,cascadia ,g>d5+ ,s]ies  ,g>d5+ ,)\t    
,irrigation3 or )\t mu*1 anyway  ,/eve  
,solomon    ,,cont5ts   ,*apt]     #a   
,pr$ictably ,ra9less ,summ]s    #b      
,wat]-,wise ,g>d5+ ,sci5ce    #c  ,help+
 ,plants to ,ne$ ,less ,irrigation    #d
  ,wat]-,wise ,g>d5+ ,ye>-,r\nd    #e   
,h[ to ,gr[ ,x ) ,less ,irrigation3     
,a-,z    #f  ,my ,own ,g>d5 ,plan    #g 
,! ,backy>d     ,introduction  ,/>t+ a  
,new ,g>d5+ ,era   ,fir/1 y %\ld "k :y a
 m>itime ,nor?we/ rais$-b$ g>d5] nam$   
,/eve ,solomon became worri$ ab\t 8     
dep5d5ce on irrigation4  ,i'm f         
,mi*igan4 ,i mov$ to ,lorane1 ,oregon1 9
 ,april #aigh & home/ead$ on #e acres 9 
:at ,i ?\ght at ! "t 0 a cool1 %[]y gre5
 valley ( liquid sun%9e & ra9b[s4 ,i    
int5d$ to put 9 a big g>d5 & gr[ z mu* (
 my own food z possible4  ,two mon?s    
lat]1 9 ,june1 j z my g>d5 began ne$+   
wat]1 my s-call$ #ae-;gallon-p]-m9ute   
well began to falt]1 yield+ less & less 
) ea* pass+ week4 ,by ,augu/ x deliv]$  
ab\t #c gallons p] m9ute4 ,=tunately1 ,i

 wasn't fac$ ) a completely dry well or 
"o t _h %runk to bel[ #a gallon p]      
m9ute1 z ,i soon discov]$ _m ( my       
neighbors 7 curs$ )4 ,?ree gallons p]   
m9ute won't supply a fan nozzle or ev5 a
 common impulse spr9kl]1 b ,i c\ld /ill 
su/a9 my big rais$-b$ g>d5 by wat]+ all 
night1 five or six nights a week1 ) a   
s+le1 #b-a_/b gallon-p]-m9ute spr9kl] t 
,i mov$ f place to place4  ,i _h        
repeat$ly read t g>d5+ 9 rais$ b$s 0 !  
mo/ productive vegetable gr[+ me?od1    
requir$ ! lea/ "w1 & 0 ! mo/            
wat]-effici5t sy/em ev] kn[n4 ,s1 )\t   
adequate irrigation1 ,i w\ld h conclud$ 
t food self-suffici5cy on my home/ead 0 
n possible4 ,9 late ,septemb] ( t fir/  
ye>1 ,i c\ld /ill run t s+le spr9kl]4   
,:at a relief n to h inve/$ e la/ c5t 9 
l& t c\ldn't fe$ u4  ,= _m succe$+ ye>s 
at ,lorane1 ,i rais$ lots ( organically 
gr[n food on d5sely plant$ rais$ b$s1 b 
! realities ( be+ a c\ntry g>d5] cont9u$
 to rem9d me ( h[ t5u\s my irrigation   
supply actually 04 ,we c\ntry folks h to

 be self-reliant3 ,i am my own          
sanitation dep>tm5t1 ,i ma9ta9 my own   
#hjj-;foot-long driveway1 ! septic sy/em
 puts me 9 ! sewage bus9ess4 ,a long1   
long response "t to my #iaa call means  
,i'm my own self-def5se =ce4 ,& ,i'm my 
own wat] dep>tm5t4  ,)\t regul> & heavy 
wat]+ dur+ high summ]1 d5se /&s (       
vegetables become /unt$ 9 a matt] (     
days4 ,pump failure has br\ght my       
rais$-b$ g>d5 close to t sev]al times4  
,be=e my frantic ef=ts got ! wat] fl[+  
aga91 ,i c\ld feel ! /ress$-out g>d5    
scream+ l a hungry baby4  ,z ,i came to 
und]/& our climate1 ,i began to wond]   
ab\t complete food self-suffici5cy4 ,h[ 
did ! e>ly pione]s irrigate _!          
vegetables8 ,!re probably ar5't m ?an a 
?\s& home/ead sites 9 ! entire m>itime  
,nor?we/ ) gravity wat]4 ,h& pump+ into 
h&-c>ri$ buckets is impractical &       
extremely t$i\s4 ,w9d-p[]$ pumps are    
exp5sive & h sev]e limits4  ,!          
comb9ation ( dep5dably ra9less summ]s1 !
 realities ( self-suffici5t liv+1 & my  

home/ead's poor well turn$ out to be an 
opportunity4 ,= ,i cont9u$ wond]+ ab\t  
g>d5s & wat]1 & discov]$ a me?od = gr[+ 
a lu%1 productive vegetable g>d5 on deep
 soil ) little or no irrigation1 9 a    
climate t reliably provides #h to #ab   
virtually dry weeks e summ]4   ,g>d5+ ) 
,less ,irrigation  ,be+ a g>d5 writ]1 ,i
 0 on ! receiv+ end ( q a bit ( local   
lore4 ,i _h he>d ( someone gr[+         
unirrigat$ c>rots on s&y soil 9 s\!rn   
,oregon by s[+ e>ly & spac+ ! roots #a  
foot ap>t 9 r[s #d feet ap>t4 ,! c>rots 
7 reput$ to gr[ to enorm\s sizes1 & !   
ov]all yield 9 p\nds p] squ>e foot      
occupi$ by ! crop 0 n z l[ z "o might   
?9k4 ,i read t ,native ,am]icans 9 !    
,s\?we/ grew rem>kable des]t g>d5s )    
little or no wat]4 ,& t ,native ,s\?    
,am]icans 9 ! highl&s ( ,p]u & ,bolivia 
gr[ food crops 9 a l& ) #h to #ab in*es 
( ra9fall4 ,s ,i _h to wond] :at our own
 pione]s did4  ,9 #aihg1 we mov$ #ej    
miles s\?1 to a mu* bett] home/ead ) m  
acreage & an abundant well4 ,ironically1

 only !n did ,i gr[ my fir/ summ]time   
vegetable )\t irrigation4 ,be+ a l[-key 
survivali/ at he>t1 ,i 0 work+ at gr[+  
my own se$s4 ,! ma9 dang] to atta9+ good
 g]m9ation is 9 repeat$ly moi/5+        
develop+ se$4 ,s1 9 e>ly ,m>* #aihh1 ,i 
mov$ six w9t]-surviv+ savoy cabbage     
plants f> beyond ! irrigat$ soil ( my   
rais$-b$ vegetable g>d54 ,i transplant$ 
!m #d feet ap>t because bloom+ brassicas
 make huge sprays ( fl[] /alks4 ,i did n
 plan to wat] ^! plants at all1 s9ce    
cabbage se$ =ms dur+ ,may & dries d[n   
dur+ ,june z ! soil naturally dries out4
  ,t is j :at happ5$4 ,except t "o plant
 did some?+ a little unusual1 ?\gh n    
unhe>d (4 ,in/ead ( completely go+ into 
bloom & !n dy+ aft] sett+ a massive load
 ( se$1 ?is plant also ?rew a vegetative
 bud t grew a :ole new cabbage among !  
se$ /alks4  ,) increas+ excitem5t ,i    
wat*$ ?is head gr[ /eadily l>g] ?r\gh ! 
hotte/ & drie/ summ] ,i _h ev] exp]i5c$4
 ,realiz+ ,i 0 witness+ revelation1 ,i  
gave ! plant absolutely no wat]1 ?\gh ,i

 did hoe out ! we$s ar\nd x aft] ,i cut 
! se$ /alks4 ,i h>ve/$ ! unexpect$      
lesson at ! end ( ,septemb]4 ,! cabbage 
weigh$ 9 at #f or #g p\nds & 0 sweet &  
t5d]4  ,up to t "t1 all my g>d5+ _h be5 
on ?or\ghly & uni=mly wat]$ rais$ b$s4  
,n[ ,i saw t elb[ room might be ! key to
 g>d5+ ) little or no irrigat+1 s ,i    
began look+ = m in=mation ab\t dry g>d5+
 & soil_/wat] physics4 ,9 spr+ #aihi1 ,i
 till$ f\r widely sep>at$1 unirrigat$   
exp]im5tal r[s 9 :i* ,i te/$ an         
assortm5t ( vegetable species spac$ f>  
ap>t 9 ! r[4 ,out ( curiosity ,i decid$ 
to use absolutely no wat] at all1 n ev5 
to spr9kle ! se$s to get !m g]m9at+4  ,i
 s[$ a bit ( kale1 savoy cabbage1       
,purple ,spr\t+ broccoli1 c>rots1 beets1
 p>snips1 p>sley1 endive1 dry beans1    
potatoes1 ,fr5* sorrel1 & a c\ple (     
field corn/alks4 ,i also te/$ "o compact
 bu% 7det]m9ate7 & "o sprawl+           
7indet]m9ate7 tomato plant4 ,_m ( ^!    
vegetables grew surpris+ly well4 ,i ate 
unwat]$ tomatoes ,july ?r\gh ,septemb]2 

kale1 cabbages1 p>sley1 & root crops f$ 
u dur+ ! w9t]4 ,! ,purple ,spr\t+       
broccoli bloom$ abundantly ! next ,m>*4 
,9 t]ms ( quality1 all ! h>ve/ 0        
acceptable4 ,! root vegetables 7 f> l>g]
 b only a little bit t\gh] & q a bit    
sweet] ?an usual4 ,! potatoes yield$    
less ?an ,i'd be5 us$ to & _h ?ick] ?an 
usual sk91 b also _h a bett] flavor &   
kept well ?r\gh ! w9t]4  ,! foll[+ ye>  
,i grew two p>allel g>d5s4 ,"o1 my      
insurance g>d51 0 ?or\ghly irrigat$1    
gu>antee+ we w\ld h pl5ty to eat4 ,ano!r
 exp]im5tal g>d5 ( equal size 0 entirely
 unirrigat$4 ,!re ,i te/$ l>g] plots (  
species t ,i hop$ c\ld gr[ ?r\gh a      
ra9less summ]4  ,by ,july1 gr[? on "s   
species _h sl[$ to a crawl & !y look$ a 
little gn>ly4 ,wond]+ if a hidd5 cause (
 :at appe>$ to be moi/ure /ress might   
actually be nutri5t defici5cies1 ,i tri$
 spray+ liquid f]tiliz] directly on ^!  
gn>ly leaves1 a practice call$ foli>    
fe$+4 ,x help$ greatly because1 ,i      
reason$1 mo/ f]tility is locat$ 9 !     

topsoil1 & :5 x gets dry ! plants draw  
on subsoil moi/ure1 s surface nutri5ts1 
?\gh /ill pres5t 9 ! dry soil1 become   
unobta9able4 ,t be+ s1 ,i reason$ t "s (
 ^! species might d ev5 bett] if !y _h j
 a little f]tiliz$ wat]4 ,s ,i improvis$
 a simple drip sy/em & met]$ out #d or  
#e gallons ( liquid f]tiliz] to "s ( !  
plants 9 late ,july & f\r gallons m 9   
,augu/4 ,to "s species1 extra f]tiliz$  
wat] 7:at ,i call f]tigation7 h>dly made
 any diff]5ce at all4 ,b unirrigat$ w9t]
 squa% v9es1 :i* 7 small & scraggly &   
yield$ ab\t #ae p\nds ( food1 grew m    
lu%ly :5 giv5 a few #e-;gallon1         
f]tiliz]-=tifi$ assi/s & yield$ #ej     
p\nds4 ,?irty-five p\nds ( squa% = #be  
extra gallons ( wat] & a bit ( extra    
nutrition is a pretty good ex*ange 9 my 
book4  ,! next ye> ,i integrat$ all ?is 
new in=mation into j "o g>d54 ,wat]-lov+
 species l lettuce & cel]y 7 gr[n ?r\gh 
! summ] on a l>ge1 ?or\ghly irrigat$    
rais$ b$4 ,! re/ ( ! g>d5 0 giv5 no     
irrigation at all or m9imally met]$-out 

f]tigations4 ,"s unirrigat$ crops 7     
foli> f$ weekly4  ,ev]y?+ work$ 9 #aiia6
 ,& ,i f\nd /ill o!r species t ,i c\ld  
gr[ surpris+ly well on surpris+ly small 
am\nts ( wat]--or none at all4 ,s1 !    
next ye>1 #aiib1 ,i set up a spr9kl]    
sy/em to wat] ! int5sive rais$ b$ & us$ 
! ov]spray to support species t grew    
bett] ) "s moi/ure supplem5tation2 ,i   
cont9u$ us+ my improvis$ drip sy/em to  
help /ill o!rs1 :ile keep+ a l>ge       
section ( ! g>d5 entirely unwat]$4 ,& at
 ! end ( t summ] ,i wrote ?is book4     
,:at foll[s is n m]e !ory1 n some?+ ,i  
read ab\t or saw o!rs d4 ,^! te*niques  
are te/$ & workable4 ,! next-to-la/     
*apt] ( ?is book conta9s a complete plan
 ( my #aiib g>d5 ) explanations &       
discussion ( ! reason+ beh9d x4  ,9     
,wat]-,wise ,vegetables ,i assume t my  
read]s already are gr[+ food 7probably  
on rais$ b$s71 already "k h[ to adju/ _!
 g>d5+ to ?is region's climate1 & "k h[ 
to g>d5 ) irrigation4 ,if y don't h ?is 
backgr\nd ,i sugge/ y read my o!r g>d5  

book1 ,gr[+ ,vegetables ,we/ ( !        
,cascades1 7,sasquat* ,books1 #aihi74   
,/eve ,solomon     ,*apt] #a            
,pr$ictably ,ra9less ,summ]s   ,9 !     
ea/]n ,unit$ ,/ates1 summ]time ra9fall c
 support g>d5s )\t irrigation b is j    
irregul> en\gh to be worrisome4 ,we/ ( !
 ,cascades we g into ! summ] gr[+ season
 c]ta9 we mu/ wat] regul>ly4  ,my own   
_m-times-revis$ book ,gr[+ ,vegetables  
,we/ ( ! ,cascades correctly emphasiz$ t
 moi/ure-/ress$ vegetables suff]        
greatly4 ,because ,i _h n yet notic$ h[ 
plant spac+ affects soil moi/ure loss1 9
 t book ,i /at$ a half-tru? z law3 ,soil
 moi/ure loss av]ages #a-a_/b in*es p]  
week dur+ summ]4  ,?is figure is g5]ally
 true = rais$-b$ g>d5s we/ ( !          
,cascades1 s ,i recomm5d$ add+ #a #a_/b 
in*es ( wat] ea* week & ev5 m dur+      
really hot wea!r4     ,summ]time        
,ra9fall ,we/ ( ! ,cascades 79 in*es799 
,location         ,april    ,may        
,june    ,july    ,aug4    ,sept4       
,oct4    ,eureka1 ,,ca        #c4j      

#b4a     #j4g     #j4a     #j4c     #j4g
     #c4b   ,m$=d1 ,,or       #a4j      
#a4d     #j4ih    #j4c     #j4c     #j4f
     #b4a   ,eug5e1 ,,or        #b4c    
#b4a     #a4c     #j4c     #j4f     #a4c
     #d4j   ,portl&1 ,,or      #b4b     
#b4a     #a4f     #j4e     #j4h     #a4f
     #c4f   ,a/oria1 ,,or       #d4f    
#b4g     #b4e     #a4j     #a4e     #b4h
     #f4h   ,olympia1 ,,wa       #c4a   
#a4i     #a4f     #j4g     #a4b     #b4a
     #e4c   ,seattle1 ,,wa       #b4d   
#a4g     #a4f     #j4h     #a4j     #b4a
     #d4j   ,bell+ham1 ,,wa    #b4c     
#a4h     #a4i     #a4j     #a4a     #b4j
     #c4g   ,vanc\v]1 ,,bc     #c4c     
#b4h     #b4e     #a4b     #a4g     #c4f
     #e4h   ,victoria1 ,,bc      #a4b   
#a4j     #j4i     #j4d     #j4f     #a4e
     #b4h    99,s\rce3 ,van d] ,le$5 et 
al41 ,! ,wat] ,encyclop$ia1 #bnd ed41   
7,*elsea1 ,mi*43 ,lewis ,publi%]s1      
#aiij74   ,def9$ sci5tifically1 dr\ght  
is n lack ( ra94 ,x is a dry soil       
condition 9 :i* plant gr[? sl[s or /ops 

& plant survival may be ?reat5$4 ,! e>? 
loses wat] :5 w9d bl[s1 :5 sun %9es1 :5 
air temp]ature is high1 & :5 humidity is
 l[4 ,( all ^! factors1 air temp]ature  
mo/ affects soil moi/ure loss4          
,daily ,maximum ,temp]ature 7,f799      
,july_/,augu/     ,av]age    ,eureka1   
,,ca        #fa   ,m$=d1 ,,or       #hi 
,eug5e1 ,,or        #hb   ,a/oria1 ,,or 
#fh   ,olympia1 ,,wa       #gh          
,seattle1 ,,wa       #ge   ,bell+ham1   
,,wa    #gd   ,vanc\v]1 ,,bc     #gc    
,victoria1 ,,bc      #fh    99,s\rce3 ,!
 ,wat] ,encyclop$ia4   ,! k9d (         
vegetation gr[+ on a p>ticul> plot & its
 d5sity h ev5 m to d ) soil moi/ure loss
 ?an temp]ature or humidity or w9d spe$4
 ,&1 surpris+ z x might seem1 b>e soil  
may n lose mu* moi/ure at all4 ,i n[ "k 
x is next to impossible to anticipate   
moi/ure loss f soil )\t fir/ specify+ ! 
vegetation !re4 ,evaporation f a l>ge   
body ( wat]1 h[ev]1 is ma9ly det]m9$ by 
wea!r1 s res]voir evaporation           
measurem5ts s]ve z a r\gh gauge (       

anticipat$ soil moi/ure loss4           
,evaporation f ,res]voirs 7in*es p]     
mon?799    ,location        ,april      
,may    ,june    ,july    ,aug4         
,sept4    ,oct4    ,seattle1 ,,wa       
#b4a     #b4g     #c4d     #c4i     #c4d
     #b4f     #a4f   ,bak]1 ,,or        
#b4e     #c4d     #d4d     #f4i     #g4c
     #d4i     #b4i   ,sacram5to1 ,,ca   
#c4f     #e4j     #g4a     #h4i     #h4f
     #g4a     #d4h    99,s\rce3 ,! ,wat]
 ,encyclop$ia   ,f ,may ?r\gh ,septemb] 
dur+ a normal ye>1 a res]voir ne>       
,seattle loses ab\t #af in*es ( wat] by 
evaporation4 ,! next *>t %[s h[ mu* wat]
 f>m]s expect to use to support         
conv5tional agriculture 9 v>i\s p>ts ( !
 ,we/4 ,comp>+ ?is data = ,seattle ) !  
e/imates bas$ on res]voir evaporation   
%[s pretty good agreem5t4 ,i include    
data = ,umatilla & ,yakima to %[ t mu*  
l>g] quantities ( irrigation wat] are   
ne$$ 9 really hot1 arid places l ,bak]  
or ,sacram5to4     ,e/imat$ ,irrigation 
,requirem5ts3   ,dur+ ,entire ,gr[+     

,season 79 in*es799    ,location        
,duration         ,am\nt                
,umatilla_/,yakama ,valley              
,april-,octob]      #cj   ,willamette   
,valley                   ,may-,septemb]
      #af   ,puget ,s\nd                
,may-,septemb]      #ad   ,upp]         
,rogue_/,upp] ,umpqua ,valley           
,m>*-,septemb]    #ah   ,l[]            
,rogue_/,l[] ,coquille ,valley          
,may-,septemb]      #aa   ,,nw ,cali=nia
                       ,april-,octob]   
#ag    99,s\rce3 ,! ,wat] ,encyclop$ia  
,9 our region1 g>d5s lose f> m wat] ?an 
!y get f ra9fall dur+ ! summ] gr[+      
season4 ,at fir/ glance1 x seems        
impossible to g>d5 )\t irrigation we/ ( 
! ,cascades4 ,b !re is wat] already     
pres5t 9 ! soil :5 ! g>d5+ season beg9s4
 ,by creatively us+ & cons]v+ ?is       
moi/ure1 "s m>itime ,nor?we/ g>d5]s c g 
?r\gh an entire summ] )\t irrigat+ v    
mu*1 & ) "s crops1 irrigat+ n at all4   
,*apt] #b  ,wat]-,wise ,g>d5+ ,sci5ce   
,plants ,are ,wat]  ,l all o!r          

c>bon-bas$ life =ms on e>?1 plants      
conduct _! *emical processes 9 a wat]   
solution4 ,e sub/ance t plants transport
 is dissolv$ 9 wat]4 ,:5 insoluble />*es
 & oils are requir$ = plant en]gy1      
enzymes *ange !m back into wat]-soluble 
sug>s = movem5t to o!r locations4 ,ev5  
cellulose & lign91 insoluble /ructural  
mat]ials t plants _c conv]t back into   
soluble mat]ials1 are made f molecules t
 once 7 9 solution4  ,wat] is s ess5tial
 t :5 a plant c no long] absorb z mu*   
wat] z x is los+1 x wilts 9 self-def5se4
 ,! droop+ leaves transpire 7evaporate7 
less moi/ure because ! sun glances (f   
!m4 ,"s we$s c wilt tempor>ily & resume 
vigor\s gr[? z soon z _! wat] balance is
 re/or$4 ,b mo/ vegetable species ar5't 
z t\gh-moi/ure /ress$ vegetables may    
survive1 b once /ress$1 ! quality ( _!  
yield usually drops m>k$ly4  ,yet 9     
deep1 op5 soil we/ ( ! ,cascades1 mo/   
vegetable species may be gr[n q         
successfully ) v little or no           
supplem5t>y irrigation & )\t mul*+1     

because !y're capable ( be+ suppli$     
entirely by wat] already /or$ 9 ! soil4 
,soil's ,wat]-,hold+ ,capacity  ,soil is
 capable ( hold+ on to q a bit ( wat]1  
mo/ly by adhesion4 ,= example1 ,i'm sure
 t at "o "t or ano!r y h pick$ up a wet 
/one f a riv] or by ! sea4 ,a ?9 film ( 
wat] cl+s to its surface4 ,?is is       
adhesion4 ,! m surface area !re is1 !   
great] ! am\nt ( moi/ure t c be held by 
adhesion4 ,if we cru%$ t /one into du/1 
we w\ld greatly increase ! am\nt ( wat] 
t c\ld adh]e to ! orig9al mat]ial4 ,clay
 p>ticles1 x %\ld be not$1 are s small t
 clay's ability to hold wat] is n z     
great z its ma!matically comput$ surface
 area w\ld indicate4     ,surface ,area 
( ,"o ,gram ( ,soil ,p>ticles           
,p>ticle type      ,diamet] (           
,numb] (                      p>ticles  
p>ticles     ,surface area              
9 mm             p] gm          9 sq4   
cm4    ,v co>se s&   #b4jj-a4jj         
#ij            #aa   ,co>se s&          
#a4jj-j4ej                #gbj          

