER. WITHOUT ARTIFICIAL.
HEAT OF ANY j<.IND. Pi>-YTI t-1E. TEMPEAATU«.E'S
Ff<.oM 4soF TO 7'3>°F AND NIGHTTIfv1E.
TEMPE.t<ATUr<.E5 NEVE.j<:. L.OW~ THAN '2.7° F
ARE CON510~E.D TO eoe. MILD GLIfv1ATE:O
CONDITIONS. JUST CLOSE THE P:JOfi:S Of':
VENTIL.ATION t:€VICES EAfi:L.Y IN THE
AFTi::~NOON TO CON5Efi:VE AND BUILD UP
SOIL HEAT TO CAfi:fi:Y THfi:QUGH THE NIGHT.
MOV~TE CLIMATE.
VAYTIfv15 TEMPEAATUfi:E5 eeTWEEN 40"1"
AND COOoF AND NIGHTTIt-1E TEMf'E,leATU~
OOWN TO l~oF ME WNSlOEtzED TO BE.
MOOEAATE: CL.IMATi:: CONt/ITIONS. THE WL.O
5€A'SON IN SUCH A CL.IMATE 15 P-eOUT
1'2. WEEf<.S. IF ENOUGH HEAT 15 SUPPL.IED)
OF COUfi:SE ) PL,ONTS CAN ee ~ N
NO~ALLY IN THE Gi<EE.NHOUSE ALL
WINTE~) WT COSTS MN'€. ~WING
VUf1.JNG THE: COL'PE'.ST WE:E:i<6 ECONOfv1ICAL.LY
UNOOUNO.
JUST PL.ANT THE. Crop TO T~
AOVi>-NTAGE OF NATU,ae.l:7 F~ SUfv1fv1EJ<-
HEAT) '30 THAT f'l..ANTS F-EACH Mp..)C.IMUM
FIWIT <::E.T ANO V5GETATIVE GF10WTH f>y
AUTUfv1N • TrtEN ALLOW TrtE PLANTS TO
Gfi:QW "T TH5 t-1ucH P-£OUCEO AATE C,b.USi::V
E7Y LOWE~ TEMPEAATu~. THEY WIL.L
GAAVUALLY MATUF-E VU~ING OECEMf>E.Fl
AND JANUA~Y.
124-
HE~ IS "'" EMHPLE.
.
o
1'2.5
3) NOT LATEI<. Tf-l....N OCTOeE.J<- 10, THE SECOND
/.AYEI<. OF PLASTIC Sf-lOULD BE STF1.ETCHE.D
OVER THE: GI'-EEN HOUSE. •
THIS SECOND
l.AYEfi.. WILL
Pf1ODUCE. A
DEAD-All<.
SPAcE.
WITH THE USE OF -11----1
PL,A6TIC PIPE
ANOTHER FAAME
Fait THE
TAANSPN<ENT
P/.ASTI C COVERING
IS ~ILT OVER
iHE filtST fAAME
AND C<?VE:,e.IN6.
SEE MATEfZ.lALS
LIST FOil- Tii IS
fRAME. IN
APPENt:'/X. N.
HE.~ IS '" CLOSE~ LOOI'- AT THE i<EJ."l>.TIONSfllP
OF THE. FAAMEWOFt.l<. OF THE. DOUeu:.-WI'Ll.
CONSTRUCTION TO ACHIE.VE. THE 1J£'N)-NfC.
INSULATION SPACE.. FOiZ- THE. 'S!"l'-E: OF CLN1-ITY
THE. PLASTIC COV~ING ON THE FIFlST ST~uCTUftE
IS NOT 5t1OWN.
,'////
--
...- - - - ......
"
/
// " ............
\
/ \
I \
I \
I I
I I
I - l
I LOCATION OF FOST~LJ
-u1r
A 1"~2" IS NAILED TO THE.
OUTSIDE. FACE OF THE. +";<4"
LJ ft'5TS. THESE. 1"~'2."'" ~
SPACED 2 INCH!::"" i'OOVE THE
1"''2.'' '" NAILE.D To THE
INSIDE FACE- OF THE fl'STS
I FOFl THE FI,«5T' LAYEfC. OF
I Tf'!AN6PA~T PLASTIC
I COV~IN6 • THE PLASTIC
!"IITTLEIDER. ~EENHOUSE.5
AF!-E. EASY TO MAKE. AND
VE.RY EFFECTIVE..
12e,
?INGL.E TAANSPp.,~NT
PLASTIC WALL.
12Cj
4) ALSO FO~ MODE.MTE. eLIMA"TE: fl.E:.610NS J
Pf<OVIDE. ACcEPTeO IN€>"TN-L.p..-f!oNS FOF1-
AATIFICIp..L. ttE:A"T E:>E.FOf'l..€ OC"ToeE.~ 10.
e:.LE.CT~IC tte,A.T L-p..MP€> J TOT,A.L.ING '100 TO
1'l.OO WATTS WIL.L. WO[<.~. THIS A~TI FICIAL
HEAT WIL.L. ee. USED TH~UGH FE.f>~UAAY IS
ONLY AS NEeDE.D TO I'-€.E..P THE. TE:MP~TUf<.E
JUsT Af>OVe 31.° F. THE. COST 0HOUL.O E>E
MODEMTe.
5) ON FEBf2.UAAY IS I THE. ow
TOMATO VINES
Af<G f1.E,MoveO ~D NEW PL.ANT5
TAANSPL..N.JTEO E>Y FEf>fl.UN<-Y 'LO. THI'S
secoND C~P CAN BE. HMVE.5TED DUf<.ING
M,A.Y J JUNE.. ,A.ND JUL.Y. THIS 'SCHEDULE.
AL.L.OWS HA~VE.'STING TWO OUT-OF-SEASON
Ct<:Of'S YEA~LY WITH MINIIv1AL HEATING
EXPENSE..
COLD CLIMI"TE
G~HOU'SE C/wP5 CAN e>E. ~WN IN
NIeA'S Hp..VING VEfl.Y CCL.O WINTEF1-
TEMPEMTU~'S OF f'LU", 10"F TO MINUS
3Q"F FO~ ONE-Of'. "TWO-WEEI'- O(CL.E5 j
I~O
AND AVE.f<W::>E. Di'''{LIGHT TEMP~TU~S
BE.TWEEN WOF NlD 45°F. PLANNING FO~ WINTEf<.
CflOPS IN 'SUCH- /'.f'.EA<:J <SHOUL.D resiN WITH
GI'€ENHOUSE. LOCATION AND CONSTf<.UCTION.
",
~-,
( '1!~: c; . <JI
/
~
I ---~;;J,;
I
, I __' 0 h . '7
II I ...... - •\(" .. _____..
