Vegetables

Production and Harvesting

Vegetable production requires only a small area of land and minimal outlay. What vegetables you decide to grow commercially depends on a variety of factors. Here you’ll find information on growing and harvesting vegetables, including potatoes, tomatoes, cucumbers, zucchini, beans, squash, corn, onions, garlic, broccoli, peppers, and asparagus. You’ll also find tips on high tunnel production, irrigation, pollinators, seeding, and transplanting.

How to Plant Vegetables

There is a wide variety of species and varieties to choose from if you want to grow vegetables commercially. Each has its own specific requirements when it comes to soil conditions, optimum growing temperature, essential nutrients, prime location, and cropping systems. You must also take weed and pest management into consideration.

When deciding on the best vegetables to grow, knowing the difference between cool-season and warm-season vegetables is key. First and last frost dates are also crucial to know. Cool-season plants are the first ones to plant, anytime from several weeks to a couple of months before the last frost date. Warm-season crops require higher air and soil temperatures and you should never plant them before the last frost date.

It’s important to note that you can extend the growing season with the use of high tunnels. The controlled environment and season extension characteristics of high tunnels widen the production opportunities for growers. Using hot beds is an option that’s more suited for small scale production.

Crop planning begins the year before, typically in early winter. Organize your crops in the winter and your production will be smoother. Plan the seed order, bed preparation schedule, greenhouse seeding, direct seeding, and transplanting schedule.

A harvest record sheet and detailed map are also useful. You may decide you want to grow fall-planted cover crops to improve soil health so these should feature into your schedule. Crop rotation is one of the most fundamental, best management practices and it requires careful planning when deciding where to plant your crops.

Growing Vegetable Plants

There are many different ways you can maximize your growing space, particularly in the small vegetable garden. Succession planting, interplanting, and relay planting are just a few options. Crop rotation is also key to successful vegetable production.

If you’re growing vegetables commercially, you may have to comply with the Product Safety Rule. This is one of the new federal food safety regulations written under the 2011 Food Safety Modernization Act (FSMA).

Many factors can affect the growth of your vegetables. During the long hot days of summer, for example, some vegetables need heat-proofing and a little extra care, even when they’re heat-loving plants.

To help vegetable growers in the Mid-Atlantic region, Penn State Extension publishes Mid-Atlantic Commercial Vegetable Production Recommendations, which are updated every two years. Resources are also available for specific crops such as microgreens, cucumbers, tomatoes, potatoes, and other specialty or novel vegetables.

Seeding and Transplanting Vegetables

Traditionally, there was a clear separation between vegetables you had to seed directly into the field and those that you could transplant. Now more and more vegetable crops are starting out as greenhouse transplants that you can plant in the field for crop production.

An important step in producing healthy vegetable transplants is the purchase of seed that is high-quality and disease-free. Knowing when to plant and transplant is also key, together with an understanding of seeds and seedling biology. When planting seeds directly into the field or transplanting seedlings, it’s vital that you create optimum conditions for their first few days in the field.

As your vegetable plants grow, some may need support, such as tomatoes. There are many ways you can do this including the construction of a trellis. You can also use stakes, cages, and the Florida Basket Weave method as support for the tomatoes, or you can leave them to grow on the ground unsupported.

Growing Vegetables in Containers

An increasing number of people are experimenting with growing vegetables in containers. Penn State Extension has been involved with trial plantings of fruiting vegetables in containers. As a result, General Recommendations for Growing Vegetables in Containers are available.

More detailed information is also available for specific crops such as:

  • Container grown tomatoes: One of the most popular container vegetable crops and there are some excellent varieties available in seed catalogs and garden centers.
  • Container grown cucumbers, zucchini, and squash: You can grow these very successfully; however, you’ll achieve the best results with container varieties.
  • Container grown peppers: Look for varieties with “compact” or “for containers” on the label.
  • Container grown eggplants: Varieties bred specifically to be compact are compatible with container culture and they not only look great but yield copious amounts of delicious fruits.

Vegetable Plants and Pollination

Vegetable plants that produce fruit require pollination in order to develop fruit. Bees are the stars when it comes to pollination. Everyone knows about the role of honeybees in crop production but native wild bees can be just as efficient pollinators as honeybees. You can encourage native bees into an area by providing a diverse and abundant food source and a place to build their nests. Pollinators play an important role in the setting of pumpkin fruit. The quality of the fruit is further enhanced by intensive pollinator activity. Wild bee populations play a key role in providing pollination of cucurbit crops.

