Tennessee Home Fruit and Vegetable Garden

Tennessee Tennessee

Home Fruit and Home Fruit and

Vegetable GardenVegetable Garden

W 436

2024 CALENDAR2024 CALENDAR

Tennessee Extension Home Fruit and Vegetable Workgroup

Natalie Bumgarner, Residential and Consumer Horticulture Extension Specialist

Matthew Anderson, Extension Agent, Sevier County

Bob Ary, Program Assistant, Robertson County

Amy Dunlap, Extension Agent, Davidson County

John Gunter, Extension Agent, Fentress County

David Lockwood, Fruit Production Extension Specialist

Melody Rose, Extension Agent, Greene County

Lee Sammons, Extension Agent, Hardeman County

Virginia Sykes, Variety Trials and Agroecology Extension Specialist

Gregg Upchurch, Extension Agent, Cumberland County

Seth Whitehouse, Extension Agent, Anderson County

2024 Tennessee Home Fruit and Vegetable Calendar

This calendar has been developed to assist you in formulating an overall plan for your residential vegetable garden and fruit production.

Utilize the calendar to schedule various planting, harvesting, and management practices. However, there are many other excellent resources

available from UT Extension that will be an asset to you in planning and managing your garden, so they are linked within this calendar.

And this calendar is also available online as a ﬁllable PDF at tiny.utk.edu/W436.

We hope this calendar is one step in your successful home fruit and vegetable journey.

Getting the Most from the 2024 Home Vegetable and Fruit Calendar

Step 1. Be aware of climate and temperature trends in your speciﬁc location.

The dates listed in the calendar are averages for dierent regions of the state. However, there is a large range in growing season length across Tennessee, so it is always

good to be familiar with the local climate data to most usefully adapt dates from this calendar.

A brief table is below. Additionally, more detailed information can be found by consulting with frost/freeze tables for Tennessee.

This National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) publication will allow you to look at frost/freeze probability data for all stations in Tennessee.

Step 2. Utilize the full selection of UT Extension publications and resources for home gardeners.

Check out UThort.com or the UT Extension publications catalog to ﬁnd all of these publications and more.

W 346-A Site Selection and Soil Testing

W 346-B Garden Planning, Plant Preparation and Planting

W 346-C Managing Plant Nutrition

W 346-D Plant Management Practices

W 346-E Building and Using Raised Beds

W 346-F Season Extension Methods

W 346-G Stewardship in Soil Management

W 346-H Growing Tomatoes

W 346-I Harvest and Storage

W 661 Conventional and Organic Garden Products

W 316 Home Vegetable Garden Disease Control

PB 595 You Can Control Garden Insects

PB 1622 Disease and Insect Control in Home Fruit Plantings

Vegetable Gardens Archive – A series of publications on garden vegetables

Bristol Chattanooga Clarksville Crossville Dyersburg Jackson Knoxville Lawrenceburg McMinnville Memphis Mtn. City Nashville

Last Spring

Frost*

May 3 April 17 April 27 May 10 April 15 April 18 April 22 April 30 April 28 April 9 May 26 April 21

First Fall

Frost*

Oct. 6 Oct. 21 Oct. 4 Oct. 4 Oct. 16 Oct. 13 Oct. 17 Oct. 5 Oct. 6 Oct. 30 Sept. 18 Oct. 10

*The values reported here are the most conservative because they are dates where there is only a 10 percent chance of a frost occurring after (spring) or before (fall) these dates.

TASKS FOR JANUARY

• Check out this calendar as a ﬁllable PDF to keep records through the year. Tennessee

Home Fruit and Vegetable Garden Calendar

• Place orders for bareroot fruit crops after making selections for your location and needs.

tiny.utk.edu/FruitSupplierList

• If you plan to graft trees/vines, collect and store scion wood.

• Work on your garden layout and planting plans for this year. These plans should be

based on a rotation among vegetable plant families as well as any pest and disease

issues that were seen the prior year. Test germination on remaining garden seed to

ensure viability. See UT Extension Publication W 316 Home Vegetable Garden Disease

Control.

• Gather materials for producing transplants. These should include new or sanitized and

pathogen free substrate. See UT Extension Publication W 346-B Tennessee Vegetable

Garden: Garden Planning, Plant Preparation and Planting.

• Order seeds for your 2024 garden, especially those for transplants. Check out UT trial

results to support your selection. See UT Extension publication W 1162 Tennessee

Home Garden Variety Trial Report.

• In some parts of Tennessee, seeds for cool-season spring transplants will need to be

started in January.

• Consider becoming a Tennessee Extension Master Gardener Volunteer; check here for

local program options! https://mastergardener.tennessee.edu/how-do-i-become-a-

master-gardener

Vegetable Gardening Through the Seasons

In Tennessee, your vegetable gardening can take place throughout the year. There are

great options for spring, summer, fall, and even early and late winter crops that fall in two

broad categories. Cool-season crops are those that can withstand some frost and grow

best in spring and fall but not in the hottest part of summer. We can grow both spring and

fall cool season crops in Tennessee. And some of the most hardy of those fall crops can

even produce into the early winter or overwinter and be harvestable in the early spring.

Warm-season crops are killed by frost but perform well in the heat of the summer. Below

are some of the best crops to start with for spring, summer and fall gardens.

Great crops for spring planting and late spring/early summer harvest:

Leaf or small head (bibb, oakleaf, mini romaine) lettuce

Radish

Kale

Collards

Beets

Cabbage

Kohlrabi

Swiss chard

Snap peas

Great crops for late spring planting and summer/early fall harvest:

Peppers

Tomatoes

Okra

Beans- consider sequential planting

Cucumbers- consider sequential planting

Summer squash

Great crops for late summer planting and fall/early winter harvest:

Broccoli

Cabbage

Collards

Carrots

Beet greens

Leaf or head (bibb, oakleaf, romaine) lettuce

Turnips- for greens or roots

Great crops for fall planting that can produce in early winter or

overwinter for spring harvest:

Kale

Spinach

SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY

1 2 3 4 5 6

7 8 9 10 11 12 13

14 15 16 17 18 19 20

21 22 23 24 25 26 27

28 29 30 31

Notes on crops: Notes on weather: Notes on new cultivars to try:

JANUARY 2024

new moon

full moon

Prepare your garden

plan—by hand or digitally.

Six weeks until early date

to plant kale in West

TN. Seed soon if using

transplants.

Make sure to follow a

rotation of crop families.

Research any new

cultivars to try this year

and check out the UT

Garden trial report at

uthort.com.

Review cultivars and

crops that performed well

last year in your garden.

When considering fruit

plant purchases, those

from tissue culture are

lower in disease risk.

Test germination of

leftover seed from last

year.

Prepare seed order for

remaining cool-season

and warm-season seeds

for transplants.

Purchase or gather

materials to prepare

transplants.

Be sure to purchase

pathogen free media

and clean containers for

transplants.

Remove or bury any

mummy berries from

blueberry plots to reduce

disease.

These green colored

squares remind you to

keep track of your garden.

There are several record

sheets at the end of this

calednar. There are also

boxes on each month.

Remember that many

diseases can be prevented

by ordering disease free

seed.

TASKS FOR FEBRUARY

• Now is the time for dormant pruning on many fruit crops; make sure to

remove any diseased wood while pruning for production.

• • Dormant sprays are also an important early season fruit practice. See UT

Extension publication PB 1622 Disease and Insect Control in Home Fruit Plantings.

• Seed cool-season crops for transplanting if needed. Broccoli, cabbage,

cauliﬂower and similar crops will need approximately 8 weeks from seeding

to transplanting. A late March or early April planting will require an early

February seeding. See UT Extension publication D 59 Cole Crops for Tennessee

Gardens

• Gather scion wood for grafting fruit trees if still dormant (this varies by year

and region).

• Order remainder of garden seeds for the 2024 garden. Direct seeded crops

can be ordered later, but ordering early provides best selection.

• Seed the earliest of warm-season transplants. An early May transplant date

will require a February or early March seeding.

• If conditions allow, you may prepare soil for early seeded, cool-season

crops. Allow plenty of time for cover crops to decompose. See UT Extension

publication W 346-G Stewardship in Soil Management.

Top Three Fruit Crops to Get You Started

Fruit crops can be rewarding and tasty, but they also can be a challenge

if you don’t start with crops that ﬁt your time, space, and climate. While

many folks dream of starting growing fruit for apples and peaches, our

UT Extension horticulture team encourages beginning your fruit journey

with small fruits that can ﬁt a variety of spaces and sites to help you be

successful right out of the gate!