-----y ''-.C
THE. D/~CTION THE
~ Gi<EENHOUSE IS BuIL.T
IS IMF'ORTi'NT. HEATING COST'S G,6.N BE ~DUCED
BY PLACING THE GI"EEN HOUSE f:.!''=>1 AND WEST.
THE NOf'?TH-SIDE WALL CAN E.VEN e>E. PUG
INTO THE SOUTH SLOf'E OF A HIL.L., of<.
PLACED p..,s,t>.JNSI A
WAL.L LEAVING TIlE
SOUTH SIDE EXPOSED
TO THE: SUN.
- .... ,
_-------.J
,- ,-
.. ----_ _- ,-
.... ......
.... ..."
.................. ............ UNDEi<.Gf<OUND
e_ , _ ./ HOT-WAlE./<. PIPES
e>U~ED ABOUT
(; INCHES DEEP INSIDE. THE Gf<E£NHOUSE.
(ALONG THE OUTEF1- EDGES) WILL WAP-V
OFF COLO Ffi?OM THE F~EN ~UND
OUTSIDE • I~I
WITH ONLY THE'?E PF<E.CAUTIONS J '" PLP-NTING
SCHEDULE LI~ THE. E.)<,A.MPLE. DEsa.IBED IN
MODE.F\i\TE. CLIMATE. SHOULD Pf'OVUCE VE~Y
5ATISFACTO/'lY flE5UL.T5.
VENTI LATI ON
IN AUTUMN) WINTEI'l, AND E./'.f'!.L.Y SPJ<.lNG-
IN ANY CLIMATE- E'ACH DI'-y'5 TEMPEF;A.Tu~
WILL. DETEf'!.MINE HOW MUCH I IF AT AL.L)
TO OPEN THE: DQJFl5. 8'5 A FlULE) WHEN I:l<\Y
TEMPE~TUFlE6 fl.EACH to?" F OPE.N THE
. ~_~. VOOFlS AOOUT U> INCHES)
c:~ -----\'\\ EVEN IF IT 15 ONLY ~
";}";} ';::!.J
~.
~ AN HOu~ O~ TWO IN THE
(- "\. MIOOL.E. OF THE
\. <"'
,.---........
/ ... DAY.
....-<.../. '.
/ \
•
J
I..
THE IMPOFlTANT THING IS
TO VENTIL.ATE AS MucH A5 POS6IBL.E
e>uT CLOSE. UP THE G~HOUSE.
EA/<-LY ENOUGH TO f<£Ef' THE 'SOIL
TEMFEAATUF!ES WELL ~VE SC"F AS
LONG AS fl:)5SIBL.E FOI'l M,AJ<.IHUM
GFlOWTH.
1~1.
WHAT WE. HAVE. 6E.E.N IN THIS CHAPTEf'2. \'" TAAT
NOf<.MAL. Gf!OWING OF CfIOPS IN THE WINTEf'2.
MONTHS MAY NOT e>E ECONOMICN- IN Al-L.
AAEA~. f'UT YOU CAN Gf/OW A cpop TO !'lEA'<.
W>-TUf/.ITY IN OECEMe>EfI.. AND L.E.T IT MOi'2-E.
op.. L.E.'% COI'6T THfCOUGH OECE.Me>Ef2. AND
JANUAf'2.Y e>Y JU'i'>T I'€6PING IT ALIVE.. THE
FP-UI, WIL.L. ~TIl.L. 12-1PE.N DESPITE THE
WINTEf" COLV AND YOU <::;AN TAl'€.
AOVANTA6E. OF H/6H OUT-OF-5E;ASON
Pf'2.JCE.~ WITHOUT E)(CE~IVE. H~TIN6
COSTS.
Producing your own seedlings for transplanting Is pleasant work - and a
real economy, especially If you are planting a number of grow-boxes.
t;;;r(.-
SEED
1?>1
IIFTEf<. 5E.E.D~ HIWE ~Pi<OUTED ) WA.TEf1...
JUST ENOUGH TO Pi<OVIDE. FOft
5A.TI~FA.CTOf<.Y GF?OWTH •
SEEDLINGS eM<
ALSO E>E.
TAAN'SPLANTED INTO THE
Gr<DW-BOXE:S IN THE: Gf2lXNHOUSE..
141
USE CE.f>.TIFIE.P SEED, IF POSSIBL.E, TO
MINIMIZE DISEASE PROBL.E.MS. HEFtE IS HOW TO
T~T YOUR OWN SEED, IF YOU WISH.
a) GIVE SOME SMAL.L SEEDS ~I i<-E. CEL.E.~Y
AND TOMATO) A HOT WATE-~ BATH
(J30"F) FOR .30 MINUTE5.
b) You CAN AL.SO "PELLeTIZE" SEED.
THIS CONSIST5 OF COATING THE' SEE:VS
WITH A FUNGICIDE FtJWDE./<.. eoME.
FUNGI Ai<E ~IE.D INSIDE THE. SEED.
IT BECOMES ,o.c'IVE' ONLY WHEN TKE
SEED 6~M/NATe.:S. A FUNGICIOE
CClA-TING WIL.L. f(ILL. 'HE.M ~16HT AT
THE START.
Wl.
3) 5E.W5 CAN f>E. 'SOWN IMMWII>-TE.LY
O~ 'STOf<E.O FOf<. FUTU!'lE Uo:.E..
4-) I<GeP 5EE.D FLATS O~ BEOS
IN '5!1ELTE.i<EO NlEA Of'- IN
A 6f!C£N HOUSE WITH
5CfICEN EO of'E'N IN6'3
TO I'a:P INSECT'S
OUT.
S) IF NECE:9SARY,
uSE. PFlEVENTIVE
SPfCAY P~M'S
APP~f':IATE TO
YOUR ~Ior-Jls
f'WE>LEHS. YOUf<. •
LOCAL Jl6fZ.ICULTU/4'-L -_•./
OFFICEF1-'S q.N HELP
YOU A LOT.
w) IN TAANSPLANTING YOUNG SEEDL.INGS)
FOLLOW THE ProfECTIVE P~CEOUI2E0
IN CHAPTER (0 AND II •
-0 e>E- SANITATION CONSCIOUS ~ CAFlEFULLY
INSPECT N-L PLI>-N-rS 01<- SEWS ~
T~NG THEM INTO YOUR Gf'F2.VEN. IF
THEY 'SHOW 'SIGNS OF VISEASE., BUf2.N
THE.H ) EVEN IF THEY ~E F~M
WELL-HE,ANING FRIENDS.
I DO NOT HESITATE TO i<ECOMHEND THE.
