Tips for Growing Vegetables

~ Beans ~

Water: Keep evenly moist in well-drained soil.
Light: Full Sun (6-8 hours)
Fertilizer: Fertilize every 6-8 weeks with E.B. Stone Organics Tomato & Vegetable Food.
Plant: Plant in nutrient-rich soil amended with plenty of organic material. Space plants 4-6″ apart. Don’t plant too early. Beans tend to rot in wet and cold weather. Protect from frost.
Harvest: Start picking beans as soon as they reach as desired size. Continue to harvest as plants continue to produce more beans. If left too long, beans have a tendency to get tough.

~ Broccoli ~

Water: Keep evenly moist in well-drained soil.
Light: Full Sun (6-8 hours)
Fertilizer: Fertilize every 6-8 weeks with E.B. Stone Organics Tomato & Vegetable Food.
Plant: Plant in nutrient-rich soil amended with plenty of organic material. Space plants 12-20″ apart in rows 3′ apart.
Harvest: One broccoli plant can be harvested about 2 or 3 times. The first harvest is the main head. It is ready when the buds of the head are firm and tight. Cut head with 6″ of stalk. Once the main head is cut, smaller side heads will produce for several weeks. Cut stalks at an angle to allow water to roll off stalk. This will help prevent rot.

~ Brussels Sprouts ~

Water: Keep evenly moist in well-drained soil.
Light: Full Sun (6-8 hours)
Fertilizer: Feed with E.B. Stone Organics Tomato & Vegetable Food every 6-8 weeks.
Plant: Plant in nutrient-rich soil amended with plenty of organic material. Space plants 12-24″ apart.  Add mulch to retain soil moisture and to keep soil temperatures cool.
Harvest: Sprouts mature from the bottom up. Remove lowest sprouts first when they reach 1″ diameter. As you harvest, newer sprouts will grow at the top. Keep harvesting until the sprouts stop growing. Each plant can produce about 3 pounds of sprouts.

~ Cabbage ~

Water: Even watering throughout the season helps prevent cabbage heads from splitting.
Light: Full sun or Partial Shade (4-8 hours)
Fertilizer: Use a fertilizer such as E.B. Stone Organics Tomato & Vegetable Food every 6-8 weeks.
Plant: Plant in nutrient-rich soil amended with plenty of organic material. Space plants 2-3′ apart, depending on variety. Cabbage can handle a light frost, so plant 2-3 weeks before last frost.
Harvest: Harvest cabbage as soon as the heads reach desired size and they are firm to the touch. When removing the head, leave a few bottom leaves behind to keep the plant producing. The plant will produce 4-6 new smaller heads around the rim of the original head. These smaller heads tend to be more tender than the first main head.

~ Carrots ~

Water: Keep evenly moist in well-drained soil. Water frequently and shallowly.
Light: Full Sun to Partial Shade (4-6 hours)
Fertilizer: Feed every 6-8 weeks during the growing season with E.B. Stone Organics Tomato & Vegetable Food.
Plant: Sew seeds directly into the garden. For a summer harvest, plant seeds 3-5 weeks before last spring frost. For a fall harvest, plant seeds 10 weeks before first fall frost. Carrots need loose, sandy soil. Make sure to prep your soil by tilling down 12″ and raking out dirt clumps, rock and twigs. This will allow for straight, long carrots. Sew seeds 1/4″ deep, 2-3″ apart. Rows should be 12″ apart. Once seedlings develop, thin plants so they are 3-4″ apart. Protect from frost.
Harvest: Harvest when desired size is reached. The smaller the carrot, the better it will taste. It should be at least 1/2″ in diameter.

~ Cauliflower ~

Water: Cauliflower likes a lot of water. Give it 2″ of water per week.
Light: Full sun or Partial Shade. (4-6 hours). Shade plants from excess heat.
Fertilizer: Feed every 6-8 weeks with E.B. Stone Organics Tomato & Vegetable Food.
Plant: Plant in nutrient-rich soil with plenty of organic material. Space plants 18-24″ apart in rows 30″ apart.
Harvest: Harvest when heads are compact, firm and 6-8 inches in diameter. If cauliflower head appears course, it is past maturity and should not be used. Cauliflower plants produce only one head.

~ Celery ~

Water: Celery requires a lot of water. Make sure soil stays moist.
Light: Full Sun (6-8 hours)
Fertilizer: Feed with E.B. Stone Organics Tomato & Vegetable Food every 6-8 weeks.
Plant: Plant 10-12″ apart in rich, moisture retentive soil with plenty of organic matter. Rows should be 12″ apart. Protect from frost.
Harvest: Harvest stalks when they are about 8″ tall. You can harvest the entire group of stalks by slicing the whole plant just below the soil line. Alternatively, you can harvest individual stalks and use them as needed. To do this, harvest from the the outside in allowing the inner stalks to mature. Use a sharp, serrated knife and cut stalks at an angle. Make sure to harvest before the first hard frost.

