Production Practices of Specific Crop Types
The following publications cover specific crops and their production practices to achieve optimal harvest, yields, and quality. Specifically information can be found on different root crops, cole (brassica family) crops, vine crops, lettuce and greens, tomatoes, and allium (onion family) crops. A good place to start for a quick overview of farm production practices for winter squash, broccoli, spinach, and tomatoes is the Southern Wisconsin Vegetable Workshop series. Each spreadsheet contains information from three farms on their production practices including propagation, field/hoophouse preparation, planting, crop maintenance, harvest and yields, and marketing.
For more in-depth explanation of specific crops and their production practices see the National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service’s (ATTRA) Organic Production series or the University of Wisconsin Extension’s Guides for Fresh-market Production series. The UW series are written for those who grow, or are interested in growing in Wisconsin and other northern-tier states. The publications include a planting guide, approximate dates for first and last killing frosts, and fertilization recommendations for beans and peas, cole crops, root crops, alliums, vine crops, salad greens, and tomatoes, peppers and eggplant.
For a single guide to most fresh market vegetable and fruit crop production see Roxbury Farm’s 2012 Crop Manual. The publication provides a snapshot of their recommended production practices for 51 vegetable and fruit crops. Specifically it looks at soil preparation, direct seeding information, number of successions, transplanting information, greenhouse recommendations, cultivation procedures, frost, disease and insect protection, and other cultural practices.
Irrigation
Irrigation is a critical component of production success on your fresh market farm and needs to be adequately planned for. For general irrigation information see the Wisconsin School for Beginning Market Growers’ Irrigation for Small-scale Vegetable Production publication. This publication goes over how to identify and/or plan your water source, laws and regulations relating to water usage in WI (or other state of residence), and the irrigation system right for your farm.
For a more detailed account of specific crop related irrigation information see Vegetable Irrigation Needs also out of the Wisconsin School for Beginning Market Growers. This publication contains a table listing different crop types and their respective minimum soil moisture, interval between 1″ water events, critical moisture periods, drought tolerance, effective rooting depth, defects caused by water deficit, and additional comments.
Additional Resources and Citations
Adam, Katherine. 2006. Organic Allium Production. National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service (ATTRA)
Bachmann, Janet and Katherine Adam. 2010. Organic Pumpkin and Winter Squash Marketing and Production. National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service (ATTRA)
Cox, Bonnie. 2015. Training Systems and Pruning in Organic Tomato Production. eXtension
Delahaut, K.A., A.C. Newenhouse. 1997. Growing Beans and Peas in Wisconsin: A Guide for Fresh-Market Growers. University of Wisconsin Cooperative Extension
Delahaut, K.A., A.C. Newenhouse. 1997. Growing Broccoli, Cauliflower, Cabbage and other Cole Crops in Wisconsin: A Guide for Fresh-market Growers. University of Wisconsin Cooperative Extension
Delahaut, K.A., A.C. Newenhouse. 1998. Growing Carrots, Beets, Radishes, and Other Root Crops in Wisconsin: A Guide for Fresh-market Growers. University of Wisconsin Cooperative Extension
Delahaut, K.A., A.C. Newenhouse. 1998. Growing Pumpkins and Other Vine Crops in Wisconsin: A Guide for Fresh-market Growers. University of Wisconsin Cooperative Extension
Delahaut, K.A., A.C. Newenhouse. 2003. Growing Onions, Garlic, Leeks, and Other Alliums in Wisconsin: A Guide for Fresh-market Growers. University of Wisconsin Cooperative Extension
Delahaut, K.A., A.C. Newenhouse. 1997. Growing Tomatoes, Peppers, and Eggplants in Wisconsin: A Guide for Fresh-market Growers. University of Wisconsin Cooperative Extension
Guerena, Martin. 2006. Cole Crops and Other Brassicas: Organic Production. National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service (ATTRA)
Kuepper, George, Janet Bachmann, Raeven Thomas. 2002. Specialty Lettuce and Greens: Organic Production. National Sustainable Agriculture Information Service (ATTRA)
Strader, Claire, Chris McGuire , Mike Noltnerwyss, Steve Pincus. 2015. Southern Wisconsin Vegetable Production Workshop: Broccoli. FairShare CSA Coalition
Roxbury Farm. 2012. Crop Manual. Accessed at <http://www.roxburyfarm.com/crop-manual>
Strader, Claire, Dave Perkins, Matt Smith, Bill Warner. 2015. Southern Wisconsin Vegetable Production Workshop: Spinach. FairShare CSA Coalition
Strader, Claire, Scott Williams, Rufus Haucke, Chris Upper. 2014. Southern Wisconsin Vegetable Production Workshop: Winter Squash. FairShare CSA Coalition
Strader, Claire, Tricia Bross, Jenny Bonde, Steve Pincus. 2015. Southern Wisconsin Vegetable Production Workshop: Tomatoes. FairShare CSA Coalition
Wisconsin School for Beginning Market Growers. Irrigation for Small-scale Vegetable Production. Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems (CIAS)
Wisconsin School for Beginning Market Growers. Vegetable Irrigation Needs. Center for Integrated Agricultural Systems