Plant disease requires a pathogen susceptible host, and a favorable environment. All of the methods gardeners use to control diseases focus on one or more of these factors. While many commonly used disease control methods and sprays focus on the pathogen itself, that can be difficult when diseases are present in the soil. Gardeners can […] …
Soils, Soil Management, and Plant Nutrition
Soil provides the foundation for much of what we do in horticulture and provides support, air, water and nutrients to plants. Material in this section will provide information on soil testing, managing pH, understanding plant nutrient needs and their supply through various types of fertilization. This section will also include information on soil management, amending, and composting.
The Tennessee Vegetable Garden: Managing Plant Nutrition
Plants, like people, need essential nutrients to grow, survive and thrive in our gardens. However, unlike us, they are able to obtain the essential nutrients they need from soil, water and air. There are many factors that influence the nutrition of plants and many ways that gardeners can support good nutrition in their garden plants. […] …
The Tennessee Vegetable Garden: Site Selection and Soil Testing
One of the most important decisions a home gardener can make is in selecting the best site for their garden. There are many factors to consider that include light, soil characteristics, drainage and previous activity that was on the site. And a gardener can’t forget human accessibility and distance to water sources. After selecting a […] …
The Tennessee Vegetable Garden: Stewardship in Soil Management
Managing soil health and quality in the home garden involves more than just the proper application of fertilizer. Soil quality is a measure of the function of the soil to support plants, but also infiltrate and store water along with supporting the various organisms that reside in soils. This publication provides information on the function […] …
