Annual new master gardener training for Pulaski County Master Gardeners Association

1. Master Gardener Presentation
Presented By Josh Hardin
Sheridan, AR
U of A Extension, Main Office
Little Rock, AR
September 30, 2015

2. Overview
 Two Farms Two Scales
 Hardin Farms
 Laughing Stock Farm
 Sustainable Management Practices
 Our Crops
 Corn, Melons, Squash, Cucumbers
 Root Crops (Potatoes, Onions, Ginger)
 Tomatoes, Peppers
- High Tunnel Grafted Tomatoes
 Thoughts & Questions

3. What do we do at Laughing Stock
Farm?
2-3 Acre Certified Organic Fruit and
Vegetable farm
Farmer’s Market Sales(Argenta, Hillcrest,
River Market,
littlerock.locallygrown.net,
Conway.locallygrown.net, Restaurants,
Wholesale (River Valley, Whole Foods,
Edwards Food Giant)
Main Crops- Ginger, Turmeric, Tomatoes,
Greens, New Potatoes, Beets, Peppers

4. Hardin Farms
 5th Generation row crop & vegetable farm
 100 acres vegetables, 1200 acres
commodity crops
 Services family retail store, 6 local
farmers markets, numerous peddlers &
resellers
 Main crops-Watermelons, cantaloupes,
sweet corn, squash, cucumbers,
peppers, tomatoes, beans, onions

5. What is IPM?Every slice of
the pie counts
Extension
provides free
soil samples
Can also test
for many
specific
nutrient
disorders and
insects

7. Using Beneficial Insects
Ladybugs and Lacewings
love Aphids
Assassin bugs eat
many destructive pests
Minute Pirate Bug-
Attacks juveniles of many
pests
Beneficial Nematodes-
Attack pests in the soil
(Arbicoorganics.com)

8. Using Insect Exclusion Fabric
Use in fruiting crops
from transplant to
bloom then remove
Leafy crops can
grow 9-10 months
out of the year under
insect fabric
Use metal conduit and
bender or wire hoops
to prevent crop
damage

9. Using Powdered Kaolin Clay
(Surround)
Clay creates a physical
barrier.
Protects against Squash
Bugs, Stink Bugs,
Cucumber Beetles,
Aphids, Whiteflies
Cools the plant during
excess heat
Mix fertilizers,
insecticides, and
surfactants with
Surround for long lasting
protection

10. What Organic Insecticides Work?
Concentrated pyrethrin 5-6% is
effective but not by itself
Must be mixed with surfactant
and pH balanced to work well
Can use sulfur (or Lime), along
with Yucca extract as a
surfactant (ThermX)
Essentria G- Granulated to
help with emerging insects
Diatomaceous Earth-Cheapest
but only works for soft bodied
insects

11. Biological Controls
Mycotrol- Myco(fungus)
based pest control and
prevention (broad spectrum)
Entrust- Spinosad (also in
Monterey Garden Spray)
(Flea Beetles, Fire Ants,
Colorado Potato Beetle,
Fleas)
Actinovate- Natural
bacteria that feed on
common disease
organisms

12. Using Cover Crops to Attract
Good Insects
Buckwheat works great and
produces quick blooms in
spring, summer, and fall
Winter Mixes help keep
beneficials in the off-
season
Keep flowering natives for all
seasons to maintain
populations

13. pH is Critical in Nutrient
Availability

14. Market Farming
 By nature small scale
is less bound by
large equipment
 More seasonal
production
 Small scale
producers are direct
market by necessity

15. Variety Selection
Choose crops bred for
heat and stress.
Don’t grow Northern
varieties without shade,
etc
Grafted Plants can help
increase productivity
Look for varieties bred in
the South and find
reviews

16. Getting The Sweetest Corn
 Early Morning Harvest
 Corn needs 70-100 lbs of
nitrogen per acre (1/10th of a lb
per sq ft)
 Majority of N needs to come
after 2nd leaf
 Corn on the plant 1 day past
ripe is unmarketable
 Heat, lack of water, lack of
nitrogen, general plant stress
will cause early and reduced
yields

17. Watermelons
 Require lots of space ( 8-10 sq
ft per vine)
 Hilling works best on small
plots with 3-4 vines
 Need regular water increased
weekly
 Majority of nutrients needed
pre plant with other 30-40%
foliar and drip fed through
season

18. Squash-a-plenty
 Grow multiple varieties to keep it
interesting.
 Scallop squash, Zephyr, patty pan,
yellow zucchini
 There are over 380 varieties of
summer squash known

19. Root Crops
 New Potatoes should
be kept dirt on until
just before market
 Growing above
ground means less
washing and less
digging
 Grown indoors until
Spring weather
warms up

20. Root Crops
 Handle in as few
steps as possible.
 Root crops have
more storage life
than above ground
crops
 Root crops hold
well in cool soil

21. Baby Hawaiian Ginger
 Baby means little to no skin
 Shelf life is short 2-3 days
fresh
 Frozen can hold 2-3
months
 Harvest close to delivery
 Leave 6-8 inches of stalk
 Wrap crates with wet
towels and keep in dark
cool room

31. Questions & Thoughts?
Josh Hardin
laughingstockfarms@gmail.com
870-866-3753
Thank You For Your Time!