#bc   ,m$ium s&        #j4ej-j4be       
#e1gjj            #de   ,f9e s&         
#j4be-j4aj             #df1jjj          
#ia   ,v f9e s&     #j4aj-j4je          
#ggb1jjj           #bbg   ,silt         
#j4je-j4jjb         #e1ggf1jjj          
#ded   ,clay ,bel[         #j4jjb       
#ij1bfj1hec1jjj     #h1jjj1jjj          
,s\rce3 ,fo?1 ,h5ry ,d41 ,fundam5tals ( 
,soil ,sci5ce1 #h? ed4           7,new  
,york3 ,john ,wylie  ,sons1 #aiij74     
,?is direct relation%ip betwe5 p>ticle  
size1 surface area1 & wat]-hold+        
capacity is s ess5tial to und]/&+ plant 
gr[? t ! surface areas pres5t$ by v>i\s 
sizes ( soil p>ticles h be5 calculat$4  
,soils are n compos$ ( a s+le size (    
p>ticle4 ,if ! mix is prim>ily s&1 we   
call x a s&y soil4 ,if ! mix is prim>ily
 clay1 we call x a clay soil4 ,if ! soil
 is a relatively equal mix ( all ?ree1  
conta9+ no m ?an #ce p]c5t clay1 we call
 x a loam4     ,available ,moi/ure      
7in*es ( wat] p] foot ( soil7    ,soil  
,texture     ,av]age ,am\nt    ,v co>se 

s&      #j4e   ,co>se s&           #j4g 
,s&y                 #a4j   ,s&y loam   
#a4d   ,loam                  #b4j      
,clay loam             #b4c   ,silty    
clay            #b4e   ,clay            
#b4g    ,s\rce3 ,fundam5tals ( ,soil    
,sci5ce4   ,adh]+ wat] films c v>y      
greatly 9 ?ickness4 ,b if ! wat]        
molecules adh]+ to a soil p>ticle become
 too ?ick1 ! =ce ( adhesion becomes too 
weak to resi/ ! =ce ( gravity1 & "s wat]
 fl[s deep] into ! soil4 ,:5 wat] films 
are relatively ?ick ! soil feels wet &  
plant roots c easily absorb moi/ure4    
,field capacity is ! t]m describ+ soil  
p>ticles hold+ all ! wat] !y c aga9/ !  
=ce ( gravity4  ,at ! o!r extreme1 !    
?9n] ! wat] films become1 ! m tightly !y
 adh]e & ! dri] ! e>? feels4 ,at "s     
degree ( desiccation1 roots are no long]
 =ceful en\gh to draw on soil moi/ure z 
fa/ z ! plants are transpir+4 ,?is      
condition is call$ ! wilt+ po9t4 ,! t]m 
available moi/ure ref]s to ! diff]5ce   
betwe5 field capacity & ! am\nt (       

moi/ure left aft] ! plants h di$4       
,clayey soil c provide plants ) ?ree    
times z mu* available wat] z s&1 six    
times z mu* z a v co>se s&y soil4 ,x    
might seem logical to conclude t a      
clayey g>d5 w\ld be ! mo/ dr\ght        
resi/ant4 ,b !re's m to x4 ,= "s crops1 
deep s&y loams c provide j ab\t z mu*   
usable moi/ure z clays4 ,s&y soils      
usually all[ m ext5sive root developm5t1
 s a plant ) a naturally aggressive &   
deep root sy/em may be able to occupy a 
mu* l>g] volume ( s&y loam1 ultimately  
com+ up ) m moi/ure ?an x c\ld obta9 f a
 heavy1 airless clay4 ,& s&y loams (t5 h
 a clayey1 moi/ure-ri* subsoil4         
,because ( ?is int]play ( factors1 h[   
mu* available wat] y\r own unique g>d5  
soil is actually capable ( provid+ & h[ 
mu* y w h to supplem5t x ) irrigation c 
only be discov]$ by trial4   ,h[ ,soil  
,loses ,wat]  ,suppose we till$ a plot  
ab\t ,april #a & !n measur$ soil moi/ure
 loss until ,octob]4 ,because plants    
gr[+ ar\nd ! edge might ext5d roots into

 our te/ plot & extract moi/ure1 we'll  
make our till$ area #ej feet by #ej feet
 & make all our measurem5ts 9 ! c5t]4 ,&
 let's locate ?is imag9>y plot 9 full   
sun on flat1 uni=m soil4 ,& let's plant 
absolutely no?+ 9 ?is b>e e>?4 ,& all   
season let's rigor\sly hoe out e we$    
:ile x is /ill v t9y4  ,let's also      
suppose x's be5 a typical m>itime       
,nor?we/ ra9y w9t]1 s on ,april #a !    
soil is at field capacity1 hold+ all !  
moi/ure x c4 ,f e>ly ,april until well  
into ,septemb] ! hot sun w beat d[n on  
?is b>e plot4 ,our summ] ra9s g5]ally   
come 9 insignificant in/allm5ts & d n   
p5etrate deeply2 all ( ! ra9 quickly    
evaporates f ! surface few in*es )\t    
re*>g+ deep] lay]s4 ,mo/ read]s w\ld    
reason t a soil moi/ure measurem5t tak5 
#f in*es d[n on ,septemb] #a1 %\ld %[ v 
little wat] left4 ,"o foot d[n seems l x
 %\ld be j z dry1 & 9 fact1 mo/ g>d5]s  
w\ld expect t !re w\ld be v little wat] 
f\nd 9 ! soil until we got d[n q a few  
feet if !re 7 sev]al feet ( soil4  ,b t 

is n :at happ5s6 ,! hot sun does dry out
 ! surface in*es1 b if we dig d[n #f    
in*es or s !re w be almo/ z mu* wat]    
pres5t 9 ,septemb] z !re 0 9 ,april4    
,b>e e>? does n lose mu* wat] at all4   
,once a ?9 surface lay] is completely   
desiccat$1 be x loose or compact$1      
virtually no fur!r loss ( moi/ure c     
occur4  ,! only soils t cont9ue to dry  
out :5 b>e are c]ta9 k9ds ( v heavy     
clays t =m deep cracks4 ,^! ev]-deep5+  
op5+s all[ atmosph]ic air to freely     
evaporate additional moi/ure4 ,b if !   
cracks are fill$ ) du/ by surface       
cultivation1 ev5 ?is soil type ceases to
 lose wat]4  ,soil functions z our bank 
acc\nt1 hold+ available wat] 9 /orage4  
,9 our climate soil is inevitably *>g$  
to capacity by w9t] ra9s1 & !n all summ]
 gr[+ plants make heavy )drawals4 ,b hot
 sun & w9d work+ directly on soil don't 
remove mu* wat]2 t is caus$ by hot sun &
 w9d work+ on plant leaves1 mak+ !m     
transpire moi/ure drawn f ! e>? ?r\gh _!
 root sy/ems4 ,plants desiccate soil to 

! ultimate dep? & lat]al ext5t ( _!     
root+ ability1 & !n "s4 ,! size (       
vegetable root sy/ems is great] ?an mo/ 
g>d5]s w\ld ?9k4 ,! am\nt ( moi/ure     
pot5tially available to su/a9 vegetable 
gr[? is also great] ?an mo/ g>d5]s ?9k4 
,ra9 & irrigation are n ! only ways to  
replace soil moi/ure4 ,if ! soil body is
 deep1 wat] w gradually come up f bel[ !
 root zone by capill>ity4 ,capill>ity   
works by ! v same =ce ( adhesion t makes
 moi/ure /ick to a soil p>ticle4 ,a     
column ( wat] 9 a v]tical tube 7l a ?9  
/raw7 adh]es to ! tube's inn] surfaces4 
,?is adhesion t5ds to lift ! edges ( !  
column ( wat]4 ,z ! tube's diamet]      
becomes small] ! am\nt ( lift becomes   
great]4 ,soil p>ticles =m int]connect$  
pores t all[ an ineffici5t capill>y fl[1
 re*>g+ dry soil above4 ,h[ev]1 ! dri]  
soil becomes1 ! less effective capill>y 
fl[ becomes4 ,t is :y a ?or\ghly        
desiccat$ surface lay] only a few in*es 
?ick acts z a p[]ful mul*4  ,indu/rial  
f>m+ & mod]n g>d5+ t5d to disc\nt !     

replacem5t ( surface moi/ure by         
capill>ity1 consid]+ ?is fl[ an         
insignificant factor comp>$ ) ! moi/ure 
ne$s ( crops4 ,b conv5tional agriculture
 focuses on maximiz$ yields ?r\gh high  
plant d5sities4 ,capill>ity is too sl[  
to support d5se crop /&s :]e num]\s root
 sy/ems are compet+1 b :5 a s+le plant  
c1 )\t any competition1 occupy a l>ge   
en\gh area1 moi/ure replacem5t by       
capill>ity becomes significant4   ,h[   
,plants ,obta9 ,wat]  ,mo/ g>d5]s "k t  
plants acquire wat] & m9]als ?r\gh _!   
root sy/ems1 & leave x at t4 ,b !       
process is n q t simple4 ,! actively    
gr[+1 t5d] root tips & almo/ microscopic
 root hairs close to ! tip absorb mo/ ( 
! plant's moi/ure z !y occupy new       
t]ritory4 ,z ! root cont9ues to ext5d1  
p>ts beh9d ! tip cease to be effective  
because1 z soil p>ticles 9 direct       
contact ) ^! tips & hairs dry out1 !    
old] roots ?ick5 & develop a b>k1 :ile  
mo/ ( ! absorb5t hairs sl\gh (f4 ,?is   
rotation f be+ actively =ag+ tissue to  

becom+ m passive conductive & supportive
 tissue is probably a survival          
adaptation1 because ! sl[ capill>y      
movem5t ( soil moi/ure fails to replace 
:at ! plant us$ z fa/ z ! plant might l4
 ,! plant is f> bett] (f to aggressively
 seek new wat] 9 unoccupi$ soil ?an to  
wait = ! soil its roots already occupy  
to be re*>g$4  ,a simple bit ( old      
rese>* magnific5tly illu/rat$ !         
significance ( ?is4 ,a sci5ti/ nam$     
,dittm] obs]v$ 9 #aicg t a s+le pott$   
ryegrass plant allocat$ only #a cubic   
foot ( soil to gr[ 9 made ab\t #c miles 
( new roots & root hairs e day4         
7,ryegrasses are kn[n to make m roots   
?an mo/ plants47 ,i calculate t a cubic 
foot ( silty soil (f]s ab\t #cj1jjj     
squ>e feet ( surface area to plant      
roots4 ,if #c miles ( microscopic root  
tips & hairs 7r\ghly #af1jjj l9eal feet7
 draws wat] only f a few millimet]s (   
surr\nd+ soil1 !n t s+le rye plant %\ld 
be able to cont9ue ramify+ into a cubic 
foot ( silty soil & f9d en\gh wat] = q a

 few days be=e wilt+4 ,^! ari?metical   
e/imates agree ) my obs]vations 9 !     
g>d51 & ) my exp]i5ces rais+ transplants
 9 pots4   ,l[]$ ,plant ,d5sity3 ,! ,key
 to ,wat]-,wise ,g>d5+  ,i always ?9k my
 late/ try at writ+ a ne>-p]fect g>d5   
book is q a bit bett] ?an ! la/4 ,gr[+  
,vegetables ,we/ ( ! ,cascades1         
recomm5d$ some:at wid] spac+s on rais$  
b$s ?an ,i did 9 #aihj because ,i'd     
repeat$ly notic$ t once a leaf canopy   
=ms1 plant gr[? sl[s m>k$ly4 ,add+ a    
little m f]tiliz] helps aft] plants     
bump1 b /ill ! rate ( gr[? nev] equals t
 ( y\ng] plants4 ,= ye>s ,i assum$ cr[d$
 plants /opp$ produc+ z mu* because     
competition develop$ = light4 ,b n[ ,i  
see t unse5 competition = root room also
 sl[s !m d[n4 ,ev5 if moi/ure is        
regul>ly re*>g$ by irrigation1 & al?\gh 
nutri5ts are replac$1 once a bit ( e>?  
has be5 occupi$ by ! roots ( "o plant x 
is n s readily available to ! roots (   
ano!r4 ,s allocat+ m elb[ room all[s    
vegetables to get l>g] & yield long] &  

all[s ! g>d5] to r$uce ! frequ5cy (     
irrigations4  ,?\gh hot1 bak+ sun & w9d 
c desiccate ! few in*es ( surface soil1 
)drawals ( moi/ure f great] dep?s are   
made by gr[+ plants transpir+ moi/ure   
?r\gh _! leaf surfaces4 ,! am\nt ( wat] 
a gr[+ crop w transpire is det]m9$ fir/ 
by ! nature ( ! species itself1 !n by ! 
am\nt ( leaf expos$ to sun1 air         
temp]ature1 humidity1 & w9d4 ,9 ^!      
respects1 ! crop is l an automobile     
radiator4 ,) c>s1 ! m metal surfaces1 ! 
cold] ! ambi5t air1 & ! high] ! w9d     
spe$1 ! bett] ! radiator c cool2 9 !    
g>d51 ! m leaf surfaces1 ! fa/]1 w>m]1 &
 dri] ! w9d1 & ! bright] ! sunlight1 ! m
 wat] is lo/ ?r\gh transpiration4       
,deal+ ) a ,surprise ,wat] ,%ortage     
,suppose y are gr[+ a conv5tional1      
irrigat$ g>d5 & some?+ unanticipat$     
int]rupts y\r ability to wat]4 ,p]haps y
 are home/ead+ & y\r well beg9s to dry  
up4 ,p]haps y're a backy>d g>d5] & !    
municipality tempor>ily re/ricts usage4 
,:at to d8  ,fir/1 if at all possible   

be=e ! re/rictions take effect1 wat] v  
heavily & long to ensure !re is maximum 
subsoil moi/ure4 ,!n elim9ate all newly 
/>t$ int]plant+s & ru?lessly hoe out at 
lea/ #ge p]c5t ( ! rema9+ immature      
plants & ab\t half ( ^? ab\t two weeks  
away f h>ve/4  ,= example1 suppose y've 
got a a #d-;foot-wide int5sive b$ hold+ 
sev5 r[s ( broccoli on #ab in* c5t]s1 or
 ab\t #ba plants4 ,remove at lea/ e o!r 
r[ & e o!r plant 9 ! ?ree or f\r rema9+ 
r[s4 ,try to br+ plant d5sity d[n to ^? 
describ$ 9 ,*apt] #e1 ,h[ to ,gr[ ,x3   
,a-,z  ,!n %all[ly hoe ! soil e day or  
two to enc\rage ! surface in*es to dry  
out & =m a du/ mul*4 ,y wat]-wise       
p]son--y're already dry g>d5+--n[ />t   
f]tigat+4  ,h[ long available soil wat] 
w su/a9 a crop is det]m9$ by h[ _m      
plants are draw+ on ! res]ve1 h[        
ext5sively _! root sy/ems develop1 & h[ 
_m leaves are transpir+ ! moi/ure4 ,if  
!re are no plants1 mo/ ( ! wat] w /ay   
unus$ 9 ! b>r5 soil ?r\gh ! entire gr[+ 
season4 ,if a crop canopy is e/abli%$   

midway ?r\gh ! gr[+ season1 ! rate (    
wat] loss w approximate t li/$ 9 ! table
 9 ,*apt] #a ,e/imat$ ,irrigation       
,requirem5t4 ,if by v close plant+ !    
crop canopy is e/abli%$ z e>ly z        
possible & ma9ta9$ by successive        
int]plant+s1 z is recomm5d$ by mo/      
advocates ( rais$-b$ g>d5+1 wat] losses 
w greatly exce$ ?is rate4  ,_m vegetable
 species become mildly /ress$ :5 soil   
moi/ure has dropp$ ab\t half ! way f    
capacity to ! wilt+ po9t4 ,on v closely 
plant$ b$s a crop c get 9 s]i\s tr\ble  
)\t irrigation 9 a matt] ( days4 ,b if t
 same crop 7 plant$ less d5sely1 x might
 gr[ a few weeks )\t irrigation4 ,& if t
 crop 7 plant$ ev5 f>!r ap>t s t no crop
 canopy ev] develop$ & a consid]able    
am\nt ( b>e1 dry e>? 7 %[+1 ?is app>5t  
wa/e ( gr[+ space w\ld result 9 an ev5  
sl[] rate ( soil moi/ure depletion4 ,on 
deep1 op5 soil ! crop might yield a     
respectable am\nt )\t ne$+ any          
irrigation at all4  ,we/ ( ! ,cascades  
we expect a ra9less summ]2 ! surprise   

comes t r>e ra9y ye> :5 ! soil /ays moi/
 & we ga!r bucketfuls ( *ant]elle       
mu%rooms 9 e>ly ,octob]4 ,?\gh !        
majority ( m>itime ,nor?we/ g>d5]s d n  
enjoy deep1 op51 moi/ure-ret5tive soils1
 all except ^? ) ! %all[e/ soil c       
increase _! use ( ! free moi/ure nature 
provides & l5g!n ! "t betwe5            
irrigations4 ,! next *apt] discusses    
mak+ ! mo/ ( :atev] soil dep? y h4 ,mo/ 
( our region's g>d5s c yield abundantly 
)\t any ra9 at all if only we r$uce     
competition = available soil moi/ure1   
judici\sly f]tigate "s vegetable        
species1 & practice a few o!r wat]-wise 
tricks4  ,w\ld l[]+ plant d5sity z mu* z
 ?is book sugge/s equally l[] ! yield ( 
! plot8 ,surpris+ly1 ! am\nt h>ve/$ does
 n drop proportionately4 ,9 mo/ cases   
hav+ a plant d5sity "o-eigh? ( t        
recomm5d$ by int5sive g>d5+ advocates w 
result 9 a yield ab\t half z great z on 
closely plant$ rais$ b$s4  ,int]net     
,read]s3 ,9 ! pr9t copy ( ?is book are  
color pictures ( my own irrigationless  

g>d54 ,look+ at !m ab\t "h 9 ! book w\ld
 add reality to ^! ideas4     ,*apt] #c 
,help+ ,plants to ,ne$ ,less ,irrigation
   ,dry ?\gh ! m>itime ,nor?we/ summ]   
is1 we ent] ! gr[+ season ) our full    
dep? ( soil at field capacity4 ,except  
on clayey soils 9 extraord9>ily fro/y1  
high-elevation locations1 we usually c  
till & plant be=e ! soil has _h a *ance 
to lose mu* moi/ure4  ,!re are a numb] (
 ?+s we c d to make soil moi/ure m      
available to our summ] vegetables4 ,!   
mo/ obvi\s /ep is ?or\gh we$+4 ,next1 we
 c keep ! surface fluff$ up ) a rot>y   
till] or hoe dur+ ,april & ,may1 to     
break its capill>y connection ) deep]   
soil & accel]ate ! =mation ( a dry du/  
mul*4 ,usually1 we$+ =ces u to d ?is    
anyway4 ,also1 if x %\ld ra9 dur+ summ]1
 we c hoe or rot>y till a day or two    
lat] & aga9 help a new du/ mul* to      
develop4   ,build+ ,bigg] ,root ,sy/ems 
,)\t irrigation1 mo/ ( ! plant's wat]   
supply is obta9$ by expansion into new  
e>? t hasn't be5 desiccat$ by o!r       

compet+ roots4 ,elim9at+ any ob/acles to
 rapid gr[? ( root sy/ems is ! key to   
success4 ,s1 keep 9 m9d a few facts ab\t
 h[ roots gr[ & prosp]4  ,! air supply 9
 soil limits or all[s root gr[?4 ,unlike
 ! leaves1 roots d n p]=m photosyn!sis1 
break+ d[n c>bon dioxide gas into       
atmosph]ic oxyg5 & c>bon4 ,yet root     
cells mu/ brea! oxyg54 ,?is is obta9$ f 
! air held 9 spaces betwe5 soil         
p>ticles4 ,_m o!r soil-dwell+ life =ms f
 bact]ia to moles compete = ?is same    
oxyg54 ,consequ5tly1 soil oxyg5 levels  
are l[] ?an 9 ! atmosph]e4 ,a sl[       
ex*ange ( gases does occur betwe5 soil  
air & free atmosph]e1 b deep] 9 ! soil  
!re w inevitably be less oxyg54 ,diff]5t
 plant species h v>y+ degrees ( root    
tol]ance = lack ( oxyg51 b !y all /op   
gr[+ at "s dep?4 ,moi/ure res]ves bel[ !
 roots' maximum dep? become relatively  
inaccessible4  ,soil compaction r$uces !
 ov]all supply & ex*ange ( soil air4    
,compact$ soil also acts z a me*anical  
b>ri] to root sy/em expansion4 ,:5 g>d5+

 ) unlimit$ irrigation or :]e ra9 falls 
frequ5tly1 x is q possible to h         
satisfactory gr[? :5 only ! surface #f  
or #g in*es ( soil facilitates root     
developm5t4 ,:5 g>d5+ ) limit$ wat]1    
,*9a's ! limit1 because if soil         
conditions p]mit1 _m vegetable species  
are capable ( rea*+ #d1 #e1 & #h eight  
feet d[n to f9d moi/ure & nutrition4    
,evaluat+ ,pot5tial ,root+ ,ability  ,"o
 ( ! mo/ in/ructive ?+s a wat]-wise     
g>d5] c d is to r5t or borr[ a h&-op]at$
 f5ce po/ aug] & bore a #c-;foot-deep   
hole4 ,x c be ev5 m educational to buy a
 %ort section ( ord9>y wat] pipe to     
ext5d ! aug]'s rea* ano!r #b or #c feet 
d[n4 ,9 soil free ( /ones1 us+ an aug]  
is m in/ructive ?an us+ a conv5tional   
po/hole digg] or %ovel+ out a small pit1
 because :]e soil is loose1 ! hole      
deep5s rapidly4 ,:]e any lay] is ev5    
slightly compact$1 "o turns & turns !   
bit )\t mu* effect4 ,aug]s also lift !  
mat]ials m or less z !y are /ratifi$4   
,if y\r soil is some:at /ony 7l mu* upl&

 soil nor? ( ,c5tralia left by ! ,va%on 
,glaci]71 ! m usual f5ce-po/ digg] or   
common %ovel works bett]4  ,if y f9d m  
?an #d feet ( soil1 ! site holds a      
dry-g>d5+ pot5tial t increases ) !      
additional dep?4 ,"s soils along !      
floodpla9s ( riv]s or 9 broad valleys l 
! ,willamette or ,skagit c be ov] #bj   
feet deep1 & hold f> m wat] ?an ! deepe/
 roots c\ld draw or capill>y fl[ c\ld   
raise dur+ an entire gr[+ season4 ,g5tly
 slop+ l& c (t5 c>ry #e to #g feet (    
op51 usable soil4 ,h[ev]1 soils on /eep 
hillsides become increas+ly ?9 & fragile
 ) increas+ slope4  ,:e!r an urban1     
suburban1 or rural g>d5]1 y %\ld make no
 assumptions ab\t ! dep? & op5ness ( !  
soil at y\r disposal4 ,dig a te/ hole4  
,if y f9d less ?an #b un=tunate feet (  
op5 e>? be=e hitt+ an imp]meable ob/acle
 su* z rock or gravel1 n mu* wat] /orage
 c occur & ! only use ?is book w hold = 
y is to guide y\r move to a m likely    
g>d5+ location or enc\rage ! h\se hunt] 
to seek fur!r4 ,( c\rse1 y c /ill g>d5 q

 successfully on ?9 soil 9 !            
conv5tional1 irrigat$ mann]4 ,gr[+      
,vegetables ,we/ ( ! ,cascades w be an  
excell5t guide = ?is type ( situation4  
,elim9at+ ,pl[pan  ,deep ?\gh ! soil may
 be1 any re/riction ( root expansion    
greatly limits ! ability ( plants to    
aggressively f9d wat]4 ,a compact$      
subsoil or ev5 a ?9 compress$ lay] su* z
 pl[pan may function z su* a b>ri]4     
,?\gh moi/ure w /ill rise sl[ly by      
capill>ity & re*>ge soil above pl[pan1  
plants obta9 mu* m wat] by root+ into   
unoccupi$1 damp soil4 ,soils close to   
riv]s or on floodpla9s may appe> loose &
 inf9itely deep b may hide subsoil      
/reaks ( dr\ghty gravel t effectively   
/ops root gr[?4 ,"s ( ^! conditions are 
correctable & "s are n4  ,pl[pan is v   
commonly enc\nt]$ by home/ead]s on f>m  
soils & may be f\nd 9 suburbia too1 b   
=tunately x is ! easie/ ob/acle to      
rem$y4 ,traditionally1 ,am]ican cropl&s 
h be5 till$ ) ! moldbo>d pl[4 ,z ?is    
implem5t fir/ cuts & !n flips a #f-or   

#g-;in*-deep slice ( soil ov]1 ! sole--!
 "p support+ ! pl['s weight--presses    
heavily on ! e>? ab\t #g in*es bel[ !   
surface4 ,) ea* subsequ5t pl[+ ! pl[    
sole rides at ! same #g-;in* dep? & an  
ev5 m compact$ lay] develops4 ,once =m$ 
pl[pan prev5ts ! crop f root+ into !    
subsoil4 ,s9ce w9t] ra9s lea* nutri5ts f
 ! topsoil & deposit !m 9 ! subsoil1    
pl[pan prev5ts access to ^! nutri5ts &  
effectively impov]i%es ! field4 ,s wise 
f>m]s p]iodically use a subsoil pl[ to  
fracture ! pan4  ,pl[pan c seem z firm z
 a ramm$-e>? h\se2 once e/abli%$1 x c   
la/ a long1 long "t4 ,my own g>d5 l& is 
"p ( :at 0 once an old :eat f>m1 "o ( ! 
fir/ home/eads ( ! ,oregon ,t]ritory4 ,f
 ab\t #ahfj ?r\gh ! #aicjs1 ! field     
produc$ small gra9s4 ,aft] :eat became  
unpr(itable1 probably because ( *ang+   
m>ket conditions & soil exhau/ion1 !    
field became an unpl[$ pa/ure4 ,!n 9 !  
#aigjs x grew daffodil bulbs1 occasion+ 
m pl[+4 ,all ?r\gh ! '#hjs my soil aga9 
re/$ "u grass4 ,9 #aihg1 :5 ,i began us+