NECESSARY USE. OF INSECTICIDES. IT I'"
OFTEN A 'SIHPLE ~UESTION OF USING THEM
Ofl? LOSING YOUR C~P ! YOU OFTEr-J HAVE.
TO HAt<£ THAT CHOICE..
14?>
you CAN USE MITTLEIDEJ<.. GA~ENING
METHODS RIGHT IN THE COMMON SOIL.)
IF YOU WiSH. IT 15 USUALLY MOJ<..E WO~~
AND ~MEWHAT LE.SS J<,.EWAR-DING THAN
G~w-eoXE.S ~ ~EENHOu5E GAf<PENING
BUT IT CAN BE 1X>NE WITH SUCCESS. THE
MOST IMP01<TANT THING 15 THAT YOU AJ<.E
SUPPLYING THE: PLANTS WITH THE. VITAL
TAACE ELSMENiS THAi A~E. OFTEN
LACI<ING IN ORVINAf<Y SOIL. .
. ."
=
CLEA!< AND LEVE.L. ..•...
THE SURFACE. OF YOU!<. .
TILLED MEA. J<,.EMOVE ANY OBVIOUSLY
LAR6E. f<QCI"-'3 I CLODS I PI<OTRuDING
r<ooT'3 OR WEEDS.
145
IF THE. SOIL IS VE~,( ~D,( ) '" ~TOTILLEf<.
CAN f>E. USEV TO MI~ IN G~UND e",~) S{>.WDUST,
PE.f>.IM055 OP- OTHE.F- SUCK Mf>-TEf<.If>-LS FOfl..
BETTE!<. MOISIUf«:. f<.E.TENTION. IF THE. SOIL
IS CLAY 1,1'\00 fl..IVER S,/'\NO TO E6;)UAL I'eOUT
SO/. OF THE. TOTAL t-1lxTUf<.E. MIX THO~GKLT
WITH A f/OTOTILLE.fl.. O~ SI1OVE.L. CAUTION-
DO NOT ~TOTILL <SOIL THAT IS D~Y-
NEITHEfl.. WHEN f<.EAL WET!
- --,..~-...---
'--;.:-'..r--'"
.-L~ 7"' -.,..---.~~-\
--- -----.. -- . . . . . . '-.. . .". .' --./' -->l====::::2::'t;::::J
/' ''''-', /"
r '--"---,,,:,
-~ \~
"
....1'£.... _ _.•...
~'"
14(0
.
/~> )JY---
,//////"/''7!V1rl
/ /
/
//
, /~/
,
, /.'.
,,
,,
, ,, ...
, .'
f-----X.-{
~
LENGTH.
~
d)~~DONOT
""'i'.· . ,:'·,,"'::'· ,. i .r·:'
P/<.E. -MIX THE:
. . F~TILIu:R WITH
THE: LIME.
HE.FlE 15 THE: MITTL.EIDEt<. PI2-E. -PLANT
FERTIL.IZER. MIXTU~ YOu st-\OUL.V USE.
WEIGH CAf'lEFUL.LY AND MI)<. T110FlQUGHLY
THE: FOLLOWING -Df/-Y (E.NOUGH FOfI- ~-~
VAfl-Y ACCOF?DING ro SIZE OF YOUF?. PLOT.
'SEE AF'PE:N 0 IX lIT).
I'2.S-POUND5 POUf>L.E 9l.J~PH05PHATE.
15-pOUNDS POTASSIUM SUL.FATE Of/-
CHL.Ofl-IDE.
75-POUNDS SULFATE OF AMMONIA.
50-POUNDS MAGNESIUM SUL.FATE.
5-POUND5 OOFlON (SODIUM OOAATE
Or<. OOfl-lC ACID)
APPLIED SEPARATEL.Y:
'2.00 -pOUNDS OF LIME. U5E 6YPSUM
LIME FOr<. D/ZY CLIMATE. U~E
A6FlICULTU/ZAL LIME Of/- DOLOMITE.
LIME: FOr<. WET CLIMATE..
r<-EMEMBEiZ - THESE AMOU NTS Ar<.E.
ENOUGH FOt<. 1'4 -ACf<E I TH""T'S 10,000
SQUARE. FEET. APPLY AS Pr<.EVIOU5Ly'
Dlr<.ECTE:O I WHETHEt<. THE FU~ fLOW
5PACINGS AFlE '2.e;~OJOFl 34 INCHES ON
CENTER. I4€>
e) IF THE. -:'OIL IS Df<.YING GIVE: iHE e.NTI~
SU~ " UGHT 'SP~NI4.IN0 WliH WJ>.TEI'-
BEFOf/.E. COV~ING TKE. FERTILIZE.f<.S IN TKE.
FURWW ~W5 Wlili SOIL.
~ : DO Nor COVEl'- FE~TILIZEl<.5 WITH
DRY SOIL. IF PLANTING> 'SEEDS Of'..
iAAN5PLANTING PLF>.NTS.
f) COVEl< THE.
FE.RiILIZEI'- f>Y !lAt(.ING
SOIL OVER IT F~M eerwEEN TKE: FU~W
IWW5. ~ UP ENOU6H SOIL TO MAt(.E A
1.-;0 "?-INCH AAISE.P F-l06E: OVEfl.. THE LENGTH
OF THE FE/2.TILIZ.E.1<. IN THE FU/2.I<QW POW.
;HI<;. BUi'CIE<S THE FEl<TILIZEJ<. '3 TO 8 INCHES
e€LOW THE TOP OF
THE J<.i06E. THIS IS
WELL e>E.LDW THE
EA~Y)iEND~
~5OF
PLANTS.
14"1
9) IF T~SPL.ANTING SEE. THi'T THE. f1O:?TS
ME. NO CLOSEF!. THAN ~UT ? INCHE.':>
TO THE. FEf'.TI UZE.f<. IN THE. FU ~W f2.0W
UNDEF!. THE": F!.IDGE.
ISO
APPLY DOWN THE. PLANT Of<. SE.E.D ~W ONLY.
DO NOT N'PLY IN THE WI>-TE.f>... FUf<.f<.OWS
BETWEEN THE F4DGES. CUTWOi<.MS WILL
BE MOST ACTIVE THE FIF/.ST NIGHT AFTER.
TAANSPLANTING. CONTFtOl- THEM BY
PLACI NG '2. Of<.:!> PO ISO N PE.LLETS 01<. A
L,bJ<GE PINCH OF FOlSON BAAN BESIDE
EACH PLANT STEM - AFTE./<.. THE WATEf'(.J NG
AND D/<ENCHING P/WCEDUfZ,E.S f'o.BOVE.