Blueberries- One of the best options for low spray or organic growing,

blueberries, especially rabbiteye types, can be productive for many years if soil

and site are well managed. See August and check out these great blueberry

options in UT Extension publication W 895-A Selecting Blueberries for Residential

Production in Tennessee

Blackberries- These native fruits to our region can come into bearing in only

a year or two and can produce tasty fruit from early summer to late fall. There

are many options than can be upright, thornless and relatively low maintenance

for pests and diseases. See May and UT Extension publication W 895-B Selecting

Caneberries for Residential Production in Tennessee

Strawberries- In just around a year, you can have tasty strawberries from your

own garden, container or raised bed. Don’t overlook one of the quickest to bear

and space ecient fruit crops for gardeners. See UT Extension publication W 895-

C Selecting Strawberries for Residential Production in Tennessee

Check out our fruit crop decision guide and our home fruit supplier list :

Reality and Expectations for Home Fruit

tiny.utk.edu/FruitSupplierList

Join in on the Tennessee Home Garden Variety Trial

There is no better way to create the research foundation for garden crop and

cultivar selection for Tennessee gardeners than to do the research together with

Tennessee gardeners! Our Home Garden Variety Trial Program does just that by

enabling home gardeners to select crops of interest, get seeds mailed to them

and then grow the crops in their gardens. At the end of the season, Extension

and research faculty at UT collect the data and prepare a report to share the

results with gardeners across the state. Here are some of the top performers

and our 2022 trial report: Tennessee Home Garden Variety Trial Report. We invite

you to join us!

Get all the information to join with us in the 2024 trial at the Home Garden

Vegetable Trial

website.

SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY

1 2 3

4 5 6 7 8 9 10

11 12 13 14 15 16 17

18 19 20 21 22 23 24

25 26 27 28 29

Notes on crops: Notes on weather:

FEBRUARY 2024

new moonfull moon

Consider using dormant

oil sprays on your fruit

trees to combat scale and

other pests.

Prepare garden soil in

West TN if not too wet.

Early seeding can be

easier in raised beds.

Six weeks until early date

to plant kale in East TN

and cabbage/broccoli

in West TN. So, seed

transplants now.

Eight weeks from

frost-free date in the

warmest parts of West

TN. Seed warm-season

transplants now.

Six weeks until early

date to plant cabbage,

broccoli, and cauliﬂower

in East TN. Seed

transplants now.

Could direct seed peas,

mustard, kale and collards

in West TN if soil can be

prepared.

Monitor transplants

closely to ensure that

they are not over or

underwatered.

Eight weeks from

frost-free date in much

of Middle TN. Seed

warm-season transplants

now.

Pruning fruit trees can

reduce disease pressure

and increase production.

Make sure that young

transplants are not

stretching. This could

indiciate low light or

high N.

Could direct seed, peas,

mustard, kale and collards

in much of Middle TN.

Prepare garden soil in

Middle and East TN if dry

enough.

Make sure to store

bareroot plants carefully if

they arrive early.

Eight weeks from

frost-free date in

much of East TN. Seed

warm-season transplants

now.

Dormant prune

blueberries and cut

10%-20% of mature

plants each year to renew

fruiting wood.

For caneberries, remove

canes that fruited the

previous season, then thin

the rest.

Investigate trials of

vegetables before making

purchases to select the

best crops and cultivars

for Tennessee.

Prepare seed order for

warm season direct

seeded crops.

full moon

TASKS FOR MARCH

• Plant fruit trees or plants. Make sure to prevent bareroot stock from drying out

prior to installation. They can be heeled in outdoors.

• Remove straw protection from strawberry plants before bloom.

• Assemble your spray materials to prepare for fruit season.

• Seed the remainder of warm-season transplants. Tomato transplants need 6-8

weeks, so March seeding means May transplants. See UT Extension publication W

346-B Garden Planning, Plant Preparation and Planting.

• Prepare garden soil if conditions allow. Remember that if you are tilling in a cover

crop, the cover crop material may need a few weeks to decompose.

See UT Extension publication W 346-G Stewardship in Soil Management.

• Seed or transplant cool-season crops. Hardy cool-season crops are usually

seeded or transplanted 4-6 weeks before the frost-free date while less cold hardy

cool-season crops are usually started 2 weeks prior. See Frost and Freeze charts

weather.gov/media/ohx/PDF/frostfreezeprobs.pdf.

• Install row covers or low tunnels over early season transplants to increase day and

night temperatures and support season growth. See UT Extension publication W

346-F The Tennessee Vegetable Garden: Season Extension Methods.

• Don’t forget to harden o any transplants to reduce stress and loss once placed in

the ground.

Tips and Tricks for Transplants

• Start with a pathogen free soilless media. Germination mixes are designed to

start your seedlings o disease free. They are also designed to drain well while

holding enough water to support germination and growth. Most are made from

peat or coconut coir along with perlite.

• Follow suggested temperatures for germination. One of the most common

issues that causes poor germination is lower than ideal temperatures.

Warm-season crops — such as tomatoes, peppers and eggplants — will

germinate slowly when too cool and are more likely to have disease issues.

• Light is critical. Most indoor locations don’t have enough light to grow

stocky seedlings. Watch your seedlings for color and stem thickness (are they

stretching?). Supplemental ﬂuorescent or LED lighting can be key.

• Don’t overwater. Growing media should be allowed to dry out slightly (but

not completely) between waterings. Air movement and light are important in

managing the environment and drying out the media.

Top Ten Tomatoes for Tennessee Gardens

Tomatoes oer colors, sizes, shapes, ﬂavors, and plant habits to meet the needs

of many gardeners. Below are some great options that have performed well in

Tennessee trials through the years.

– Determinate tomatoes ‘top themselves’ by forming a ﬂower at the growing

point at a certain time. They are typically shorter and easier to manage in the

garden while also yielding over a shorter period of time.

– Indeterminate varieties keep producing new leaves and new ﬂowers until killed

by disease or frost. They will require more management but will produce over a

longer time frame.

10. Tasti-Lee- high lycopene and good tasting red slicer on det. plant

9. Garden Treasure- an ind. red slicer with large fruit and good taste

8. Deﬁant- a small red slicer on a det. plant with good disease resistance

7. Chef’s Choice Orange- a beautiful mid-sized orange fruit on ind. plant

6. Cherokee Carbon- a hybrid of two great ind. parents with purple fruit

5. Damsel- a medium sized pink tomato on a disease resistant ind. plant

4. Chef’s Choice Yellow- large yellow fruit on productive ind. plant (on left)

3. Big Beef- productive and consistent disease resistant ind. red slicer

2. Celebrity- good plant size for det. with productive and consistent red fruit

1. Beefmaster- a large beefsteak tomato from a productive ind. plant

Find more tomato info in UT Extension publication W 346-H Growing Tomatoes.

SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY

1 2

3 4 5 6 7 8 9

10 11 12 13 14 15 16

17 18 19 20 21 22 23

24 25 26 27 28 29 30

Notes on crops: Notes on weather:

MARCH 2024

new moon

full moon

Use your soil test results

to add pre-plant fertilizer

applications to the

garden.

Keep track of crops on the

record sheet at the back

of the calendar.

Plant blueberry and

caneberries when

dormant in winter/early

spring.

Plant or seed lettuce

outdoors in West TN.

Plant Irish potatoes in

West TN. Also direct seed

beets.

Site selection is essential

and good drainage is a

must!

Could direct seed peas,

mustard, kale and collards

in East TN if soil can be

prepared.

Time to transplant

cabbage, cauliﬂower,

broccoli in West TN.

Watch for signs of

maturity in cool crops

such as radish to prevent

harvesting too late.

Row covers or low tunnels

can be a great way to

push early season crops.

Early to mid-March is

the best time to plant

asparagus. They prefer

a 50 degrees F soil

temperature.

Maintain succession

seeding of cool-season

leafy crops.

For a 5/10 transplant date,

this would be the seeding

date for warm-season

transplants.

Carrots can be planted

in most of the state in

March.

Early date to plant seed

potatoes in East TN.

Early date to transplant

cabbage, broccoli in East

TN.

Peas and potatoes should

be all seeded by late

March in West TN.

Direct seeded cool-season

leafy crops should still

be mature in late April or

early May.