 ! l&1 !re 0 /ill a #b-;in*-?ick1 v h>d 
lay] />t+ ab\t #g in*es d[n4 ,bel[ #i   
in*es ! op5 e>? is s(t z butt] z f> z   
,i've ev] dug4  ,on a g>d5-siz$ plot1   
pl[pan or compact$ subsoil is easily    
op5$ ) a spad+ =k or a v %>p common     
%ovel4 ,aft] normal rot>y till+1 ei!r   
tool c fairly easily be wiggl$ #ab in*es
 into ! e>? & small bites ( pl[pan      
loos5$4 ,once ?is labori\s *ore is      
accompli%$ ! fir/ "t1 deep tillage w be 
f> easi]4 ,9 fact1 x becomes s easy t   
,i've be5 look+ = a cu/om-made =k )     
long] t9es4   ,cur+ ,clayey ,soils  ,9  
humid climates l ours1 s&y soils may    
seem v op5 & friable on ! surface b     
frequ5tly hold "s unpleasant subsoil    
surprises4 ,ov] geologic "t spans1 m9]al
 gra9s are sl[ly de/roy$ by weak soil   
acids & clay is =m$ f ! breakd[n        
products4 ,!n heavy w9t] ra9fall        
transports ^! m9uscule clay p>ticles    
deep] into ! e>?1 :]e !y conc5trate4 ,x 
is n unusual to f9d a s&y topsoil       
und]laid ) a d5se1 cem5t-l1 clayey s&   

subsoil ext5d+ d[n sev]al feet4 ,if v   
imp]vi\s1 a ?ick1 d5se deposition l ?is 
may be call$ h>dpan4  ,! spad+ =k _c    
cure ?is condition z simply z x c       
elim9ate ?9 pl[pan4 ,"h is "o situation 
:]e1 if ,i _h a neighbor ) a l>ge       
tractor & subsoil pl[1 ,i'd hire him to 
fracture my l& #c or #d feet deep4      
,pa9/ak+ly d\ble or ev5 triple digg+ w  
also loos5 ?is lay]4 ,ano!r possible    
/rategy = a small] g>d5 w\ld be to r5t a
 gasol9e-p[]$ po/hole aug]1 spread      
manure or compo/ an in* or two ?ick1 &  
!n bore num]\s1 almo/ adjo9+ holes #d   
feet deep all ov] ! g>d54  ,clayey      
subsoil c supply surpris+ly l>g] am\nts 
( moi/ure ?an ! granul> s&y surface     
might imply1 b only if ! e>? is op5$    
deeply & becomes m accessible to root   
gr[?4 ,=tunately1 once root developm5t  
increases at great] dep?s1 ! organic    
matt] cont5t & accessibility ( ?is      
clayey lay] c be ma9ta9$ ?r\gh          
intellig5t gre5 manur+1 po/pon+ = ye>s !
 ne$ to subsoil aga94 ,gre5 manur+ is   

discuss$ 9 detail %ortly4  ,o!r sites   
may h gooey1 v f9e clay topsoils1 almo/ 
inevitably ) gooey1 v f9e clay subsoils 
z well4 ,?\gh incorporation (           
extraord9>ily l>ge quantities ( organic 
matt] c turn ! top few in*es into some?+
 t behaves a little l loam1 x is q      
impractical to "w 9 humus to a dep? ( #d
 or #e feet4 ,root developm5t w /ill be 
limit$ to ! surface lay]4 ,v f9e clays  
don't make likely dry g>d5s4  ,n all    
clay soils are f9e clay soils1 totally  
compact$ & airless4 ,= example1 on !    
g5tl] slopes ( ! geologic old ,cascades1
 ^? #ej-million-ye>-old black basalts t 
=m ! ,cascades foo?ills & appe> 9 o!r   
places ?r\gh\t ! m>itime ,nor?we/1 a    
deep1 friable1 r$ clay soil call$ 79    
,oregon7 ,jori (t5 =ms4 ,jori clays c be
 #f to #h feet deep & are suffici5tly   
por\s & well dra9$ to h be5 us$ = highly
 productive or*>d crops4 ,wat]-wise     
g>d5]s c d wond]s ) ,joris & o!r simil> 
soils1 ?\gh clays nev] gr[ ! be/ root   
crops4   ,spott+ a ,likely ,site        

,obs]v+ ! condition ( wild plants c     
reveal a good site to g>d5 )\t mu*      
irrigation4 ,:]e ,himalaya or ,ev]gre5  
blackb]ries gr[ #b feet tall & produce  
small1 dull-ta/+ fruit1 !re is n mu*    
available soil moi/ure4 ,:]e !y gr[ #f  
feet tall & ! b]ries are sweet & good   
siz$1 !re is deep1 op5 soil4 ,:5 ! b]ry 
v9es are #h or m feet tall & ! fruits   
are especially huge1 usually !re is bo? 
deep1 loose soil & a high] ?an usual    
am\nt ( f]tility4  ,o!r native          
vegetation c also reveal a lot ab\t soil
 moi/ure res]ves4 ,= ye>s ,i wond]$ at !
 %ort lead]s & sad appe>ance ( ,d\glas  
fir 9 ! vic9ity ( ,yelm1 ,wa%+ton4 ,7 !y
 due to extreme soil inf]tility8 ,!n ,i 
le>n$ t conif] trees respond m to       
summ]time soil moi/ure ?an to f]tility4 
,i obta9$ a soil survey ( ,?ur/on ,c\nty
 & discov]$ t mu* ( t area 0 v s&y )    
gravelly subsoil4 ,eureka6  ,! ,soil    
,cons]vation ,s]vice 7,,scs71 a ,u4,s4  
,gov]nm5t ag5cy1 has probably put a soil
 aug] into y\r v l& or a plot close by4 

,its te/s h be5 correlat$ & mapp$2 !    
soils und]ly+ ! m>itime ,nor?we/ h be5  
nam$ & categoriz$ by texture1 dep?1 &   
ability to provide available moi/ure4 ,!
 maps are precise & detail$ en\gh to    
approximately locate a city or suburban 
lot4 ,9 #aihg1 :5 ,i 0 9 ! m>ket = a new
 home/ead1 ,i fir/ w5t to my c\nty ,,scs
 (fice1 mapp$ out locations :]e ! soil 0
 suitable1 & !n w5t hunt+4 ,mo/ c\nties 
h _! own (fice4   ,us+ ,humus to        
,increase ,soil ,moi/ure  ,ma9ta9+      
topsoil humus cont5t 9 ! #d to #e p]c5t 
range is vital to plant heal?1 vital to 
gr[+ m nutriti\s food1 & ess5tial to    
br++ ! soil into t /ate ( easy          
workability & coop]ation kn[n z good    
til?4 ,humus is a spongy sub/ance       
capable ( hold+ sev]al times m available
 moi/ure ?an clay4 ,!re are also new    
syn!tic1 long-la/+ soil am5dm5ts t hold 
& release ev5 m moi/ure ?an humus4 ,g>d5
 books frequ5tly recomm5d till+ 9       
extraord9>ily l>ge am\nts ( organic     
matt] to increase a soil's wat]-hold+   

capacity 9 ! top few in*es4  ,humus c   
improve _m aspects ( soil b w n r$uce a 
g>d5's ov]all ne$ = irrigation1 because 
x is simply n practical to ma9ta9       
suffici5t humus deeply en\gh4 ,rot>y    
till+ only bl5ds am5dm5ts into ! top #f 
or #g in*es ( soil4 ,rigor\s d\ble digg+
 by actually tr5*+ out #ab in*es & !n   
spad+ up ! next foot !oretically all[s  
"o to mix 9 significant am\nts ( organic
 matt] to ne>ly #bd in*es4 ,b plants c  
use wat] f f> deep] ?an t4 ,let's       
reali/ically consid] h[ mu* soil moi/ure
 res]ves might be increas$ by d\ble     
digg+ & incorporat+ l>ge quantities (   
organic matt]4  ,a heal?y topsoil       
organic matt] level 9 our climate is    
ab\t #d p]c5t4 ,?is rapidly decl9es to  
less ?an #j4e p]c5t 9 ! subsoil4        
,suppose in*es-?ick lay]s ( compo/ 7    
spread &1 by d\ble digg+1 ! organic     
matt] cont5t ( a v s&y soil 7 am5d$ to  
#aj p]c5t d[n to #b feet4 ,if t soil    
conta9$ little clay1 its wat]-hold+     
ability 9 ! top #b feet c\ld be d\bl$4  

,ref]r+ to ! *>t ,available ,moi/ure 9  
,*apt] #b1 we see t s&y soil c release  
up to #a in* ( wat] p] foot4 ,by d9t (  
massive am5dm5t we might add #a in* (   
available moi/ure p] foot ( soil to !   
res]ve4 ,t's #b extra in*es ( wat]1     
en\gh to increase ! "t an ord9>y g>d5 c 
la/ betwe5 heavy irrigations by a week  
or #aj days4  ,if ! soil 9 "q 7 a silty 
clay1 x w\ld naturally make #b #a_/b    
in*es available p] foot4 ,a massive     
humus am5dm5t w\ld increase t to #c     
#a_/b in*es 9 ! top foot or two1        
relatively n z mu* b5efit z 9 s&y soil4 
,& ,i s]i\sly d\bt t _m g>d5]s w\ld be  
will+ to ?or\ghly d\ble dig to an hone/ 
#bd in*es4  ,try+ to ma9ta9 organic     
matt] levels above #aj p]c5t is an almo/
 self-defeat+ process4 ,! high] ! humus 
level gets1 ! m rapidly organic matt]   
t5ds to decay4 ,f9d+ or mak+ en\gh      
well-f9i%$ compo/ to cov] ! g>d5 sev]al 
in*es deep 7:at x takes to lift humus   
levels to #aj p]c5t7 is en\gh ( a job4  
,d\ble digg+ j z mu* m into ! second    

foot is ev5 m ef=t4 ,b hav+ to repeat t 
*ore e ye> or two becomes d[nright      
disc\rag+4 ,no1 ei!r y\r soil naturally 
holds en\gh moi/ure to p]mit dry g>d5+1 
or x doesn't4   ,keep+ ! ,subsoil ,op5 )
 ,gre5 ,manur+  ,:5 roots decay1 fre%   
organic matt] & l>ge1 long-la/+         
passageways c be left deep 9 ! soil1    
all[+ easi] air movem5t & facilitat+    
entry ( o!r roots4 ,b no cov] crop t ,i 
am aw>e ( w effectively p5etrate firm   
pl[pan or o!r resi/ant physical         
ob/acles4 ,su* a b>ri] =ces all plants  
to root almo/ exclusively 9 ! topsoil4  
,h[ev]1 once ! subsoil has be5          
me*anically fractur$ ! fir/ "t1 & if    
recompaction is avoid$ by %unn+ heavy   
tractors & o!r ma*9]y1 gre5 manure crops
 c ma9ta9 ! op5ness ( ! subsoil4  ,to   
accompli% ?is1 correct gre5 manure      
species selection is ess5tial4 ,lawn    
grasses t5d to be %all[ root+1 :ile mo/ 
regionally adapt$ pa/ure grasses c rea* 
d[n ab\t #c feet at be/4 ,h[ev]1 or*>d  
grass 7call$ coltsfoot 9 ,engli% f>m+   

books7 w gr[ d[n #d or m feet :ile leav+
 a massive am\nt ( decay+ organic matt] 
9 ! subsoil aft] ! sod is till$ 94      
,sweet clov]1 a bi5nial legume t spr\ts 
"o spr+ !n w9t]s ov] to bloom ! next    
summ]1 may g d[n #h feet4 ,r$ clov]1 a  
p]5nial species1 may ?ickly invade ! top
 #e feet4 ,o!r useful subsoil bu/]s     
include d5sely s[n ,umbellif]ae su* z   
c>rots1 p>sley1 & p>snip4 ,! *icory     
family also makes v l>ge & p5etrat+     
taproots4  ,?\gh se$ = wild *icory is   
h>d to obta91 *eap v>ieties ( endive 7a 
semiciviliz$ relative7 are easily       
available4 ,& sev]al p\nds ( y\r own    
excell5t p>sley or p>snip se$ c be      
easily produc$ by lett+ ab\t #aj r[ feet
 ( ov]w9t]+ roots =m se$4 ,or*>d grass &
 r$ clov] c be _h q inexp5sively at _m  
f>m supply /ores4 ,sweet clov] is n     
curr5tly gr[n by our region's f>m]s & s 
c only be f\nd by mail f ,johnny's      
,select$ ,se$s 7see ,*apt] #e = _!      
address74 ,poppy se$ us$ = cook+ w (t5  
spr\t4 ,s[n d5sely 9 ,octob]1 x =ms a   

?ick c>pet ( frilly spr+ gre5s und]laid 
) c\ntless massive taproots t decompose 
v rapidly if ! plants are till$ 9 9     
,april be=e fl[] /alks beg9 to appe>4   
,bew>e if us+ poppies z a gre5 manure   
crop3 be sure to till !m 9 e>ly to avoid
 tr\ble ) ! ,,dea or o!r au?orities4  ,=
 c\ntry g>d5]s1 ! be/ rotations include 
sev]al ye>s ( p]5nial grass-legume-h]b  
mixtures to ma9ta9 ! op5ness ( ! subsoil
 foll[$ by a few ye>s ( vegetables & !n 
back 7see ,newman ,turn]'s book 9 m     
read+74 ,i plan my own g>d5 ?is way4 ,9 
,octob]1 aft] a few in*es ( ra9 has     
s(t5$ ! e>?1 ,i spread #ej p\nds (      
agricultural lime p] #a1jjj squ>e feet &
 break ! ?ick pa/ure sod cov]+ next     
ye>'s g>d5 plot by %all[ rot>y till+4   
,e>ly ! next spr+ ,i broadca/ a         
concoction ,i call complete organic     
f]tiliz] 7see ,gr[+ ,vegetables ,we/ ( !
 ,cascades or ! ,t]ritorial ,se$        
,company ,catalog71 till aga9 aft] !    
soil dries d[n a bit1 & !n use a spad+  
=k to op5 ! subsoil be=e mak+ a se$b$4  

,! fir/ "t ar\nd1 ,i _h to break !      
c5tury-old pl[pan--=k+ compact$ e>? a   
foot deep is a lot ( "w4 ,9 subsequ5t   
rotations x is mu* mu* easi]4  ,= a     
c\ple ( ye>s1 vegetables w gr[ vigor\sly
 on ?is new gr\nd support$ only ) a     
complete organic f]tiliz]4 ,b vegetable 
g>d5+ makes humus levels decl9e rapidly4
 ,s e few ye>s ,i />t a new g>d5 on     
ano!r plot & replant ! old g>d5 to gre5 
manures4 ,i nev] remove vegetation dur+ 
! long rebuild+ "u gre5 manures1 b m]ely
 m[ x once or twice a ye> & all[ !      
organic matt] cont5t ( ! soil to        
r$evelop4 ,if !re ev] 7 a place :]e     
*emical f]tiliz]s might be appropriate  
ar\nd a g>d51 x w\ld be to af=dably     
enhance ! gr[? ( biomass dur+ gre5      
manur+4  ,7 ,i a s]i\s city vegetable   
g>d5]1 ,i'd consid] gr[+ vegetables 9 ! 
front y>d = a few ye>s & !n swit*+ to ! 
back y>d4 ,hav+ lots ( space1 z ,i d n[1
 ,i keep ?ree or f\r g>d5 plots         
available1 "o 9 vegetables & ! o!rs     
re/or+ _! organic matt] cont5t "u grass4

   ,mul*+  ,g>d5+ "u a p]man5t ?ick mul*
 ( crude organic matt] is recomm5d$ by  
,ru? ,/\t 7see ! li/+ = h] book 9 ,m    
,read+7 & h] disciples z a surefire way 
to dr\ght-pro( g>d5s :ile elim9at+      
virtually any ne$ = tillage1 we$+1 &    
f]tiliz+4 ,i h attempt$ ! me?od 9 bo?   
,s\!rn ,cali=nia & we/]n ,oregon--)     
disa/r\s results 9 bo? locations4 ,:at  
foll[s 9 ?is section is address$ to     
g>d5]s :o h already read gl[+ reports   
ab\t mul*+4  ,p]man5t mul*+ ) vegetation
 actually does n r$uce summ]time moi/ure
 loss any bett] ?an mul*+ ) dry soil1   
sometimes call$ du/ mul*+4 ,true1 :ile !
 surface lay] /ays moi/1 wat] w /eadily 
be wick$ up by capill>ity & be evaporat$
 f ! soil's surface4 ,if frequ5t light  
spr9kl+ keeps ! surface p]petually moi/1
 subsoil moi/ure loss c occur all summ]1
 s unmul*$ soil c\ld ev5tually become   
desiccat$ _m feet deep4 ,h[ev]1 capill>y
 movem5t only happ5s :5 soil is damp4   
,once ev5 a ?9 lay] ( soil has become q 
dry x almo/ completely prev5ts any fur!r

 movem5t4 ,we/ ( ! ,cascades1 ?is happ5s
 all by itself 9 late spr+4 ,"o hot1    
sunny day foll[s ano!r1 & soon ! e>?'s  
surface seems p>*$4  ,un=tunately1 by ! 
"t a du/y lay] =ms1 q a bit ( soil wat] 
may h ris5 f ! dep?s & be5 lo/4 ,! g>d5]
 c significantly r$uce spr+ moi/ure loss
 by frequ5tly hoe+ we$s until ! top in* 
or two ( e>? is dry & p[d]y4 ,?is ef=t w
 probably be necess>y 9 any case1       
because we$s w g]m9ate prolifically     
until ! surface lay] is suffici5tly     
desiccat$4 ,on ! (f *ance x %\ld ra9 h>d
 dur+ summ]1 x is v wise to aga9 hoe a  
few times to rapidly re/ore ! du/ mul*4 
,if h& cultivation seems v h>d "w1 ,i   
sugge/ y le>n to %>p5 y\r hoe4  ,a mul* 
( dry hay1 grass clipp+s1 leaves1 & ! l 
w also ret>d rapid surface evaporation4 
,g>d5]s ?9k mul*+ prev5ts moi/ure loss  
bett] ?an b>e e>? because "u mul* ! soil
 /ays damp "r to ! surface4 ,h[ev]1 dig 
d[n #d to #f in*es "u a du/ mul* & ! e>?
 is j z damp z "u hay4 ,&1 soil moi/ure 
/udies h prov$ t ov]all moi/ure loss us+

 vegetation mul* slightly exce$s loss "u
 a du/ mul*4  ,we/ ( ! ,cascades1 ! "q (
 :i* me?od is sup]ior is a bit complex1 
) pros & cons on bo? sides4 ,)\t a long 
w9t] freeze to set populations back1    
p]man5t ?ick mul* quickly bre$s s _m    
slugs1 e>:igs1 & s[bugs t x _c be       
ma9ta9$ = m ?an "o ye> be=e vegetable   
g>d5+ becomes v difficult4 ,lay+ d[n a  
fairly ?9 mul* 9 ,june aft] ! soil has  
w>m$ up well1 rak+ up :at rema9s ( !    
mul* e>ly ! next spr+1 & compo/+ x      
prev5ts de/ructive insect population    
levels f develop+ :ile simultane\sly    
r$uc+ surface compaction by w9t] ra9s & 
b5eficially enhanc+ ! survival &        
multiplication ( e>?worms4 ,b a ?9 mul* 
also enhances ! summ] g]m9ation ( we$   
se$s )\t be+ ?ick en\gh to suppress _!  
em]g5ce4 ,& any mul*1 ev5 a ?9 "o1 makes
 hoe+ virtually impossible1 :ile h& we$+
 ?r\gh mul* is t$i\s4  ,mul* has "s     
unqualifi$ pluses 9 hott] climates4 ,mo/
 ( ! organic matt] 9 soil & consequ5tly 
mo/ ( ! available nitrog5 is f\nd 9 !   

surface few in*es4 ,levels ( o!r m9]al  
nutri5ts are usually two or ?ree times z
 high 9 ! topsoil z well4 ,h[ev]1 if !  
surface few in*es ( soil becomes        
completely desiccat$1 no root activity w
 occur !re & ! plants are =c$ to fe$    
deep]1 9 soil f> less f]tile4 ,keep+ !  
topsoil damp does greatly improve ! gr[?
 ( "s %all[-fe$+ species su* z lettuce &
 radi%es4 ,b ) our climate's cool       
nights1 mo/ vegetables ne$ ! soil z w>m 
z possible1 & ! cool+ effect ( mul* c be
 z mu* a h9drance z a help4 ,i've tri$  
mul*+ q a few species :ile dry g>d5+ &  
f\nd little or no improvem5t 9 plant    
gr[? ) mo/ ( !m4 ,probably1 ! enhancem5t
 ( nutrition comp5sates = ! h>m f l[]+  
soil temp]ature4 ,f]tigation is bett]   
all ar\nd4   ,w9dbreaks  ,plants        
transpire m moi/ure :5 ! sun %9es1 :5   
temp]atures are high1 & :5 ! w9d bl[s2 x
 is j l dry+ laundry4 ,w9dbreaks also   
help ! g>d5 gr[ 9 w9t] by increas+      
temp]ature4 ,_m o!r g>d5 books discuss  
w9dbreaks1 & ,i conclude t ,i h a bett] 

use = ! small am\nt ( words my publi%]  
all[s me ?an to repeat ?is data2 ,b9da  
,colebrook's i,w9t] ,g>d5+ 9 ! ,m>itime 
,nor?we/i 7,sasquat* ,books1 #aihi7 is  
especially good on ?is topic4           
,f]tiliz+1 ,f]tigat+ & ,foli> ,spray+   
,9 our heavily lea*$ region almo/ no    
soil is naturally ri*1 :ile f]tiliz]s1  
manures1 & pot5t compo/s ma9ly improve !
 topsoil4 ,b ! wat]-wise g>d5] mu/ get  
nutrition d[n deep1 :]e ! soil /ays damp
 ?r\gh ! summ]4  ,if plants ) en\gh     
rema9+ elb[ room /op gr[+ 9 summ] & beg9
 to appe> gn>ly1 x is j z likely due to 
lack ( nutrition z lack ( wat]4 ,sev]al 
?+s c be done to limit or prev5t        
midsumm] /unt+4 ,fir/1 be=e s[+ or      
transplant+ l>ge species l tomato1 squa%
 or big brassicas1 dig out a small pit  
ab\t #ab in*es deep & bel[ t bl5d 9 a   
h&ful or two ( organic f]tiliz]4 ,!n    
fill ! hole back 94 ,?is d\ble-digg+    
process places conc5trat$ f]tility mix$ 
#ah to #bd in*es bel[ ! se$s or se$l+s4 
,foli> fe$+ is ano!r wat]-wise te*nique 

t keeps plants gr[+ ?r\gh ! summ]4      
,soluble nutri5ts spray$ on plant leaves
 are rapidly tak5 into ! vascul> sy/em4 
,un=tunately1 dilute nutri5t solutions t
 won't burn leaves only provoke a /rong 
gr[? response = #c to #e days4          
,optimally1 foli> nutrition mu/ be      
appli$ weekly or ev5 m frequ5tly4 ,to   
effici5tly spray a g>d5 l>g] ?an a few  
hundr$ squ>e feet1 ,i sugge/ buy+ an    
indu/rial-grade1 #c-;gallon backpack    
spray] ) a side-h&le pump4 ,approximate 
co/ z ( ?is writ+ 0 #hj4 ,! /ore t sells
 x 7probably a f>m supply /ore7 w also  
support y ) a complete assortm5t (      
inexp5sive nozzles t c v>y ! rate (     
emission & ! spray patt]n4 ,high-quality
 equipm5t l ?is outla/s _m1 _m *eap] &  
small] spray]s design$ = ! consum]      
m>ket1 & replacem5t p>ts are also       
available4 ,keep 9 m9d t consum] m]*&ise
 is design$ to be consum$2 /uff made =  
f>m+ is built to la/4   ,increas+ ,soil 
,f]tility ,saves ,wat]  ,does crop gr[? 
equal wat] use8 ,mo/ p w\ld say ?is     

/atem5t seems likely to be true4        
,actually1 fa/]-gr[+ crops use mu* less 
soil moi/ure ?an sl[]-gr[+ ones4 ,z e>ly
 z #ahhb x 0 det]m9$ t less wat] is     
requir$ to produce a p\nd ( plant       
mat]ial :5 soil is f]tiliz$ ?an :5 x is 
n f]tiliz$4 ,"o exp]im5t requir$ #a1ajj 
p\nds ( wat] to gr[ #a p\nd ( dry matt] 
on inf]tile soil1 b only #ege p\nds (   
wat] to produce a p\nd ( dry matt] on   
ri* l&4 ,p]haps ! s+le mo/ important ?+ 
a wat]-wise g>d5] c d is to increase !  
f]tility ( ! soil1 especially ! subsoil4
  ,poor plant nutrition increases ! wat]
 co/ ( e p\nd ( dry matt] produc$4  ,us+
 foli> f]tiliz]s requires a little      
caution & =e?\ght4 ,sp9a*1 beet1 & *>d  
leaves seem p>ticul>ly s5sitive to      
foli>s 7& ev5 to organic insecticides7 &
 may be damag$ by ev5 half-/r5g?        
applications4 ,& ! cabbage family coats 
its leaf surfaces ) a waxy1             
moi/ure-ret5tive sealant t makes sprays 
bead up & run (f r ?an /ick & be        
absorb$4 ,mix+ foli> fe$ solutions ) a  

little spread]_//ick]1 ,saf]'s ,soap1   
or1 if bugs are also a problem1 ) a     
liquid organic insecticide l ,r$ ,arr[  
7a pyre?rum-rot5one mix71 elim9ates     
surface t5sion & all[s ! f]tiliz] to h  
an effect on brassicas4  ,sadly1 9 t]ms 
( nutri5t balance1 ! poore/ foli> sprays
 are organic4 ,t's because x is ne>ly   
impossible to get significant quantities
 ( phosphorus or calcium into solution  
us+ any comb9ation ( fi% emulsion &     
seawe$ or liquid kelp4 ,! mo/ useful    
possible organic foli> is #a_/b to #a   
tablespoon ea* ( fi% emulsion & liquid  
seawe$ conc5trate p] gallon ( wat]4     
,foli> spray+ & f]tigation are two      
occasions :5 ,i am com=table supplem5t+ 
my organic f]tiliz]s ) wat]-soluble     
*emical f]tiliz]s4 ,! be/ & mo/ exp5sive
 br& is ,rapid-,gro4 ,less co/ly        
concoctions su* z ,pet]s #bj-bj-bj or ! 
o!r ,gr[s1 don't provide z complete     
trace m9]al support or use z _m s\rces (
 nutrition4 ,"o ?+ f]tiliz] mak]s f9d   
exp5sive to accompli% is concoct+ a     

mixture ( soluble nutri5ts t also       
conta9s calcium1 a vital plant food4 ,if
 y dissolve calcium nitrate into a      
solution conta9+ o!r soluble plant      
nutri5ts1 _m ( !m w precipitate out     
because few calcium comp\nds are        
soluble4 ,ev5 ,rapid-,gro doesn't       
attempt to supply calcium4 ,rec5tly     
,i've discov]$ bett]-quality hydroponic 
nutri5t solutions t d use *emicals t    
provide soluble calcium4 ,^! also make  
excell5t foli> sprays4 ,br&s (          
hydroponic nutri5t solutions seem to    
appe> & vani% rapidly4 ,i've _h great   
luck ) ,dyna-,gro #g-i-e4 ,all ^!       
*emicals are mix$ at ab\t #a tablespoon 
p] gallon4   ,vegetables ,t3  ,l foli>s 
,asp>agus ,c>rots ,melons ,squa%        
,beans ,caulifl[] ,peas ,tomatoes       
,broccoli ,brussels spr\ts ,cucumb]s    
,cabbage ,eggplant ,radi%es   ,kale     
,rutabagas ,potatoes  ,don't l foli>s   
,beets ,leeks ,onions ,sp9a*   ,*>d     
,lettuce ,pepp]s  ,l f]tigation         
,brussels spr\ts ,kale ,savoy cabbage   

