Adventist Youth Honors Answer Book/Outdoor

Industries/Gardening

1. Prepare soil, fertilize, and plant a vegetable plot of not less than 100
square feet (30.5 square meters). Grow at least six different
vegetables, three from seeds and three from seedlings, through
harvesting.

Preparing the soil

The first step in soil preparation is to select a suitable site for the garden. It should be clear of trees
and relatively level, and it should receive full sunlight. The soil should be at least 30 cm  deep.
Once the site is selected, it needs to be plowed and tilled. Plowing can be done with a plow for large
(and medium-sized) plots, or with a spade for very small plots (this is heavy labor though). Plowing
loosens the soil so that the plants will have easy access to the soil to a depth of 30 cm . Tilling can
be accomplished with a disc for large plots or with a garden tiller for smaller plots. The purpose of
tilling is to break the soil into a fine aggregate. The ideal time to till is when a dirt clod can be picked
up and easily crumbled in the hand - it should not be done immediately following a rain.

Fertilizing
It's generally a good idea to test the soil before fertilizing it so that you know what type of fertilizer to
apply. Soil testing kits are available in garden centers. Once you have tested the soil and have
selected an appropriate fertilizer, it can be spread over the garden with a broadcast seeder. You can
do this before tilling or after.

Planting
Planting includes plant selection and placement. In general, taller plants should be planted on the
side of the garden furthest from the Earth's equator. (In the Northern Hemisphere plant them on the
north side. In the Southern Hemisphere plant them on the south side.) This is so they do not shade
the smaller plants. Seed packets will contain data on them telling you how deep, how far apart from
one another, and when to plant them in your geographic area. Seedlings can be bought from a
nursery or grown from seeds indoors before the outdoor growing season begins.
For planted seeds, start by making a furrow with a hoe. The depth of the furrow should equal the
desired depth of the seed. Then walk along and drop seeds in the furrow, burying them as you go.
Be sure to space them as per the instructions on the seed packet. Do not pack the soil tightly over
the furrow as you bury the seeds. A common practice is to place the seeds in the furrows in pairs so
that if one does not come up, there's a chance the other will. If both come up, one of them must be
thinned, even if they both look healthy.
For seedlings, dig a small hole for each plant so that you can bury it to the soil line. Do not remove
the seedling from the container until you are ready to plug it into the hole, and avoid exposing the
roots to direct sunlight. Lightly pack soil around the plant.
Once the seeds and seedling have been planted, water the garden generously. After that, you will
need to make sure the garden is watered deeply and on an irregular basis. If you over-water the
garden, the roots will stay near the surface where they will be susceptible to disease, and where
they will do a poor job of anchoring the plant should a stiff wind arise. Watering deeply and
irregularly will cause the plants send the roots deeply into the ground in search of water and other
nutrients. This will also protect them from disease and strengthen the plant against the wind.

Plant Selection
Popular plants grown from seeds include:

 Corn
 Squash
 Beans
 Radish
 Watermelon
 Carrots
 Peas
 Cucumber
Popular plants grown from seedlings include:

 Tomatoes
 Eggplant
 Peppers

2. List ways to control insects and/or disease in your garden. Know

when and how to apply insecticides and fungicides.
Pest control
When chemical pesticides were first introduced, they were used to the exclusion of all other types of
pest control. This had the unfortunate effect of poisoning the environment. In the 1970's this situation
was recognized, and Integrated Pest Management (IPM) techniques were introduced. Pesticides are
still used, but they are a last resort.
When most people think of pests, they think of insects. In vegetable cultivation, this term should be
expanded to include weeds, microorganisms, and mites. Pest control depends on the early and
correct identification of the pest. The grower can use cultural mechanical, biological, or chemical
controls to reduce the effect of pests. These methods all rely on constant vigilance by the grower.
Cultural Controls include the selection of disease and pest-resistant cultivars. Crop rotation is
another important cultural control, as certain pests feed exclusively on one type of plant. Eliminating
the plant from the environment for a year or two will disrupt that cycle. Another important control
mechanism is to mulch, water, prune, and fertilize the plants correctly. A healthy plant is better able
to defend itself from pests.
Mechanical Controls include covering the plants with netting or setting traps for expected (or
observed) pests. Pests can also be removed with vacuums or by hand. Hoeing and cultivating
around the plants will help control weeds. It is also important to remove infected plants from the crop
as soon as possible so that the disease does not spread.
Many insects prefer to feed on the underside of leaves where they will be more difficult for a predator
to find. These pests can be discouraged by laying aluminum foil on the ground, shiny-side-up to
reflect additional sunlight to the underside of the leaves. This confuses the insects and encourages
them to feed elsewhere.
Biological Controls include the introduction of natural predators. For instance, ladybug beetles
feast on aphids, and poultry feed on a number of insect pests. Be careful when introducing predators
though, that you do not introduce a non-native species which has no natural enemies of its own. This
can - and has caused its own form of environmental damage. You can also use commercially
available pheromones to disrupt the mating cycle of many insects.
Chemical Controls can be used when all else fails. Selection of a pesticide and a fungicide will
depend on the particular pest being combated (which his why proper identification is so important).
Sprays are generally more effective than dusts, as nearly all pesticides rely on contact with the pest
for their effectiveness. Read the instructions on the chemical containers carefully before using,
especially noting whether the chemical is safe to use on food plants. Many times a pesticide will
warn against its use for a period of time before harvesting.

