Mittleider Grow-Box Gardens

By J acob R. Mittleider
Adjustments & Improvements Since Publication


Page # Original Book Recommended Changes
33. Grow-Boxes 5 wide . . . Now recommend 18 or 4 wide Grow-Boxes.
38. Aisles of 3 . . . Aisles of 3 recommended for 18 Grow-Boxes
4 aisles are recommended for 4-wide Grow-Boxes

38. 1 X 8 redwood or cedar wood . . . Treated 2 X 8 pine recommended
Redwood or cedar stakes . . . Pine stakes preferably 2 X 2 and painted preferred.

41. 12 1 X 8 or Stake for splicing Treated 12+2 X 8 is recommended for splicing.
End pieces 5 long 1 X 8 Use 2 X 8 treated lumber 18 or 4.

43. Spreader board 2 X 4 X 6 Use 5 length for 4-wide box or 2 length for 18 box.

46. Sawdust from almost any wood Avoid walnut sawdust, which is toxic to many plants.

47. Spread 10#lime on ground . . . Apply Pre-Plant only
In 18 box apply 1 oz/ft in 4 box apply 2 oz/ft.

48. Pre-Plant formula . . . Pre-Plant - calcium, magnesium, & boron 80-4-1 ratio.
Apply 12#2 oz to soil In 18 box apply 1 oz/ft in 4 box apply 2 oz/ft.
Apply 5#lime to soil None, only Pre-Plant above.
Weekly Feed nothing said Apply oz/ft in 18 box apply 1 oz/ft in 4 box
See Weekly Feed formula in Mittleider Gardening Course

53. Dates for planting common crops Supplement with Garden Planting Details schedule, and use
Your ADLF (average date of last frost) for planting dates.

54. Sample Planting Layout There is real merit in this, because short rows of many
crops can be ideal for family gardens. However watering,
fertilizing, and difficult access to the center of the bed
convinced Dr. Mittleider that 4 wide and planting length-
wise is generally a better solution for the home gardener.
After a crop is harvested . . . Apply both Pre-Plant (1 oz/ft) and Weekly Feed (1/2 oz/ft)
mix with the soil, and plant another crop if time allows.

55. A marker for uniform plant spacing Use an 8-long 2 X 2 board, with dowels 6 apart on one
side and 7 apart on the opposite side.

56. List of plants and spacing. Recommend using Garden Planting Details schedule if
growing lengthwise in 18 or 4 boxes.

64. Transplanting Solution Immediately after transplanting apply oz/ft of nitrogen
fertilizer down the center of the row and water in.
68. Plants can be watered with a . . Automating the watering is recommended. See Mittleider
Gardening Course Lesson 16.
One or two . . watering per week Do not let your plants begin to wilt! Water daily if needed.

69. Nearly 95% of a plants weight . Water constitutes about 80% of a plants total weight. As
much as 95% of the water entering a plant on a hot day
passes through as transpiration, to keep the plant cool.

71. Mittleider Nutrient Formula Fertilizer formula in Mittleider Gardening Course Lesson 5
is recommended, or purchase Micro-Nutrients from FFEF
website www.growfood.com and mix as instructed.
Feed 1#4 oz for 5 X 30 Box Apply oz/ft WF down the center between 2 plant rows.
Stop feeding 2 weeks before harvest Stop feeding 3 weeks before harvest for single-crop plants.
Stop feeding 8 weeks before hard frost for ever-bearing.

72. Optional Nutrient Formula This formula works short-term in many soil-bed gardens
Grow-Box gardens need the complete nutrient mix.

73. Very Important Eliminate paragraphs 13, 14, and 15.

75. How to support tall plants See Mittleider Gardening Course Lesson 15, and the
How to Build and Use T-Frames schedule. Use a single T-
frame with 6 top for 4-wide boxes placed in middle.


76-86. Guiding, pruning, & tying Excellent material and highly recommended.

97-108. Making a simple greenhouse Recommend Constructing a Greenhouse Appendix D
of The Mittleider Gardening Course book. Any greenhouse
should have sides that roll up for ventilation, and if larger
than 10 wide a continuous ventilator at the top is important

Soil-beds or Grow-Boxes should be 18 wide, and aisles
should be 4 wide. Therefore, 12 6 of width is minimum
needed for 3 soil-beds or Grow-Boxes.