Irrigation for Vegetable Production

Safe use of water is critical in fresh vegetable production. Drip or trickle irrigation is a very efficient method of applying water and nutrients to crops. Generally, vegetable crops require 1-1.5 inches of water per week. When plants are small, they need less, but as they grow their water requirements increase. The time it takes a drip system to apply 1 inch of water depends on the drip tube flow rate and the width the plant roots extend to.

Irrigation systems can be equally effective when you use them in the home garden. However, you must take care and winterize the drip irrigation system so it’s ready for spring.

Harvesting Vegetables

Most vegetables attain their best eating quality when allowed to ripen on the plant. However, when you grow vegetables commercially, harvesting often takes place before this time. You can find optimum times for harvesting in Penn State Extension’s Harvest Calendar.

It can be done by hand or mechanically, or a combination of both. A number of activities are involved when preparing for harvesting and during harvesting itself. As you harvest your crops, you must make sure you keep the produce as clean as possible in order to prevent contamination during harvest. Any water you use for washing produce must meet EPA microbial standards for drinking water. You must follow best practices for keeping produce fresh and safe from harvest through to packing and storage.

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  1. Slicing cucumbers. Photo: Elsa Sánchez
    Articles
    Growing Cucumbers in High Tunnels
    By Elsa Sánchez, Ph.D., Tom Butzler, Thomas Ford
    Cucumbers are a high-value crop that is grown in a variety of systems including high tunnels. Here, we are presenting the basics of high tunnel production for beginning farmers or those looking for a refresher.
  2. Crecimiento de Pepinos en Túneles Altos
    Articles
    Crecimiento de Pepinos en Túneles Altos
    By Elsa Sánchez, Ph.D., Tom Butzler, Maria Gorgo-Simcox, Thomas Ford
    Aquí, estamos presentando los conceptos básicos de la producción de túneles altos para los agricultores y agricultoras principiantes o aquellos que buscan un refresco.
  3. Figura 1: Fórmula de tomate Hydro-Gardens. Foto: Elsa Sánchez
    Articles
    Sistemas Hidropónicos: Programas y Recetas de Soluciones Nutritivas
    By Elsa Sánchez, Ph.D., Francesco Di Gioia, Ph. D., Thomas Ford, Robert Berghage, Ph.D., Nick Flax
    Fertilizante, concentración, pureza, solubilidad, compatibilidad.
  4. Figure 1. Hydro-gardens tomato formula. Photo: Elsa Sánchez, Penn State
    Articles
    Hydroponics Systems: Nutrient Solution Programs and Recipes
    By Elsa Sánchez, Ph.D., Francesco Di Gioia, Ph. D., Thomas Ford, Robert Berghage, Ph.D., Nick Flax
    Fertilizer, concentration, purity, solubility, and compatibility.
  5. Este año, 90 participantes estuvieron presentes para celebrar el 15º aniversario de la iniciativa.  Crédito: Proporcionado por Maria Gorgo-Simcox. Reservados todos los derechos.
    News
    Penn State Extension celebra un hito al involucrar a los productores de habla hispana
    Date Posted 2/19/2024
    Arturo Díaz se unió a Twin Springs Fruit Farm en el condado de Adams hace casi 25 años, cuando el huerto cultivaba solo de cuatro a cinco tipos de manzanas. Hoy ofrece de 12 a 14 variedades.
  6. Mid-Atlantic Commercial Vegetable Production Recommendations
    Guides and Publications

    Starting at Free

    Mid-Atlantic Commercial Vegetable Production Recommendations
    This guide, updated in February 2024, contains vegetable production information based on university, extension, and industry research, experience, and knowledge.
  7. Beekeeping Basics Webinar Series (In Spanish Language)
    Webinars