Remember that a cover

crop needs a few weeks

to break down before

planting.

Fertilize blueberry bushes

at bloom, repeat in 6

weeks. Write down dates

fertilized below.

Tree fruits are fertilized

about a month after bud

break.

Remove mulch on

strawberries and place

between rows. Monitor the

weather in case a need to

frost protect arises.

Be prepared for succession

seeding of cool season

crops.

TASKS FOR APRIL

• Finish site preparation if not completed. Use proper pre-plant fertilizer.

See UT Extension publication W 346-C Managing Plant Nutrition.

• Finish direct seeding and transplanting cool-season crops to prevent them from

maturing under hot summer conditions.

• Harvest may begin on the earliest seeded leafy crops or root crops.

• Begin purchasing transplants of warm-season crops.

• Be ready for spring spraying on fruit trees for disease protection.

• It is common to seed some direct seeded warm-season crops a bit before the

frost-free date (beans, corn). Be cautious of soil temperatures, though, especially if

you are seeding untreated seeds or supersweet corn.

• Transplants of warm-season crops can be planted in Tennessee in April after

frost free dates. However, soil temperatures support root growth, and sometimes

transplanting crops early is not all that helpful due to cool soils.

• Harden o your transplants before placing them in the garden. See UT Extension

publication W 346-B Garden Planning, Plant Preparation and Planting.

Tips and Tricks for Raised Bed Gardens

If your site has poor or degraded soil, raised beds and containers can be a

great way to grow home vegetables and small fruits. Raised beds can be built

from kits or with do-it-yourself instructions. Wood, metal, composite materials,

concrete blocks and even rocks can all be used.

A common bed width is 4 feet if accessed from both sides, and 2 to 3 feet if

accessed from one side. Beds are generally constructed 6 to 12 inches in height

but can be deeper. Shallow rooted crops, such as lettuce, spinach, kale, and

other leafy crops may be produced in beds that are only 4 to 6 inches in depth.

Taller and deeper-rooted crops, such as tomatoes and peppers require deeper

beds. A smaller volume will retain lower amounts of water and nutrients. Since

raised beds drain more rapidly than nearby level soil, deeper beds can decrease

watering frequency. You can purchase raised bed mixes if your soil is not ideal.

These mixes should have a range of particle sizes to support drainage and be

free from weed seeds and pathogens. Remember they will need to be watered

and fertilized more frequently than in-ground gardens!

Great crops for raised beds and small spaces:

Spring crops: Lettuce, radishes, beets, Swiss chard

Summer crops: Bush beans, peppers, determinate tomatoes, summer squash,

trellised cucumbers

Fall crops: Cabbage, kale, spinach, carrots, lettuce

Fruit crops: Strawberries, compact blueberry and raspberry

See UT Extension publication W346-E The Tennessee Vegetable Garden: Building

And Using Raised Beds

Getting Great Germination in the Garden

1. Don’t plant seeds too early when temperatures are below optimum as germination

will be slower and chances of seed loss will be higher. See the table below that

shows length of time to germination based on temperature.

2. Plant when soils are moist, but not saturated. Don’t let seeds dry out.

3. Make sure there is good seed to soil contact to enable the seed to take up water to

enable the germination process.

4. Don’t plant the seed too deeply. See UT Extension publication W 346-B Garden

Planning, Plant Preparation and Planting

Note- Garden seeds can be treated with fungicides to reduce decay before or during

germination, and there are also many biological options.

Days to germination at

59 degrees farenheit

Days to germinate at

77 degrees farenheit

Snap bean 16 8

Sweet corn 12 4

Cucumber 13 4

Lettuce 4 2

Pepper 25 8

Tomato 14 6

Data from University of California Agriculture and Natural Resources (UCANR) publication

164220 Garden Notes.

SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY

1 2 3 4 5 6

7 8 9 10 11 12 13

14 15 16 17 18 19 20

21 22 23 24 25 26 27

28 29 30

Notes on crops: Notes on weather:

APRIL 2024

new moon

full moon

Direct seeding of early

beans and sweet corn

could begin in West TN.

Make sure to follow soil

test recommendations for

pre-plant fertilization.

Prepare mulched beds

ahead of time if using

plastic mulch.

Don't forget to also

prepare irrigation if using

plastic mulch.

It could be a good time to

plant beets and peas in

East TN.

Nearing the end of dates

to direct seed lettuce and

spinach.

Keep track of the spring

rains using the weather

blocks at the bottom of

the page.

Nearing the end of dates

to direct seed kale in

West TN.

Many warm-season

transplants can be placed

in soil in Middle TN, but

warm soil is essential for

early growth.

Determine how much pest

control materials remain

from previous year.

If buying transplants, look

for stocky, dark green

seedlings with no sign of

pest or disease.

Remove nearby wild

brambles to lower the

risk of pest and disease

pressures.

Direct seeding of early

beans and sweet corn

could begin in Middle TN.

Blackberries are fertilized

once when primocanes

emerge and once

following harvest.

When was that last frost

this year? Make sure to

note it!

Late spring planting of

fruit is possible, but the

stress will be higher as

temps warm. Water well!

Okra can be seeded in

West TN if soil temps

reach mid-60s. Warm

soils are essential for okra!

Stone fruit fertilizer

can be applied in two

portions, early and later,

to adjust for fruit lost to

late frosts.

Control early weeds to

combat insect, disease

pressures.

Remember: Don't apply

insecticides during bloom

to protect pollinators on

fruit crops!

Make sure to transplant at

a time when the soil temp

is warm enough for good

root growth.

April and into May is the

time to plant turnips in

East TN.

TASKS FOR MAY

• Keep on the regular control sprays for fruit crops following recommended

guidelines in UT Extension publication PB 1622 Disease and Insect Control.

• Harvest cool-season crops and watch for pests/disease (see July).

• Seed succession plantings of beans and sweet corn. See UT Extension

publication D 61 Sweet Corn for the Tennessee Vegetable Garden

• Prepare for early season fertilization on small fruits; blueberries and

blackberries are often fertilized about a month after bud break.

• Prepare beds for transplants. Black plastic can warm the soil and speed

early growth. Provide irrigation if using plastic mulch. Sometimes natural

mulches, such as straw, are applied a few weeks after planting as they can

reﬂect light and actually slow soil warming.

• Continue transplanting warm-season crops. Peppers and eggplants

prefer even warmer soil conditions than tomatoes and are often planted

later. Make sure that young transplants are watered in and given a starter

fertilizer solution to support early growth.

• Set up your irrigation system as transplants are placed in the garden. Drip

irrigation is best to maintain dry leaves and reduce disease risks.

• Set up stakes, trellises, cages and support systems for your plants. It is

best to have these set up at or soon after planting.

• Don’t let weeds get started in the garden.

See UT Extension publication W 346-D Plant Management Practices.

Tennessee Top 5 Tasting Blackberries

Research on fruit crops can be time consuming and sweaty, but it also can be pretty

tasty! In recent years, a new blackberry cultivar trial has been installed at the Middle

Tennessee Research and Education Center in Spring Hill, TN. Eleven dierent blackberry

cultivars (see UT Extension publication W 895-B Selecting Caneberries for Residential

Production in Tennessee

) are being trialed to determine yield, health, and taste quality for

Tennesseans. Our tasters were most interested in sweet, fruity and sour ﬂavors along

with size and perceived fresh taste and ﬂavor intensity.

Tied for 5th:

Osage- a smaller berry that had good sweetness and low bitterness

Natchez- a large berry that was juicy with a bit of sourness

Tied for 4th:

Prime Ark Traveler- a small berry with good ﬁrmness and low bitterness

Kiowa- a very large and juicy berry with good sweetness and ﬂavor intensity

3rd:

Prime Ark 45- a medium sized berry that tasters thought was fresh and juicy

2nd:

Ponca- a very sweet berry that was medium sized with low bitterness

1st:

Caddo- a sweet berry with high ﬂavor intensity and low bitterness

Properly controlling pests and diseases in the garden and orchard relies upon

preventative cultural and spraying practices. It also depends on close observation to be

able to quickly address any issues that crop up.

• Do it frequently — at least once or twice a week.

• Inspect in a Z pattern if large or every plant if you have a small garden.

• Make sure to check the interior of the plants and the underside of leaves; don’t just

glance over the plants.

• Look for signs of insects and patterns of disease.

• Know your friends from your enemies; be able to ID beneﬁcial insects.