3. What is mulch? How and why is it used in the garden?

Mulch is decomposed plant materials that are used as a planting bed, source of nutrients, and
protective top layer that can maintain soil moisture levels and keep heat in.

4. What is hardiness? Which vegetables are considered hardy in your

area?
Hardiness determines the extent to which a plant or tree can tolerate cold or heat. Normally this is
measured in cold such as "plant hardiness to 27 degrees." This means that below 27 degrees the
plant will begin to be effected by the cold, starting with freezing of leaves and or fruit.
In North America hardiness is classed by hardiness zone (see below). Seed packets usually have a
color-coded map on the back showing these zones - and accordingly, an indication of when the
seeds should be planted.

Hardiness Zones of North America

5. Do one of the following

a. Test germination for 100 of the same kind of seeds.

Testing germination can be accomplished with a rag-doll test. Note that this is also a requirement for
the Seeds - Advanced honor.
The purpose of a "rag doll" test is to determine the percentage of seeds in a given lot that will
successfully germinate. This information can then used for calculating seeding rates.
A simple way to get an idea of the actual field germination prior to planting is to conduct a “ragdoll”
test. A “ragdoll” consists of a rolled tube of moistened paper containing the seeds to be tested for
germination, placed in plastic bag and stored in a warm place for several days. seedlings are
counted as they germinate and are removed, giving the percentage of actual germination.
To conduct a ragdoll test, moisten a brown paper hand towel and squeeze out as much excess
water as possible. Do not use a "soft" paper towel as are typically found in a home kitchen - seeds
can send roots and tops through these complicating the count. Excess water in the towel will cut off
oxygen and ruin the test.
Spread the paper towel out on a flat surface, count out 100 seeds and place them in a line
(diagonally works well) across the towel. Roll the towel up and place it in a plastic bag. Seal the bag,
and place it in a warm place, such as on the top of a refrigerator. A temperature of 30°C  is ideal.
After four days, remove the towel from the plastic bag, unroll it, and count and remove any seeds
that have germinated. Roll the towel back up, return it to the plastic bag, reseal, and return it to the
top of the refrigerator.
After three or four more days, repeat the count. The total number of seeds from both counts will
equal the germination rate, assuming 100 seeds were used. If a different number of seeds were
used, you can calculate the germination rate as follows:

b. Make and use a hotbed or cold frame.

Hotbed
A hotbed is a pile of decaying organic matter warmer than its surroundings due to the heat given off
by the metabolism of the microorganisms in the decomposing pile. Hotbeds are used for composting
and keeping delicate plants warm during the winter.
Cold Frame

A traditional home made cold frame

In agriculture and gardening, a cold frame is a transparent-roofed enclosure, built low to the ground,
used to protect plants from cold weather. The transparent top admits sunlight and relies on the
greenhouse effect to reflect back radiant heat that would otherwise escape at night. Essentially, a
cold frame functions as a miniature greenhouse season extension device.
Cold frames are found in home gardens and in vegetable farming. They create microclimates that
provide several degrees of air and soil temperature insulation, and shelter from wind. In cold-winter
regions, these characteristics allow plants to be started earlier in the spring, and to survive longer
into the fall and winter. They are most often used for growing seedlings that are later transplanted
into open ground, and can also be a permanent home to cold-hardy vegetables grown for autumn
and winter harvest.
Cold frame construction is a common home or farm building project, although kits and commercial
systems are available. A traditional plan makes use of old glass windows: a wooden frame is built
30-60 cm , and the window placed on top. The roof is often sloped towards the winter sun to
capture more light, and to improve runoff of water, and hinged for easy access. Clear plastic, rigid or
sheeting, can be used in place of glass. An electric heating cable, available for this purpose, can be
placed in the soil to provide additional heat.

c. Prepare any three varieties of vegetables for market.

When preparing vegetables for market, consider the following attributes:
Ripeness
Choose vegetables that are at their optimum ripeness.
Color
Bright colors are more attractive to buyers than dull colors.
Size
Consumers do not like vegetables that are too small or too large.
Shape
Look for vegetables that have a "regular" shape.
Injury
Choose vegetables that are free from injury.
Cleanliness
Wash and trim them before taking them to market.

d. Make and use a storage bin or pit for your vegetables.

A vegetable storage bin is a small cabinet with compartments for
vegetables. They are often equipped with a wire mesh door to allow air to
circulate. Some use solid doors to keep the inside of the bin dark (potatoes
will sprout if exposed to light). Some have dark compartments as well as
airy compartments to support different types of vegetables. You can find