~ Corn ~

Water: Keep evenly watered, especially when the plants are first getting established.
Light: Full Sun (6-8 hours)
Fertilizer: Corn is a heavy feeder. Make sure to feed with E.B. Stone Organics Tomato & Vegetable Food every 6-8 weeks to keep corn growing strong.
Plant: Plant in nutrient-rich soil amended with plenty of organic material. Space plants 8-10″ apart in blocks rather than rows. This will increase pollination yielding more ears of corn. Protect from frost.
Harvest: Pick corn when the silk at the t op of the ears is turning brown. To ensure the corn is ripe, pull the husk back and make sure the kernels are plump and full. Each plant produces 1-3 ears.

~ Cucumbers ~

Water: Keep consistently moist, watering more often as fruit sets. Uneven watering can cause cucumbers to have a bitter taste.
Light: Full Sun (6-8 hours)
Fertilizer: Cucumbers are heavy feeders so fertilize with E.B. Stone Organics Tomato & Vegetable Food every 6-8 weeks to ensure an ample supply of nutrients.
Plant: Plant in nutrient-rich soil amended with plenty of organic material. Space each plant 4-6″ apart once the soil temperatures are consistently around 70 degrees. Cucumbers will climb a trellis if planted next to one, saving space and allowing cucumbers to grow straight. Protect from frost.
Harvest: Harvest cucumbers once they are to size. Use a knife to cut the stem from the plant. Continue to harvest cucumbers as soon as they are ready. This will promote more fruit production. Each plant can produce up to 10 cucumbers.

~ Eggplant ~

Water: Keep evenly moist in well-drained soil.
Light: Full Sun (6-8 hours)
Fertilizer: Feed with E.B. Stone Organics Tomato & Vegetable Food every 6-8 weeks to promote flower and fruit set.
Plant: Plant in nutrient-rich soil amended with plenty of organic material. Space plants 12-18″ apart. Eggplant needs warmth, so planting in containers or raised beds will jump start its growth. Protect from frost.
Harvest: Eggplant should have shiny skin and be firm to the touch. Use a knife to cut the fruit off the plant instead of pulling, which can damage the stems. Also, harvest fruit before fully grown to encourage the plant to produce more eggplants. Each plant produces 4-6 eggplants.

~ Garlic ~

Water: Keep evenly moist in well-drained soil. Do not let the garlic sit overly wet soil, otherwise the bulbs may rot.
Light: Full Sun (6-8 hours)
Fertilizer: If planting in fall, use a fertilizer with a higher level of nitrogen (N) around January/February.
Plant: Plant in spring or fall. Separate the cloves and plant in rich, well-drained soil. Cover with 1-2″ of loose soil. Plant bulbs 4-6″ apart and in rows 12-18″ apart.
Harvest: Harvest in mid-summer when stalks begin to die. Set them out to cure for 2 weeks.

~ Kale ~

Water: Keep evenly moist in well-drained soil.
Light: Full Sun or Partial Shade (4-6 hours)
Fertilizer: Feed with E.B. Stone Organics Tomato & Vegetable Food every 6-8 weeks.
Plant: Plant in nutrient-rich soil amended with plenty of organic material. Space plants 12-24″ apart. Space rows 12″ apart.
Harvest: Harvest kale leaves as soon as they are large enough to use. Begin harvesting from the outside in. If you keep the younger, inner leaves, the plant will continue to produce.

~ Lettuce ~

Water: Keep evenly moist in well-drained soil to prevent bolting.
Light: Partial Shade or Full Sun (4-8 hours)
Fertilizer: Feed with E.B. Stone Organics Tomato & Vegetable Food every 6-8 weeks.
Plant: Plant in nutrient-rich soil amended with plenty of organic material. Space plants 6″ apart, in successive groups. Lettuce can handle light frost so planting early in the season shouldn’t be a problem.
Harvest: Pick leaves as soon as they are large enough to use. If harvesting the whole head, cut the base with a sharp knife at soil level. Plant successively if harvesting heads to ensure an even supply of lettuce throughout the spring. You can also harvest individual leaves. Remove the outer, more mature leaves first to allow the younger leaves inside to continue growing,

~ Melons ~

Water: Melons need a consistent supply of water until the fruits are about the size of a tennis ball. Then water as needed.
Light: Full Sun (6-8 hours)
Fertilizer: Feed with E.B. Stone Organics Tomato & Vegetable Food every 6-8 weeks to ensure the plants have enough nutrients for fruit set.
Plant: Plant in nutrient-rich soil amended with plenty of organic material. Place plant in hills 2′ apart. Rows should be 6′ apart. You can lay landscape fabric down around the plants to keep soil temperatures up. This will aid in plant growth. Protect from frost.
Harvest: Most melons are ready to pick when the rind changes color, typically from a green or gray color to yellow. Also, ripe melons are easily pulled from the plant. Each plant 2-4 melons.