• Take a hand lens, markers and bags for samples, and a camera.

• Do your own research on pests and diseases (see UT Extension publication PB 595

You Can Control Insects

and UT Extension publication W 316 Home Vegetable Garden

Disease Control

), but don’t be afraid to send in samples to your local Extension oce

(see UT Extension Oce Locations website) or the UT Soil, Plant and Pest Center. See

Soil, Plant and Pest Center website.

Getting Started with Scouting

SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY

1 2 3 4

5 6 7 8 9 10 11

12 13 14 15 16 17 18

19 20 21 22 23 24 25

26 27 28 29 30 31

Notes on crops: Notes on pests: Notes on weather:

MAY 2024

new moon

full moon

Direct seed cucumbers in

west and Middle TN.

Some gardeners wait

until soil warms to install

natural mulches, such as

straw.

Record your favorite cool

season crops this year at

the end of the calendar.

In many parts of TN,

heat-loving plants such as

peppers, eggplant could

wait to be transplanted.

Remember, it is about soil

temps not just air temps.

Seedless watermelons

and supersweet corn will

germinate poorly if soil is

too cool.

Do your cool-season leafy

crops need any fertilizer

sidedressing?

Be ready to harvest

cool-season crops at the

peak of their quality.

This is the early date for

seeding okra in East TN.

Succession planting could

also be done for zucchini

or cucumbers.

Have some common

insecticides and

fungicides on hand.

Be scouting on a regular

basis to prevent getting

caught o guard by

pests/diseases.

Plan for fertilizing your

blueberries. They prefer

ammonium nitrogen

sources.

Direct seed cucurbits in

East TN.

Remove weeds from

strawberry canopy

to improve airﬂow

throughout season.

Install bird netting

over blueberries and

caneberries to prevent

birds from stealing your

berries!

Sweet potatoes are often

one of the last crops to be

planted.

Continue succession

seeding of corn and

beans.

Plan for weed control

continuously through the

season.

When you do see diseases

or insects, make sure to

record them at the end of

the calendar.

Good irrigation in the

ﬁrst year is critical for

establishment of new fruit

crops.

Be prepared to

spray insecticides on

blueberries if spotted

wing drosophilia damage

occurs.

Harvest strawberries

often. Remove and

dispose of damaged

berries to lower disease

risk.

Preventative sprays for

vegetable diseases may

need to begin in May.

Mulching tomatoes may

help reduce the impact

of early blight while

moderating moisture in soil.

TASKS FOR JUNE

• Scout for any issues with pests or diseases at least weekly.

Continue cover sprays for fruit trees and if conditions

support disease infection or if you see signs of disease, a

protective spray program may be needed for vegetables.

See UT Extension publication W661 Conventional and Organic

Product Overview for Home Vegetable Gardeners in Tennessee

and UT Extension publication PB 1622 Disease and Insect Control

in Home Fruit Plantings.

• Tip pruning of caneberries as well as early picking of small

fruits.

• Be on the lookout for maturity in the ﬁrst corn and bean

plantings (see July). See UT Extension publication D 58 Beans

for the Tennessee Vegetable Garden

• Manage soil after cool-season crops are removed. Those

areas may be a location for a summer cover crop, such as

buckwheat, to prevent weed growth and add organic matter.

• If a warm-season crop is planted immediately after

cool-season crops are removed, make sure to follow a crop

rotation.

• Apply fertilizer to blueberries and other small fruit.

• Some of the latest warm-season crops to be planted are

often watermelons and pumpkins as well as sweet potatoes.

• Make sure your irrigation system is functioning well and

manage weeds. See UT Extension publication W 346-D Plant

Management Practices.

Bacillus subtilis — Serenade Garden Disease

Control, Cease

Organic. These products contain live bacteria and can generally be used up

to day of harvest.

Captan — Captan Protective fungicide for many fruits.

Chlorothalonil — Daconil, Bonide Fung-onil,

Ortho Garden Disease Control

Best used as a protectant. Speciﬁc crops, mixing rates, pre-harvest intervals

and max number of sprays per year are on label.

Copper (Copper sulfate, ﬁxed copper) — Bonide

Liquid Copper Fungicide, Monterey liquid

copper, Camelot O

Organic. Some formulations are easier to get in solution and spray. Speciﬁc

crops, mixing rates, pre-harvest intervals and max. number of sprays per

year are on label.

Lime Sulfur — Hi-Yield lime sulfur spray Organic. Can be applied dormant or in season to control a range of fungal

and bacterial diseases in fruit crops. Very corrosive.

Mancozeb — Dithane, Manzate, Bonide

Mancozeb Flowable w/ Zinc

Best used as a protectant. Speciﬁc crops, mixing rates, pre-harvest intervals

and max. # of sprays per year are on label.

Myclobutanil — Immunox, Monterey Fungi-Max Protectant with some curative activity. Pay close attention to label and

listed crops.

Neem oil — Garden Safe Fungicide 3I, Monterey

Neem Oil

Organic. Botanical extracts with insecticidal activity. Sprays should always

be made to avoid ﬂying bees and other pollinators.

Potassium bicarbonate —GreenCure, Milstop,

Agricure

Organic. Speciﬁc diseases controlled or suppressed are on the label.

Sulfur — Bonide Sulfur Plant Fungicide,

Yellow Jacket Special Dusting Sulfur, Espoma

Earth-tone 3n1 Disease Control

Organic. Some sulfur products are mixed with an insecticide (Earth-tone 3n1

also contains organic pyrethrin), so sprays should be made to avoid ﬂying

bees and other pollinators.

Incorporating edibles in your residential landscape is a great way to create produce, interest, and add to the

ecosystem in your backyard! Edibles can be habitats for beneﬁcial insects and pollinators and encourage birds

and other wildlife. Edible landscapes are functional to provide both beauty and produce through the seasons.

What are some edible plant options to consider including in your landscape?

– Trees/Large Shrubs: Persimmon, pawpaw, red mulberry, Chinese chestnut,

Chickasaw plum, and ﬁg

– Shrubs: Blueberry, hazelnut, raspberry, blackberry

– Groundcover/low growing: Strawberry

– Vines: Grapes (bunch or muscadine), hardy kiwi

– Protective fungicides are the main tool, so it is important to have sprays applied before infection windows,

cover well with the spray, and follow recommended spray intervals.

– Few garden fungicides have strong curative properties; focus on prevention.

– Fungicides can’t replace sanitation, rotation and disease resistant cultivars. Use these practices together for

the best eect.

– Always follow the label and ensure that pollinators are protected.

Edible Landscapes: Connecting Food and Landscapes

Getting Started Using Fungicides in the Garden and Orchard

For vegetables see UT Extension publication W 661 Conventional and Organic Product Overview for Home

Vegetable Gardeners in Tennessee.

For fruits see UT Extension publication PB 1622 Disease and Insect Control in Fruit Planting

SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY

2 3 4 5 6 7 8

9 10 11 12 13 14 15

16 17 18 19 20 21 22

23 24 25 26 27 28 29

Notes on weather: Notes on weather:

JUNE 2024

new moon

full moon

Are the tomatoes

blooming yet? Mark it

down on the page at the

end of the calendar.

Succession planting of

beans should be nearly

done in West TN.

Keep scouting for pests

and disease. Check leaf

undersides and interior

leaves.

Fertilize and irrigate

blueberries as needed to

promote plant vigor and

fruit.

Early beans may be close

to harvest in many areas.

Some can mature in only

50-55 days.

Still time to get some okra

seeded.

Keep an eye out for cool

season crops to harvest.

Strawberry harvest may

be nearing the end of the

season.

Watch out for early blight

on your tomatoes.

Keep an eye on plant

health and be ready with

fungicide.

Do the strawberries need

renovation for future

productivity?

Also plan to fertilize.

Harvest summer squash

when the skin is still

glossy.

Watch for ripe

blueberries! And, watch

for insect pests. Spray

only if observed.

Be ready for sidedressing

many crops that are

setting fruit.

Many warm-season

crops, such as corn, many

cucurbits can still be

succession planted.

Enjoy the longest

gardening evenings of the

year!

Keep track of when you

apply fertilizer and how

much you apply.

Keep your eye on the

blackberries. Many

cultivars may be close

to ripe.

Soft tip blackberry

primocanes when 8-12

inches over the trop trellis

wire to encourage laterals.

Succession planting of

beans should be nearly

done in East TN.