109-110. Filling Grow-Boxes in Greenhouse Use Pre-Plant Mix 1 oz/ft in 18 & 2 oz/ft in 4 boxes.

111. Now add the Pre-Plant fertilizer . . Use Pre-Plant formula of calcium, magnesium, and boron
In the ratio of 80-4-1. Apply 1 oz/ft in 18 box & 2 oz/ft
In 4 box. Apply Weekly Feed at oz/ft in 18 box & 1
Oz/ft in 4 box.
112. D. & Note Lime or gypsum is not needed in addition to Pre-Plant Mix.
Plants in the greenhouse are fed a The same amount of fertilizer is used whether plants are in
larger amount of fertilizer. The greenhouse or outside in the garden and whether in
the soil-beds or Grow-Boxes.

114. Preparing your nutrient mixture See pages 71 & 72.
From the time seeds are sprouted. . . Weekly Feed is applied oz/ft in 18 beds or boxes, and
they are fed . . . 1 oz/ft in 4 beds or boxes.

115. After flowering begins . . . to end Continue feeding the same amounts of Weekly Feed until
3 weeks before harvest for single-crop varieties, and until
8 weeks before the first hard frost for ever-bearing plants.

116. Plants appear to be nutrient hungry Increase the feedings to twice per week for two weeks.

116-117. For training vining and climbing . . Recommend 1 row of plants per bed or box, with alternate
Plants going up baling-twine strings to 2 rows of wire, pipe,
or 2 X 4s on edge 28 apart. Aisle space at the top is
33 in the two aisles.
The bottom end of the string . . . Is tied to tie-wire placed at the base of the plants. The tie-
wire is attached at both ends of the Grow-Box and to
stakes at maximum intervals of 10 the length of the box.

121. Watering in the greenhouse . . . Watering Grow-Boxes should be daily in greenhouse &
garden.

123. Mild climate greenhouse plastic Use UV-protected 6 mil greenhouse plastic for all climates.


135. Starting seedlings for transplanting Tomatoes and peppers take 8 weeks from seed to trans-
plant-size plants, so growing these in a protected environ-
ment can save you that much time. Large-seeded plants
like beans or squash take much less time to grow to
transplant size, so you will be saving only 3 to 4 weeks.
Bottoms can be made with 3 slats Using 5 or 6 narrower slats to cover the bottom is better.

136. Spread oz lime & oz 0-45-0 Spread 1 oz (3 TBSP) Pre-Plant Mix and mix into soil.

137. Seeds per row in 18 X 18 flat Celery & parsley should be 100-125 /row. Large seeds
Such as beans, squash, etc. should be 25-30/row.

138. Every watering after seeds sprout When sprouts first appear begin watering with Constant
Feed solution 1 oz Weekly Feed in 3 gallons of water.
Seedlings are transplanted to . . The first transplant should be into 2 or larger pots, or
Into other flats, 49 to 81 per flat, depending on plant size.

140-141. If flats have been used before . . Methyl Bromide is very difficult to obtain, is very
expensive, and can be deadly. A Pesticide Applicators
license is required to handle it. Therefore other methods
of sterilizing your flats should be pursued. Bleach and
water (1 to 10), or vinegar and water (1 to 2) can be used.

145. Common soil us usually more work Many years experience in soils all around the world taught
and somewhat less rewarding than Dr. Mittleider that growing in the soil was just as product-
Grow-Boxes or greenhouses. ive as Grow-Boxes & greenhouses. See 6 Steps to Success
ful gardening, Grow-Bed Gardening, and The Mittleider
Gardening Course books for greatest success in the soil.

146-153 Open furrow soil-bed gardening Numerous material changes and improvements have been
discovered and perfected since this book was written.
Raised level 18-wide beds with ridges are a big factor in
making soil-bed gardening at least the equal of Grow-Box
gardening. The books named above are highly.
Recommended.

For field crops 3 applications of Weekly Feed are normal
1 before planting and 2 after at 3-4 week intervals.