~ Onions ~

Water: Onions need an even supply of water throughout the season in order to swell in size. For a more pungent flavor, stress the onion a little before harvest by cutting back on water.
Light: Full Sun (6-8 hours).
Fertilizer: Onions are self-sufficient, but applying a fertilizer such as E.B. Stone Organics Tomato & Vegetable Food every 6-8 weeks will encourage root and bulb growth.
Plant: Plant onion starts or sets in nutrient-rich soil amended with plenty of organic material. Space rows according to how large the finished onion will be.
Harvest: Onions are ready to harvest when their tops begin to turn brown and fall over and the skin feels papery to the touch. Loosen the onions from the dirt with a spade or fork and lift out. Allow the onions to rest in a cool, dry place with good air circulation to allow them to cure for better storage.

~ Peas ~

Water: Keep evenly moist in well-drained soil.
Light: Partial Shade or Full Sun (4-8 hours)
Fertilizer: Feed with E.B. Stone Organics Tomato & Vegetable Food every 6-8 weeks.
Plant: Plant in nutrient-rich soil amended with plenty of organic material. Space plants 4-6″ apart next to a trellis or fence.
Harvest: Peas mature quickly so keep an eye on them when you see them flowering. Start picking peas when they reach a good size and the pods start to expand. Harvest time per plant is about 1-2 weeks. To increase the length of your pea season, plant successively every 1-2 weeks.

~ Peppers ~

Water: Peppers originate from arid regions and can handle hot, dry conditions so water evenly to get the plant established, and then keep the soil on the dry side.
Light: Full Sun (6-8 hours)
Fertilizer: Feed with E.B. Stone Organics Tomato & Vegetable Food every 6-8 weeks to supply plants with needed nutrients for fruit production.
Plant: Prepare the soil by applying Hi-Yield Hydrated Lime 2-4 months before planting. This will aid in general plant health and prevent blossom end rot. Plant 12-18″ apart, depending on the variety. Keep the soil warm by putting down landscape fabric around the plants. This will help peppers earlier in the season. Protect from frost.
Harvest: Harvest peppers as soon as they reach a usable size. Peppers are usually the most flavorful when they start turning from green to red, yellow, or orange. Each plant produces 5-10 peppers.

~ Potatoes ~

Water: Keep evenly moist in well-drained soil. Potatoes love plenty of water.
Light: Full Sun (6-8 hours)
Fertilizer: Potatoes like a pH of 5.8 to 6.5. Feed every 6-8 weeks with E.B. Stone Organics Tomato & Vegetable Food. 
Plant: Plant in rock free, rich, loose soil. Add E.B. Stone Organics Cottonseed Meal, E.B. Stone Organics Bone Meal and E.B. Stone Organics Greensand at planting time to increase the acidity of the soil. This will also add nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus. Cut seed potatoes into 1-2″ chunks, each should have 2-3 eyes.  Cure the cut pieces by laying them out on a table in a moderately lit room for 3-5 days until the sides become callused. Plant cut sides down in a 6″ hole or trench. “Hill” the potatoes by adding soil as they grow. When the plant reaches 8″ tall, bury the lower 4″ with soil. Continue this process as the potato stalk and leaves grow. Note: Do not let potatoes become exposed to light before they are ready to harvest. If this happens, they will turn green and become toxic.
Harvest: Potatoes are ready to harvest when the plant dies back. Pull the tubers up or carefully dig them out with a spade. Be careful not to damage the potatoes. You can keep potatoes in the ground until you are ready to use them. Each plant can produce 5-10 potatoes.

* To prevent potato blight, do not plant them where tomatoes, eggplant and peppers have grown for at least 3 years.

~ Pumpkins ~

Water: Pumpkins need an ample supply of water in well-drained soil.
Light: Full Sun (6-8 hours)
Fertilizer: Pumpkins are heavy feeders so fertilize them every 6-8 weeks with E.B. Stone Organics Tomato & Vegetable Food to ensure the plants have enough nutrients for fruit production.
Plant: Plant in nutrient-rich soil amended with plenty of organic matter. Space each plant 4′ apart.  Allow 8′ between rows. Protect from frost.
Harvest: Pumpkins are usually ready to harvest around mid-fall. Harvest before first frost. Use a knife to cut fruits off rather than pulling on the vines to minimize damage to the plant. Large pumpkin plants can produce 3-6 pumpkins, while miniature varieties can produce up to 20 pumpkins.