SNf'o.lLS AND SLUGS CAN BE TAi<EN ~
OF WITH POI'SONED e!'<IT AVAILABLE AT
MOST STO~S.
L) Wf'o.TEP- THE p..owS OF PLANTS BY ALLOWING
WATEr<. FfWM A GNtVEN HOSE TO MOVE
SLOWLY OOWN THE FUp..p..oW LONG
ENOUGH FOP- WATEf<. TO SEEP UP INTO
THE i<./VGE5 TO THE PLANT ~S.
ONE SUCH Wi'-TEi<l NG i'- WEEI'- IS USUI>-l-LY
ENOUGH EVEN IN HOT, MID /'Ii<l:,AS-UNl-ESS
THE 'SOIL 15 VE.r<.Y S/'-NOY. WEEDING IS
MINI MIZ.E.D flY THIS ME.THOD OF WI>-TE.f<.1 NG.
ONLY THE. WATEfl- FU~WS GET WE.T
ENOUGH FOi<. WEED SEED TO SP/<OUT.
!'Ny I'-IND OF OVErzHEAD SP/<INI'-l-ING
METHODS WAI'E. UP WEED SEE.DS aVE/<-
THE ENTIF-E. GN<VEN AF-E.A.
J) FEED youfl. Pl.1'NTS THE MITTLEIDE.f>...
NUT/<-IENT M/)(TU~ (CHi'-PTE/<. 1) FOP-
THE FIF/.5T TIME ABOUT THF<E.E WEE:.Jl-S
AFTEI<. TAANSPLP--NTING. (i<EMEMBE.r<. THAT
YOu NZ£ {lJ...READY WATERING THOi<OUGHLY
EVEJ<:.Y WE.EI(.-OP- AS THE PLANTS ~UIf<.E.)
151
H~R~ """"'N FOf/- '(OUf/- CONVENIENCE IS
THE MITIl.E.IDEf/- NUTF1-IENT MIXTURE..
MIX THE FOl.LOWING T06ETHEFt DI<Y:
q -fOUNDS CALCIUM NITAATE.
4-pOUNDS AMMONIUM NITAATE:.
IY'!.-POUNDS DIAMMONIUM PHOsPHP-TE.
4Y1.-fOUNDS POTA5SIUM 'SULF;A.TE
OR CHLOI<IDE. .
(P - POUNDS MAGNE.'SlufvI 'SULFATE.
(EPSOfvl SALT).
/'2.-0RAMS eo~N 0=oViUfvI BORATE
01< 1'XJt':IC ACID)
AFTER
APPLICATION. j,
.P
I??
HE.~E.
IS HOW TO TeLL WHEN THINGS AAE:
~EADY TO PICi<.:
ZUCCHINI.... ANYTIME: ~O~E 5J<./N TOUGHENS.
~ADI5H .... B£FO~ CENTE./<.. &GIN5 TO
TU!<.N FI~/'<.OU5.
GP-EEN W5H Of<. FOLE E'EAN5.... WHEN FOD
IS WELV FIL.L.ED AND SWOL.L.EN
BUT eE..F01<E. ST1<INGS DEVELOP.
Bf:ETS, CEu:.~YJ Of<. CHIL.I PE.PPEf<.5....
~SONAL TASTE. AS TO SIZ.E..
CABBAGE. .... WHEN HEAPS At<E SOL.ID AND
STILL FIRH.
CHIVES AND PARSL.EY.... ANYTIME.
CAUL./FLOWE/'<. AND B~CCOLI .... JUST WO~
HEAPS e€6IN TO L.rosE.N AND
FLOWE.~.
SWISS CHA~D AND SPiNAcH .... WHILE
LEAVES At<E. STILL.. TENDER.
cuCUH!?EJ<. .... f;E.FOF<-E SEEDS OEVEL.OP.
GP-EEN ONION'S.... WHILE TOPS AP-E 'STILL
FULL AND Cf<.ISp.
Df<.Y ONION'S.... AFTE./<. TOPS Hi'VE DFUED.
SWEET PEPPE:.Fli?.,.ANYTIME. ,THE.Y N<.E.
5WEET E.VEN WHEN ~D.
EGGPLANT. '" BE.fOf<.E. SEEDS ME
WELL- DE.VELOPE-D.
TUF<-NIP5 .... ANY SIZE. jUSE TOPS LII'-E 5PIN,t>.C.H.
CANTELOUPE .... WHEN THE. STEH
SEPMATE.5 EASILY.
roTATOE:'? .... NE.W pcrrl>-TOE:'S (SI'-lN SLIPS),
ANYTIME. FOf2- IMMEDIATE U5Ej
MATUf<.E ONE.S I>-FTE.f2- VINES
e;e:GIN TO DIE AND Sj<.JN IS TIGHT.
ISG:>
How simple can a greenhouse be! Here Is a standard MIUleider grow-box,large enough for
all the fresh vegetables you could want, covered with a simple plastic shelter.
Simple grow..boxes and simple, plastic greenhouse sheller will outperform the largest
commercial greenhouse operallor'lS at a smaUlraction of the expense. Average people can
do extraordinary gardening with simple, hand tools - with certain success!
GrOW-boxes can be purchased in lour-foot increments or, as here, simply constructed by
leveling and staking boards In place to hold sand-sawdust-nutrlent mixture of your choice.
See Chapters 2, 3, 4 for detailed drawings and Instructions.
Simple Miltleider greenhouse takes shape. Grow·boxes In
place; plastic pipe is going on to support covering.
170
Appendix I 171
Why does the fruit of apricot trees turn brown or black at the pit?
Insufficient water, excessive heat two weeks before fruit ripens,
boron or calcium deficiency.
173
174 More Food From Your Garden
This is a formula for the "seed house" - used to feed all sprouted
seeds and seedlings in the seed house, regardless of plant size-
until they are set out as transplants. This formula is used as a
constant feed, meaning that every watering of the plants is with this
solution. Note that before seeds sprout, only water is used to keep
them moist.
Measure accurately and mix together:
55 gallons water (1 drum)
8 ounces ammonium nitrate
2 ounces magnesium sulfate
2 ounces potassium sulfate or chloride
2 ounces diammonium phosphate
Appendix IJ 177
Or:
3 gallons water
13 grams ammonium nitrate
3 grams magnesium sulfate
3 grams potassium sulfate or chloride
3 grams diammonium phosphate (21-53-0)
TRANSPLANTING FORMULA
For 1 acre-
500 pounds double superphosphate
300 pounds potassium sulfate or chloride
300 pounds sulfate of ammonia
200 pounds magnesium sulfate
20 pounds boron (sodium borate or boric acid)
Applied separately before mixing the above with the soil:
800 pounds lime (in arid areas - less than 18 inches rainfall
- gypsum is preferred; in areas with more than 20 inches
rainfall, agricultural lime or dolomite lime is preferred.)