Make sure to keep track

of anything you spray. A

record sheet is found on

the back.

Keep an eye out for

mature sweet corn. A

70-day cultivar seeded on

4/20 could be ready!

A summer cover crop

of buckwheat can work

well behind a spring

cool-season crop.

Time your pumpkin

planting to mature in

early to mid-fall. August

pumpkins are less

exciting.

A 100 day pumpkin

seeded on June 30 would

be estimated to mature

around October 10.

If there have been

frequent rains or lots of

moisture, more protective

fungicides might be

needed.

TASKS FOR JULY

• Keep blueberries and blackberries picked frequently for best quality and to

reduce pest issues.

• Continue cover sprays for fruit trees. See UT Extension publication PB 1622 Disease

and Insect Control in Home Fruit Plantings

• Pick tomatoes, beans, corn and other warm-season crops

• Provide irrigation as needed but try to minimize leaf wetness and overhead

watering.

• Manage vegetable nutrition through proper side dressing and in-season fertilizer

applications. See UT Extension publication W804-A Getting The Most Out Of Your

Home Vegetable Garden Soil Test

• Manage weeds. See UT Extension publication W 346-D Plant Management Practices.

• Scout frequently for insect or disease issues and spray as needed. See June and

see UT Extension publication W316 Home Vegetable Garden Disease Control.

• Select cool-season crops and cultivars for fall and make seed order. Some

cool-season crop transplants may need started in July.

• Pumpkins should be seeded according to maturity. A 100-day pumpkin seeded on

July 1 would be estimated to mature October 11.

Top Ten Cucumbers for Tennessee Gardens

Getting Started on Proper Harvesting

From slicing to pickling to snacking, there is a cucumber for every garden and

need. These warm season vine crops can be transplanted or direct seeded and

can be grown in ground, beds or containers. We focus on disease resistance

as well as taste and productivity in our cultivar trials. Below are some great

options that have performed well in our trials through the years.

10. Patio Snacker- compact and productive 6-8” slicer cucumber

9. Martini- a light green 6-8” slicer with good production and novel color

8. Diva- AAS winning thin skinned cucumber

7. Spacemaster- compact plant with 8” dark green slicer fruit

6. Cool Customer- a productive large picking cucumber

5. Marketmore 76- Productive open pollinated 8-10" long slicer

4. Green Light- AAS winning, thin skinned snacker harvested from 4-8”

3. General- an 8” dark green slicer with good disease resistance and yield

2. Bristol- traditional 8” slicer with wide resistance and good production

1. Tasty Green- productive plant with light green, burpless fruit, tender skin

For more cucumber information, see UT Extension publication D 62 Vine Crops for

the Tennessee Vegetable Garden.

Warm-season Vegetables

Beans, snap While pods snap easily (as opposed to being tough and ﬂexible) and

seeds are still green.

Corn, sweet Kernels should be ﬁlled out nearly to the end of the ear and milky if

crushed. Silks dried down.

Cucumber When seeds are small, ﬂesh is still ﬁrm, and color is green.

Eggplant When fruit is still shiny and the color has not dulled. Edible from 1/3 grown

until full grown.

Muskmelon When melons can be lifted and the vine pulls away from the fruit with little

resistance (slips).

Okra When pods are 2 ½ to 3 ½ inches long and tender.

Pepper When full size and ﬁrm. Green is immature, and fruit will color to red,

yellow, or orange and contain more sugars when ripe.

Potato, sweet After reaching desired size, but before moist and cool fall soil conditions

reduce quality and storage life.

Squash, summer When skin is still tender and glossy and the large end (zucchini) is 1 to 2 ½

inches in diameter.

Squash, winter When rind has hardened and is not easily scratched.

Tomato When uniformly colored (pink to orange) but still somewhat ﬁrm.

Watermelon When tendrils next to fruit die back and the rind on the underside of the

fruit turns from white to a creamy yellow.

SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY

1 2 3 4 5 6

7 8 9 10 11 12 13

14 15 16 17 18 19 20

21 22 23 24 25 26 27

28 29 30 31

Notes on crops: Notes on weather:

J U LY 2024

new moon

full moon

Record those harvests on

the record sheets at the

back of the calendar.

Don't forget to get those

late pumpkins seeded

soon.

Fruit ﬁll of berries is a

critical time for adequate

water.

Order plugs for fall

strawberry plantings.

Make sure that you have

enough seed for fall

cool-season crops.

Don't let the weeds get

ahead of you annual

weeds that go to seed

only create future issues.

Do you have enough

seed for a late planting

of summer squash or

cucumbers?

The earliest of fall

cool season crops for

transplants may need to

be seeded in July. Make

sure you have seeds!

Have you seen any of

those pesky tomato/

tobacco hornworms?

In many parts of TN, late

July will be the time to

start fall cool-season

transplants.

Are your Brussels sprouts

planted? Long season

cool crops may actually

need to be planted soon.

A 6-week-old transplant

for an August 22 planting

would be seeded today.

Watch the irrigation and

make sure that growing

plants are receiving

correct moisture.

Remove ﬂoricanes of

blackberry after fruiting

to lower disease risk. Also,

time for fertilizer.

Practice good sanitation.

If it is damaged/diseased

remove it and place far

from other crops.

Don't let disease get

ahead of you. There is still

much harvest time left if

plants are healthy.

Make sure to follow

pre-harvest intervals

listed on pesticide labels.

Keep a record of your

sprays and track their

ecacy for future

reference.

Look up some new

recipes to try with your

summer harvest!

Irrigate fruit crops as

needed for the rest of the

year to prevent stress.

Do not fertilize

blueberries after July to

prevent growth that can

be at risk of winter injury.

Keep an eye out for

mature sweet corn- you

must hurry to beat the

varmits!

Keep on picking! It may

be nearing peach time

in TN! Best peaches are

mid-July to mid-August.

Keep scouting: don’t get

too busy with harvests.

TASKS FOR AUGUST

• Keep late blueberries picked as well as keep watch for tree fruit.

• Keep picking warm-season crops. Proper picking times are critical to

enjoy the highest quality in home vegetable crops (see July). Timely

picking supports the highest level of production. See UT Extension

publication W 346-I Harvest, Handling and Storage of Produce.

• Practice proper canning, freezing or drying to preserve garden produce

for later use.

• Don’t let the weeds get ahead of you and produce seeds.

• Late plantings of summer squash and other short season, warm-season

crops, like cucumbers can be done this month.

• Keep an eye on soil moisture levels, irrigation and any need for side

dressing for fruiting crops.

• Prepare soils for fall cool-season crops and maintain crop rotations.

Transplant fall cool-season crops that take the most days to mature.

Three types of blueberries can be grown in Tennessee. Northern highbush (Vaccinium

corymbosum) and rabbiteye (Vaccinium virgatum syn. V. ashei) are the most common, but

rabbbiteye provides the best chance of success. Southern highbush are the third that have

genetics from the others.

Rabbiteye- This type of blueberry is native to the southern US and has wider adaptability in

terms of soil and management. They tend to be longer lived and more vigorous than highbush.

Make sure to select cultivars with sucient chilling requirements because many lower chilling

cultivars frost damage on early blooms. Rabbiteyes have a later harvest season than highbush

and will be ripe in July and August. Most rabbiteye varieties have resistance to anthracnose

fruit rot and Phomopsis twig blight.

– Older cultivars known to perform well in TN- Tifblue, Premier, Brightwell, Powderblue

– Newer Cultivars of interest- Ochlocknee, Vernon, Columbus

Highbush- Native to moist or bog-like and prefer high organic matter sites. In mid-south

Tennessee locations, northern highbush often performs best in cooler regions (they have

greater chilling requirements) and generally require irrigation. They can be more disease prone

and have a shorter lifespan versus rabbiteye. In recent years, genetics from both the northern

type highbush and native southern blueberry species are being used to produce earlier fruit

cultivars for areas not suitable for northern highbush. Make sure to select higher chilling

southern highbush.

– Northern highbush cultivars to consider- Blueray, Bluecrop, Spartan, Chandler

– Southern highbush to consider- Legacy, Ozark Blue, Summit, Sweetheart, New Hanover

Squash for Tennessee Gardens Bountiful Blueberry for Tennessee

What would summer be in Tennessee

without squash and zucchini?

There are so many beautiful and

tasty options. Summer squash are

warm season crops that can be

transplanted or direct seeded after

frost. Many bear in 40-50 days,

and many have good resistance or

tolerance to viruses and disease.