,cucumb]s ,melons ,squa%   ,eggplant    
,pepp]s ,tomatoes   ,f]tigation e two to
 f\r weeks is ! be/ te*nique = maximiz+ 
yield :ile m9imiz+ wat] use4 ,i usually 
make my fir/ f]tigation late 9 ,june &  
cont9ue p]iodically ?r\gh e>ly          
,septemb]4 ,i use six or sev5 pla/ic    
#e-;gallon drip sy/em buckets1 7see     
bel[7 set "o by ea* plant1 & fill !m all
 ) a hose ea* "t ,i "w 9 ! g>d54 ,do+   
#ab or #ad plants ea* "t ,i'm 9 ! g>d51 
x takes no special ef=t to rotate ?r\gh 
!m all m or less e ?ree weeks4  ,to make
 a drip bucket1 drill a #c_/af-;in* hole
 ?r\gh ! side ( a #d-to-#f-;gallon      
pla/ic bucket ab\t #a_/d-;in* up f !    
bottom1 or 9 ! bottom at ! edge4 ,!     
empty bucket is plac$ s t ! f]tiliz$    
wat] dra9s out close to ! /em ( a plant4
 ,x is !n fill$ ) liquid f]tiliz]       
solution4 ,x takes #e to #aj m9utes = #e
 gallons to pass ?r\gh a small op5+1 &  
because ( ! sl[ fl[ rate1 wat] p5etrates
 deeply into ! subsoil )\t wett+ mu* ( !
 surface4 ,ea* f]tigation makes ! plant 

gr[ v rapidly = two to ?ree weeks1 m ,i 
suspect z a result ( improv$ nutrition  
?an f add$ moi/ure4 ,exactly h[ & :5 to 
f]tigate ea* species is expla9$ 9 ,*apt]
 #e4  ,organic g>d5]s may f]tigate )    
comb9ations ( fi% emulsion & seawe$ at !
 same dilution us$ = foli> spray+1 or ) 
compo/_/manure tea4 ,det]m9+ ! correct  
/r5g? to make compo/ tea is a matt] (   
trial & error4 ,i usually rely on weak  
,rapid-,gro mix$ at half ! recomm5d$    
dilution4 ,! /r5g? ( ! f]tiliz] y ne$   
dep5ds on h[ mu* & deeply y plac$       
nutrition 9 ! subsoil4     ,*apt] #d    
,wat]-,wise ,g>d5+ ,ye>-,r\nd   ,e>ly   
,spr+3 ,! ,easie/ ,unwat]$ ,g>d5  ,we/ (
 ! ,cascades1 mo/ crops />t$ 9 ,febru>y 
& ,m>* require no special h&l+ :5       
irrigation is sc>ce4 ,^! include peas1  
e>ly lettuce1 radi%es1 kohlrabi1 e>ly   
broccoli1 & s =?4 ,h[ev]1 "s ( ^!       
vegetables are h>ve/$ z late z ,june1 s 
to r$uce _! ne$ = irrigation1 space !m  
wid] ?an usual4 ,spr+ vegetables also w 
exhau/ mo/ ( ! moi/ure f ! soil be=e    

matur+1 mak+ succession plant+          
impossible )\t fir/ irrigat+ heavily4   
,e>ly spr+ plant+s are be/ allocat$ "o (
 two places 9 ! g>d5 plan3 ei!r 9 t "p (
 ! g>d5 t w be fully irrigat$ all summ] 
or 9 a "p ( a big g>d5 t c af=dably     
rema9 b>e dur+ ! summ] & be us$ 9       
,octob] = receiv+ transplants ( ov]w9t]+
 crops4 ,! g>d5 plan & discussion 9     
,*apt] #f illu/rate ^! ideas 9 detail4  
,lat] 9 ,spr+3 ,spr\t+ ,se$s ,)\t ,wat]+
  ,= ! fir/ ye>s t ,i exp]im5t$ ) dry   
g>d5+ ,i w5t ov]bo>d & attempt$ to gr[  
food z ?\gh ,i _h no runn+ wat] at all4 
,! greate/ difficulty caus$ by ?is      
self-impos$ h&icap 0 s[+ small-se$$     
species aft] ! season w>m$ up4  ,spr\t+ 
:at we 9 ! se$ bus9ess call big         
se$--corn1 beans1 peas1 squa%1 cucumb]1 
& melon--is relatively easy )\t         
irrigation because ^! crops are plant$  
deeply1 :]e soil moi/ure /ill resides   
long aft] ! surface has dri$ out4 ,& ev5
 if x is s late 9 ! season t ! surface  
has become v dry1 a wide1 %all[ dit*    

made ) a %ovel w expose moi/ soil sev]al
 in*es d[n4 ,a furr[ c be cut 9 ! bottom
 ( t damp valley & big se$s g]m9at$ )   
little or no wat]+4  ,tillage breaks    
capill>y connections until ! fluffy soil
 resettles4 ,?is int]ruption is useful =
 prev5t+ moi/ure loss 9 summ]1 b ! same 
ph5om5on makes ! surface dry out 9 a    
fla%4 ,9 rec5tly till$ e>?1 successfully
 spr\t+ small se$s 9 w>m wea!r is dicey 
)\t frequ5t wat]+4  ,) a bit ( =e?\ght1 
! wat]-wise g>d5] c easily ree/abli%    
capill>ity bel[ spr\t+ se$s s t moi/ure 
held deep] 9 ! soil rises to replace t  
lo/ f surface lay]s1 r$uc+ or elim9at+ !
 ne$ = wat]+4 ,! pr9ciple "h c be easily
 demon/rat$4 ,9 fact1 !re probably isn't
 any g>d5] :o has n se5 ! ph5om5on at "w
 )\t realiz+ x4 ,e g>d5] has till$ !    
soil1 gone out ! next morn+1 & notic$ t 
8 or h] compact$ footpr9ts 7 moi/ :ile !
 re/ ( ! e>? 0 dry & fluffy4 ,foot      
pressure re/or$ capill>ity1 & dur+ !    
night1 fre% moi/ure replac$ :at _h      
evaporat$4  ,?is simple te*nique helps  

/>t ev]y?+ except c>rots & p>snips 7:i* 
mu/ h completely loose soil to develop  
correctly74 ,all ! g>d5] mu/ d is       
int5tionally compress ! soil bel[ ! se$s
 & !n cov] ! se$s ) a mul* ( loose1 dry 
soil4 ,spr\t+ se$s !n re/ atop damp soil
 exactly !y lie on a damp blott] 9 a    
g]m9ation laboratory's cov]$ petri di%4 
,?is dampness w n disappe> be=e ! spr\t+
 se$l+ has propell$ a root sev]al in*es 
f>!r d[n & is putt+ a leaf into !       
sunlight4  ,i've us$ sev]al te*niques to
 ree/abli% capill>ity aft] till+4 ,!re's
 a wise old pla/ic pu% plant] 9 my g>age
 t fir/ compacts ! till$ e>? ) its front
 :eel1 cuts a furr[1 drops ! se$1 & !n )
 its drag *a9 pulls loose soil ov] !    
furr[4 ,i've also pull$ "o :eel ( a g>d5
 c>t or pu%$ a lightly load$ :eelb>r[   
d[n ! r[ to press d[n a :eel track1     
spr9kl$ se$ on t compact$ furr[1 & !n   
pull$ loose soil ov] x4   ,h&made       
,footpr9ts  ,sometimes ,i s[ l>ge       
brassicas & cucurbits 9 clumps above a  
f]tiliz$1 d\ble-dug spot4 ,fir/1 9 a    

space ab\t #ah in*es squ>e1 ,i deeply   
dig 9 complete organic f]tiliz]4 ,!n )  
my fi/ ,i pun* d[n a depression 9 ! c5t]
 ( ! fluff$-up m\nd4 ,sometimes my fi/  
goes 9 s easily t ,i h to replace a     
little m soil & pun* x d[n "s m4 ,!     
purpose is n to make ramm$ e>? or cem5t1
 b only to ree/abli% capill>ity by hav+ 
firm soil "u a %all[1 fi/-siz$          
depression4 ,!n a p9* ( se$ is spr9kl$  
atop ?is depression & cov]$ ) f9e e>?4  
,ev5 if sev]al hot sunny days foll[ ,i  
get good g]m9ation )\t wat]+4 ,?is same 
te*nique works excell5tly on hills (    
squa%1 melon & cucumb] z well1 ?\gh ^!  
l>ge-se$$ species mu/ be plant$ q a bit 
deep]4   ,summ]3 ,h[ to ,fluid ,drill   
,se$s  ,soak+ se$s be=e s[+ is ano!r    
wat]-wise te*nique1 especially useful   
lat] 9 ! season4 ,at b$time1 place !    
se$s 9 a half-p9t mason j>1 cov] ) a    
squ>e ( pla/ic w9d[ scre5 held on ) a   
/rong rubb] b&1 soak ! se$s ov]night1 & 
!n dra9 !m fir/ ?+ 9 ! morn+4 ,g5tly    
r9se ! se$s ) cool wat] two or ?ree     

times daily until ! root tips beg9 to   
em]ge4 ,z soon z ?is sign appe>s1 ! se$ 
mu/ be s[n1 because ! newly em]g+ roots 
become increas+ly subject to break+ (f z
 !y develop & soon =m tangl$ masses4    
,prespr\t$ se$s may be g5tly bl5d$ into 
"s crumbly1 moi/ soil & ?is mixture     
g5tly spr9kl$ into a furr[ & cov]$4 ,if 
! spr\ts are p>ticul>ly delicate or1 z )
 c>rots1 y want a v uni=m /&1 disp]se ! 
se$s 9 a />* gelat9 & imitate :at       
comm]cial vegetable gr[]s call fluid    
drill+4  ,heat "o p9t ( wat] to ! boil+ 
po9t4 ,dissolve 9 #b to #c tablespoons (
 ord9>y corn/>*4 ,place ! mixture 9 !   
refrig]ator to cool4 ,soon ! liquid w   
become a s\py gel4 ,g5tly mix ?is cool  
/>* gel ) ! spr\t+ se$s1 mak+ sure !    
se$s are uni=mly bl5d$4 ,p\r ! mixture  
into a #a-qu>t pla/ic zipp] bag &1      
scissors 9 h&1 g out to ! g>d54 ,aft] a 
furr[--) capill>ity re/or$--has be5     
prep>$1 cut a small hole 9 "o l[] corn] 
( ! pla/ic bag4 ,! hole size %\ld be "u 
#a_/d in* 9 diamet]4 ,walk quickly d[n !

 r[1 dribbl+ a mixture ( gel & se$s into
 ! furr[4 ,!n cov]4 ,y may h to exp]im5t
 a few times ) cool$ gel m9us se$s until
 y div9e ! prop] hole size1 walk+ spe$ &
 am\nt ( gel ne$$ p] l5g? ( furr[4 ,n   
only w prespr\t$ se$s come up days      
soon]1 & n only w ! root be p5etrat+    
moi/ soil long be=e ! %oot em]ges1 b !  
/& ( se$l+s w be v uni=mly spac$ & easi]
 to ?94 ,aft] fluid drill+ a few times  
y'll realize t "o ne$s q a bit less se$ 
p] l5g? ( r[ ?an y previ\sly ?\ght4     
,e/abli%+ ! ,fall & ,w9t] ,g>d5  ,we/ ( 
! ,cascades1 g]m9at+ fall & w9t] crops 9
 ! heat ( summ] is always difficult4    
,ev5 :5 ! entire g>d5 is well wat]$1    
midsumm] s[+s require daily att5tion &  
frequ5t spr9kl+2 h[ev]1 once !y h       
g]m9at$1 keep+ little se$l+s gr[+ 9 an  
irrigat$ g>d5 usually requires no m wat]
 ?an ! re/ ( ! g>d5 gets4 ,b once hot   
wea!r comes1 e/abli%+ small se$s 9 ! dry
 g>d5 seems next to impossible )\t      
regul> wat]+4 ,%\ld a lucky1 p]fectly   
tim$1 & unusually heavy summ] ra9fall   

spr\t y\r se$s1 !y /ill w\ld n gr[ well 
because ! next few in*es ( soil w\ld at 
be/ be only slightly moi/4  ,a relat$   
problem _m backy>d g>d5]s h ) e/abli%+ !
 w9t] & ov]w9t]$ g>d5 is f9d+ en\gh     
space = bo? ! summ] & w9t] crops4 ,!    
nurs]y b$ solves bo? ^! problems4       
,in/ead ( try+ to irrigate ! entire area
 t w ev5tually be occupi$ by a w9t] or  
ov]w9t]$ crop at maturity1 ! se$l+s are 
fir/ gr[n 9 irrigat$ nurs]ies =         
transplant+ 9 autumn aft] ! ra9s come   
back4 ,7 ,i desp]ately %ort ( wat] ,i'd 
locate my nurs]y :]e x got only morn+   
sun & s[ a week or #aj days e>li] to    
comp5sate = ! sl[] gr[?4     ,vegetables
 to ,/>t 9 a ,nurs]y ,b$    ,v>iety     
,s[+ date         ,transplant+ date     
,fall_/w9t] lettuce   mid-,augu/        
e>ly ,octob]   ,leeks                   
e>ly ,april         ,july   ,ov]w9t]$   
onions   e>ly-mid ,augu/                
,decemb]_/,janu>y   ,spr+ cabbage       
mid-late ,augu/     ,novemb]_/,decemb]  
,spr+ caulifl[]    mid-,augu/           

,octob]_/,novemb] #a/   ,w9t] scallions 
mid-,july            mid-,octob]        
,se$l+s 9 pots & trays are h>d to keep  
moi/ & require daily t5d+4 ,=tunately1  
gr[+ transplants 9 little pots is n     
necess>y because 9 autumn1 :5 !y'll be  
set out1 humidity is high1 temp]atures  
are cool1 ! sun is weak1 & transpiration
 losses are m9imal1 s se$l+ transplants 
w tol]ate consid]able root loss4 ,my    
nurs]y is s[n 9 r[s ab\t #h in*es ap>t  
across a rais$ b$ & ?9n$ gradually to   
prev5t cr[d+1 because cr[d$ se$l+s are  
h>d to dig out )\t damage4 ,:5 !        
pr$iction ( a few days ( cl\dy wea!r    
enc\rages transplant+1 ! se$l+s are     
lift$ ) a l>ge1 %>p knife4 ,if ! fall   
ra9s are late &_/or ! cr[d$ se$l+s are  
gett+ leggy1 a relatively small am\nt ( 
irrigation w moi/5 ! plant+ areas4      
,ano!r light wat]+ at transplant+ "t w  
almo/ c]ta9ly e/abli% ! se$l+s q        
successfully4 ,&1 f9d+ room = ^! crops  
ceases to be a problem because fall     
transplants c be set out z a succession 

crop foll[+ hot wea!r vegetables su* z  
squa%1 melons1 cucumb]s1 tomatoes1      
potatoes1 & beans4    ,vegetables t mu/ 
be heavily irrigat$   7,^! crops are n  
suitable = dry g>d5s47    ,bulb ,onions 
7= fall h>ve/7   ,cel]iac   ,cel]y      
,*9ese cabbage   ,lettuce 7summ] & fall7
   ,radi%es 7summ] & fall7   ,scallions 
7= summ] h>ve/7   ,sp9a* 7summ]7        
,*apt] #e  ,h[ to ,gr[ ,x ) ,less       
,irrigation3 ,a-,z   ,fir/1 a ,^w ,ab\t 
,v>ieties  ,z rec5tly z ! #aicjs1 mo/   
,am]ican c\ntry folk /ill did n h runn+ 
wat]4 ,) wat] be+ h&-pump$ & c>ri$ 9    
buckets1 & preci\s1 _! vegetable g>d5s  
_h to be gr[n ) a m9imum ( irrigation4  
,9 ! o!rwise well-wat]$ ,ea/1 "o c\ld   
r\t9ely expect sev]al consecutive weeks 
e summ] )\t ra94 ,9 "s dr\ght ye>s a    
hot1 ra9less mon? or long] c\ld g by4 ,s
 vegetable v>ieties 7 br$ to gr[ ?r\gh  
dry spells )\t loss1 & traditional      
,am]ican vegetable g>d5s 7 design$ to   
help !m d s4  ,i began g>d5+ 9 ! e>ly   
#aigjs1 j z ! rais$-b$ me?od 0 be+      

popul>iz$4 ,! late/ books & magaz9e     
articles all agre$ t rais+ vegetables 9 
widely sep>at$ s+le r[s 0 a fooli%      
imitation ( comm]cial f>m+1 t comm]cial 
vegetables 7 arrang$ t way = ease (     
me*anical cultivation4 ,closely plant$  
rais$ b$s requir+ h& cultivation 7      
alleg$ to be f> m productive & f> m     
effici5t us]s ( irrigation because wat] 
wasn't evaporat+ f b>e soil4  ,i ?9k ?is
 is m likely to be ! tru?3 ,old-fa%ion$ 
g>d5s us$ l[ plant d5sities to survive  
inevitable spells ( ra9lessness4 ,look$ 
at ?is way1 widely sep>at$ vegetables 9 
widely sep>at$ r[s may be consid]$ ! m  
effici5t us]s ( wat] because !y consume 
soil moi/ure t nature freely puts !re4  
,only aft]1 & if1 ^! res]ves are        
significantly deplet$ does ! g>d5] h to 
irrigate4 ,! end result is surpris+ly m 
abundant ?an a mod]n g>d5] educat$ on   
int5sive1 rais$-b$ propag&a w\ld ?9k4   
,f9d+ v>ieties /ill adapt$ to wat]-wise 
g>d5+ is becom+ difficult4 ,mo/ ,am]ican
 vegetables are n[ br$ =                

irrigation-dep5d5t ,cali=nia4 ,l        
rais$-b$ g>d5]s1 vegetable f>m]s h      
discov]$ t !y c make a bigg] pr(it by   
gr[+ small]1 quick-matur+ plants 9      
high-d5sity spac+s4 ,mo/ mod]n          
vegetables h be5 br$ to suit ?is me?od4 
,_m new v>ieties c't =age & h become    
small]1 m det]m9ate1 & fa/] to mature4  
,actually1 ! l>g]1 m sprawl+ heirloom   
v>ieties ( ! pa/ 7 n a great deal less  
productive ov]all1 b only a little lat] 
to beg9 yield+4  ,=tunately1 en\gh ( !  
old sorts /ill exi/ t a selective &     
v>ietally aw>e home g>d5] c make d4     
,s9ce ,i've become wat]-wis]1 ,i'm      
int]e/$ 9 f9d+ & cons]v+ heirlooms t    
once support$ l>ge numb]s ( heal?y      
,am]icans 9 relative self-suffici5cy4   
,my e>li] book1 be+ a guide to :at      
passes = ord9>y vegetable g>d5+ ^! days1
 assum$ ! availability ( pl5ty ( wat]4  
,! v>ieties ,i recomm5d$ 9 i,gr[+       
,vegetables ,we/ ( ! ,cascadesi 7 l>gely
 mod]n ones1 & ! se$ companies ,i prais$
 mo/ highly focus$ on top-quality       

comm]cial v>ieties4 ,b1 look+ at g>d5+  
?r\gh ! filt] ( limit$ irrigation1 o!r1 
less mod]n v>ieties are (t5 f> bett]    
adapt$ & o!r se$ companies sometimes m  
likely s\rces4  ,se$ ,company           
,directory99  ,abundant ,life ,see      
,f\ndation3 ,p4,o4 ,box #ggb1 ,port     
,t[ns5d1 ,,wa #ihcfh 7,,abl7  ,johnny's 
,select$ ,se$s3 ,foss ,hill ,road1      
,albion1 ,ma9e #jdiaj 7,,jss7  ,peace   
,se$s3 #bcde ,,se ,?ompson ,/reet1      
,corvallis1 ,,or #igccc 7,,pea7         
,ronn+]'s ,se$ ,potatoes3 ,p4,o4 ,box   
#ahch1 ,ort+1 ,,wa #ihcfj 7,,rsp7       
,/okes ,se$s ,inc4 ,box #edh1 ,buffalo1 
,,ny #adbdj 7,,/k7  ,t]ritorial ,se$    
,company3 ,p4,o4 ,box #bj1 ,cottage     
,grove1 ,,or #igdbd 7,,tsc7  99,?r\gh\t 
! gr[+ directions t foll[ 9 ?is *apt]1 !
 read] w be ref]r$ to a specific company
 only = v>ieties t are n widely         
available4  ,i h aga9 come to appreciate
 ! old] /yle ( vegetable--sprawl+1 l>ge 
fram$1 lat] matur+1 long] yield+1       
vigor\sly root+4 ,h[ev]1 _m ( ^!        

old-tim]s h n se5 ! att5tions ( a       
pr(essional plant bre$] = _m ye>s & ?r[ 
a fair p]c5tage ( biz>re1 mis%ap51      
nonproductive plants4 ,^! (f types c be 
comp5sat$ = by gr[+ a some:at l>g] g>d5 
& all[+ = "s wa/e4 ,dr4 ,alan ,kapul]1  
:o runs ,peace ,se$s1 has brilliantly   
po9t$ out to me :y heirloom v>ieties are
 likely to be m nutriti\s4 ,propagat$ by
 c5turies ( isolat$ home/ead]s1         
heirlooms t surviv$ did s because ^!    
sup]ior v>ieties help$ ! g>d5]s'        
bett]-n\ri%$ babies pass ?r\gh !        
gauntlet ( *ildhood illnesses4   ,plant 
,spac+3 ,! ,key to ,wat]-,wise ,g>d5+   
,r$uc$ plant d5sity is ! ess5ce ( dry   
g>d5+4 ,! recomm5d$ spac+s 9 ?is section
 are ^? ,i h f\nd workable at ,elkton1  
,oregon4 ,my dry g>d5 is g5]ally laid   
out 9 s+le r[s1 ! r[ c5t]s #d feet ap>t4
 ,"s l>g] crops1 l potatoes1 tomatoes1  
beans1 & cucurbits 7squa%1 cucumb]s1 &  
melons7 are allocat$ m elb[ room4 ,^?   
few requir+ int5sive irrigation are gr[n
 on a rais$ b$1 tightly spac$4 ,i _c    

prescribe :at w\ld be ! p]fect1 mo/     
effici5t spac+ = y\r g>d54 ,are y\r     
temp]atures l[] ?an m9e & evaporation   
less8 ,or is y\r wea!r hott]8 ,does y\r 
soil hold m1 ?an less ?an1 or j z mu*   
available moi/ure z m9e8 ,is x z deep & 
op5 & moi/ure ret5tive8  ,to help y     
comp>e y\r site ) m9e1 ,i give y !      
foll[+ data4 ,my home/ead is only #be   
miles inl& & is always sev]al degrees   
cool] 9 summ] ?an ! ,willamette ,valley4
 ,wa%+tonians & ,briti% ,columbians h   
cool] days & a great] likelihood (      
significant summ]time ra9 & s may plant 
a little clos] toge!r4 ,inl& g>d5]s f>!r
 s\? or 9 ! ,willamette ,valley may want
 to spread _! plants out a little f>!r4 
,liv+ on #af acres1 ,i h virtually      
unlimit$ space to g>d5 94 ,! focus ( my 
rec5t rese>* has be5 to elim9ate        
irrigation z mu* z possible :ile ma9ta9+
 food quality4 ,^? ) ?9n] soil :o are   
go+ to dep5d m on f]tigation may plant  
clos]1 h[ close dep5d+ on ! am\nt ( wat]
 available4 ,m irrigation w also give   

high] p]-squ>e-foot yields4  ,:atev] y\r
 comb9ation ( conditions1 y\r results c 
only be det]m9$ by trial4 ,i'd sugge/ y 
become wat]-wise by te/+ a range (      
spac+s4   ,:5 to ,plant  ,if y've       
already be5 gr[+ an irrigat$ ye>-r\nd   
g>d51 ?is book's sugge/$ plant+ dates   
may surprise y4 ,& z ) spac+1 s[+ dates 
mu/ also be wisely adju/$ to y\r        
location4 ,! plant+ dates 9 ?is *apt]   
are :at ,i foll[ 9 my own g>d54 ,x is   
impractical to include specific dates = 
all ! microclimatic areas ( ! m>itime   
,nor?we/ & = e vegetable species4       
,read]s are ask$ to make adju/m5ts by   
und]/&+ _! wea!r relative to m9e4       
,g>d5]s to ! nor? ( me & at high]       
elevations %\ld make _! spr+ s[+s a week
 or two lat] ?an ! dates ,i use4 ,9 !   
,g>d5 ,valley ( ,roseburg & s\? along   
,i-#e1 />t spr+ plant+s a week or two   
e>li]4 ,along ! s\!rn ,oregon coa/ & 9  
nor!rn ,cali=nia1 />t ?ree or f\r weeks 
soon] ?an ,i d4  ,fall comes e>li] to ! 
nor? ( me & to high]-elevation g>d5s2   

end-(-season gr[? rates !re also sl[ m  
pr(\ndly ?an !y d at ,elkton4 ,summ]s   
are cool] along ! coa/2 t has ! same    
effect ( sl[+ late-summ] gr[?4 ,items   
/>t$ aft] midsumm] %\ld be giv5 "o or   
two extra gr[+ weeks by coa/al1         
high-elevation1 & nor!rn g>d5]s4 ,g>d5]s
 to ! s\? %\ld s[ _! late crops a week  
or two lat] ?an ,i d2 along ! s\?       
,oregon coa/ & 9 nor!rn ,cali=nia1 two  
to f\r weeks lat] ?an ,i d4   ,arugula  
7,rocket7  ,! t5d]1 pepp]y little leaves
 make w9t] salads mu* m int]e/+4  ,s[+  
date3 ,i delay s[+ until late ,augu/ or 
e>ly ,septemb] s my cr[d$ pat* ( arugula
 la/s all w9t] & doesn't make se$ until 
,m>*4 ,preg]m9at$ se$s em]ge fa/ &      
/rong4 ,spr\t$ 9 e>ly ,octob]1 arugula  
/ill may rea* eat+ size 9 midw9t]4      
,spac+3 ,?9ly se$ a r[ into any vacant  
ni*e4 ,! se$l+s w be insignificantly    
small until late summ]4  ,irrigation3   
,if ! se$l+s suff] a bit f moi/ure /ress
 !y'll cat* up rapidly :5 ! fall ra9s   
beg94  ,v>ieties3 ,none4   ,beans ( ,all