Notes: There are 175 rows of plants in 1 acre - if the rows are 100
feet long and spaced 30 inches apart.
Weights are figured on the basis of 30 grams per ounce; 160unces
per pound.
UNITS OF MEASURE
60 drops 0 1 teaspoon
3 tablespoons 0 1 tablespoon
1 tablespoon 0 % ounce
16 tablespoons 0 1 cup
1 cup 0 8 ounces
16 fluid ounces 0 2 cups
2 cups 1 pint
'/2 liquid pint~
1 cup
2 pints 1 quart
4 quarts = 1 gallon
1 pound 0 16 ounces
1 pint = 1 pound
1 gallon = 8.337 pounds (8 pounds)
1 mile 5,280 ft., or 320 rods
1 acre = 43,560 square feet
or 160 square rods
180 More Food From Your Garden
FERTILIZER FORMULAS
FOR SPECIAL-SIZE GROW-IIOXES
(4' Square Segments)
PRE-PLANT FERTILIZER
4'x4'x8" Grow-Boxes
6V2 ounces double superphosphate
3% ounces potassium sulfate or chloride
6V2 ounces sulfate of ammonia
3% ounces magnesium sulfate (Epsom salt)
6 grams boron (sodium borate or boric acid)
1% pounds lime'
4'x8'x8" Grow-Boxes
13 ounces double superphosphate
6% ounces potassium sulfate or chloride
13 ounces sulfate of ammonia
6'/2 ounces magnesium sulfate
12 grams boron (sodium borate or boric acid)
3 pounds lime*
Appendix /I 181
4'x12'xB" Grow-Boxes
1 '/4 pounds double superphosphate
10 ounces potassium sulfate or chloride
1% pounds sulfate of ammonia
10 ounces magnesium sulfate
18 grams boron
4112 pounds lime*
4'x16'x8" Grow-Boxes
1 pound. 10 ounces double superphosphate
13 ounces potassium sulfate or chloride
1 pound, 10 ounces sulfate of ammonia
13 ounces magnesium sulfate
24 grams boron
6 pounds lime*
4'x20'x8" Grow-Boxes
2 pounds double superphosphate
1 pound potassium sulfate or chloride
2 pounds sulfate of ammonia
1 pound magnesium sulfate
1 ounce boron
7% pounds lime
4'x24'xB" Grow-Boxes
2 pounds, 8 ounces double superphosphate
1 pound, 4 ounces potassium sulfate or chloride
2 pounds, 8 ounces sulfate of ammonia
1 pound, 4 ounces magnesium sulfate
36 grams boron
9 pounds lime*
"In selecting the type of lime to use follow the instructions given
previously for the standard size grow-boxes.
182 More Food From Your Garden
4'x4'x8" Grow-Boxes
64 grams (2 ounces)
4'x8'x8" Grow-Boxes
128 grams (4% ounces)
4'x12'x8" Grow-Boxes
192 grams (6V2 ounces)
4'x16'x8" Grow-Boxes
256 grams (8% ounces)
4'x20'xB" Grow-Boxes
320 grams (11 ounces)
4'x24'x8" Grow-Boxes
384 grams (13 ounces)
Note: Apply the fertilizers and water as outlined for the standard size
grow-boxes.
(See Color Plates for photographs of some deficiency symptoms)
Here are the nutrients plants require for growth. Deficiencies of the
first eight most commonly produce nutritional problems.
,. Nitrogen 8. Molybdenum
2. Phosphorous 9. Manganese
3. Potassium 10. Copper
4. Magnesium 11. Zinc
5. Calcium 12. Sulfur
6. Iron 13. Chlorine
7. Boron
183
184 More Food From Your Garden
NUTRITIONAL DEFICIENCY
SYMPTOMS AND CORRECTIONS
Nitrogen Deficiency
SYMPTOMS: general yellowing over entire plant; spindly,
stunted growth.
CORRECTION:
1. greenhouse grow-box - 1 pound, 12 ounces ammonium
nitrate.
2. outdoor grow-box - 2 pounds ammonium nitrate.
Phosphorous Deficiency
SYMPTOMS: a purplish discoloration of older leaves; stunted
growth, poor fruit set.
CORRECTION:
1. greenhouse grow-box - 12 ouncesdiammonium phosphate.
2. outdoor grow-box - 1 pound diammonium phosphate.
Potassium Deficiency
SYMPTOMS: scorching ("firing") of edges of mature leaves;
shriveled seeds in cereal crops; poor fruit quality.
Appendix If! 185
CORRECTION:
1. greenhouse grow-box - 1 pound potassium sulfate or
chloride.
2. outdoor grow-box - 1 pound, 8 ounces potassium sulfate or
chloride.
Magnesium Deficiency
SYMPTOMS: older leaves have dead areas and general yellow-
ing; abnormally bright colors in older leaves - bright reds,
oranges, yellows.
CORRECTION:
1. greenhouse grow-box - 2 pounds magnesium sulfate.
2. outdoor grow-boxes - 2 pounds, 12 ounces magnesium
sulfate.
Calcium Deficiency
SYMPTOMS: dead terminal buds; stunted root growth.
CORRECTION:
1. greenhouse grow-box - 1 pound, 8 ounces calcium nitrate.
2. outdoor grow-box - 1 pound, 12 ounces calcium nitrate.
Iron Deficiency
SYMPTOMS: yellowing of terminal buds with leaf veins
remaining green.
CORRECTION:
1. greenhouse grow-box - 1 pound iron sulfate.
1. outdoor grow-box - 1 pound, 4 ounces iron sulfate.
Boron Deficiency
SYMPTOMS: death of terminal buds; black heart of tubers;
flower end-rot of tomatoes.
CORRECTION:
1. greenhouse grow-box - 36 grams (1V4 ounces) boron, as
sodium borate or boric acid, mixed with 1 cup sawdust or sand.
2. outdoor grow-box - 60 grams (2 ounces) boron, as sodium
borate or boric acid, mixed with 3 quarts sawdust or sand.
186 More Food From Your Garden
Molybdenum Deficiency
SYMPTOMS: "whiptail disease" (see Color Plates), narrow,
long leaves, producing twisting patterns.
CORRECTION:
1, greenhouse grow-box - 8 grams (less than half an ounce)
sodium molybdate or molybdic acid, mixed in 1 cup sawdust or
sand.
2. outdoor grow-box - 16 grams sodium molybdate or
molybdic acid, mixed in 1 cup sawdust or sand.