10. Chion- compact and productive

6-8” slicer cucumber

9. Eight Ball- small dark green, round zucchini for small gardens and kids

8. Mexicana- dark green cousa type (on right)

7. Bossa Nova- AAS winning dark and light green zucchini

6. Sunburst- a unique patty pan with a green tip, AAS winner

5. Zephyr- yellow straightneck squash with a green tip and good production

4. Tempest- a light and dark yellow squash with very good ﬂavor

3. Desert- traditional 8” slicer with wide resistance and good production

2. Green Tiger- light and dark green striped zucchini with good production

1. Grandprize- very productive yellow straightneck, wide disease resistance

For more information on squash, see UT Extension publication D 62 Vine

Crops for the Tennessee Vegetable Garden

SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY

1 2 3

4 5 6 7 8 9

11 12 13 14 15 16

18 19 20 21 22 23 24

35 26 27 28 29 30 31

Notes on crops: Notes on weather:

AUGUST 2024

new moon

full moon

Record any disease issues

and how well disease is

controlled by any applied

sprays.

If you are buying fall

transplants, look for

young, actively growing

plants.

Make sure you have the

seed for directed seeded

cool-season crops.

Side dress matted row

strawberries with nitrogen

to promote good fruit bud

development.

When should you plant

fall crops? Ex: a broccoli

transplant that will mature

in 60 days.

Nashville ﬁrst avg. frost is 10/28. 60 days plus 10 for

slower fall growth. We can plan to harvest a couple

weeks after frost. 70 days back from 11/11 is 9/2. Or

7/22 to grow a 6-week-old transplant yourself.

Nashville ﬁrst average frost is 10/28. 35 day plus 10 for

slower fall growth. We can plan to harvest for a couple

weeks after frost, though. Count back 45 days from

11/11. Aim for about a 9/27 seeding.

How can you determine

when to plant fall crops?

Example: a lettuce that

will mature in 35 days.

Winter squash is ready

to harvest when rind

hardens. Does it scratch

with your ﬁngernail?

Continue irrigating

perennial plants even

if fruit production has

stopped.

Consider cover crops for

between rows of your

fruit orchard.

Direct seeded fall

cool-season crops

will require attention

and water for best

germination.

Get those best of show

crops ready for the

county fair!

Plan your cover crops for

fall and make sure you

order enough seed.

Continue irrigating

through autumn to

prevent drought stress.

Keep on scouting and

manage weeds and

sanitation. It can help this

year and next year!

How can you determine

when to plant fall crops?

Example: a zucchini that

will mature in 50 days.

Knoxville ﬁrst frost avg.

is 10/22. 50 days plus 10

for fall slower growing 14

days to harvest is an 8/9

seeding.

Transplants for many

fall crops in east TN

are planted in early to

mid-Aug.

TASKS FOR SEPTEMBER

• Keep picking warm-season crops. Canning, freezing, and drying are all options for

preservation. See UT Extension publication W 346-I Harvest, Handling and Storage of

Produce

• Don’t let those late season weeds get ahead of you and go to seed.

• Keep an eye on soil moisture levels and manage pests as some of the warm-season

fruiting crop harvests come to a close.

• Later planted beans, tomatoes, summer squash and other warm-season crops may

require frequent attention in scouting and pest management to ensure good yields.

• Make sure that fall cool-season crops are properly watered and fertilized.

Germination and early growth of leafy crops and brassicas requires even moisture

and appropriate nitrogen levels. See UT Extension publication D 70 Root Crops for the

Tennessee Vegetable Garden

• Transplant and direct seed fall cool-season crops. Keep in mind that days to harvest

estimate often need to be lengthened in the cooler and lower light days of fall. See

UT Extension publication D 68 Leafy Crops for the Tennessee Vegetable Garden.

• Many fall cover crops are best seeded in September to get good stands and winter

cover — even spring bloom for some!

Plants that Feed the Soil - Summer and Fall Cover Crops

Cover crops are planted when the soil would otherwise be bare between crops or growing

seasons and may be beneﬁcial to soil, water and plant relationships as well as pest, pathogen

and weed management. September is a great time to establish cover crops for overwintering.

• Legumes (peas, beans, clover, vetch, alfalfa) have root nodules that contain N-ﬁxing

bacteria. This nitrogen will be available for later crops after the legume is killed and

incorporated into the soil.

• Many cover crops are grasses (cereal rye, barley, wheat and oats) that would be

grain crops if grown to maturity. They are grown because they are economical, easily

established, and can produce large amounts of plant material in a relatively short period of

time. These crops stabilize the soil, prevent erosion and help break some plant disease or

pest cycles in addition to increasing organic matter.

• Buckwheat (on right), grape and radishes are examples of cover crops that are neither a

grass nor a legume. These crops can increase organic matter, improve soil structure. Some

brassicas have biofumigation properties (decomposing tissue releases compounds to

suppress pests or disease in the soil) when incorporated.

See UT Extension publication W 346-G Stewardship in Soil Management.

Top Ten Leafy Greens for Fall Gardens in Tennessee

Have you been frustrated by bolting or bitter leafy crops in the spring? Give

fall and try and include some great options beyond lettuce and spinach.

Watering can be crucial, and keeping an eye on fertilization also is key. There

is nothing like some fresh fall greens from your own garden!

10. Space spinach- rapid growing, disease resistant, harvest at any size

9. Bull’s Blood beet greens- beautiful red heirloom harvested at any stage

8. Ruby Sky lettuce- a red leaf with good resistance to harvest at any stage

7. Salanova red or green bibb lettuce- compact, open heads

6. Black Magic kale- a dino kale type with long dark green leaves

5. Winter Density romaine- compact, dark green romaine for fall

4. All Star lettuce mix- a quick to harvest range of green to red for any site

3. Prizm kale- compact, medium green AAS winning frilly leaf type

2. Salanova red or green bibb lettuce- compact, open heads

1. Redbor kale- beautiful dark red leaf kale for gardens and containers

For more info see UT Extension publication D 68 Leafy Crops for the Tennessee

Vegetable Garden

SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

8 9 10 11 12 13 14

15 16 17 18 19 20 21

22 23 24 25 26

27 28

29 30

Notes on crops: Notes on weather:

SEPTEMBER 2024

full moon

new moon

Most cabbage, broccoli,

cauliﬂower should

be trans-planted by

mid-Sept. in West TN.

Keep track of how much

and how often watering is

needed. Without rain 1-2

in/week is an estimate.

Brassicas, lettuce and

many fall crops are fast

growing and may need a

fertilizer sidedressing.

Many cover crops may

produce best in East

TN with a September

seeding.

It's getting close to the

end of seeding for fall

leafy crops in Middle and

East TN.

Early fall is often the

driest time of the year in

TN. Be prepared to meet

crop water needs.

Begin selecting fruit

cultivars to plant in the

fall, dormant in the winter,

or in early spring.

Keep an eye out for

pests/disease on your

cool-season crops. Row

covers can reduce insects.

Make sure that there is

sucient water for fall

cool-season crops.

Have you seen any of the

pesky armyworms? If so,

record it!

Want a few leafy crops

for fall without managing

a whole garden? Build a

small raised bed.

Vetch and other legumes

beneﬁt from early fall

seeding while rye can be

sown later.

September through

November are the times

to plant garlic across TN.

In fact, here in TN, we

can grow broth hardneck

and softneck garlic. See

November for info.

Remove warm-season

crops as they ﬁnish

producing to lighten the

load of fall cleanup.

If the plants are healthy,

it could be a great time to

being a compost pile.

Containers can also be a

great way to produce a

bit of fresh produce for

late fall.

Soil tests should be taken

6 months before planting

caneberries.

A row cover or low tunnel

can add a couple of weeks

to the fall season.

Watch for high temps

under cover on very warm

September days.

To assure good growth

and fruit set in spring,

maintain healthy foliage

on fruits crops to frost.

TASKS FOR OCTOBER

• Continue picking any remaining warm or early cool-season crops. See UT

Extension publication W 346-I Harvest, Handling and Storage of Produce

• Keep an eye on soil moisture levels and manage pests as warm-season fruiting

crop harvests ﬁnish and cool-season begins.

• If you are participating in the Tennessee Home Garden Variety Trial, be sure to

send in your evaluations soon. See Home Garden Vegetable Trial.