 ,sorts  ,heirloom pole beans once      
climb$ ov] consid]able competition :ile 
vigor\sly /ruggl+ = wat]1 nutrition1 &  
light4 ,mod]n bu% v>ieties t5d to h puny
 root sy/ems4  ,s[+ date3 ,mid-,april is
 ! usual "t on ! ,umpqua1 else:]e1 s[   
aft] ! dang] ( fro/ is ov] & soil /ays  
ov] #fj;de,f4 ,if ! e>? is gett+ dry by 
?is date1 soak ! se$ ov]night be=e s[+ &
 furr[ d[n to moi/ soil4 ,h[ev]1 d n    
cov] ! se$s m ?an #b in*es4  ,spac+3    
,twelve to #af in*es ap>t at f9al ?9n+4 
,all[ ab\t #b;f#a_/b to #c feet on ei!r 
side ( ! trellis to avoid root          
competition f o!r plants4  ,irrigation3 
,if "p ( ! g>d5 is spr9kl] irrigat$1    
space beans a little tight] & locate !  
bean trellis t[>d ! out] rea* ( !       
spr9kl]'s ?r[4 ,due to its height1 !    
trellis t5ds to int]cept q a bit ( wat] 
& dumps x at ! base4 ,y c also use !    
bucket-drip me?od & f]tigate ! beans1   
giv+ ab\t #be gallons p] #aj r[-feet    
once or twice dur+ ! summ]4 ,pole beans 
c make a mean+ful yield )\t any         

irrigation2 "u sev]e moi/ure /ress !y w 
survive1 b be> little4  ,v>ieties3 ,any 
( ! pole types seem to d f9e4 ,runn]    
beans seem to pref] cool] locations b   
are e bit z dr\ght tol]ant z ord9>y snap
 beans4 ,my curr5t favorites are        
,k5tucky ,wond] ,:ite ,se$$1 ,=trex     
7,,tsc1 ,,jss71 & ,musica 7,,tsc74  ,!  
old] heirloom dry beans 7 mo/ly pole    
types4 ,!y are reasonably productive if 
all[$ to sprawl on ! gr\nd )\t support4 
,_! unirrigat$ se$ yield is l[]1 b ! se$
 is /ill plump1 ta/es great1 & spr\ts   
well4 ,comp>$ to unirrigat$ ,black ,coco
 7,,tsc71 :i* is my mo/ productive &    
be/-ta/+ bu% cultiv>1 ,k5tucky ,wond]   
,br[n ,se$$ 7sometimes call$ ,old       
,home/ead7 7,,/k1 ,,pea1 ,,abl7 yields  
ab\t #ej p]c5t m se$ & keeps on gr[+ =  
weeks aft] ,coco has quit4 ,d n bo!r to 
f]tigate untrellis$ pole beans gr[n =   
dry se$4 ,) ! ?reat ( ,septemb] moi/ure 
always loom+ ov] dry bean plots1 we ne$ 
to enc\rage v9es to quit sett+ & dry    
d[n4 ,peace ,se$s & ,abundant ,life (f] 

long li/s ( heirloom v9+ dry bean       
v>ieties4  ,s]i\s self-suffici5cy buffs 
seek+ to produc$ _! own legume supply   
%\ld also consid] ! fava1 g>banzo bean1 
& ,alaska pea4 ,_m favas c be ov]w9t]$3 
s[ 9 ,octob]1 spr\t on fall ra9s1 gr[   
ov] ! w9t]1 & dry d[n 9 ,june ) ! soil4 
,g>banzos are gr[n l mildly fro/-tol]ant
 peas4 ,alaska peas are ! type us$ = pea
 s\p4 ,!y're spr+ s[n & gr[n l ord9>y   
%ell+ peas4 ,avoid ov]head irrigation   
:ile se$s are dry+ d[n4   ,beets  ,beets
 w root f> deep] & wid] ?an mo/ p       
realize--9 uncompact$1 nonacid soils4   
,d\ble or triple dig ! subsoil directly 
bel[ ! se$ r[4  ,s[+ date3 ,e>ly ,april 
at ,elkton1 late ,m>* f>!r s\?1 & z late
 z ,april #cj 9 ,briti% ,columbia4 ,beet
 se$ g]m9ates easily 9 moi/1 cool soil4 
,a s+le s[+ may be h>ve/$ f ,june ?r\gh 
e>ly ,m>* ! next ye>4 ,if prop]ly ?9n$1 
good v>ieties rema9 t5d]4  ,spac+3 ,a   
s+le r[ w gradually exhau/ subsoil      
moi/ure f an area #d feet wide4 ,:5 !   
se$l+s are #b to #c in*es tall1 ?9      

c>efully to ab\t #a in* ap>t4 ,:5 !     
edible "p is radi% size1 ?9 to #b in*es 
ap>t & eat ! ?9+s1 tops & all4 ,:5 !y've
 gr[n to golfball size1 ?9 to #d in*es  
ap>t1 ?9 aga94 ,:5 !y rea* ! size ( l>ge
 lemons1 ?9 to #a foot ap>t4 ,giv5 ?is  
mu* room & deep1 op5 soil1 ! beets w    
cont9ue to gr[ ?r\gh ! entire summ]4    
,hill up "s soil ov] ! huge roots e>ly 9
 ,novemb] to protect !m f freez+4       
,irrigation3 ,probably n necess>y ) ov] 
#d feet ( deep1 op5 soil4  ,v>ieties3   
,i've done be/ ) ,e>ly ,wond] ,tall     
,top2 :5 l>ge1 x develops a ?ick1       
protective sk9 & reta9s excell5t eat+   
quality4 ,w9t]keep]s1 normally s[n 9    
midsumm] ) irrigation1 t5d to bolt      
prematurely :5 s[n 9 ,april4            
,broccoli3 ,italian ,/yle  ,italian-/yle
 broccoli ne$s abundant moi/ure to be   
t5d] & make l>ge fl[]s4 ,giv5 en\gh elb[
 room1 _m v>ieties c endure long p]iods 
( moi/ure /ress1 b ! small]1 woody1     
sl[-develop+ florets won't be great     
eat+4 ,)\t any irrigation1 spr+-s[n     

broccoli may /ill be enjoy$ 9 e>ly summ]
 & ,purple ,spr\t+ 9 ,m>*_/,april aft]  
ov]w9t]+4  ,s[+ date3,)\t any irrigation
 at all1 mid-,m>* ?r\gh e>ly ,april4 ,) 
f]tigation1 also mid-,april ?r\gh       
mid-,may4 ,?is lat] s[+ w all[ cutt+    
?r\gh summ]4  ,spac+3 ,brocoli ta/es    
bett] :5 big plants gr[ big1 sweet      
heads4 ,all[ a #d-;foot-wide r[4 ,space 
e>ly s[+s ab\t #c feet ap>t 9 ! r[2 lat]
 s[+s slat$ to mature dur+ summ]'s heat 
c use #d feet4 ,on a fi/-siz$ spot      
compact$ to re/ore capill>ity1 s[ a     
little p9* ( se$ atop a well-& deeply   
f]tiliz$1 d\ble-dug pat* ( e>?4 ,?9     
gradually to ! be/ s+le plant by ! "t   
?ree or f\r true leaves h develop$4     
,irrigation3 ,aft] mid-,june1 #d to #e  
gallons ( drip bucket liquid f]tiliz] e 
two to ?ree weeks makes an enorm\s      
diff]5ce4 ,y'll be surpris$ at ! size ( 
! heads & ! quality ( side %oots4 ,a    
f]tigat$ ,may s[+ w be exhau/$ by       
,octob]4 ,take a *ance3 a heavy         
side-dress+ ( /rong compo/ or complete  

organic f]tiliz] :5 ! ra9s return may   
trigg] a massive spurt ( new1 l>g] heads
 f buds locat$ bel[ ! soil's surface4   
,v>ieties3 ,_m hybrids h weak roots4    
,i'd avoid any?+ t 0 held up on a tall  
/alk = me*anical h>ve/ or 0 compact or t
 didn't h _m side-%oots4 ,g = l>g] size4
 ,t]ritorial's hybrid bl5d yields big   
heads = ov] a mon? foll[$ by abundant   
side %oots4 ,old1 op5-poll9at$ types l  
,italian ,spr\t+ ,calabrese1 ,de,cicco1 
or ,wal?am #bi are highly v>iable1 bu%y1
 ) r co>se1 l>ge-bead$ fl[]s1           
second-rate flavor & _m1 _m side %oots4 
,irrigat+ g>d5]s :o c />t new plants e  
f\r weeks f ,may ?r\gh ,july may pref]  
hybrids4 ,dry g>d5]s :o w want to cut   
side %oots = z long z possible dur+     
summ] f l>ge1 well-e/abli%$ plants may  
pref] crude1 op5-poll9at$ v>ieties4 ,try
 bo?4   ,broccoli3 ,purple ,spr\t+ &    
,o!r ,ov]w9t]+ ,types  ,spac+3 ,gr[ l   
broccoli1 #c to #d feet ap>t4  ,s[+     
date3 ,x is easie/ to s[ 9 ,april or    
e>ly ,may1 m9imally f]tigate a some:at  

gn>ly plant ?r\gh ! summ]1 pu% x = size 
9 fall & w9t]1 & !n h>ve/ x next ,m>*4  
,) too e>ly a />t 9 spr+1 "s premature  
fl[]+ may occur 9 autumn2 /ill1 massive 
bloom+ w resume aga9 9 spr+4  ,ov]w9t]+ 
gre5 ,italian types su* z ,,ml#dbc      
7,,tsc7 w fl[] 9 fall if s[n be=e late  
,june4 ,^! sorts are bett] />t$ 9 a     
nurs]y b$ ar\nd ,augu/ #a & l ov]w9t]$  
caulifl[]1 transplant$ ab\t #b feet ap>t
 :5 fall ra9s return1 !n1 pu%$ = gr[? ) 
extra f]tiliz] 9 fall & w9t]4  ,) ne>ly 
a :ole ye> to gr[ be=e bloom+1 ,purple  
,spr\t+ ev5tually rea*es #d to #e feet 9
 height & #c to #d feet 9 diamet]1 &    
yields hugely4  ,irrigation3 ,x is n    
ess5tial to heavily f]tigate ,purple    
,spr\t+1 ?\gh y may ,g-,r-,o-,w enorm\s 
plants = _! beauty4 ,quality or quantity
 ( spr+ h>ve/ won't drop "o bit if !    
plants become a little /unt$ & gn>ly 9  
summ]1 z long z y f]tilize late 9       
,septemb] to spur rapid gr[? dur+ fall &
 w9t]4   ,root ,sy/em ,vigor 9 !        
,cabbage ,family  ,wild cabbage is a we$

 & gr[s l "o1 able to successfully      
compete = wat] aga9/ grasses & o!r h]bs4
 ,remove all competition ) a hoe1 & all[
 ?is we$ to totally control all !       
moi/ure & nutri5ts 9 all ! e>? its roots
 c occupy1 & x gr[s hugely & lu%ly4 ,j =
 fun1 ,i once ,g-,r-,e-,w "o1 ) tillage1
 hoe+1 & spr+ f]tilization b no         
irrigation2 x end$ up #e feet tall & #f 
feet 9 diamet]4  ,z ?is highly moldable 
family is inbr$ & %ap$ into m & m       
exagg]at$ =ms1 x weak5s & loses !       
ability to =age4 ,kale reta9s ! mo/ wild
 aggressiv5ess1 ,*9ese cabbage p]haps ! 
lea/4 ,"h1 9 approximately correct ord]1
 is %[n ! decl9+ root vigor & g5]al     
adaptation to moi/ure /ress ( cabbage   
family vegetables4 ,! table %[s ! mo/   
vigor\s at ! top1 decl9+ z x goes d[n4  
,adapt$ to dry g>d5+           ,n       
vigor\s en\gh    ,kale                  
,italian broccoli 7"s v>ieties7         
,brussels spr\ts 7late types7           
,cabbage 7regul> m>ket types7   ,late   
savoy cabbage                 ,brussels 

spr\ts 7e>ly types7   ,giant field-type 
kohlrabi        ,small m>ket-g>d5       
kohlrabi   ,mid-season savoy cabbage    
,caulifl[] 7regul>1 annual7   ,rutabaga 
,turnips & radi%es   ,italian ,broccoli 
7"s v>ieties7  ,*9ese cabbage           
,brussels ,spr\ts   ,s[+ date3 ,if !    
plants are a foot tall be=e ! soil />ts 
dry+ d[n1 _! roots w be ov] a foot deep2
 ! plants w !n gr[ hugely ) a bit (     
f]tigation4 ,at ,elkton ,i dry g>d5     
,brussels spr\ts by s[+ late ,april to  
e>ly ,may4 ,/>t$ ?is soon1 ev5          
late-matur+ v>ieties may beg9 =m+ spr\ts
 by ,septemb]4 ,?\gh premature bottom   
spr\ts w bl[ up & become aphid damag$1  
m1 high]-quality spr\ts w cont9ue to =m 
f>!r up ! /alk dur+ autumn & w9t]4      
,spac+3 ,make ea* spot ab\t #d feet     
ap>t4  ,irrigation3 ,)\t any add$       
moi/ure1 ! plants w become /unt$ b w    
survive all summ]4 ,side-dress+ manure  
or f]tiliz] late 9 ,septemb] 7or soon]  
if ! ra9s come soon]7 w provoke v rapid 
autumn gr[? & a surpris+ly l>ge yield f 

plants t look$ /ress out 9 ,augu/4 ,if  
increas+ly l>g] am\nts ( f]tigation c be
 provid$ e two to ?ree weeks1 ! lu%     
,brussels spr\ts plants c become #d feet
 9 diamet] & #d feet tall by ,octob] &  
yield enorm\sly4  ,v>ieties3 ,use late  
,european hybrid types4 ,at ,elkton1 :]e
 w9t]s are a little mild] ?an 9 !       
,willamette1 ,lunet 7,,tsc7 has ! f9e/  
eat+ qualities4 ,7 ,i f>!r nor? ,i'd gr[
 h>di] types l ,/abolite 7,,tsc7 or     
,=tress 7,,tsc74 ,e>ly types are n      
suitable to gr[+ ) insuffici5t          
irrigation or frequ5t spray+ to fight (f
 aphids4   ,cabbage  ,=get ^? delicate1 
gre5 sup]m>ket cabbages unless y h      
unlimit$ am\nts ( wat]4 ,b easie/-to-gr[
 savoy types w d surpris+ly well )      
surpris+ly little support4 ,besides1    
savoys are ! be/ salad mat]ial4  ,s[+   
date3 ,i sugge/ ?ree s[+ times3 ! fir/1 
a succession ( e>ly1 midseason1 & late  
savoys made 9 mid-,m>* = h>ve/ dur+     
summ]2 ! second1 late & v late v>ieties 
/>t$ late ,april to e>ly ,may = h>ve/   

dur+ fall & w9t]2 ! la/1 a nurs]y b$ (  
ov]w9t]$ sorts s[n late 9 ,augu/4       
,spac+3 ,e>ly-matur+ savoy v>ieties are 
naturally small] & may n exp]i5ce mu*   
hot wea!r be=e head+ up--^! may be      
sep>at$ by ab\t #cj in*es4 ,! lat] ones 
are l>ge plants & %\ld be giv5 #d feet (
 space or #af squ>e feet ( gr[+ room4   
,s[ & gr[ !m l broccoli4 ,transplant    
ov]w9t]$ cabbages f nurs]y b$s late 9   
,octob]1 spac$ ab\t #c feet ap>t2 ^!    
?rive :]e ! squa% grew4  ,irrigation3 ,!
 m f]tigation y c supply1 ! l>g] & m    
luxuriant ! plants & ! bigg] ! heads4 ,b
 ev5 small1 some:at moi/ure-/ress$      
savoys make v edible heads4 ,9 t]ms (   
increas$ yield = wat] exp5d$1 x is well 
wor? x to provide late v>ieties ) a few 
gallons ( f]tigation ab\t mid-,june1 & a
 bucketful 9 mid-,july & mid-,augu/4    
,v>ieties3 ,japanese hybrid savoys make 
t5d] eat+ b may n )/& w9t]4 ,european   
savoys are h>di]1 co>s]1 ?ick]-leav$1 & 
h>d] *ew+4 ,= ! fir/ s[+ ,i sugge/ a    
succession ( ,japanese v>ieties includ+ 

,sal>ite or ,savoy ,pr9cess = e>lies2   
,savoy ,que51 ,k+1 or ,savoy ,ace =     
midsumm]2 & ,savon>* 7,,tsc7 = late     
,augu/_/e>ly ,septemb] h>ve/s4 ,!y're   
all great v>ieties4 ,= ! second s[+ ,i  
gr[ ,savon>* 7,,tsc7 =                  
,septemb]-,novemb] cutt+ & a v late     
,european hybrid type l ,wivoy 7,,tsc7 =
 w9t]4 ,small-fram$ ,janu>y ,k+ lacks   
suffici5t root vigor4 ,spr+time 7,,tsc7 
& ,,fem#bah 7,,tsc7 are ! only ov]w9t]$ 
cabbages available4   ,c>rots           
,dry-g>d5+ c>rots requires pati5tly     
wait+ until ! wea!r /abilizes be=e till+
 & s[+4 ,to avoid ev5 a little bit (    
soil compaction1 ,i try to spr\t ! se$  
)\t irrigation b always fe> t hot wea!r 
w fru/rate my ef=ts4 ,s ,i till & plant 
too soon4 ,& !n heavy ra9 comes &       
compacts my p]fectly fluff$-up soil4 ,b 
! loos] & f9] ! e>? rema9s dur+ _! fir/ 
six gr[+ weeks1 ! m p]fectly ! roots w  
develop4  ,s[+ date3 ,april at ,elkton4 
,spac+3 ,allocate #d feet ( wid? to a   
s+le r[ ( c>rot se$4 ,:5 ! se$l+s are   

ab\t #b in*es tall1 ?9 to #a in* ap>t4  
,!n ?9 e o!r c>rot :5 ! roots are f#c_/h
 to f#a_/b in* 9 diamet] & eat ! ?9n+s4 
,a few weeks lat]1 :5 ! c>rots are ab\t 
#c_/d to #a in* 9 diamet]1 make a f9al  
?9n+ to #a foot ap>t4  ,irrigation3 ,n  
necess>y4 ,foli> fe$+ e few weeks w make
 mu* l>g] roots4 ,)\t any help !y %\ld  
gr[ to sev]al p\nds ea*4  ,v>ieties3    
,*oos+ ! "r v>iety is v important4      
,nantes & o!r delicate1 juicy types lack
 en\gh fib] to hold toge!r :5 !y get v  
l>ge4 ,^! split prematurely4 ,i've _h my
 be/ results ) ,danv]s types4 ,i'd also 
try ,royal ,*ant5ay 7,,pea71 ,fakkel    
,mix 7,,tsc71 ,/okes ,processor types1 &
 ,topweight 7,,abl74 ,be prep>$ to      
exp]im5t ) v>iety4 ,! roots w n be q z  
t5d] z heavily wat]$ ,nantes types b are
 a lot bett] ?an y'd ?9k4 ,huge c>rots  
are excell5t 9 s\ps & we *e]fully grate 
!m into salads4 ,some?+ ab\t accumulat+ 
sun%9e all summ] makes ! roots incr$ibly
 sweet4   ,caulifl[]  ,ord9>y v>ieties  
_c =age = moi/ure4 ,worse1 moi/ure /ress

 at any "t dur+ ! gr[? cycle prev5ts    
prop] =mation ( curds4 ,! only important
 caulifl[]s suitable = dry g>d5+ are    
ov]w9t]$ types4 ,i call !m important    
because !y're easy to gr[ & !y'll fe$ ! 
family dur+ ,april & e>ly ,may1 :5 o!r  
g>d5 f>e is v sc>ce4  ,s[+ date3 ,to    
acquire en\gh size to survive cold      
wea!r1 ov]w9t]$ caulifl[] mu/ be />t$ on
 a nurs]y b$ dur+ ! difficult heat (    
e>ly ,augu/4 ,except s\? ( ,yoncalla1   
delay+ s[+ until ,septemb] makes v small
 se$l+s t may n be h>dy en\gh & likely  
won't yield mu* 9 ,april unless w9t] is 
v mild1 enc\rag+ unusual gr[?4  ,spac+3 
,9 ,octob]1 transplant ab\t #b feet ap>t
 9 r[s #c to #d feet ap>t4  ,irrigation3
 ,if y h m wat] available1 f]tilize &   
till up "s du/y1 dry soil1 wet d[n ! r[1
 direct-se$ l broccoli 7b clos] toge!r71
 & p]iodically irrigate until fall4 ,if 
y only moi/5 a n>r[ b& ( soil close to !
 se$l+s x won't take mu* wat]4          
,caulifl[] gr[s especially well 9 ! r[ t
 held bu% peas4  ,v>ieties3 ,! be/ are !

 v pricy ,armado s]ies sold by          
,t]ritorial4   ,*>d  ,?is vegetable is  
basically a beet ) succul5t leaves &    
?ick /alks in/ead ( edible1 sweet roots4
 ,x is j z dr\ght tol]ant z a beet1 & 9 
dry g>d5+1 *>d is s[n1 spac$1 & gr[n j l
 a beet4 ,b if y want volum9\s leaf     
production dur+ summ]1 y may want to    
f]tigate x occasionally4  ,v>ieties3 ,! 
r$ *>ds are n suitable = />t+ e>ly 9 !  
season2 !y h a /rong t5d5cy to bolt     
prematurely if s[n dur+ t "p ( ! ye> :5 
dayl5g? is increas+4   ,corn  ,broadca/ 
complete organic f]tiliz] or /rong      
compo/ %all[ly ov] ! corn pat* till     
midw9t]1 or z e>ly 9 spr+ z ! e>? c be  
work$ )\t mak+ too _m clods4 ,corn w    
g]m9ate 9 pretty r\gh soil4 ,high levels
 ( nutri5ts 9 ! subsoil are m important 
?an a f9e se$b$4  ,s[+ date3 ,ab\t ! "t 
fro/ dang] ends4 ,be+ l>ge se$1 corn c  
be set deep1 :]e soil moi/ure /ill exi/s
 ev5 aft] conditions h w>m$ up4         
,g]m9ation )\t irrigation %\ld be no    
problem4  ,spac+3 ,! f>!r s\?1 ! f>!r   

ap>t4 ,entirely )\t irrigation1 ,i've _h
 f9e results spac+ individual corn      
plants #c feet ap>t 9 r[s #c feet ap>t1 
or #i squ>e feet p] ea* plant4 ,7 ,i    
ar\nd ,puget ,s\nd or 9 ,b4,c4 ,i'd try 
#b feet ap>t 9 r[s #cj in*es ap>t4 ,g>y 
,nabhan describes ,papago g>d5]s 9      
,arizona gr[+ individual corn/alks #aj  
feet ap>t4 ,gr[n on wide spac+s1 corn   
t5ds to till] 7put up multiple /alks1   
ea* mak+ "o or two e>s74 ,= mo/ urban & 
suburban g>d5]s1 space is too valuable  
to allocate #i squ>e feet = produc+ "o  
or at be/ ?ree or f\r e>s4  ,irrigation3
 ,) normal spr9kl] irrigation1 corn may 
be spac$ #h in*es ap>t 9 r[s #cj in*es  
ap>t1 /ill yield+ "o or two e>s p] /alk4
  ,v>ieties3 ,7 ,i a devot$ sweetcorn   
eat] )\t en\gh irrigation1 ,i'd be buy+ 
a few doz5 fre%ly pick$ e>s f ! back ( a
 pickup truck p>k$ on a corn] dur+ local
 h>ve/ season4 ,7 ,i a devot$ corn gr[] 
)\t any irrigation1 ,i'd be exp]im5t+ ) 
v>i\s types ( field corn in/ead ( sweet 
corn4 ,7 ,i a self-suffici5cy buff try+ 

e>ne/ly to produce all my own c]eal1    
,i'd accept t ! m>itime ,nor?we/ is a   
region :]e survivali/s w eat :eat1 rye1 
millet1 & o!r small gra9s4  ,_m v>ieties
 ( field corn are ne>ly z sweet z ord9>y
 sweet corn1 b gra9 v>ieties become />*y
 & t\gh )9 h\rs ( h>ve/4 ,eat5 promptly1
 pig corn is e bit z ta/y z ,jubilee4   
,i've _h ! be/ dry-g>d5 results )       
,nor?/9e ,d5t 7,,jss7 & ,g>l& ,fl9t     
7,,jss74 ,hook]s ,sweet ,indian 7,,tsc7 
has a weak root sy/em4   ,successfully  
,/>t+ ,cucurbits ,f ,se$  ,) cucurbits1 
g]m9ation dep5ds on high-en\gh soil     
temp]ature & n too mu* moi/ure4 ,squa%  
are ! mo/ *ill & moi/ure tol]ant1 melons
 ! lea/4 ,"h's a failure-pro( & simple  
te*nique t ensures y'll plant at exactly
 ! "r "t4  ,cucumb]s1 squa%1 & melons   
are traditionally s[n atop a deeply dug1
 f]tiliz$ spot t usually looks l a      
little m\nd aft] x is work$ & is        
commonly call$ a hill4 ,ab\t two weeks  
be=e ! la/ anticipat$ fro/ date 9 y\r   
area1 plant five or six squa% se$s ab\t 