Wood
70 feet 1"x8"x20' redwood (or cedar) lumber
25 1"x2"x18" pointed redwood stakes
Other Materials
1 pound blue shingle nails
1 pound 4-inch box nails
Tools
1 3-pound mall or hammer
1 regular-weight hammer
1 level, two feet or longer
100 feet strong cord
187
188 More Food From Your Garden
Wood
210 feet 1"x2" boards, 20' lengths if possible
Plastic
140 feet %" PVC pipe, lightweight (200PST)
20 feet 1" PVC pipe, lightweight (200PST)
4 %" PVC T-joints
161'4" PVC 45° elbows
50 feet, 4 mil, 16-foot-wide clear plastic
Appendix IV 189
Wood
60 feet 2"x6" boards, 10' or 20' lengths
4 2"x6" boards, 8' length
280 feet 1"x2" boards, 10' or 20' lengths
8 2"x2" boards, 12' length
8 2"x2" boards, 6' length
200 feet 1"x8" boards, 10' or 20' lengths
4 2"x4" boards, 8' length
8 4"x4" posts, 9' long
50 1"x2"x18" pointed redwood stakes
1 bundle lath
Plastic
260 feet %" PVC pipe, lightweight (200 PST), 20' lengths
20 feet 1" PVC pipe, lightweight (200 PST), 20' length
16 314" PVC T-joints
16 %" PVC 45° elbows
50 feet 2 or 4 mil clear plastic, 16' width
1 pint plastic cement
190 More Food From Your Garden
Other Materials
41" metal "U" clamps
8 3/4" metal "U" clamps
40 3/16"x4" threaded bolts with nuts
16 2/16"x2%" threaded bolts with nuts
Until very recently, this land was regarded as worthless - but today
it has been proven that a very large part of this "worthless" land can
be used very easily and with maximum results.
Simple grow-boxes, covered where necessary by inexpensive,
plastic greenhouses, present the key to agricultural use of this land.
Their dramatic productiveness in our Mittleider demonstration
projects in many countries is unchallengeable.
Look at the following comparative figures - you will be surprised!
Crop: CABBAGE
5'x30'8" Grow-Boxes
Number of plants per grow-box 135
Grow-boxes per acre 156
Plants per acre (135x156 19,000
Average weight per head 3 pounds
Marketable heads per acre 90%
Marketable cabbage per acre 51,300 pounds
Crop income per acre at 8¢ lb. $4,004
Possible crops per year 2 or 3
Potential income per acre at 2 crops $8.008
Note: Conventional farming requires heavy mechanization. Grow-
box farming, after the small cost of lumber. requires virtually no
equipment - just one 7HP rototiller is all the machinery needed.
Grow-boxes organize farming so that hand labor can compete with
farm machinery - and make it possible to use much of the poorest
and heretofore unusable land.
194 More Food From Your Garden
Crop: TOMATO
Bean Death of terminal buds; leaves are an off-green color; flowers and pods fail to
grow.
Beet Rosette terminal buds; leaves die in crown; roots show heart-rot and dry-rot;
leaves are red, small and deformed.
Broccoli Head and margins of leaves are rust-brown discoloration; leaves become
necrotic; stems of curds are hollow.
Cabbage Stems are hollow in the head region; leaves are distorted; leaves are brittle,
stiff, along margins; leaves making up the head are unattached.
Carrot Margins of leaves yellow, followed by red; roots split long and wide.
Celery Crosswise cracks in the petioles; small center leaves turn brown.
Onion Leaves are deep bluish-green color; basal leaves develop transverse cracks on
upper side.
Pea Yellow or white veins in leaves; terminal bud dies; blossoms shed; pods are
poorly shaped and empty.
Potato Older leaves curl upward at margins; bushy appearance of plant; foliage thick
and brittle; older leaf stalks break off easily
By Jacob R. Mittleider – Edited by Jim Kennard
© 2010 Food For Everyone Foundation
Variety Specific Symptoms
Tomato Cotyledons and true leaves of young plants turn purple; terminal shoots curl
upward and die; blossom end rot of fruit.
Cantaloupe Small to large portions of the leaf collapse and die; older leaves brown and die.
Carrot Leaves show chlorosis, later scorching and die; poor foliage.
Celery Young leaves of center hearts die; pale green color; growing point dies.
Corn Youngest unfolding leaves gelatinize and later stick together; weak stalks.
Cucumber Margins of leaves are light colored; leaves of terminal buds have dead tips;
plants are stunted.
Pea Chlorosis on lower leaves; plants are short and die; root tips die.
Potato Young leaves roll upward with marginal scorching; buds die; crops fail; young
leaves are pale green and small.
Tomato Terminal flowers die; plants are weak and flabby; roots are brown; blossom end
of fruit rots.
By Jacob R. Mittleider – Edited by Jim Kennard
© 2010 Food For Everyone Foundation
CHLORIDE – (Very rare no corrective treatment given)
General Symptoms - Unnatural wilting of the plants. Resembles the symptoms of
excess nitrogen and excess salt.
Beet Bluish-green color of younger leaves; older leaves become chlorotic beginning
first at the tips; leaf veins remain green.
Carrot Poor tuber development; leaf growth is stunted but no chlorosis appears.
Corn Leaf tips wither and appear grayish; tips of newest leaves die; leaves become
chlorotic.
Lettuce Leaves become chlorotic, starting at the margins; leaves become cupped;
heads are not firm.
Pea Tips of terminal buds wilt; flowers abort and no pods form.
Potato Young leaves remain permanently wilted; terminal buds die when flower buds
are developing; almost no chlorosis appears.
Tomato Growth of shoots severely stunted; very poor root growth; foliage dark bluish-
green color; flowers fail to form; chlorosis appears.
By Jacob R. Mittleider – Edited by Jim Kennard
© 2010 Food For Everyone Foundation
General Symptoms - Chlorosis in the older leaves, with multiple colors between the
veins. Older leaves show patches of orange, red and purple; later the chlorotic
patches coalesce, brown and drop out. Older leaves show interveinal chlorosis and
necrosis; leaf margins turn up; stems are slender; interveinal light green or yellow
patches on maturing leaves; later these patches dry up; flower set turns yellow and
drops off; fruits are poorly shaped and poorly developed; bright colors of reds,
yellows, oranges, and purples appear on maturing leaves. Because magnesium
moves within the plant, older leaves show deficiency.
Bean Older leaves show reddish-brown mottling; later the spots become necrotic.
Beet Chlorosis in the older leaves, with reddish shading between the veins.
Broccoli Older leaves show patches of orange, red and purple; later the chlorotic
patches brown and drop out.
Cantaloupe Necrotic spots develop in older leaves; later the spots coalesce.