170. Questions often asked:
Why use redwood or cedar Now that treated 2 X 8 lumber is readily available and safe
to use, that is preferred over redwood or cedar.
Should Grow-Boxes face N/S Not necessary. What IS important is that tall plants be
grown North or East of shorter plants, so as not to shade
them.
173. Appendix II Sizes of Grow-Boxes have changed, fertilizer formulas
have changed, and application rates have changed. Read
previous comments and review topics in The Mittleider
Gardening Course book.

183. Appendix III A much more comprehensive schedule of nutrient
deficiencies and corrective treatments is attached hereto.

187. Appendix IV For materials list to build recommended greenhouse see
Appendix D of The Mittleider Gardening Course book.

192. Appendix V While numbers, sizes, and configurations are no longer
valid, multiplied thousands of families around the world
have proven the validity of the assertions made herein.

mittIeider
grow-box
gcwdens
Dr. .IR llitt1.eid.er
mittleider
grow-box
gardens
BY
JACOB R. MITTLEIDER, LLD.
AGRICULTURAL CONSULTANT
LECTURER, LOMA LINDA UNIVERSITY
ILLUSTRATED BY
DON BERGGREN
InbUnationCll Food PtOCIuction mczthocl).lnc.
Salt Lake City, Utah
Published and Distributed by
International Food Production Methods, Inc.
Post Office Box 17114
Salt Lake City. Utah 84117
Copyright 1975 by Jacob R. Mittleider, under the title "More Food From Your
Garden."
This edition printed by arrangements with Woodbridge Press Publishing Company,
California 93111.
All rights reserved. This book or any part thereof must not be reproduced in any form
whatsoever. whether by graphic. visual. electronic, or any other means; or be translated
into any language, devices, or symbols. without the written permission of International
Food Production Mettlods. Inc.
Post Office Box 17114. Satt Lake City. Utah 84117.
Library of Congress Catak>g Card Number: 78-52953
Printed in the United States of America
D
This book is dedicated to my family -
Mildred Mittleider, patient and supportive wife, tolerant and brave
amid the frustration and uncertainty of life with an adventurous
husband. Without her, success would not have been possible.
Douglas and Carol Deitrich, son-in-law and daughter, who
encouraged me in the development of the first experimental models
that stimulated this entire program; and who still inspire toward
continuing refinement and perfecting.
Dr. James R. and Jeannie Wise, son-in-law and daughter, who
also built and planted the early model gardens whose success was
convincing evidence that millions could benefit from these
extraordinarily productive techniques - if only they had the
information.
To these, and others, who encouraged and motivated me to
accomplish that in which I really believed, I gratefully dedicate this
book.
-The Author
I wish to thank -
Edmond Henken, my chief associate, for his encouragement.
loyalty, hard work, advice, and support through both prosperous
and adverse times. In my estimation, he is the one person who has
gained the most complete knowledge of my entire concept and
method as outlined in this book. He has not only the theory but also
the practical experience to conduct the program and also to
advance it.
Willis J. Hackett, for his confidence and encouragement, for his
belief in the methodology, and for the foreword he generously wrote
for this book and for a previous book.
Lynn Galr, M.D., for loyalty and personal involvement in past
years. helping to bring this program to success. Without his help
there would never have been the opportunity to develop it, either
abroad or in the United States.
D. L. Stoops, M.D., whose humanitarian nature led him to study
the Mittleider program thoroughly as a means of helping hungry
peoples, and then to promote it and encourage its development.
Don Berggren, the illustrator of this book. Without his outstanding
talent it would not have been possible to prepare this work for
mankind. It is a rare privi lege to work with so talented a person who
is also selfless and sensitive to human need.
-The Author
FORE.WORD... . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . II
INTMDUCTION ..... .... . . . 13
a"..WHAT 15 M1TTL.e.IDE.R. METHOD ?. Z"!
.GARVE.N GPDW-OOXE.'S .... '" 2>3
HOW TO MAf<.C. oFOW-eoXE.'S
USING "CUSTOM-MADE. 'SOIL" 4S
PLANNING YOUR LAYOUT.. 51
@ PLANTING YOUR GROWeoX... 57
77 WATERING AND FE.E.OING
YOUR PLANTS.................... /&.1
.. HEL.PING PLANTS Gf<.OW... 75
rtJ .... GRE.ENHOUSE. - SHE.L..TE/<.E.D
Gf<OW- e,oXE.S en