    Beekeeping Basics Webinar Series (In Spanish Language)
    Length 9 Hours Total (6 weeks of 1.5 hrs. ea.)
    Unlock the world of beekeeping in our Spanish-language webinar series. Learn essential skills, from hive management to honey bee behavior. Join us for an interactive journey into beekeeping, perfect for beginners and enthusiasts alike.
  8. Potatoes
    Articles
    Potato Production
    By Elsa Sánchez, Ph.D., Jayson K. Harper, Ph.D., Lynn Kime
    With many varieties and high consumer consumption, potatoes fit well with many small growers and can be marketed through various outlets.
  9. Garlic Bulbs
    Articles
    Garlic Production
    By Jayson K. Harper, Ph.D., Thomas Ford, Michael Orzolek, Ph.D., Lynn Kime, Steve Bogash
    Garlic is a crop that is well suited to a small acreage or as part of a larger direct marketing operation looking to diversify its mix of crops.
  10. Sources Of Plant Disease In Greenhouses
    Articles
    Sources Of Plant Disease In Greenhouses
    By Gary W. Moorman, Ph.D.
    Where do diseases begin? It is important to prevent losses due to plant pathogens by reducing or eliminating the numbers of pathogens at their source.
  11. Camas elevadas de siembra carlfbagge / Flickr
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    By Maria Gorgo-Simcox, Marley E Skinner
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  12. Selecting Rated Ventilation Fans
    Articles
    Selecting Rated Ventilation Fans
    By Eileen E. Fabian (Wheeler), Ph.D.
    This article explains how to select an agricultural ventilation fan for the conditions under which it will be operating in a livestock or greenhouse setting.
  13. A grafted tomato plant correctly planted. Photo by Francesco Di Gioia, Penn State
    Articles
    To Graft or Not to Graft?
    By Francesco Di Gioia, Ph. D., Leah Fronk, Claudia Schmidt, Andrew Blunk, Raymond Balaguer, Erin Rosskopf Ph.D
    When is it worth using grafting for your high tunnel tomatoes? How do you select the right rootstock?
  14. Una plántula de tomate sembrada correctamente. Fotografía por Francesco Di Gioia, Penn State.
    Articles
    ¿Injertar o no injertar?
    By Francesco Di Gioia, Ph. D., Leah Fronk, Claudia Schmidt, Raymond Balaguer Barbosa, Erin Rosskopf Ph.D, Andrew Blunk
    ¿Cuándo vale la pena usar tomates injertados en el invernadero? ¿Cómo se selecciona el patrón correcto?
  15. Container Grown Tomatoes
    Articles
    Container Grown Tomatoes
    By Tom Butzler, Thomas Maloney, Darryl Dressler
    Tomatoes are probably the #1 container vegetable that interests gardeners after herbs.
  16. Building Your Network for Success
    Articles
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    By Elsa Sánchez, Ph.D., Tom Butzler
    Social networks can be an important factor in your success as a farmer. A recent study in Delaware, Maryland, and Tennessee looked at the social networks of minority and small-acreage farmers and how those networks were linked to farm success.
  17. Start Farming "Models for the Future" Living Classrooms
    Articles
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    By Tara Baugher, Ph.D., Marley E Skinner, Lynn Kime, Mike Basedow
    Penn State Extension partners with seven growers across the Commonwealth to provide on-farm demonstrations for new, young, and minority farmers.
  18. Penn State Extension Hops Project: An Overview of the Hop Yard Installation Process
    Videos
    Penn State Extension Hops Project: An Overview of the Hop Yard Installation Process
    By Tom Butzler, Tanner Delvalle, Elsa Sánchez, Ph.D., Ryan J. Elias, Ph.D., Beth K. Gugino, Ph.D., Thomas Ford
    Length 9:12
    A team of Penn State Extension Educators and Specialists received funding from the USDA's Specialty Crop Block program to study hops. Here is their effort in establishing the yard.
  19. Photo 1. Hydroponic system using a soilless media to grow tomatoes in bags. Photo: Tom Ford, Penn State
    Articles
    Hydroponics Systems and Principles Of Plant Nutrition: Essential Nutrients, Function, Deficiency, and Excess
    By Elsa Sánchez, Ph.D., Francesco Di Gioia, Ph. D., Robert Berghage, Ph.D., Nick Flax, Thomas Ford
    Before beginning the discussion of the principles of plant nutrient systems in hydroponic systems, we need to define what we mean by 'hydroponic'.
  20. Sistemas hidropónicos: Uso de las dos ecuaciones básicas para calcular una receta de solución nutritiva
    Articles
    Sistemas hidropónicos: Uso de las dos ecuaciones básicas para calcular una receta de solución nutritiva
    By Elsa Sánchez, Ph.D., Francesco Di Gioia, Ph. D., Robert Berghage, Ph.D., Thomas Ford, Nick Flax
    Ahora que ya ha aprendido las dos ecuaciones básicas para crear soluciones nutritivas, vamos a utilizar estas ecuaciones para calcular las cantidades de fertilizante necesarias para hacer una receta de solución nutritiva.
  21. Hydroponics Systems: Calculating Nutrient Solution Concentrations Using the Two Basic Equations
    Articles
    Hydroponics Systems: Calculating Nutrient Solution Concentrations Using the Two Basic Equations
    By Elsa Sánchez, Ph.D., Francesco Di Gioia, Ph. D., Robert Berghage, Ph.D., Thomas Ford, Nick Flax
    Calculating the amount of fertilizer to add to nutrient solutions is part of successful hydroponic production. Calculations only use multiplication, division, and subtraction; no advanced math skills are required.
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