Carrot Leaves are colored with yellow, reds, and purplish; older leaves are very
chlorotic; poor tuber development; poor growth.
Celery Leaf tips and margins are chlorotic with reddish blotches; later entire leaves
become necrotic.
Corn Older lowest leaves turn bright red color; later leaves become necrotic.
Cucumber Leaf veins remain green; chlorosis develops between veins; leaf edges
become brittle.
Potato Older leaf margins and centers show mottling and chlorosis; later these leaves
become necrotic; leaves turn up at margins.
Tomato Older leaves show interveinal chlorosis and necrosis; leaf margins turn up;
stems are slender.
By Jacob R. Mittleider – Edited by Jim Kennard
© 2010 Food For Everyone Foundation
MANGANESE (2 ounces manganese sulfate)
General Symptoms - Predominant symptoms of manganese deficiency include uniform
yellowing (brighter than nitrogen) over the entire leaf surface, including veins – not the
entire plant, only some leaves. Symptoms can appear on mature leaves or terminal bud.
Often they are more clearly identified by their descriptive names, such as gray speck,
white streak, dry spot, and yellow disease in spinach and beans.
Variety Specific Symptoms
Bean Young leaves become chlorotic, increasing in severity; later leaves turn
yellow, drop and the plant dies.
Beet Chlorosis between leaf veins; growth is erect; red and purple tinting
appears on leaves.
Corn Yellow and green striping the full length of the leaf.
Cucumber Between leaf veins the color is pale green to yellowish white; veins remain
green; leaves are small; blossom buds turn yellow.
Tomato Sometimes growth severely stunted; leaves near terminal bud are small,
rolled forward; dark-brown spots appear along leaf veins.
By Jacob R. Mittleider – Edited by Jim Kennard
© 2010 Food For Everyone Foundation
Variety Specific Symptoms
Red Beets Growth is erect; older leaves a dark reddish color; young leaves pale green
color.
Broccoli Pale green color, particularly on young leaves; older leaves may show
reddish to purple colors and will shed prematurely.
Corn Older leaves dry (scorch) at the tips; death of the leaf follows; plants are
weak with thin stalks.
Cucumber Leaves are light yellow to pale yellow; thin woody stems; fruit yellow-green
color; fruit pointed blossom end.
Lettuce Pale green color on leaves; older leaves show "firing" and die.
Onion Young leaves light-green color; older leaves die; growth pattern upright.
Potato Young leaves light-green color; leaves yellowish color, later drying up; leaf
veins deep purple color.
Sweet Potato Defoliation of lower leaves; leaf color yellowish green with purplish areas;
stunted growth.
Tomato Growth upright; lower leaves turn yellow and die; young leaves light green
color; purple veins on under-side; stems are slender.
Beet Leaves Small; dark purple color; short leaf stock (petiole).
By Jacob R. Mittleider – Edited by Jim Kennard
© 2010 Food For Everyone Foundation
Variety Specific Symptoms
Broccoli Underside of leaves show purple near veins; leaves have dull purple color;
margins of leaves die.
Carrot Leaf stalk upright; older leaves die; small leaves are dull-green color with
purple.
Corn Tops of mature leaves red and purple blotches; slender stalks; missing
kernels on ears.
Onion Tips of leaves die back; older leaves wilt and die.
Potato Older leaves fall off; upright spindly growth; tubers may have internal
cracks; marginal scorch on leaves.
Tomato Poor foliage; undersides of leaves purple color; weak slender stems.
Bean Leaf margins develop necrotic-brown areas between the veins; leaflets turn
downward.
Beet Leaf surface crinkled and edges turn downward; stems of older leaves
have brown spots; roots poorly developed and tend to rot.
Broccoli Browning of leaf margins, and browning between the leaf veins; curds are
soft and poorly developed.
By Jacob R. Mittleider – Edited by Jim Kennard
© 2010 Food For Everyone Foundation
Variety Specific Symptoms
Cantaloupe Lower leaves turn brown and die; fruits split at blossom-end; leaves have
yellow necrotic spots near edges.
Carrot Roots are spindly; growth is poor; leaves are chlorotic and brown.
Celery Leaflets curl, turn brown with necrosis; leaf stems are short.
Corn Leaf tip and marginal scorch; tip end of ears filled with shriveled kernels;
weak short stocks; lodging.
Cucumber Necrosis on leaf margins; young leaves crinkled; fruit very small at stem
end.
Lettuce Dark green leaves; marginal scorch and interveinal scorch on leaves.
Onion Older leaves turn a slight yellow, wilt, and die; leaf tips die and dry; poor
bulbs.
Pea Firing of margins of older leaves; pods poorly filled and hollow; poor spindly
growth.
Potato Yellowish color on older leaves; later necrosis and browning of leaf-tips and
leaf margins; slender stalks with short internodes.
Radish Center of leaves bluish-green color; leathery leaves and they curl
downward.
Tomato Leaves scorch along margins, later become necrotic; stems are thin; fruit is
ill- shaped; fruit ripens unevenly.
By Jacob R. Mittleider – Edited by Jim Kennard
© 2010 Food For Everyone Foundation
Variety Specific Symptoms
Corn Older leaves have light-yellow streaks or chlorotic stripes between veins;
sometimes appearing as broad bands of yellow or white tissue, occurring
mainly on the lower half of the leaf and seen when the young leaf comes
out of the whirl; tasseling and silking are late.
Pea Margins of lower leaves become necrotic; stems are erect; no flowers form.
Tomato Slow early growth; leaves thicken; leaves tend to curl downward.
Quiz:
For which nutrients does yellow color show if deficiency exists – describe symptom.