~ Radishes ~

Water: Consistently moist, well drained soil.
Light: Full Sun (6-8 hours)
Fertilizer: Radishes do not need much fertilizer. Avoid high nitrogen fertilizers. You can add E.B. Stone Organics Bone Meal at planting to ensure there is plenty of phosphorus (P) for root development.
Plant: Planting seeds directly into the garden is best in order to avoid disturbing roots. Plant 1/2 – 1″ deep, 1″ apart in rows 12″ apart. In spring plant 4-6 weeks before last frost. In fall plant seeds 4-6 weeks before first fall frost.
Harvest: Radishes grow quickly. Harvest when the root is 1″ diameter at the soil surface. Do not leave them in the ground long. Protect from frost.

~ Rhubarb ~

Water: Consistently moist, well drained soil.
Light: Full Sun (6-8 hours)
Fertilizer: Rhubarb is a heavy feeder. Amend the soil with plenty of organic material such as steer manure. Do not fertilize the first year, this may damage the plant. Once established, apply a light sprinkling of steer manure after the first spring frost.
Plant: Plant in early spring or fall while the plant is dormant. Space each plant 4′ apart.
Harvest: Do not harvest stalks the first year. This will give the plant a chance to establish. Once established, harvest stalks when they are 12-18″ long. Leave 2 stalks per plant to ensure continued production. Remove seed stalks as soon as they appear. After 3 years the harvest period will last 8-10 weeks. Dig and divide rhubarb roots every 3 to 4 years. With the right care, rhubarb can produce stalks for up to 20 years.

* Rhubarb leaves are highly poisonous, do not ingest. 

~ Spinach ~

Water: Consistently moist, well drained soil.
Light: Full Sun or Partial Shade (4-6 hours of sun)
Fertilizer: Feed with E.B. Stone Organics Tomato & Vegetable Food every 6-8 weeks to supply plants with needed nutrients.
Plant: Plant in nutrient-rich soil amended with plenty of organic material. Space plants 5-7″ apart. Rows should be 12″ apart.
Harvest: Harvest as soon as the leaves are large enough to eat. You can harvest the entire plant at once by cutting the entire plant at the base. You can also harvest a few leaves at a time. Use scissors to cut the outer, most mature leaves. Leave 2″ of leaf uncut. If you cut too short, the plant may stop producing.

~ Squash ~

Water: Most varieties will need an ample supply of water in well-drained soil.
Light: Full Sun (6-8 hours)
Fertilizer: Squash are  heavy feeders. Fertilize with E.B. Stone Organics Tomato & Vegetable Food every 6-8 weeks will ensure the plants have enough nutrients for fruit production.
Plant: Plant in nutrient-rich soil amended with plenty of organic material. Space accordingly for the variety. Squash need plenty of room to grow, so make sure to pay attention to the spacing requirements.  Also, growing times tend to be longer for winter squash so laying landscape fabric down around the plant to warm the soil may help speed growth. Protect from frost.
Harvest: For summer varieties (zucchini, yellow squash), pick as soon as fruits are to size. Continue harvesting to encourage m ore growth. For winter varieties, harvest any fruits around first frost for winter storage. Use a knife to cut fruits off rather than pulling on the vines to minimize damage to the plant.

~ Tomatillos ~

Water: Evenly moist, well-drained soil
Light: Full Sun (6-8 hours)
Fertilizer: A well-rounded fertilizer such as E.B. Stone Organics Tomato & Vegetable Food every 6-8 weeks will supply plants with needed nutrients and stimulate fruit growth.
Plant: Plant in nutrient-rich soil amended with plenty of organic material. Plant at least 2 tomatillo plants together for cross-pollination. This will ensure fruit production. They can be the same variety. Space 3′ apart with a trellis or  cage. Protect from frost.
Harvest: Tomatillos are ready to harvest when the fruit is green and is filling out the husk. Each plant can produce 60-200 tomatillos.

~ Tomatoes ~

Water: Tomatoes need consistent water to get established and to grow to full size. After that, stress the plant by cutting down on the amount of water to encourage fruit set (not recommended if planting in containers).
Light: Full Sun (6-8 hours)
Fertilizer: Feed every 6-8 weeks with E.B. Stone Organics Tomato & Vegetable Food. This will supply plants with needed nutrients and stimulate fruit growth.
Plant: Prepare the soil by applying Hi-Yield Hydrated Lime 2-4 months before planting. This will aid in general plant health and prevent blossom end rot. Space plants 18-24″ apart, depending on the size of the the variety. Make sure the soil is nutrient-rich and amended with plenty of organic material. Protect from frost.
Harvest: Ripe tomatoes should be firm, but yielding to the touch. They should also break away from the plant easily. If you have to tug on them, they are not quite ready. Different varieties produce different amounts of fruit.