• Ensure that fall cool-season crops are properly watered and fertilized. As

temperatures cool, less water will be needed.

• Seed/transplant fall cool-season crops with shorter days to harvest.

• October is still a great time to seed cover crops.

See UT Extension publication W 346-G Stewardship in Soil Management.

• Take soil tests and make adjustments to pH as recommended.

From the Garden to the Landscape: Consider Stepping up

your Stewardship with Tennessee SmartYards

Are you looking for ways to have a biologically diverse landscape and protect

natural resources while supporting wildlife? Tennessee Smart Yards is an educational

and yard certiﬁcation program for Tennesseans that teaches the “how to” aspects

of stewardship to create healthier, more environmentally sound landscapes and

communities. You don’t have to be an expert gardener or landscaper to create

a Tennessee Smart Yard. All it takes is a willingness to learn and a desire to act.

Maintaining a Tennessee Smart Yard mutually beneﬁts the environment and the

homeowner by providing natural and functional beauty.

Visit the Tennessee Smart Yard website at: tnyards.utk.edu

Scaling Up: Tips for Tennessee Homesteaders

For the vegetable garden:

1. Be intentional about your planning, planting and harvesting.

• Create a planting plan to support good rotation and eciency.

• Consider growing your own transplants.

• Plant in successions for extended harvest.

• Also consider season extension techniques.

2. Manage your soil for the present and the future.

• Use tillage only as much as is necessary.

• Soil test and carefully manage nutrition.

• Rotate to support soil health.

• Get converted to cover crops.

3. Get serious about your management methods.

• Utilize mulches—organic and/or plastic—and appropriate weed control.

• Irrigation can be a big asset.

• Be serious about your support systems—cages, stakes and such will lower disease and

picking time.

• Know your pest and disease control options.

• See UT Extension publication PB 1622 Disease and Insect Control in Home Fruit Plantings.

For the home orchard:

1. Be realistic about the climate, site and your time and money investments.

• Check out the realities of home fruit with this simple ﬂow chart to understand the range of

management needs.

2. Select with the location and diseasze resistance*** in mind to reduce losses.

3. Make a plan for the space AND the time you need to grow high fruit crops.

Crop Estimated square

feet per plant

Planting to First

Harvest

Planting to Full

Crop

Life Expectancy

Apples – semi-

dwarf/dwarf

120-750 2 to 4 years 4 to 6 years 15 to >20 years

Grapes – bunch

muscadine

60-160 4 years 5 to 7 years 25 to >30 years

Blackberries 16-32 1 year 2 to 3 years 6 to 8 years

Blueberries 30-40 3 years 6 to 8 years >25 years

Strawberries 1-2 1 year 1 year 2 to 4 years

SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY

1 2 3 4 5

6 7 8 9 10 11 12

13 14 15 16 17 18 19

20 21 22 23 24 25 26

27 28 29 30 31

Notes on crops: Notes on weather:

OCTOBER 2024

full moon

new moon

Getting close to the end

of the time to direct seed

fall crops in West TN.

Many cover crops can still

produce well in East TN if

planted in mid-October.

You don't have to seed

the whole garden in cover

at once. Cool season

sections can be last.

October is a great time to take soil samples.

Take 10-15 sub-samples about 6 inches deep.

Make sure that late season

crops have adequate (but

not excessive) water and

nutrients.

What were your favorite

peppers and tomatoes

this year? Make sure to

write the varieties down.

Sometimes the taste of

brassica crops is better

after being exposed to a

bit of frost.

Have you had a frost yet?

Write it down in the

record sheet in the back

of the calendar.

Bring your tools in from

the garden. Clean them

well.

Extend the life of your

tools with proper

sharpening and oiling.

We are getting close to

ﬁrst frosts in many areas

of West TN.

Enjoy a home-grown

jack-o-lantern for

halloween!

Fall is a great time to

address voles or other

issues in fruit plantings.

Review soil reports and

make additions if needed

to adjust pH for next year.

Remove and dispose of

ﬂoricanes that already

fruited on caneberries.

If apple scab, peach scab,

or pear leaf spot occurred,

rake and destory leaves

to prevent disease

overwintereing.

Remember, plants can

survive low temp but may

not grow and produce

much yield in some areas.

Make sure to clean up

warm-season crops to

prevent disease spread.

Be on the lookout for

fruit from late seeded

warm-season crops.

Also be on the lookout

for ﬁrst frosts in parts of

East TN.

Keep good notes on the

cultivars that did well or

not as well in your garden

this year.

TASKS FOR NOVEMBER

• Finish the picking of remaining warm-season crops. If frost is approaching, unripe tomatoes can be

harvested to slowly ripen indoors. See UT Extension publication W 346-H Growing Tomatoes.

• Make sure to remove crop and fruit debris from the garden and orchard that was diseased to reduce

inoculum. Sanitation in home fruit is also crucial and discussed below with some key examples.

• Fall is a great time to set up a compost pile with the (disease-free) debris from your garden along with

leaf and lawn clippings. See Home Composting: A Guide to Managing Yard Waste.

• Ensure that fall cool-season crops are properly watered, fertilized and harvested. As temperatures cool,

less water will be needed.

• There are some cover crops that can still be seeded in November, so don’t assume that a late fall crop

prevents you from seeding. See UT Extension publication W 235-G Cover Crops and Green Manures.

• Fall is a great time to address rodent issues by maintaining bare soil under the trees, removing or

crushing dropped fruit, mowing between trees and perimeters, and using rodenticides if problem

worsens. See UT Extension Publication PB 1868 Managing Wildlife Around Your Home.

Soil Testing to Prepare for Next Year

Fall is a great time to prepare for crop next year and success begins with soil

testing. Knowing what nutrients are in your soil and the current pH and how

they can be adjusted can make a big dierence in your garden success.

Sampling: The Where (The results are only as good as the sample!)

– If your area is uniform, one composite sample can be made. Collect 10 to

15 subsamples in a pattern to make sure the sample represents the area.

– If the soil appears dierent in your garden spot, you will need to take

multiple samples to represent each distinct area.

Sampling: The How

– If using a soil probe, take soil cores that are 6 inches deep since that is

the common rooting depth of many vegetable plants.

– If using a spade, remove a shovelful of soil 6 inches deep. Then, take

another thin slice of the soil with the spade that covers the entire 6 inches

of the hole. The center of that slice is a great soil sample.

– Be sure to remove any grass, rocks, and other debris from the sample.

– Mix together all the subsamples in a clean (non-galvanized) bucket/

container and allow them to air dry before packaging.

Sampling: The Who

– The UT Soil, Plant and Pest Center has all the needed testing and

mailing information. Soil test boxes can be obtained from a county

Extension oce. Keep in mind that raised beds with more than 25

percent non-soil should be tested as greenhouse media.

– Make sure to mark the tests you need (consider getting an organic matter

percentage) and the crops you are growing on the sample sheet.

Soil Reports: The What

- Soil test reports provide information on current soil conditions and

recommendations for amending this soil to reach optimum productivity for

the crop. For more info check out UT Extension publication W 804-A Getting

the Most Out of Your Home Vegetable Garden Soil Test Report.

Also, see the easy-to-use in-season fertilizer guide at the back!

In The Spotlight-Season Extension

Season extension is a great set of tools for gardeners to improve growth, productivity and survival in their

fall garden crops!

- Floating row covers

These are nonwoven plastic ﬁlms or agricultural fabrics applied directly over crops. They increase air and

soil temperatures by trapping sunlight. Because of their light weight and permeability, they do not need

support. Plants with tender growing points may need protection from abrasion by ﬂoating covers.

- Low tunnels

Low tunnels cover crop rows and are supported by 2 to 3 feet tall wire or plastic hoops and stretched

tight to create the appearance of a miniature greenhouse. Tunnels can be made of agricultural fabrics or

lightweight clear polyethylene plastic. Vents help prevent overheating. See UT Extension publication

W 346 F Season Extension Methods.

SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY

1 2

3 4 5 6 7 8 9

10 11 12 13 14 15 16

17 18 19 20 21 22 23

24 25 26 27 28 29 30

Notes on crops: Notes on weather:

NOVEMBER 2024

full moon

new moon

Did you get your garlic

planted? It isn't too late!

Keep harvesting your

various cool-season

crops.

Even if it is a

mid-November seeding, a

cover crop like rye can still

be an beneﬁt.

It may even be close

to a ﬁrst frost in

Memphis by now!