#b in*es deep 9 a clump 9 ! v c5t] ( t  
hill4 ,!n1 a week lat]1 plant ano!r     
clump at #ab o'clock4 ,9 ano!r week1    
plant ano!r clump at #c o'clock1 &      
cont9ue do+ ?is until "o ( ! s[+s       
spr\ts4 ,probably ! fir/ try won't come 
up1 b ! hill w c]ta9ly g]m9ate sev]al   
clumps ( se$l+s4 ,if wea!r conditions   
turn poor1 a lat]-to-spr\t gr\p may     
outgr[ ^? t came up e>li]4 ,?9 gradually
 to ! be/ s+le plant by ! "t ! v9es are 
runn+4  ,:5 ! fir/ squa% se$s appe> x is
 "t to beg9 s[+ cucumb]s1 />t+ a new    
bat* ea* week until "o em]ges4 ,:5 !    
cucumb]s fir/ g]m9ate1 x's "t to try    
melons4  ,approa*+ cucurbits ?is way    
ensures t y'll get ! e>lie/ possible    
g]m9ation :ile be+ protect$ aga9/ !     
probability t cold1 damp wea!r w prev5t 
g]m9ation or p]man5tly spoil ! gr[?     
prospects ( ! e>li] se$l+s4   ,cucumb]s 
,s[+ date3 ,ab\t ,may #e to #ae at      
,elkton4  ,spac+3 ,mo/ v>ieties usually 
run five ab\t #c feet f ! hill4 ,space !
 hills ab\t #e to #f feet ap>t 9 all    

directions4  ,irrigation3 ,l melons4    
,regul> & increas+ am\nts ( f]tigation w
 increase ! yield sev]al hundr$ p]c5t4  
,v>ieties3 ,i've _h v good results      
dry-g>d5+ ,amira ,,ii 7,,tsc71 ev5 )\t  
any f]tigation at all4 ,x is a ,middle  
,ea/]n-/yle v>iety t makes pickl]-size  
?9-sk9n$ cukes t ne$ no peel+ & h       
t]rific flavor4 ,! burpless or ,japanese
 sorts don't seem to adapt well to      
dr\ght4 ,mo/ slic]s dry-g>d5 excell5tly4
 ,apple or ,lemon are simil> novelty    
heirlooms t make v ext5sive v9es )      
aggressive roots & %\ld be giv5 a foot  
or two m elb[ room4 ,i'd avoid any      
v>iety t\t$ z be+ = pot or patio1       
compact1 or %ort-v9$1 because ( a likely
 l9kage betwe5 its v9e /ructure & root  
sy/em4   ,eggplant  ,gr[n )\t regul>    
spr9kl] irrigation1 eggplant seems to   
get l>g] & yield soon] & m abundantly4  
,i suspect ?is delicate & fairly        
dr\ght-resi/ant tropical species does n 
l hav+ its soil temp]ature l[]$ by      
frequ5t wat]+4  ,s[+ date3 ,set out     

transplants at ! usual "t1 ab\t two     
weeks aft] ! tomatoes1 aft] all fro/    
dang] has pass$ & aft] nights h /ably   
w>m$ up above #ej degree ,f4  ,spac+3   
,d\ble dig & deeply f]tilize ! soil "u  
ea* transplant4 ,sep>ate plants by ab\t 
#c feet 9 r[s ab\t #d feet ap>t4        
,irrigation3 ,w gr[ & produce a few     
fruit )\t any wat]+1 b a bucket (       
f]tigation e ?ree to f\r weeks dur+     
summ] may result 9 ! mo/ luxuri\s1      
huge/1 & heavie/-be>+ eggplants y've ev]
 gr[n4  ,v>ieties3 ,i've notic$ no      
special v>ietal diff]5ces 9 ability to  
tol]ate dryi% soil4 ,i've _h good yields
 f ! regionally adapt$ v>ieties ,dusky  
,hybrid1 ,%ort ,tom1 & ,e>ly ,"o4       
,endive  ,a bi5nial memb] ( ! *icory    
family1 endive quickly puts d[n a deep  
taproot & is naturally able to gr[ ?r\gh
 prolong$ dr\ght4 ,because endive rema9s
 bitt] until cold wea!r1 x doesn't matt]
 if x gr[s sl[ly ?r\gh summ]1 j s long z
 rapid leaf production resumes 9 autumn4
  ,s[+ date3 ,on irrigat$ rais$ b$s     

endive is s[n ar\nd ,augu/ #a & heads by
 mid-,octob]4 ,! problem ) dry-g>d5$    
endive is t if x is spr+ s[n dur+ days (
 increas+ dayl5g? :5 g]m9ation (        
%all[-s[n small se$ is a snap1 x w bolt 
prematurely4 ,! crucial mom5t seems to  
be ab\t ,june #a4 ,april_/,may s[+s bolt
 9 ,july_/,augu/13 aft] ,june #a1 bolt+ 
won't happ5 until ! next spr+1 b        
g]m9ation won't happ5 )\t wat]+4 ,"o    
solution is soak+ ! se$s ov]night1 r9s+ 
!m frequ5tly until !y beg9 to spr\t1 &  
fluid drill+ !m4  ,spac+3 ,! heads      
become huge :5 />t$ 9 ,june4 ,s[ 9 r[s  
#d feet ap>t & ?9 gradually until !     
rosettes are #c in*es 9 diamet]1 !n ?9  
to #ah in*es ap>t4  ,irrigation3 ,)\t a 
drop ( moi/ure ! plants1 ev5 z t9y      
se$l+s1 w gr[ /eadily b sl[ly all summ]1
 z long z no o!r crop is invad+ _! root 
zone4 ,! only "t ,i _h tr\ble 0 :5 !    
endive r[ 0 too close to an aggressive  
r[ ( yell[ crookneck squa%4 ,ab\t       
,augu/1 ! squa% roots began invad+ !    
endive's t]ritory & ! endive got wilty4 

,a light side-dress+ ( complete organic 
f]tiliz] or compo/ 9 late ,septemb] w   
gr[ ! huge/ plants imag9able4           
,v>ieties3 ,curly types seem m tol]ant  
to ra9 & fro/ dur+ w9t] ?an broad-leaf  
,batavian v>ieties4 ,i pref] ,presid5t  
7,,tsc74   ,h]bs  ,mo/ p]5nial & bi5nial
 h]bs are actually we$s & wild hillside 
%rubs f ,m$it]ranean climates simil> to 
t ( ,s\!rn ,cali=nia4 ,!y are adapt$ to 
gr[+ on w9t] ra9fall & surviv+ sev5 to  
n9e mon?s )\t ra9fall e summ]4 ,9 our   
climate1 m]ely giv+ !m a little m elb[  
room ?an usually (f]$1 ?or\gh we$+1 &   
side-dress+ ! h]b g>d5 ) a little compo/
 9 fall is en\gh coddl+4 ,annuals su* z 
dill & cilantro are also v dr\ght       
tol]ant4 ,basil1 h[ev]1 ne$s consid]able
 moi/ure4   ,kale  ,dep5d+ on ! g>d5 = a
 significant portion ( my annual caloric
 intake has gradually ref9$ my eat+     
habits4 ,ye>s ago ,i le>n$ to l cabbage 
salads z mu* z lettuce4 ,s9ce lettuce   
freezes out _m w9t]s 7#ai-ba degree ,f71
 ?is adju/m5t has prov$ v useful4       

,gradually ,i began to appreciate kale1 
too1 & n[ value x z a salad gre5 f> m   
?an cabbage4 ,?is p]sonal adaptation has
 prov$ v pro-survival1 because ev5 savoy
 cabbages d n gr[ z readily or yield    
ne>ly z mu* z kale4 ,& kale is a tad m  
cold h>dy ?an ev5 savoy cabbage4  ,y may
 be surpris$ to le>n t kale produces m  
complete prote9 p] area occupi$ p] "t   
involv$ ?an any legume1 includ+ alfalfa4
 ,if x is /eam$ ) potatoes & !n ma%$1 ! 
two vegetables complem5t & flavor ea*   
o!r4 ,our region c\ld probably subsi/ q 
a bit m heal?fully ?an at pres5t on     
potatoes & kale4 ,! key to enjoy+ kale z
 a salad compon5t is v>ietal *oice1     
prep>ation1 & us+ ! "r p>ts ( ! plant4  
,read on4  ,s[+ date3 ,) irrigation1    
fa/-gr[+ kale is usually />t$ 9 midsumm]
 = use 9 fall & w9t]4 ,b kale is        
absolutely bi5nial--/>t$ 9 ,m>* or      
,april1 x w n bolt until ! next spr+4 ,!
 wat]-wise g>d5] c conv5i5tly s[ kale   
:ile cool1 moi/ soil simplifies         
g]m9ation4 ,/>t+ ?is e>ly also produces 

a deep root sy/em be=e ! soil dries mu*1
 & a mu* tall]1 v useful c5tral /alk on 
ol]acea types1 :ile e>ly s[n ,sib]ian   
7,napa7 v>ieties t5d to =m multiple     
rosettes by autumn1 also useful at h>ve/
 "t4  ,spac+3 ,gr[ l broccoli1 spac$ #d 
feet ap>t4  ,irrigation3 ,)\t any wat]1 
! some:at /unt$ plants w survive ! summ]
 to beg9 rapid gr[? z soon z fall ra9s  
resume4 ,) ! help ( occasional          
f]tigation !y gr[ lu%ly & are enorm\s by
 ,septemb]4 ,ei!r way1 !re /ill w be    
pl5ty ( kale dur+ fall & w9t]4  ,h>ve/3 
,bundles ( /rong-flavor$1 t\gh1 l>ge    
leaves are sold 9 sup]m>kets b are !    
wor/-eat+ "p ( ! plant4 ,if *opp$ f9ely 
en\gh1 big raw leaves c be ma/icat$ &   
tol]at$ by p ) good tee?4 ,h[ev]1 ! t9y 
leaves are f> t5d]] & mu* mild]4 ,! m   
rosettes develop$ on ,sib]ian kales1 ! m
 little leaves !re are to be pick$4 ,by 
p9*+ (f ! c5tral gr[+ tip 9 ,octob] & !n
 gradually /ripp+ (f ! l>ge %ad+ leaves1
 ol]acea v>ieties may be enc\rag$ to put
 out doz5s ( clu/]s ( small1 succul5t   

leaves at ea* leaf not* along ! c5tral  
/alk4 ,! tall] ! /alk gr[n dur+ summ]1 !
 m ( ^! little leaves !re w be4 ,only   
home g>d5]s c af=d ! "t to h& pick small
 leaves4  ,v>ieties3 ,i some:at pref] ! 
flavor ( ,r$ ,russian to ! ubiquit\s    
gre5 ,sib]ian1 b ,r$ ,russian is v      
slightly less cold h>dy4 ,we/l& ,w9t]   
7,,tsc7 & ,kons]va 7,,jss7 are tall     
,european ol]acea v>ieties4 ,w9t]bor    
,f#a 7,,jss1 ,,tsc7 is also excell5t4 ,!
 dw>f ,scot* kales1 blue or gre51 sold  
by _m ,am]ican se$ companies are less   
vigor\s types t don't produce ne>ly z _m
 g\rmet little leaves4 ,dw>fs 9 any     
species t5d to h dw>f$ root sy/ems4     
,kohlrabi 7,giant7  ,spr+-s[n m>ket     
kohlrabi are usually h>ve/$ be=e hot    
wea!r makes !m get woody4 ,irrigation is
 n requir$ if !y're giv5 a little extra 
elb[ room4 ,) ord9>y v>ieties1 try ?9n+ 
to #e in*es ap>t 9 r[s #b to #c feet    
ap>t & h>ve/ by ?9n+ alt]nate plants4   
,giv5 ?is additional gr[+ room1 !y may n
 get woody until midsumm]4 ,on my       

irrigat$1 int5sive b$ ,i always s[ "s m 
on ,augu/ #a1 to h t5d] bulbs 9 autumn4 
,kohlrabi 0 once gr[n z ,european fodd] 
crop2 sl[-gr[+ f>m]s1 v>ieties gr[ huge 
l rutabagas4 ,^! field types h be5      
cross$ ) table types to make giant table
 v>ieties t really suit dry g>d5+4 ,:at 
to d ) a giant kohlrabi 7or any bulb    
gett+ ov]bl[n78 ,peel1 grate f9ely1 add 
*opp$ onion1 dress ) olive oil & black  
pepp]1 toss1 & enjoy ?is old ,ea/]n     
,european ma9/ay4  ,s[+ date3 ,s[ giant 
v>ieties dur+ ,april1 z late z possible 
:ile /ill gett+ a foot-tall plant be=e  
really hot wea!r4  ,spac+3 ,?9 to #c    
feet ap>t 9 r[s #d feet ap>t4           
,irrigation3 ,n absolutely necess>y on  
deep soil1 b if !y get "o or two ?or\gh 
f]tigations dur+ summ] _! size may      
d\ble4  ,v>ieties3 ,a few ,am]ican se$  
companies1 includ+ ,peace ,se$s1 h a    
giant kohlrabi ( "s sort or o!r4 ,! ones
 ,i've te/$ t5d to be woody1 are crude1 
& ?r[ _m (f-types1 a high p]c5tage (    
weak plants1 &_/or poorly %ap$ roots4   

,by ! "t ?is book is 9 pr9t1 ,t]ritorial
 %\ld li/ a unique ,swiss v>iety call$  
,sup]s*meltz1 :i* is uni=mly huge & /ays
 t5d] into ! next ye>4   ,leeks         
,unwat]$ spr+-s[n bulb+ onions are      
impossible4 ,leek is ! only allium ,i "k
 ( t may gr[ /eadily b sl[ly ?r\gh sev]e
 dr\ght2 ! wat]-%ort g>d5] c dep5d on   
leeks = a fall_/w9t] onion supply4  ,s[+
 date3 ,/>t a r[ or sev]al %ort r[s ab\t
 #ab in*es ap>t on a nurs]y b$ 9 ,m>* or
 e>ly ,april at ! late/4 ,gr[ ?ickly1   
irrigate dur+ ,may_/,june1 & f]tilize   
well s ! compet+ se$l+s get leggy4      
,spac+3 ,by mid-to late ,june ! se$l+s  
%\ld be slightly sp9dly1 p5cil-?ick1 &  
scallion size4 ,) a %>p %ovel1 dig out !
 nurs]y r[1 c>efully reta9+ #e or #f    
in*es ( soil bel[ ! se$l+s4 ,) a /rong  
jet ( wat]1 bla/ away ! soil &1 :ile do+
 ?is1 g5tly sep>ate ! tangl$ roots s t z
 little damage is done z possible4 ,make
 sure ! roots don't dry out be=e        
transplant+4 ,aft] sep>ation1 ,i        
tempor>ily wrap bundl$ se$l+s 9 wet     

newspap]4  ,dig out a foot-deep tr5* !  
wid? ( an ord9>y %ovel & c>efully place 
?is e>? next to ! tr5*4 ,spr9kle 9 a    
heavy dose ( organic f]tiliz] or /rong  
compo/1 & spade t 9 s ! soil is fluffy &
 f]tile #b feet d[n4 ,d n imm$iately    
refill ! tr5* ) ! soil t 0 dug out4 ,) a
 %ovel h&le1 poke a r[ ( #f-;in*-deep   
holes along ! bottom ( ! tr5*4 ,if !    
nurs]y b$ has gr[n well !re %\ld be ab\t
 #d in*es ( /em on ea* se$l+ be=e ! fir/
 leaf atta*es4 ,if ! wea!r is hot &     
sunny1 snip (f ab\t "o-?ird to "o-half !
 leaf area to r$uce transplant+ %ock4   
,drop "o leek se$l+ into ea* hole up to 
! po9t t ! fir/ leaf atta*es to ! /alk1 
& mud x 9 ) a cup or two ( liquid       
f]tiliz]4 ,z ! leeks gr[1 gradually     
refill ! tr5* & ev5 hill up soil ar\nd !
 gr[+ plants4 ,?is makes ! bett]-ta/+   
:ite "p ( ! /em get z long z possible4  
,avoid gett+ soil into ! c5t] ( ! leek  
:]e new leaves em]ge1 or y'll n get !m  
clean aft] h>ve/4  ,spac+ ( ! se$l+s    
dep5ds on ! am\nt ( irrigation4 ,if     

absolutely none at all1 set !m #ab in*es
 ap>t 9 ! c5t] ( a r[ #d feet wide4 ,if 
unlimit$ wat] is available1 give !m #b  
in*es ( sep>ation4 ,or adju/ spac+ to ! 
wat] available4 ,! plants gr[ sl[ly     
?r\gh summ]1 b 9 autumn gr[? w          
accel]ate1 especially if !y are         
side-dress$ at ?is "t4  ,v>ieties3 ,=   
dry g>d5+ use ! h>di]1 m vigor\s w9t]   
leeks4 ,durabel 7,,tsc7 has an          
especially mild1 sweet flavor4 ,o!r     
useful v>ieties include ,giant ,c>5tian 
7,,abl71 ,alaska 7,,/k71 & ,w9t] ,giant 
7,,pea74   ,lettuce  ,spr+-s[n lettuce w
 g to l>ge sizes1 rema9+ sweet & t5d]   
)\t irrigation if spac$ #a foot ap>t 9 a
 s+le r[ ) #b feet ( elb[ room on ea*   
side4 ,lettuce cut aft] mid-,june       
usually gets bitt] )\t regul>1 heavy    
irrigation4 ,i res]ve my well-wat]$     
rais$ b$ = ?is summ] salad crop4 ,^? v  
%ort ( wat] c />t fall_/w9t] lettuce 9 a
 %ad$1 irrigat$ nurs]y b$ mid-,augu/    
?r\gh mid-,septemb] & transplant x out  
aft] ! fall ra9s return4 ,"h is "o      

situation 9 :i* accel]at+ gr[? ) clo*es 
or cold frames w\ld be v helpful4       
,wat]-,wise ,cucurbits  ,! root sy/ems (
 ?is family are f> m ext5sive ?an mo/ p 
realize4 ,usually a taproot goes d[n    
sev]al feet & !n1 soil conditions       
p]mitt+1 ?ickly occupies a l>ge area1   
ultimately rea*+ d[n #e to #h feet4     
,%all[ fe$] roots also ext5d lat]ally z 
f> z or f>!r ?an ! v9es rea* at _!      
greate/ ext5t4  ,dry g>d5]s c d sev]al  
?+s to assi/ cucurbits4 ,fir/1 make sure
 !re is absolutely no competition 9 _!  
root zone4 ,?is meansi"o plant p] hill1 
) ! hills sep>at$ 9 all directions a    
little f>!r ?an ! greate/ possible ext5t
 ( ! v>iety's ultimate gr[?4i ,common   
g>d5 lore /ates t squa%es droop _!      
leaves 9 midsumm] heat & t ?is trait _c 
be avoid$ & does no h>m4 ,b if !y've    
gr[n z describ$ above1 on deep1 op5     
soil1 capill>ity & surface moi/ure      
res]ves ensure !re usually w be no      
midday wilt+1 ev5 if !re is no wat]+4   
,two plants p] hill d compete & make ea*

 o!r wilt4  ,second1 d\ble dig &        
f]tilize ! entire lat]al root zone4     
,?ird1 z mu* z possible1 avoid walk+ :]e
 ! v9es w ultimately rea* to avoid      
compaction4 ,f9ally1 id n transplant    
!m4i ,?is breaks ! taproot & makes !    
plant m dep5d5t on lat]al roots seek+   
moi/ure 9 ! top #ah in*es ( soil4       
,melons  ,s[+ date3 ,z soon z !y'll     
g]m9ate outdoors3 at ,elkton1 ,may #ae  
to ,june #a4 ,?9 to a s+le plant p] hill
 :5 !re are ab\t ?ree true leaves & !   
v9es are beg9n+ to run4  ,spac+3 ,mo/   
v>ieties w gr[ a v9e rea*+ ab\t #h feet 
9 diamet]4 ,space ! hills #h feet ap>t 9
 all directions4  ,irrigation3          
,f]tigation e two to ?ree weeks w       
increase ! yield by two or ?ree times & 
may make ! melons sweet]4 ,release !    
wat]_/f]tiliz] mix close to ! c5t] ( !  
v9e1 :]e ! taproot c use x4  ,v>ieties3 
,adaptation to our cool climate is      
critical ) melons2 use v>ieties sold by 
our regional se$ companies4 ,yell[ ,doll
 wat]melons 7,,tsc7 are v e>ly & seem ! 

mo/ productive "u ! mo/ dr\ghty         
conditions4 ,i've _h reasonable results 
f mo/ o!rwise regionally adapt$         
cantal\pes & muskmelons4 ,la/ ye> a new 
hybrid v>iety1 ,passport 7,,tsc71 prov$ 
sev]al weeks e>li] ?an ,i'd ev] exp]i5c$
 & 0 extraord9>ily prolific & ta/y4     
,onions_/,scallions  ,! usual spr+-s[n1 
summ]-gr[n bulb onions & scallions only 
"w ) abundant irrigation4 ,b !          
wat]-%ort1 wat]-wise g>d5] c /ill supply
 ! kit*5 ) onions or onion sub/itutes   
ye>-r\nd4 ,leeks take c>e ( ,novemb]    
?r\gh e>ly ,april4 ,ov]w9t]$ bulb onions
 h&le ! re/ ( ! ye>4 ,scallions may also
 be h>ve/$ dur+ w9t]4  ,s[+ date3 ,/>t$ 
too soon1 ov]w9t]$ or %ort-day bulb+    
onions 7& sweet scallions7 w bolt & =m  
se$ in/ead ( bulb+4 ,/>t$ too late !y'll
 be too small & possibly n h>dy en\gh to
 survive w9t]4 ,ab\t ,augu/ #ae at      
,elkton ,i s[ ?ickly 9 a well-wat]$ & v 
f]tile nurs]y b$4 ,if y h m ?an "o      
nurs]y r[1 sep>ate !m ab\t by #ab in*es4
 ,^? :o miss ?is w9d[ ( opportunity c   

/>t transplants 9 e>ly ,octob] & cov] ) 
a clo*e imm$iately aft] g]m9ation1 to   
accel]ate se$l+ gr[? dur+ fall & e>ly   
w9t]4  ,/>t scallions 9 a nurs]y j l    
ov]w9t]$ onions1 b e>li] s !y're l>ge   
en\gh = ! table dur+ w9t]1 ,i s[ !m ab\t
 mid-,july4  ,spac+3 ,:5 se$l+s are ab\t
 p5cil ?ick 7,decemb]_/,janu>y =        
ov]w9t]+ bulb onions71 transplant !m    
ab\t #d or #e in*es ap>t 9 a s+le r[ ) a
 c\ple ( feet ( elb[ room on ei!r side4 
,i've f\nd ,i get ! be/ gr[? & l>ge/    
bulbs if !y foll[ potatoes4 ,aft] !     
potatoes are dug 9 e>ly ,octob] ,i      
imm$iately f]tilize ! area heavily &    
till1 prep>+ ! onion b$4 ,klama? ,bas9  
f>m]s usually gr[ a simil> rotation3    
hay1 potatoes1 onions4  ,transplant     
scallions 9 ,octob] ) ! fall ra9s1 ab\t 
#a in* ap>t 9 r[s at lea/ #b feet ap>t4 
,irrigation3 ,n necess>y4 ,h[ev]1       
side-dress+ ! transplants w result 9 mu*
 l>g] bulbs or scallions4 ,scallions w  
bolt 9 ,april2 ! bulb]s g tops-d[n &    
beg9 dry+ d[n z ! soil naturally dries  

out4  ,v>ieties3 ,i pref] ! sweet & t5d]
 ,lisbon 7,,tsc7 = scallions4 ,=        
ov]w9t]$ bulb onions1 gr[ v mild b      
poorly keep+ ,walla ,walla ,sweet       
7,,jss71 ,buffalo 7,,tsc71 a bett]      
keep]1 or :atev] ,t]ritorial is sell+ at
 pres5t4   ,p>sley  ,s[+ date3 ,m>*4    
,p>sley se$ takes two to ?ree weeks to  
g]m9ate4  ,spac+3 ,?9 to #ab in*es ap>t 
9 a s+le r[ #d feet wide4 ,five plants  
%\ld ov]:elm ! av]age kit*54            
,irrigation3 ,n necess>y unless yield   
falls (f dur+ summ] & t is v unlikely4  
,p>sley's v deep1 =ag+ root sy/em       
resembles t ( its relative1 ! c>rot4    
,v>ieties3 ,if y use p>sley = gre5s1    
v>iety is n critical1 ?\gh ! g\rmet may 
note slight diff]5ces 9 flavor or am\nt 
( leaf curl4 ,ano!r type ( p>sley is    
gr[n = edible roots t ta/e mu* l p>snip4
 ,^! %\ld h _! soil prep>$ z c>efully z 
?\gh gr[+ c>rots4   ,peas  ,?is e>ly    
crop matures )\t irrigation4 ,bo? pole &
 bu% v>ieties are plant$ ?ickly 9 s+le  
r[s ab\t #d feet ap>t4 ,i always ov]look