By Jacob R. Mittleider – Edited by Jim Kennard
© 2010 Food For Everyone Foundation
Garden Planting Details
Seedling or Seed
Plant in Garden
Harvest Length
Days to mature
Expected Yield
Seed/Seedling
Start Seedling
Rows per Bed
applications
Plant Height
in Weeks
(full bed)
(full bed)
Fertilizer
Depth of
When to
(inches)
Plant Type Hardiness Plant
beans, bush either frost-sensitive On ADLF 3 2 0.500 68 lbs. 240 5 20 -2 +0 65 3
beans, pole (vertical) either frost-sensitive On ADLF 2 1 0.500 180 lbs. 180 10-12 84 -2 +0 75 16
beets, red seed moderately-hardy 2-3 weeks before 2 2 0.250 120 lbs. 362 5 12 -2 55 20
broccoli seedling hardy 4 weeks before 14 2 alt.* deep 80 lbs. 52 5-6 20 -8 -4 85 4
cabbage seedling hardy 4 weeks before 12 2 alt. deep 150 lbs. 60 5 15 -8 -4 85 2
carrots seed moderately-hardy 2-3 weeks before 1 2 0.125 90 lbs 720 6 12 -2 65 16
cauliflower seedling hardy 4 weeks before 14 2 alt. deep 100 lbs. 52 5-6 20 -8 -4 100 4
celery seedling moderately-hardy 2-3 weeks before 12 2 alt. deep 120 lbs. 62 5-6 18 -6 -2 60 2
chard either moderately-hardy 2-3 weeks before 6 2 0.250 150 lbs. 124 3-4 12 -6 -2 60 20
corn seed frost-sensitive On ADLF 8 2 alt. 0.500 115 ears 92 5 72 +0 80 2
cucumbers (bush) seedling frost-intolerant 2-3 weeks after 12 2 deep 248 lbs. 62 6-8 18 -1 +2 65 16
cucumbers (vertical) seedling frost-intolerant 2-3 weeks after 9 1 deep 410 lbs. 41 8-12 84 -1 +2 65 4
eggplant (vertical) seedling frost-sensitive On ADLF 9 1 deep 400 lbs. 41 10-12 72 -8 +0 90 16
kohlrabi seed hardy 4 weeks before 2 2 0.250 120 lbs. 360 4 12 -4 65 4
lettuce, head either hardy 4 weeks before 12 2 alt. 0.125 112 lbs. 62 4 12 -7 -4 55 2
lettuce, leaf either hardy 4 weeks before 6 2 0.125 45 lbs. 122 3 12 -7 -4 55 6
melons, cantaloupe (vert) either frost-intolerant 2-3 weeks after 9 1 0.250 246 lbs. 41 8-10 84 -1 +2 85 10
melons, honeydew (vert) either frost-intolerant 2-3 weeks after 9 1 0.250 246 lbs. 41 8-10 84 -1 +2 85 8
onions, green tops either hardy 4 weeks before 1 4 0.125 144 bunches 1440 3 12 -7 -4 65 2
onions, large bulb either hardy 4 weeks before 4 4 1.000 135 lbs. 360 7 15 -7 -4 65 4
parsley either moderately-hardy 2-3 weeks before 6 2 0.125 23 lbs. 120 3-4 12 -6 -2 65 24
parsnips seed moderately-hardy 2-3 weeks before 3 2 0.125 160 lbs. 244 7 12 -2 65 12
peas, bush either hardy 4 weeks before 2 2 0.500 90 lbs. 362 4-5 18 -7 -4 60 3
peppers, all types seedling frost-intolerant 2-3 weeks after 12 2 alt. deep 310 peppers 62 8-12 16 -7 +2 85 12
potatoes seed moderately-hardy 2-3 weeks before 8 2 alt. 1.500 145 lbs. 92 4-5 16 -2 65 8
radishes seed hardy 4 weeks before 1 2 0.125 60 bunches 722 2 8 -4 25 3
spinach either hardy 4 weeks before 6 2 0.250 46 lbs. 122 4 8 -7 -4 45 4
squash (vertical) either frost-intolerant 2-3 weeks after 9 1 0.500 154 lbs. 41 8-12 84 -1 +2 90 14
squash, crooked-neck either frost-intolerant 2-3 weeks after 21 1 0.500 135 lbs. 18 8-12 24 -1 +2 90 14
squash, yellow either frost-intolerant 2-3 weeks after 21 1 0.500 135 lbs. 18 8-12 24 -1 +2 90 14
squash, zucchini either frost-intolerant 2-3 weeks after 21 1 0.500 135 lbs. 18 8-12 24 -1 +2 90 14
tomatoes (indeterminate) seedling frost-sensitive On ADLF 9 1 deep 615 lbs. 41 10-12 84 -8 +0 90 16
tomatoes, bush seedling frost-sensitive On ADLF 14 2 deep 208 lbs. 52 6-8 24 -8 +0 90 6
turnips seed moderately-hardy 2-3 weeks before 2 2 0.125 120 lbs. 362 4 12 -2 25 4
watermelons either frost-intolerant 2-3 weeks after 21 1 0.250 320 lbs. 16 6-8 16 -2 +2 90 3
Find this in the Mittleider Yahoo Group [Gledhill Folder] 1 of 1 Planting_Helper_Simple_20090427.xls Printed 4/20/2010
HOW TO BUILD &
USE T-FRAMES
Recommended for the Mittleider Method of Vertical Growing
Supplies
The quantities below are required to build 4 T-Frames.
This is enough for one 30’ foot-long grow bed
Construction
1. Set four of the 4x4’s aside. They will be the main posts
2. Cut the other two 4x4’s into equal lengths of 32” inches long.
a. Four of these 32” inch pieces will be the top cross bar of the T-Frames
3. Mark two of the 32” inch long 4x4’s as follows (see the diagram below for more detail)
a. On the bottom of the 4x4, mark at the following locations – from left to right.
i. 10 5/8”, then 3 5/8", then 10 5/8", then 3
5/8"
b. On the top of the 4x4, mark at the following
locations – from left to right.
i. 3 1/2", then 3 5/8", then 10 5/8", then 3
5/8"
c. Draw lines between these marks, then, using a
table saw, cut on the lines.
4. Pre-drill through the top center of the 32" tops, then use a 6"
spike to nail into the 8' post.
5. Screw or nail the braces to the top and post.
6. If you feel like your wood could use more treatment where it
will be placed in the ground, paint or cover the bottom 20”
inches with exterior paint or roofing tar
How to use
1. Cut 9 ½’ feet lengths of bailing twine for each plant. Tie a knot on each end of the twine so they do not unravel. This way you
can re-use them next year.
2. Tie the bailing twine with a slip knot to the wire/pipe at the top of the “T”. Alternate sides for each plant – left, right, left, right,
etc. This creates an alternating “V” that allows the maximum sunlight in.
3. Attach bailing twine from both sides of the wire/pipe at the top of the “T” down to single tie-wire near the base of the plants.
4. As the plants grow, guide them up the bailing twine, alternating sides for each plant.
5. Remember to remove and prune suckers. (See Mittleider Gardening Course, Chapter 15 for details)
NOTE: If you want to extend the growing season, use 2 X 4's on edge at the top of the “T”, and make an arched canopy with 3/4"
PVC and 45 degree Slip fittings every 2', then cover in early Spring and late Fall with 6 mil clear plastic. And for those in hot climates
place 25-30% shade cloth on top of the arched canopy only sufficient to give partial shade during the hottest 3 hours of the day. This
can help your tomatoes, etc. continue fruiting in the heat of summer.
8'-0"
Cutting Details
T-Post main post #1
The diagram to the right shows the major
cuts used for the six 4x4 post. T-Post main post #2