!lV... MAKlNG A SIMPL.E
0RE-ENHOUSE. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . "17
OD.... succesSFuL
GARDENING /O'l
uf6 COL'DWEATHER. ~ E N I N G ....... 11.3
n ~ STARTING 5E.E.OLlNG5 FOR
TRANSPLANTING ....... " . 135
~ .THE. MITTLE.IDER METHOD IN
OPEN FURROW 143
D THE HARVE.'5T : ISS
g lQJJESTIONS OFTEN "''5I<.E.D 110
.!S.. MITTLEIDER
FERTII.-I"l.E.R FOf<,MULA'5....... ~
~ ..PLANT NUTRIENT
DE.F/CIENCI E'5 183
m.. iVlATE.RIAI.-S LiSTS FOR
Gr<DW- eoXE.S AND
GREENHOU6E.,=> 1f'1
~ .. COMME.RCIAI.- APPLICATIONS
OF THE. MITTL.E.IDER METHOD.... 1'12
Three decades of almost constant study and research on food
production problems in many parts of the world have long since
convinced me that the most promising approach isasynthesis olthe
best features of several major methods of gardening.
Organic gardening emphasizes plant access to all available soil
nutrients and microbial activity; conventional gardening
emphasizes adequate fertilization and pest control; hydroponic
gardening emphasizes high-density planting in a controlled
environment.
But each of these methods, alone, has some limitations.
What I have been demonstrating in various countries isabringing
together of the best scientific knowledge and experience in each of
lhese approaches. I believe that the results speak for themselves.
This book is a step-by-step guidebook to the use of my methods
by the home gardener. If you have a rewarding gardening
experience and it is due in part to the instructions given here, I shall
be amply rewarded for the effort involved.
I would encourage the serious student of gardening to obtain a
copy of a previous book, coauthored with Dr. Andrew N. Nelson, a
gifted man whom I greatly admire. Its title is Food for Everyone and it
may be obtained through the publisher of this book.
- The Author
Abundant food now flourishing on once arid and unproductive
land because of the skill and ingenuity of Jacob Mittleider is a
source of great hope to the world's hungry peoples whose desperate
cries have echoed around the world.
I have seen the lifeless eyes and the spindly, wobbling legs of
children denied the balanced nutrition of an adequate food supply.
Hungry children of war-torn countries have snatched food from my
own hands.
Students of the future declare that the prospects for feeding the
increasing millions of the 1980's are grim. Mittleider has the answer.
He is dedicated to the task of meeting the nutritional needs of
poverty-stricken populations wherever they are found.
Single-handedly, he has demonstrated from Alaska to California,
from Fiji to Okinawa and Africa, that even the most unproductive
soils can produce an abundance. In many instances his methods
have doubled and tripled production on abandoned land.
This book, like Food for Everyone, the work coauthored by Jacob
Mittleider and Dr. Andrew N. Nelson, will be hailed by many as a
practical contribution to making food production more efficient.
Mittleider's demonstrations and institutes everywhere have
proved that his method can be used by anyone, anywhere, to
transform unproductive lands and greatly increase crop yields.
I hope that the publication of this book, More Food From Your
Garden, will help dispel hunger and produce beautiful gardens
where now only thorns and weeds are growing.
- Willis J. Hackett
Vice President
World Conference of Seventh-day Adventists
Advisory Chairman
Education and World Relief
Washington, D. C.
1/
".
Jacob R. Mittleider
c
The "miracle" garden yields you may have been reading about
lately are for real- and actually are the result of some fairly simple
r>ew applications of well-established agricultural principles.
Jacob R. Mittleider is the plant"magician"who has been in scores
of countries these past few years turning people on to the thrills of
unbelievable gardening success.
He has moved into food-problem areas of New Guinea, Africa,
Bangladesh, Lati n America, the U.S.A. - and has started a "food
revolution" every time.
How about 30 tons of sweet potatoes where only 4 had previously
oeen possible? or 6,000 pounds of rice where only 1,000 pounds
..ere considered normal? or 100 tons of tomatoes compared with 20
Ooefore?
Experts say that with Mittleider's simple methods, this earth could
leed nine times its present population - with no further agricultural
<nowledge. That's about 32 billion people!
These same simple methods - now presented for the first time in
a popular book - can help you to feed your family more
abundantly... with food grown more easily... in less space... with