 "s pods1 :i* g on to =m mature se$4    
,)\t ov]head irrigation1 ?is se$ w spr\t
 /rongly next ye>4 ,alaska 7s\p7 peas   
gr[ ! same way4   ,pepp]s  ,pepp] plants
 on rais$ b$s spac$ ! usually recomm5d$ 
#af to #bd in*es ap>t und]go int5se root
 competition ev5 be=e _! leaves =m a    
canopy4 ,) or )\t unlimit$ irrigation1 !
 plants w get mu* l>g] & be> m heavily )
 elb[ room4  ,s[+ date3 ,set out        
transplants at ! usual "t4 ,d\ble dig a 
few squ>e feet ( soil b5ea? ea* se$l+1 &
 make sure f]tiliz] gets incorporat$ all
 ! way d[n to #b feet deep4  ,spac+3    
,?ree feet ap>t 9 r[s #c to #d feet     
ap>t4  ,irrigation3 ,)\t any irrigation 
only ! mo/ vigor\s1 small-fruit$        
v>ieties w set any?+4 ,= an abundant    
h>ve/1 f]tigate e ?ree or f\r weeks4 ,= 
! bigge/ pepp] plants y ev] grew1       
f]tigate e two weeks4  ,v>ieties3 ,!    
small-fruit$ types1 bo? hot & sweet1 h  
mu* m aggressive root sy/ems & g5]ally  
adapt bett] to our region's cool wea!r4 
,i've _h be/ results ) ,cay5ne ,long    

,slim1 ,gypsie1 ,surefire1 ,hot         
,portugal1 ! *]ries bo? sweet & hot1    
,italian ,sweet1 & ,petite ,sirah4      
,potatoes  ,humans dome/icat$ potatoes 9
 ! cool1 arid high plateaus ( ! ,&es :]e
 annual ra9fall av]ages #h to #ab in*es4
 ,! species f9ds our dry summ] q        
com=table4 ,potatoes produce m calories 
p] unit ( l& ?an any o!r temp]ate crop4 
,irrigat$ potatoes yield m calories &   
two to ?ree times z mu* wat]y bulk &    
indige/ible fib] z ^? gr[n )\t          
irrigation1 b ! same v>iety dry g>d5$ c 
conta9 ab\t #cj p]c5t m prote91 f> m    
m9]al nutri5ts1 & ta/e bett]4  ,s[+     
date3 ,i make two s[+s4 ,! fir/ is a    
good-luck ritual done religi\sly on ,m>*
 #ag?--,/4 ,patrick's ,day4 ,ra9 or %9e1
 9 untill$ mud or f9ely work$ & deeply  
fluff$ e>?1 ,i /ill plant #aj or #ab se$
 potatoes ( an e>ly v>iety4 ,?is        
provides = summ]4  ,! ma9 s[+ waits     
until fro/ is unlikely & ,i c dig !     
potato r[s at lea/ #ab in*es deep ) a   
spad+ =k1 work+ 9 f]tiliz] z deeply z   

possible & end+ up ) a f9ely pulv]iz$   
#bd-;in*-wide b$4 ,at ,elkton1 ?is is   
usually mid-to late ,april4 ,!re is no  
ru% to plant4 ,potato v9es are n fro/   
h>dy4 ,if fro/$ !y'll regr[1 b be+ burn$
 back to ! gr\nd l[]s ! f9al yield4     
,spac+3 ,i prespr\t my se$s by spread+  
!m out 9 daylight at room temp]ature = a
 few weeks1 & !n plant "o :ole1 spr\t+1 
m$ium-size potato e #ah in*es d[n ! c5t]
 ( ! r[4 ,b>ely cov] ! se$ potato4 ,at  
maturity !re %\ld be #b;f#a_/b to #c    
feet ( soil unoccupi$ ) ! roots ( any   
o!r crop on ea* side ( ! r[4 ,z ! v9es  
em]ge1 gradually scrape soil up ov] !m )
 a hoe4 ,let ! v9es gr[ ab\t #d in*es1  
!n pull up ab\t #b in*es ( cov]4 ,let   
ano!r #d in*es gr[1 !n hill up ano!r #b 
in*es4 ,cont9ue do+ ?is until ! v9es    
beg9 bloom+4 ,at t po9t !re %\ld be a   
m\nd ( loose1 fluffy soil ab\t #ab to   
#af in*es high gradually fill+ ) tub]s  
lu%ly cov]$ ) bloom+ v9es4  ,irrigation3
 ,n necess>y4 ,9 fact1 if l>ge wat]     
droplets compact ! loose soil y scrap$  

up1 t may int]f]e ) maximum tub]        
enl>gem5t4 ,h[ev]1 aft] ! v9es are a    
foot long or s1 foli> fe$+ e week or #aj
 days w increase ! yield4  ,v>ieties3 ,!
 wat]-wise g>d5]'s ma9 potato problem is
 too-e>ly maturity1 & !n premature      
spr\t+ 9 /orage4 ,e>ly v>ieties l ,yukon
 ,gold--ev5 popul> midseason ones l     
,yell[ ,f9n--don't keep well unless     
!y're plant$ late en\gh to br[n (f 9    
late ,septemb]4 ,t's no problem if !y're
 irrigat$4 ,b plant$ 9 late ,april1     
e>li] v>ieties w %rivel by ,augu/4      
,potatoes only keep well :5 v cool1 d>k1
 & moi/--conditions almo/ impossible to 
create on ! home/ead dur+ summ]4 ,! be/ 
,augu/ compromise is to leave mature    
potatoes undug1 b soil temp]atures are 9
 ! #gjs dur+ ,augu/1 & by e>ly ,octob]1 
:5 potatoes %\ld be lift$ & put into    
/orage1 !y'll already be spr\t+4 ,spr\t+
 9 ,octob] is acceptable = ! rema9d]s ( 
my ,/4 ,pat's ,day s[+ t ,i am keep+ ov]
 = se$ next spr+4 ,x is n ok = my ma9   
w9t] /orage crop4 ,our climate requires 

v late1 sl[-matur+ v>ieties t c be s[n  
e>ly b t don't br[n (f until ,septemb]4 
,late types usually yield m1 too4  ,mo/ 
( ! se$ potato v>ieties f\nd 9 g>d5     
c5t]s are e>ly or midseason types *os5  
by f>m]s = yield )\t reg>d to flavor or 
nutrition4 ,"o1 ,nooksack ,cascadian1 is
 a v late v>iety gr[n comm]cially ar\nd 
,bell+ham1 ,wa%+ton4 ,nooksack is pretty
 good if y l :ite1 all-purpose potatoes4
  ,!re are mu* bett] homeg>d5 v>ieties  
available 9 ,ronnig]'s catalog1 all     
arrang$ accord+ to maturity4 ,= !       
ultimate 9 e>lies ,i sugge/ ,r$ ,gold4  
,= ma9 h>ve/s ,i'd try ,indian ,pit1    
,c>ole1 ,g]man ,butt]ball1 ,sib]ian1 or 
a few exp]im5tal r[-feet ( any o!r late 
v>iety tak+ y\r fancy4   ,rutabagas     
,rutabagas h wond]fully aggressive root 
sy/ems & are capable ( gr[+ cont9u\sly  
?r\gh long1 sev]e dr\ght4 ,b :]e ,i     
live1 ! results ar5't satisfactory4     
,"h's :at happ5s4 ,if ,i />t rutabagas 9
 e>ly ,april & space !m ab\t #b to #c   
feet ap>t 9 r[s #d feet ap>t1 by ,octob]

 !y're ! size ( basketballs & look      
pretty good2 un=tunately1 ,i h>ve/ a    
holl[ %ell full ( cabbage root maggots4 
,root maggots are at _! peak 9 e>ly     
,june4 ,t's :y ,i got int]e/$ 9         
dry-g>d5+ giant kohlrabi4  ,9 #aiia we  
_h ab\t #b surpris+ in*es ( ra9 late 9  
,june1 s z a te/ ,i s[$ rutabagas on    
,july #a4 ,!y g]m9at$ )\t m irrigation1 
b go+ into ! hot summ] z small plants ) 
limit$ root sy/ems & no irrigation at   
all !y became some:at /unt$4 ,by ,octob]
 #a ! tops 7 /ill small & a little      
gn>ly2 big roots _h n yet =m$4 ,!n !    
ra9s came & ! rutabagas began gr[+      
rapidly4 ,by ,novemb] !re 0 a pretty    
nice crop ( m$ium-size good-eat+ roots4 
,i suspect t f>!r nor?1 :]e evaporation 
is n s sev]e & midsumm] ra9s are        
slightly m common1 if a little          
irrigation 7 us$ to />t rutabagas ab\t  
,july #a1 a dec5t unwat]$ crop might be 
_h mo/ ye>s4 ,& ,i am c]ta9 t if s[n at 
! normal "t 7,july #ae7 & gr[n ) m9imal 
irrigation b well spac$ out1 !y'll      

produce acceptably4  ,v>ieties3 ,/okes  
,altasweet 7,,/k1 ,,tsc7 has ! be/      
flavor4   ,sorrel  ,?is we$-l1          
dr\ght-tol]ant salad gre5 is little kn[n
 & und]appreciat$4 ,9 summ] ! leaves get
 t\gh & /rong flavor$2 if o!r gre5s are 
available1 sorrel w probably be unpick$4
 ,t's ok4 ,dur+ fall1 w9t]1 & spr+1     
sorrel's lemony ta/e & delicate1 t5d]   
texture balance t\gh] savoy cabbage &   
kale & turn ^? crude vegetables into v  
acceptable salads4 ,s]i\s salad-eat+    
families might want ! production ( #e to
 #aj r[-feet4  ,s[+ date3 ,! fir/ ye> y 
gr[ sorrel1 s[ mid-,m>* to mid-,april4  
,! t9y se$ mu/ be plac$ %all[ly1 & x    
spr\ts mu* m readily :5 ! soil /ays     
moi/4 ,plant a s+le furr[ c5t]$ 9 a r[  
#d feet wide4  ,spac+3 ,z ! se$l+s gr[1 
?9 gradually4 ,:5 ! leaves are ab\t !   
size ( ord9>y sp9a*1 individual plants  
%\ld be ab\t #f in*es ap>t4             
,irrigation3 ,n necess>y 9 summ]--y     
won't eat x anyway4 ,if production lags 
9 fall1 w9t]1 or spr+1 side-dress !     

sorrel pat* ) a little compo/ or organic
 f]tiliz]4  ,ma9t5ance3 ,sorrel is      
p]5nial4 ,if an unusually h>% w9t]      
freeze kills (f ! leaves x w probably   
come back f root cr[ns 9 e>ly spr+4     
,y'll welcome x aft] los+ ! re/ ( y\r   
w9t] crops4 ,9 spr+ ( ! second & succe$+
 ye>s sorrel w make se$4 ,se$ mak+ saps 
! plant's en]gy1 & ! se$s may naturalize
 into an unwant$ we$ ar\nd ! g>d54 ,s1  
be=e any se$ =ms1 cut all ! leaves & se$
 /alks close to ! gr\nd2 use ! trimm+s z
 a conv5i5t mul* along ! r[4 ,if y move 
! g>d5 or want to relocate ! pat*1 d n  
/>t sorrel aga9 f se$4 ,9 any season dig
 up a few plants1 divide ! root masses1 
trim (f mo/ ( ! leaves to r$uce         
transplant+ %ock1 & transplant #a foot  
ap>t4 ,occasional unique plants may be m
 reluctant to make se$ /alks ?an mo/    
o!rs4 ,s9ce se$ /alks produce few edible
 leaves & ! leaves on !m are v h>%      
flavor$1 mak+ se$ is an undesirable     
trait4 ,s ,i propagate only se$-%y      
plants by root cutt+s4   ,sp9a*  ,spr+  

sp9a* is rem>kably m dr\ght tol]ant ?an 
x w\ld appe> f its delicate /ructure & !
 succul5ce ( its leaves4 ,a             
bolt-resi/ant1 long-day v>iety br$ =    
summ] h>ve/ s[n 9 late ,april may /ill  
yield pickable leaves 9 late ,june or   
ev5 e>ly ,july )\t any wat]+ at all1 if 
?9n$ to #ab in*es ap>t 9 r[s #c feet    
ap>t4   ,squa%1 ,w9t] & ,summ]  ,s[+    
date3 ,hav+ w>m-en\gh soil is ev]y?+4   
,at ,elkton ,i fir/ attempt squa% ab\t  
,april #ae4 ,9 ! ,willamette1 ,may #a is
 usual4 ,f>!r nor?1 squa% may n come up 
until ,june #a4 ,dry g>d5]s %\ld n      
transplant squa%2 ! taproot mu/ n be    
brok54  ,spac+3 ,! am\nt ( room to give 
ea* plant dep5ds on ! pot5tial ( a      
specific v>iety's maximum root          
developm5t4 ,mo/ v9+ w9t] squa% c       
completely occupy a #aj-;foot-diamet]   
circle4 ,sprawly heirloom summ] squa%   
v>ieties c desiccate an #h-or           
#i-;foot-diamet] circle4 ,?9 ea* hill to
 "o plant1 n two or m z is recomm5d$ 9 !
 av]age g>d5 book4 ,!re mu/ be no       

competition = wat]4  ,irrigation3 ,)    
w9t] /orage types1 an unirrigat$ v9e may
 yield #ae p\nds ( squa% aft] occupy+ a 
#aj-;foot-diamet] circle = an entire    
gr[+ season4 ,h[ev]1 />t+ ab\t ,july #a1
 if y support t v9e by supply+ liquid   
f]tiliz] e two to ?ree weeks y may h>ve/
 #fj p\nds ( squa% f ! same area4 ,!    
fir/ f]tigation may only ne$ #b gallons4
 ,!n mid-,july give #d2 ab\t ,augu/ #a1 
#h2 ,augu/ #ae1 fe$ #ae gallons4 ,aft] t
 date1 sol> int5sity & temp]atures      
decl9e1 gr[? rate sl[s1 & wat] use also 
decreases4 ,on ,septemb] #a ,i'd add    
ab\t #h gallons & ab\t #e m on ,septemb]
 #ae if x hadn't yet ra9$ significantly4
 ,total wat]3 #db gallons4 ,total       
increase 9 yield3 #de p\nds4 ,i'd say   
t's a good return on wat] inve/$4       
,v>ieties3 ,= w9t] squa%1 all ! v9+ w9t]
 v>ieties 9 ! ,c4 maxima or ,c4 pepo    
family seem acceptably adapt$ to dry    
g>d5+4 ,^! include ,butt]cup1 ,hubb>d1  
,delici\s1 ,sweet ,meat1 ,delicata1     
,spaghetti1 & ,acorn4 ,i w\ldn't tru/   

any ( ! new] compact bu% w9t] v>ieties s
 popul> on rais$ b$s4 ,despite _!       
reputation = dr\ght tol]ance ,c4 mixta  
v>ieties 7or cu%aw squa%7 7 believ$ to  
be /rictly hot des]t or humid-tropical  
v>ieties1 unable to mature 9 our cool   
climate4 ,h[ev]1 ,pepita 7,,pea7 is a   
mixta t is e>ly en\gh & seems entirely  
unbo!r$ by a complete lack ( irrigation4
 ,! enorm\s v9e sets num]\s good keep]s 
) mild-ta/+1 light yell[ fle%4          
,obvi\sly1 ! compact bu% summ] squa%    
v>ieties s popul> ^! days are n good    
c&idates = )/&+ long p]iods )\t         
irrigation4 ,! old heirlooms l ,black   
,zuc*9i 7,,abl7 7n ,black ,beauty67 &   
w>ty ,yell[ ,crookneck gr[ enorm\s1     
high-yield+ plants ^: ext5t ne>ly rivals
 t ( ! l>ge/ w9t] squa%4 ,!y also gr[ a 
d5se leaf cov]1 mak+ ! fruit a little   
h>d] to f9d4 ,^! are ! only ,am]ican    
heirlooms /ill readily available4 ,black
 ,zuc*9i has become v ragg$y2 anyone    
gr[+ x %\ld be prep>$ to plant sev]al   
v9es & accept t at lea/ "o-?ird ( !m w  

?r[ r (f-type fruit4 ,x ne$s ! "w ( a   
skill$ plant bre$]4 ,yell[ ,crookneck is
 /ill a fairly clean v>iety (f]+ good   
uni=mity4 ,bo? h m flavor & are less    
wat]y ?an ! mod]n summ] squa% v>ieties4 
,yell[ ,crookneck is especially ri*1    
probably due to its ?ick1 oily sk92 mo/ 
g>d5]s :o once gr[ ! old ,crookneck nev]
 aga9 gr[ any o!r k9d4 ,ano!r useful    
dr\ght-tol]ant v>iety is ,gem1 sometimes
 call$ ,rolet 7,,tsc74 ,x gr[s an       
ext5sive w9t]-squa%-l v9e yield+        
grapefruit-size1 excell5t eat+ summ]    
squa%4  ,bo? ,yell[ ,crookneck & ,black 
,zuc*9i beg9 yield+ sev]al weeks lat]   
?an ! mod]n hybrids4 ,h[ev]1 z ! summ]  
goes on !y w produce q a bit m squa% ?an
 new hybrid types4 ,i n[ gr[ five or six
 fully irrigat$ e>ly hybrid plants l    
,s5eca ,zuc*9i too4 ,z soon z my pick+  
bucket is be+ fill$ ) lat]-to-yield     
,crooknecks1 ,i pull out ! ,s5ecas & use
 ! n[ empty irrigat$ space = fall crops4
   ,tomato  ,!re's no po9t 9 elaborate  
me?ods--trellis+1 prun+1 or tra9+--)    

dry-g>d5$ tomato v9es4 ,_! root sy/ems  
mu/ be all[$ to control all ! space !y c
 )\t competition1 s all[ ! v9es to      
sprawl z well4 ,& prun+ ! leaf area (   
indet]m9ates is c\nt]productive3 to gr[ 
hugely1 ! roots ne$ food f a full       
complem5t ( leaves4  ,s[+ date3 ,set out
 transplants at ! usual "t4 ,!y might   
also be jump />t$ "u clo*es two to ?ree 
weeks be=e ! la/ fro/1 to make bett] use
 ( natural soil moi/ure4  ,spac+3       
,dep5ds greatly on v>iety4 ,! root sy/em
 c occupy z mu* space z ! v9es w cov] & 
!n "s4  ,irrigation3 ,especially on     
det]m9ate v>ieties1 p]iodic f]tigation w
 greatly increase yield & size ( fruit4 
,! old indet]m9ate sprawl]s w produce   
?r\gh an entire summ] )\t any           
supplem5tal moi/ure1 b yield ev5 m 9    
response to irrigation4  ,v>iety3 ,) or 
)\t irrigation or any:]e 9 betwe51 :5   
gr[+ tomatoes we/ ( ! ,cascades1 no?+ is
 m important ?an *oos+ ! "r v>iety4 ,n  
only does x h to be e>ly & able to set &
 rip5 fruit :5 nights are cool1 b to gr[

 ?r\gh mon?s )\t wat]+ ! plant mu/ be   
highly indet]m9ate4 ,?is makes a built-9
 conflict3 mo/ ( ! sprawly1 huge1 old   
heirloom v>ieties are r late to mature4 
,b *]ry tomatoes are always f> e>li] ?an
 big slic]s4  ,if ,i _h to *oose only "o
 v>iety x w\ld be ! old heirloom ,l>ge  
,r$ ,*]ry4 ,a s+le plant is capable (   
cov]+ a #i- to #aj-;foot-diamet] circle 
if f]tigat$ f mid-,july ?r\gh ,augu/4 ,!
 enorm\s yield ( a s+le f]tigat$ v9e is 
ov]:elm+4  ,r$ ,*]ry is a little acid & 
t>t4 ,non-acid1 indet]m9ate *]ry types l
 ,sweetie1 ,sweet #ajj1 & ,sweet        
,millions are also workable b n z       
aggressive z ,r$ ,*]ry4 ,i w\ldn't dep5d
 on mo/ bu% *]ry tomato v>ieties4 ,b our
 e>lie/ *]ry v>iety ( all1 ,,osu's ,gold
 ,nugget1 mu/ gr[ a lot m root ?an top1 
=1 ) or )\t supplem5tal wat]1 ,gold     
,nugget sets heavily & rip5s enorm\sly  
until mid-,augu/1 :5 x pet]s out f      
ov]be>+ 7n f moi/ure /ress74 ,gold      
,nugget quits j ab\t :5 ! lat] *]ry or  
slic+ tomatoes />t rip5+ heavily4  ,o!r 

well-adapt$ e>ly det]m9ates su* z       
,oregon ,spr+ & ,santiam may disappo9t  
y4 ,unless f]tigat$1 !y'll set & rip5 "s
 fruit b may become /unt$ 9 midsumm]4   
,h[ev]1 a s+le indet]m9ate ,fanta/ic    
,hybrid w cov] a #f-to #g-;foot-diamet] 
circle1 & gr[ & rip5 tomatoes until fro/
 ) only a m9imum ( wat]4 ,i ?9k ,/upice 
7,,abl1 ,,tsc7 & ,e>ly ,cascade are also
 q workable 7& e>li] ?an ,fanta/ic 9    
,wa%+ton74     ,*apt] #f  ,my ,own ,g>d5
 ,plan   ,?is *apt] illu/rates & expla9s
 my own dry g>d54 ,any g>d5 plan is a   
product ( compromises & pref]5ces2 m9e  
is n int5d$ to become y\rs4 ,b1 all     
mode/y aside1 ?is plan results f #bj    
cont9u\s ye>s ( s]i\s vegetable g>d5+ & 
"s small degree ( regional wisdom4  ,my 
wife & ,i are :at ,i dub                
vegetablit>ians4 ,n veget>ians1 or      
lacto-ovo veget>ians because we're n    
ideologues & eat meat on r>e1 usually   
fe/ive occasions 9 o!r peoples' h\ses4  
,b ov] #hj p]c5t ( our calories are f   
vegetable1 fruit1 or c]eal s\rces & !   

rema9+ p]c5tage is f fats or dairy      
foods4 ,! purpose ( my g>d5 is to       
provide at lea/ half ! actual calories  
we eat ye>-r\nd2 mo/ ( ! re/ comes f    
home-bak$ bread made ) fre%ly gr\nd :ole
 gra9s4 ,i put at lea/ "o v l>ge b[l (  
salad on ! table e day1 w9t] & summ]4 ,i
 keep u 9 potatoes n9e mon?s a ye> &    
produce a ye>'s supply ( onions or      
leeks4 ,to break ! diet>y monotony (    
,novemb] to ,april1 ,i gr[ z wide an    
assortm5t ( w9t] vegetables z possible &
 put mo/ produce dep>tm5ts to %ame f    
,june ?r\gh ,septemb]1 :5 ! summ] vegies
 are on4  ,! g>d5 plan may seem         
unusually l>ge1 b 9 accordance )        
,solomon's ,fir/ ,law ( ,abundance1     
!re's a great deal ( int5tional wa/e4   
,my g>d5 produces two to ?ree times !   
am\nt ( food ne$$ dur+ ! ye> s moo*]s1  
poa*]s1 gue/s1 adult daught]s accompani$
 by p>tn]s1 husb&s1 & *ildr51 mi/akes1  
poor yields1 & failures ( individual    
vegetables are inconsequ5tial4 ,besides1
 g>d5+ is fun4  ,my g>d5 is laid out 9  

#abe-;foot-long r[s & "o equally long   
rais$ b$4 ,ea* r[ gr[s only "o or two   
types ( vegetables4 ,! c5tral focus ( my
 wat]-wise g>d5 is its irrigation sy/em4
 ,two l9es ( l[-angle spr9kl]s1 only #d 
feet ap>t1 /raddle an int5sively        
irrigat$ rais$ b$ runn+ d[n ! c5t] ( !  
g>d54 ,! spr9kl]s ,i use are ,naans1 a  
unique ,israeli design t emits v little 
wat] & ?r[s at a v l[ angle 7available f
 ,,tsc & "s g>d5 c5t]s74 ,_! maximum    
rea* is ab\t #ah feet2 ea* spr9kl] is   
ab\t #ab feet f its neighbor4 ,on ! g>d5
 plan1 ! spr9kl]s are indicat$ by a     
circle surr\nd+ an ,x4 ,read]s unfamili>
 ) spr9kl] sy/em design are advis$ to   
/udy ! irrigation *apt] 9 ,gr[+         
,vegetables ,we/ ( ! ,cascades4  ,on !  
f> left side ( ! g>d5 plan is a graphic 
repres5tation ( ! unev5 application (   
wat] put d[n by ?is spr9kl] sy/em4 ,!   
#d-;foot-wide rais$ b$ gets lots ( wat]1
 uni=mly di/ribut$4 ,f>!r away1 ! am\nt 
appli$ decreases rapidly4 ,ab\t half z  
mu* irrigation l&s only #f feet f ! edge