Keep notes on the

crops and cultivars that

performed well for you

this year.

Write those notes in the

record sheets in the back

of this calendar.

What were some of your

pest issues this year?

What were some of the

disease issues you faced?

Knowing your gardening

challenges is great info to

help select crops for next

year.

Adjust soil pH well

before planting

blueberries. pH lowering

sulfur can take months

to fully take eect.

Happy Thanksgiving with

some great home grown

crops on the table!

There are many resistant

varieties that can help you

address disease issues.

Carrots can be stored in

ground for a little while,

but be sure to pull before

the ground freezes.

Clean up any stakes or

debris from the garden.

TASKS FOR DECEMBER

• Harvest any remaining fall cool-season crops. Lettuce, chard and beets can be

less cold hardy than kale and spinach in some areas.

• Take stock of the completed gardening season and make sure you have good

records of problems encountered and control practices that worked well. Use

the information from the completed season and rotation guidelines to plan for

next year.

• Sort and count any remaining seeds to determine what may need to be

ordered.

• While it may seem early, December can be a great time to order seeds for

your 2024 garden, especially those you plan to grow as transplants (see

January-March).

• Clean any remaining stakes, plants or debris from the garden (excluding any

plants that you intend to overwinter). Try to rotate this overwintering area of

the garden to make sure that every section receives a cover crop as often as

possible.

• Clean, repair (if needed) and store your garden tools for next year.

• Make sure to do any sanitation that remains for home fruit.

Getting Started with Crop Rotation

Many pathogens infect related plants, so rotation ensures the same families are

not planted in an area too often. Rotation is most eective against pathogens that

survive in soil or on crop remains for a short period of time. It is recommended to

rotate away from a crop family for 3 years, which is called a 4-year rotation.

See UT Extension publication W 316 Home Vegetable Garden Disease Control.

Spicing Up Your Winter with Microgreens

Microgreens are plant shoots that are harvested and typically eaten raw. They dier

from sprouts because the roots are not eaten. Microgreens can be eaten at the seed leaf

(cotyledon) stage, but often one to two true leaves are allowed to form and provide more

plant weight. Microgreens are thickly seeded because they are harvested young and are

typically 1-4 inches tall at the time of harvest. Production can vary by species, but often

microgreens can be grown from seed to harvest in 10 to 21 days.

Microgreens can have a unique place in a meal as a garnish or added to salads,

sandwiches, and smoothies. Microgreens are always plants that have edible stems and

leaves. They are eaten raw to maximize ﬂavor and nutrition and because cooking often

destroys the small, delicate plants.

• Seeds- purchase microgreens mixes or use untreated garden seeds.

• Containers- shallow germination trays work, and small-scale batches also can be grown

in containers such as plastic berry containers.

• Substrate- new germination mixes are a great way to begin, and there are also a range

of ﬁber mats that you can also use.

• Site- many indoor locations with good light or supplemental lights can be used. Air

movement is also needed.

Find more details about growing in UT Extension publication W 346 J Small-Scale

Microgreen Production.

Crop family Common home garden crops

Apiaceae Carrot, celery, parsnip

Chenopodiaceae Beet, spinach, chard

Cucurbitaceae Cucumber, squash, pumpkin, watermelon

Poaceae Corn

Malvaceae Okra

Brassicaceae Broccoli, mustard, Brussels sprouts, kale, collards, kohlrabi, turnip,

cabbage, cauliﬂower, radish

Solanaceae Tomato, potato, pepper, eggplant

Alliaceae Chives, garlic, leek, onion

Fabaceae Beans, peas, edamame

Asteraceae Lettuce, sunﬂower, endive

Cool season vegetables grown

as microgreens

Warm season vegetables

grown as microgreens

Herbs grown as microgreens

Kale, Broccoli, Cabbage, Beets,

Swiss Chard, Pea, Lettuce,

Mizuna, Arugula, Bok Choy,

Turnip, Radish, Endive, Mustard,

Cress, Carrot

Amaranth, Sweet Corn,

Sunﬂower

Basil, Cilantro, Parsley, Fennel,

Dill, Marjoram

SUNDAY MONDAY TUESDAY WEDNESDAY THURSDAY FRIDAY SATURDAY

1 2 3 4 5 6 7

8 9 10 11 12 13 14

15 16 17 18 19 20 21

22 23 24

25 26 27 28

29 30 31

Notes on crops: Notes on weather:

DECEMBER 2024

full moon

new moon

You could even test

germination (take percent

of 10-25 seeds) to conﬁrm

viability.

It is almost seed catalog

time. Don't be afraid to

get some early orders in.

Mulch strawberries

when temperatures are

expected to drop below

20 degrees F but only if

they are dormant!

Clean and store your tools

for next year.

It could be a great time to

select and order bareroot

fruit for next year.

Map out crop rotations

for next year in light

of diseases or pests

encountered.

Mulch blueberry bushes

to a depth of 5-6 inches

when dormant.

Sort and count remaining

seeds to prevent

over-ordering for next

year.

It is a great time to

service tillers and other

equipment. Sharpen

blades and change oil.

Start to think about the

garden plan for next year.

The gardening days get

longer from here!

Crop Timing in season/fruit or

plant size

Application rate/100-foot row, 36-inch centers

33-0-0 or 34-0-0

Ammonium nitrate

15.5-0-0 (calcium nitrate) Bloodmeal, feathermeal

(12-0-0)*

Soybean (7-1-2),

cottonseed (6-2-1) meal

or ﬁsh fertilizer (5-1-1)*

Tomato 1st fruits are 1” diameter 1 lb 2 lb 2.8 lb 5.7 lb

Pepper 1st fruits are 1” diameter 0.5 to 1 lb 1 to 2 lb 1.4 to 2.8 lb 2.8 to 5.7 lb

Later in season (if needed) 0.5 to 1 lb 1 to 2 lb 1.4 to 2.8 lb 2.8 to 5.7 lb

Vine crops (Cucumbers,

melons, pumpkins, squash)

Vines are 1 ft. long 0.75 to 1 lb 1.5 to 2 lb 2 to 2.8 lb 4.2 to 5.7 lb

Sweet corn Plants are 12-18” tall 1 to 1.5 lb 2 to 3 lb 2.8 to 4 lb 5.7 to 8.5 lb

Okra, eggplant 3 to 4 weeks after seeding/

transplanting

0.5 to 1 lb 1 to 2 lb 1.4 to 2.8 lb 2.8 to 5.7 lb

6 to 8 weeks after seeding/

transplanting

0.5 to 1 lb 1 to 2 lb 1.4 to 2.8 lb 2.8 to 5.7 lb

Broccoli, cabbage,

cauliﬂower, Brussels

sprouts

2 to 3 weeks after

transplanting

1 lb 2 lb 2.8 lb 5.7 lb

5 to 6 weeks after

transplanting

0.5 lb 1 lb 1.4 lb 2.8 lb

Kale, collards, lettuce,

spinach, mustard

3 to 4 weeks after seeding 0.5 to 0.75 lb 1 to 1.5 lb 1.4 to 2 lb 2.8 to 4.2 lb

In-Season Nitrogen Fertilization for Vegetable Crops

*Natural or organic fertilizers will be available more slowly than chemical (often 1-4 months).

Crop Cultivars grown Date seeded

transplants

Seeded or transplanted

in the garden

First ﬂower First harvest Insect issues Disease issues Last harvest

This calendar is also a ﬁllable PDF to enable digital record keeping:

tiny.utk.edu/W436

Growing Season Events Spring - Last Frost Date

Any late frost events?

Fall - First Frost Date

Length of growing season (days from

last to ﬁrst frost).

Extreme weather events Other notes

General climate Spring temperature trends Summer temperature trends Fall temperature trends Winter temperature trends

Rainfall Spring rainfall total Summer rainfall totals Fall rainfall totals Other notes

Irrigation Spring irrigation summary Summer irrigation summary Fall irrigation summary Other notes

Soil management Spring tillage Summer cover crops Fall cover crops Other notes

Fertilization Pre-plant fertilization Side-dressing Fertigation (fertilizer dissolved

in irrigation)

Other notes

Garden and Orchard Climate and Management Overview

(Use this page as a summary of notes recorded in the separate month calendars)

Crop and issue Date of action Material and method used Rate and volume used Notes on ecacy

Pest and Disease Management Records

(Use this page to keep records throughout the gardening season)

24-0041 W 436 12/23

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