 ( ! rais$ b$ z on ! b$ itself4 ,beyond 
t ! am\nt tap]s (f to insignificance4   
,dur+ summ]'s heat ! f>!/ #f feet is    
b>ely moi/5$ on top1 b no wat]          
effectively p5etrates ! dry surface4    
,crops are position$ accord+ to _! ne$ =
 or ability to b5efit f supplem5tation4 
,= conv5i5t description ,i've numb]$ ^? 
r[s4   ,! ,rais$ ,b$  ,crops dem&+ ! mo/
 wat] are gr[n on ! rais$ b$4 ,^!       
include a succession ( lettuce plant+s  
design$ to fill ! summ] salad b[l1 summ]
 sp9a*1 spr+ kohlrabi1 my cel]y pat*1   
scallions1 ,*9ese cabbages1 radi%es1 &  
v>i\s nurs]y b$s t />t ov]w9t]$ crops = 
transplant+ lat]4 ,p]haps ! b$ seems too
 l>ge j = salad gre5s4 ,b "o entire meal
 e day consi/s l>gely ( fre%1 raw1      
high-prote9 gre5 leaves2 dur+ summ]1    
looseleaf or semihead+ lettuce is our   
salad item ( *oice4 ,& our individual   
salad b[ls are l>g] ?an mo/ families (  
six might consid] adequate to s]ve all (
 !m toge!r4  ,if wat] 7 sev]ely ration$ 
,i c\ld irrigate ! rais$ b$ ) hose &    

nozzle & dry g>d5 ! re/1 b z x is1 r[s  
#a1 #b1 #g1 & #h d get significant b    
less] am\nts f ! spr9kl]s4 ,mo/ ( ! r[s 
hold a s+le plant family ne$+ simil>    
f]tilization & h&l+ or1 = conv5i5ce1 t  
are s[n at ! same "t4   ,r[ #a  ,! r['s 
c5t] is ab\t #c feet f ! edge ( ! rais$ 
b$4 ,9 ,m>* ,i s[ my v fir/ salad gre5s 
d[n half ?is r[--mo/ly assort$ leaf     
lettuce plus "s sp9a*--& six closely    
spac$ e>ly ,s5eca ,hybrid zuc*9i plants4
 ,! gre5s are all cut by mid-,june2 by  
mid-,july my bett]-quality ,yell[       
,crookneck squa% come on1 s ,i pull !   
zuc*9i4 ,!n ,i till t entire r[1        
ref]tilize1 & s[ half to rutabagas4 ,!  
nurs]y b$ ( leek se$l+s has gott5 l>ge  
en\gh to transplant at ?is "t1 too4 ,^! 
g into a tr5* dug into ! o!r half ( !   
r[4 ,! leeks & rutabagas c\ld be        
reasonably productive locat$ f>!r f !   
spr9kl]s1 b no vegetables b5efit m f    
abundant wat] or are m important to a   
self-suffici5t kit*54 ,rutabagas break !
 w9t] monotony ( potatoes2 leeks vitally

 improve w9t] salads1 & leeky s\ps are a
 h\sehold /aple f ,novemb] ?r\gh ,m>*4  
,r[ #b3 ,semi-,dr\ght ,tol]ant          
,brassicas  ,r[ #b gets ab\t half !     
irrigation ( r[ #a & ab\t "o-?ird z mu* 
z ! rais$ b$1 & s is wid]1 to give !    
roots m room4 ,"o-?ird ( ! r[ gr[s savoy
 cabbage1 ! re/1 ,brussels spr\ts4 ,^!  
brassicas are spac$ #d feet ap>t & by   
summ]'s end ! lu/y spr\ts =m a solid    
h$ge #d feet tall4   ,r[ #c3 ,kale  ,r[ 
#c gr[s #abe feet ( v>i\s kales s[n 9   
,april4 ,!re's j en\gh ov]spray to keep 
! plants f gett+ gn>ly4 ,i pref] kale to
 n get v /unt$1 if only = ae/hetics3 on 
my soil1 "o vanity f]tigation ab\t      
mid-,july keeps ?is r[ look+ impressive 
all summ]4 ,o!r g>d5s ) poor] soil might
 ne$ m support4 ,?is mu* kale may seem  
an enorm\s ov]supply1 b betwe5 salads & 
/eam+ gre5s ) potatoes we manage to eat 
almo/ all ! t5d] small leaves x gr[s    
dur+ w9t]4   ,r[ #d3 ,root ,crops       
,mo/ly c>rots1 a few beets4 ,no         
irrigation1 no f]tigation1 none ne$$4   

,"o hundr$ c>rots weigh+ 9 at ar\nd #e  
p\nds ea* & #bj-"s beets ( equal        
magnitude make our ye>'s supply =       
salads1 s\ps1 & a little juic+4   ,r[   
#e3 ,dry-,g>d5$ ,salads  ,?is r[ holds a
 few cr[ns ( ,fr5* sorrel1 a few feet ( 
p>sley4 ,ov] a doz5 giant kohlrabi are  
spr+ s[n1 b ov] half ! r[ gr[s endive4  
,i give ?is r[ absolutely no wat]4      
,aga91 :5 contemplat+ ! am\nt ( space x 
takes1 keep 9 m9d t ?is endive &        
kohlrabi mu/ help fill our salad b[ls f 
,octob] ?r\gh ,m>*4   ,r[ #f3 ,peas1    
,ov]w9t]$ ,caulifl[]1 & ,all ,solanaceae
  ,half ! r[ gr[s e>ly bu% peas4 ,)\t   
ov]head irrigation to bo!r !m1 unpick$  
pods =m se$ t spr\ts excell5tly ! next  
ye>4 ,?is half ( ! r[ is rot>y till$ &  
f]tiliz$ aga9 aft] ! pea v9es come out4 
,!n x /ays b>e ?r\gh ,july :ile         
capill>ity some:at re*>ges ! soil4 ,ab\t
 ,augu/ #a1 ,i wet ! r['s surface d[n ) 
hose & fan nozzle & s[ ov]w9t]$         
caulifl[] se$4 ,to keep ! caulifl[] f   
/unt+ ,i mu/ lightly h& spr9kle ! r['s  

c5t] twice weekly ?r\gh late ,septemb]4 
,7 wat] m re/rict$ ,i c\ld />t my       
caulifl[] se$l+s 9 a nurs]y b$ &        
transplant !m "h 9 ,octob]4  ,! o!r half
 is home to ! ,solanaceae3 tomato1      
pepp]1 & eggplant4 ,i give ?is r[ a     
little extra wid? because pea v9es run1 
& ,i f]tigate my ,solanaceae1 pref]r+   
sprawly tomato v>ieties t may cov] an   
#h-;foot-diamet] circle4 ,!re's also a  
c\ple ( extra b>e feet along ! outside  
because ! neighbor+ grasses w deplete   
soil moi/ure along ! edge ( ! g>d54     
,r[ #g3 ,wat]-,dem&+ ,brassicas  ,mov+  
away f irrigation on ! o!r side ( !     
rais$ b$1 ,i gr[ a succession ( hybrid  
broccoli v>ieties & late fall caulifl[]4
 ,! broccoli is s[n sev]al times1 #bj   
r[-feet ea* s[+1 done ab\t ,april #ae1  
,june #a1 & ,july #ae4 ,! late caulifl[]
 goes 9 ab\t ,july #a4 ,if necess>y ,i  
c\ld use mu* ( ?is r[ = quick crops t   
w\ld be h>ve/$ be=e ,i want$ to s[      
broccoli or caulifl[]1 b ,i don't ne$ m 
room4 ,! fir/ s[+s ( broccoli are pull$ 

out e>ly en\gh to p]mit succession s[+s 
( arugula or o!r late salad gre5s4   ,r[
 #h3 ,! ,trellis  ,"h ,i erect a        
#abe-;foot-long1 #f-;foot-tall net      
trellis = g\rmet delicacies l pole peas 
& pole beans4 ,! bean v9es block almo/  
all wat] t w\ld to on beyond x & s ?is  
r[ gets m irrigation ?an x o!rwise      
might4 ,! peas are h>ve/$ e>ly en\gh to 
p]mit a succession s[+ ( ,purple ,spr\t+
 broccoli 9 mid-,july4 ,purple ,spr\t+  
ne$s a bit ( spr9kl+ to g]m9ate 9 ! heat
 ( midsumm]1 b1 be+ z vigor\s z kale1   
once up1 x gr[s adequately on ! ov]spray
 f ! rais$ b$4 ,! beans w\ld be         
ov]:elm+ly abundant if all 7 s[n at "o  
"t1 s ,i plant !m 9 two /ages ab\t ?ree 
weeks ap>t4 ,/ill1 a great _m beans g   
unpick$4 ,^! are all[$ to =m se$1 are   
h>ve/$ be=e !y q dry1 & crisp "u cov]   
away f ! spr9kl]s4 ,we get en\gh se$ f  
?is r[ = plant+ next ye>1 plus all ! dry
 beans we c>e to eat dur+ w9t]4 ,dry    
beans are h>d to dige/ & z we age we eat
 few] & few] ( !m4 ,9 previ\s ye>s ,i've

 gr[n entire r[s ( dry legume se$s at ! 
g>d5's edge4   ,r[ #i3 ,cucurbits  ,?is 
r[ is s wide because "h are gr[n all !  
spread+ cucurbits4 ,! pole beans 9 r[ #h
 t5d to prev5t ov]spray2 ?is dryness is 
especially b5eficial to                 
humidity-s5sitive melons1 s]5dipit\sly  
r$uc+ _! susceptability to p[d]y mildew 
diseases4 ,all cucurbits are f]tigat$ e 
?ree weeks4 ,! squa% w h fall5 ap>t by !
 end ( ,septemb]1 melons are pull$ out  
by mid-,septemb]4 ,! area is !n till$ & 
f]tiliz$1 mak+ space to transplant      
ov]w9t]$ spr+ cabbages1 o!r ov]w9t]$    
brassicas1 & w9t] scallions 9 ,octob]4  
,^! transplants are dug f nurs]ies on ! 
irrigat$ rais$ b$4 ,i c\ld also set cold
 frames "h & =ce t5d] salad gre5s all   
w9t]4   ,r[ #aj3 ,unirrigat$ ,potatoes  
,?is s+le long r[ satisfies a           
potato-lov+ h\sehold all w9t]4 ,!       
quality ( ^! dry-g>d5$ tub]s is s high t
 my wife compla9s if %e mu/ buy a few   
new potatoes f ! sup]m>ket aft] our     
supplies h become s spr\ty &_/or %rivel$

 t !y're n ta/y any long]4     ,*apt] #g
  ,! ,backy>d   ,wat]-,wise ,g>d5]  ,i  
am an unusually =tunate g>d5]4 ,aft]    
sev5 ye>s ( /ruggl+ on "o ( ! poore/    
gr[+ sites 9 ?is region we n[ live on   
#af acres ( mo/ly excell5t1 deep soil1  
on ! floor ( a beautiful1 coa/al ,oregon
 valley4 ,my h\se & g>d5s are p]*$      
safely above ! #ajj-ye> flood l9e1 !re's
 a big1 reliable well1 & if ,i ev] want 
m ?an #bj gallons p] m9ute 9 midsumm]1  
!re's ! virtually unlimit$ ,umpqua ,riv]
 to draw f4 ,mu* l a ma/] skeet %oot] :o
 uses a 4#daj to make ! sport m int]e/+1
 ,i h *os5 to dry g>d54  ,few are ?is   
lucky4 ,^! days ! majority ( ,nor?      
,am]icans live an urban /ruggle4 ,_!    
h\ses are z (t5 p]*$ on /eep1 ?9ly soil$
 hills or gooey1 difficult clay z on a  
t9y fragm5t ( :at 0 once prime f>ml&4 ,&
 nev] does ! municipal g>d5] h "o vital 
lib]ty ,i d3 to *oose :i* "o-six? ( an  
acre 9 8 #ad-;acre back y>d he'll g>d5  
on ?is ye>4  ,i 0 a suburban backy>d    
g>d5] = five ye>s be=e decid+ to        

home/ead4 ,i've frequ5tly recall$ ?is   
exp]i5ce :ile le>n+ to dry g>d54 ,:at   
foll[s 9 ?is *apt] are "s /rategies to  
guide ! urban 9 becom+ m wat]-wise4     
,wat] ,cons]vation ,is ! ,mo/ ,important
 ,fir/ ,/ep  ,aft] x ra9s or aft]       
spr9kl] irrigation1 wat] evaporates f ! 
surface until a desiccat$ e>? mul*      
develops4 ,frequ5t light wat]+ increases
 ?is type ( loss4 ,:]e lettuce1 radi%es1
 & o!r %all[-root+ vegetables are gr[+1 
p]haps x is be/ to accept ?is loss or   
spread a ?9 mul* to r$uce x4 ,b mo/     
vegetables c fe$ deep]1 s if wett+ !    
surface c be avoid$1 a lot ( wat] c be  
sav$4 ,ev5 spr9kl+ long] & less         
frequ5tly helps accompli% t4 ,half !    
reason t drip sy/ems are m effici5t is t
 ! surface isn't damp5$ & virtually all 
wat] goes deep into ! e>?4 ,! o!r half  
is t !y avoid+ evaporation t occurs :ile
 wat] sprays ?r\gh ! air betwe5 ! nozzle
 & ! soil4 ,spr9kl+ at night or e>ly 9 !
 morn+1 :5 !re is little or no w9d1     
prev5ts almo/ all ( ?is type ( loss4    

,to use drip irrigation x is n necess>y 
to inve/ 9 pipes1 emitt]s1 filt]s1      
pressure regulators1 & s =?4 ,i've      
already expla9$ h[ recycl$ pla/ic       
buckets or o!r l>ge conta9]s c be       
improvis$ into v effective drip emitt]s4
 ,besides1 drip tube sy/ems are n tr\ble
 free3 hav+ ! b$s cov]$ ) fragile pipes 
makes hoe+ dicey1 :ile e emitt] mu/ be  
p]iodically *eck$ aga9/ blockage4  ,:5  
us+ any type ( drip sy/em x is          
especially important to relate ! am\nt (
 wat] appli$ to ! dep? ( ! soil to !    
crops1 root developm5t4 ,!re's no s5se  
add+ m wat] ?an ! e>? c hold4 ,calculat+
 ! optimum am\nt ( wat] to apply f a    
drip sy/em requires apply+ sub/antial1  
practical intellig5ce to evaluat+ !     
foll[+ factors3 soil wat]-hold+ capacity
 & accessible dep?2 h[ deep ! root      
sy/ems h develop$2 h[ broadly ! wat]    
spreads out bel[ ea* emitt] 7disp]sion72
 rate ( loss due to transpiration4 ,all 
b "o ( ^! factors--disp]sion--are       
adequately discuss$ else:]e 9 ,g>d5+    

,)\t ,irrigation4  ,a drip emitt] on s&y
 soil moi/5s ! e>? ne>ly /raight d[n )  
little lat]al disp]sion2 #a foot bel[ ! 
surface ! wet area might only be #a foot
 9 diamet]4 ,conv]sely1 :5 y drip       
moi/ure into a clay soil1 ?\gh ! surface
 may seem dry1 #ah in*es away f ! emitt]
 & j #c in*es d[n ! e>? may become      
saturat$ ) wat]1 :ile a few in*es deep]1
 significant disp]sion may rea* out     
ne>ly #bd in*es4 ,on s&y soil1 emitt]s  
on #ab-;in* c5t]s are h>dly close en\gh 
toge!r1 :ile on clay1 #cj-or ev5        
#cf-;in* c5t]s are suffici5t4  ,ano!r   
important bit ( data to ent] into y\r   
ari?metic3 #a cubic foot ( wat] equals  
ab\t #e gallons4 ,a #ab-;in*-diamet]    
circle equals #j4ge squ>e feet 7,a  ,pi 
x ,radius squ>$71 s #a cubic foot ( wat]
 7#e gallons7 disp]s$ f a s+le emitt] w 
add r\ghly #af in*es ( moi/ure to s&y   
soil1 greatly ov]wat]+ a m$ium t c hold 
only an in* or s ( available wat] p]    
foot4 ,on heavy clay1 a s+le emitt] may 
wet a #d-;foot-diamet] circle1 on loams1

 any:]e 9 betwe51 #e gallons w cov] a   
#d-;foot-diamet] circle ab\t #a in*     
deep4 ,s on deep1 clay soil1 #aj or ev5 
#ae gallons p] application may be 9     
ord]4 ,:at is ! texture ( y\r soil1 its 
wat]-hold+ capacity1 & ! disp]sion ( a  
drip into x8 ,probably1 x is some:]e 9  
betwe5 s& & clay4  ,i c't specify :at is
 optimum 9 any p>ticul> situation4 ,ea* 
g>d5] mu/ consid] 8 own unique factors &
 make 8 own e/imation4 ,all ,i c d is   
/ress aga9 t ! ess5ce ( wat]-wise g>d5+ 
is wat] cons]vation4   ,optimiz+ ,space3
 ,plann+ ! ,wat]-,wise ,backy>d ,g>d5   
,int5sive g>d5+ is a /rategy hold+ t    
yield p] squ>e foot is ! supreme goal2 x
 succe$s by optimiz+ z _m gr[? factors z
 possible4 ,s a rais$ b$ is loos5$ v    
deeply )\t conc]n = ! am\nt ( labor1    
:ile f]tility & moi/ure are suppli$     
virtually )\t limit4 ,int5sive g>d5+    
makes s5se :5 l& is v co/ly & ! wor? ( !
 food gr[n is judg$ aga9/ organic       
produce at retail--& :5 wat] & nutri5ts 
are inexp5sive &_/or available 9        

unlimit$ am\nts4  ,:5 wat] use is r$uc$1
 yield inevitably drops proportionately4
 ,! backy>d wat]-wise g>d5]1 !n1 mu/    
logically ask :i* vegetable species w   
give him en\gh food or m economic value 
) limit$ space & wat]4 ,tak+ m>itime    
,nor?we/ ra9fall patt]ns into           
consid]ation1 "h's my be/ e/imation3    
,wat]-,wise ,effici5cy ( ,vegetable     
,crops  79 t]ms ( backy>d usage ( space 
& moi/ure7   ,,effici5t ,,en\gh   ,e>ly 
spr+-s[n crops3 peas1 broccoli1 lettuce1
 radi%es1 savoy cabbage1 kohlrabi       
,ov]w9t]$ crops3 onions1 broccoli       
caulifl[]1 cabbage1 favas beans  ,endive
 ,kale  ,g>d5 sorrel  ,indet]m9ate      
tomatoes  ,giant kohlrabi  ,p>sley--leaf
 & root  heirloom summ] squa% 7sprawly7 
,pole beans  ,h]bs3 m>joram1 ?yme1 dill1
 cilantro1 f5nel1 oregano  ,root crops3 
c>rots1 beets1 p>snips   ,,m>g9al       
,brussels spr\ts 7late7  ,potatoes      
,det]m9ate tomatoes  ,rutabagas         
,eggplant  ,leeks  ,leeks  ,savoy       
cabbage 7late7  ,pepp]s1 small fruit$   

,,ineffici5t   ,beans1 bu% snap         
,pepp]s1 bell  ,broccoli1 summ]         
,radi%es  ,caulifl[]  ,scallions1 bulb  
onions  ,cel]y  ,sweet corn  ,lettuce   
,turnips  ,h fun plann+ y\r own         
wat]-wise g>d56      ,m ,read+  ,ab\t ! 
,int]libr>y ,loan ,s]vice               
,agricultural books1 especially old]    
ones1 are n usually available at local  
libr>ies4 ,b mo/ municipal libr>ies &   
all univ]sities (f] access to an on-l9e 
database li/+ ! hold+s ( o!r coop]at+   
libr>ies ?r\gh\t ! ,unit$ ,/ates4 ,almo/
 any book publi%$ 9 ?is c5tury w be     
promptly mail$ to ! reque/+ libr>y4     
,anyone :o is s]i\s ab\t le>n+ by read+ 
%\ld discov] h[ easy & inexp5sive 7or   
free7 x is to use ! ,int]libr>y ,loan   
,s]vice4  ,c>t]1 ,v]non ,gill1 & ,tom1  
,dale4 ,topsoil & ,civilization4        
,norman1 ,okla43 ,univ]sity ( ,oklahoma 
,press1 #aigd4  ,! hi/ory (             
civilization's de/ruction ( "o ecosy/em 
aft] ano!r by pl[+ & de=e/ation1 & its  
grave implications = our c\ntry's       

long-t]m survival4  ,clevel&1 ,david    
,a41 & ,daniela ,sol]i4 ,food f ,dryl&  
,g>d5s3 ,an ,ecological1 ,nutritional & 
,social ,approa* to ,small-,scale       
,h\sehold ,food ,production4 ,tucson3   
,c5t] = ,p1 ,food & ,environm5t1 #aiia4 
,_w-consci\s survey ( l[-te* food       
production 9 semi>id regions4  ,faulkn]1
 ,edw>d ,h4 ,pl[man's ,folly4 ,norman1  
,okla43 ,univ]sity ( ,oklahoma ,press1  
#aidc4  ,?is book creat$ q a controv]sy 
9 ! #aidjs4 ,faulkn] /resses ! vital    
importance ( capill>ity4 ,he expla9s h[ 
conv5tional pl[+ /ops ?is moi/ure fl[4  
,fo?1 ,h5ry ,d4 ,fundam5tals ( ,soil    
,sci5ce4 ,eigh? ,edition4 ,new ,york3   
,john ,wylie  ,sons1 #aiij4  ,a ?or\gh  
yet readable basic soil sci5ce text at a
 level com=table = univ]sity non-sci5ce 
majors4  ,hamak]1 ,john4 ,d4 ,!         
,survival ( ,civilization4 ,annotat$ by 
,donald ,a4 ,weav]4 ,mi*igan_/,cali=nia3
 ,hamak]-,weav] ,publi%]s1 #aihb4       
,hamak] contradicts our curr5t          
preoccupation ) global w>m+ & makes a   

believable case t a new epo* ( planet>y 
glaciation is com+1 caus$ by an increase
 9 gre5h\se gas4 ,! book is also a guide
 to soil enri*m5t ) rock p[d]s4         
,nabhan1 ,g>y4 ,! ,des]t ,smells l ,ra93
 ,a ,naturali/ 9 ,papago ,indian        
,c\ntry4 ,san ,francisco3 ,nor? ,po9t   
,press1 #aifb4  ,describes regionally   
useful ,native ,am]ican dry-g>d5+       
te*niques  ,russell1 ,sir ,e4 ,john4    
,soil ,conditions & ,plant ,gr[?4 ,eigh?
 ,edition4 ,new ,york3 ,longmans1 ,gre5 
,co41 #aiej4  ,probably ! f9e/1 mo/     
human soil sci5ce text ev] writt54      
,russell avoids unnecess>y ma!matics &  
obscure t]m9ology4 ,i d n recomm5d !    
rec5t 9-pr9t edition1 revis$ & enl>g$ by
 a committee4  ,smi?1 ,j4 ,russell4     
,tree ,crops3 a ,p]man5t ,agriculture4  
,new ,york3 ,h>c\rt1 ,brace & ,company1 
#aibi4  ,smi?'s vision>y solution to    
upl& erosion is gr[+ unirrigat$ tree    
crops t produce c]eal-l foods & nuts4   
,%\ld sit on ! family bible %elf ( e    
p]maculturali/4  ,solomon1 ,/eph5 ,j4   

,gr[+ ,vegetables ,we/ ( ! ,cascades4   
,seattle3 ,sasquat* ,books1 #aihi4  ,!  
complete regional g>d5+ textbook4       
-------------------------4  ,backy>d    
,compo/+4 ,portl&1 ,ore43 ,george van   
,patt5 ,publi%+1 #aiib4  ,especially    
useful = its unique discussion ( !      
ov]use ( compo/ & a nonideological      
approa* to rais+ ! mo/ nutriti\s food   
possible4  ,/\t1 ,ru?4 ,g>d5+ ,)\t ,"w =
 ! ,ag+1 ! ,busy & ! ,indol5t4 ,old     
,gre5wi*1 ,conn43 ,dev9-,adair1 #aifa4  
,/\t pres5ts ! orig9al !sis ( p]man5t   
mul*+4  ,turn]1 ,frank ,newman4         
,f]tility1 ,pa/ures & ,cov] ,crops ,bas$
 on ,nature's ,own ,balanc$ ,organic    
,pa/ure ,fe$s4 ,san ,diego3 ,rateav]1   
#aige4 ,repr9t$ f ! #aiee ,fab] & ,fab]1
 edition4  ,organic f>m+ us+ long       
rotations1 includ+ deeply root$ gre5    
manures develop$ to a high art4 ,turn]  
ma9ta9$ a productive organic dairy f>m  
us+ subsoil+ & long rotations involv+   
till$ crops & semip]man5t grass_/h]b    
mixtures4  v5 d] ,le$51 ,frits1 ,fr$ ,l4

 ,troise1 & ,david ,k4 ,todd4 ,! ,wat]  
,encyclop$ia1 ,second ,edition4 ,*elsea1
 ,mi*43 ,lewis ,publi%]s1 #aiij4        
,ref]5ce data conc]n+ e possible aspect 
( wat]4  ,weav]1 ,john ,e41 & ,william  
,e4 ,brun]4 ,root ,developm5t (         
,vegetable ,crops4 ,new ,york3          
,mc,graw-,hill1 #aibg4  ,conta9s v      
int]e/+ draw+s %[+ ! amaz+ dep? & ext5t 
t vegetable roots are capable ( 9       
favorable soil4  ,widtsoe1 ,john ,a4    
,dry ,f>m+3 ,a ,sy/em ( ,agriculture =  
,c\ntries ,"u ,l[ ,ra9fall4 ,new ,york3 
,! ,macmillan ,company1 #aibj4  ,! be/  
s+le review ev] made ( ! possibilities (
 dry f>m+ & dry g>d5+1 sagely discuss+ !
 sci5tific basis beh9d ! te*niques4 ,!  
quality ( ,widtsoe's und]/&+ proves t   
new] is n necess>ily bett]4