'ewer gardening problems... than you ever thought possible.
The Mittleider Method can be used on any kind of ground -
rocky, hilly. alkaline, clay, depleted; in any kind of climate - hot,
moderate, cold; at any time of year - winter or summer.
If you are so inclined, this method can be used to attain complete
economic self-sufficiency on less than half an acre of land!
/3
Mittleider's university-sponsored demonstration program in New Guinea used poor
land where only scrubby growth had previously been possible (above) and turned it
Into lush, productive gardens (below).
High Commissioner James Lampert (right) end University President Tetsuo
Takara of Okinawa join Mittleider in examining young cauliflower that will produce 18
tons per acre - every 10 weeks - on rocky hillsides of the Ryukyu Islsnds.
Mittleider has proven repeatedly that his unique grow-box
concept, with his simple, plastic greenhouse plan can produce
enough food on even an eighth of an acre (5,000 square feet - a
small city lot!) to feed a family plus enough to sell for living
expenses.
Governments, universities, and mission organizations sponsor
international Mittieider institutes in which people from many lands
learn how to dramatically improve the amount and quality of food
available.
Mittleider students are at work in India, Borneo, the U.S.A.,
Taiwan, Okinawa, Japan, Fiji, the Philippines, Samoa, New Guinea,
Africa, Latin America almost anywhere you could
name... anywhere people are interested in food!
It has been commonplace for people who observe the Mittleider
Method to speak In terms usually reserved for magic shows.
"Astonishing... l couldn't believe my eyes... spectacular... a
miracle... a marvel. .. amazing."
15
Struggling bean plants barely survive with conventional gardening methods
(above) but burst into abundance on the very same plot with Mittleider methods
Abandoned as "devil land" - totally useless until the Mittleider Method was applied
- this plot now provides a good diet tor college students, and surpluses to sell tor
additional school funds.
B.D. Lakshman, with huge agricultural holdings in Fiji, declared,
"Ten thousand speeches could not have convinced me, but in less
than two hours of demonstrations I am completely converted. It is
nothing short of a miracle."
The then High Commissioner James B. Lampert of Okinawa,
urged the people of the Ryukyus to observe "this unique opportunity
to gain spectacular results from the very soil which, for centuries,
has brought much discouragement."
Ambassador TakaseJiro of Japan praised the Mittleider approach
as "an accurate and practical program of superb food production; a
practical method of solving the problem of feeding the increasing
populations of the world."
Willis J. Hackett, a general vice president of the Seventh-day
Adventist world conference, with special emphasis on education
and world relief programs, declared that the Mittleider program "has
certainly paid off in NewGuinea" where Its abundant crops continue
after many years to help support educational institutions and to
provide more nourishing diets for the people.
17
Africa to the Arctic - searing heat, freezing cold cannot stop the amazing productivity of
nature when provided with adequate nutrients, water, shelter.
Bob Ackeroid, senior agricultural officer in NewGuinea, reported,
"I think everyone in the Agricultural Department has been amazed at
the results. The work has surprised us and shown what can be done
in this country."
Loma Linda University (California) sponsored Mittleider on a 24-
nation survey of food production problems, leading directly to the
development of a series of institutes co-sponsored in some cases by
host governments.
It is nowonder that such authorities look to the Mittleider program
with great expectations. Where machinery is not readily available,
where soil is poor, where weather and pests are destructive, Jacob
Mittleider has shown that simple, ordinary people, using simple,
ordinary hand tools, can actually out-produce heavy farm
equipment and great outlays of capital!
Imagine the sense of dignity and self-respect that comes to a
family when almost overnight their life can be changed from one of
This African land Is producing many times its former yield with cuslom-made soil in
Mittleider grow-boxes - 44 Ions of cabbage per acre every 12 weeks!
poverty and hunger to one of health, good food, good income -
self-sufficiency and pride!
This has actually happened to so many families in so many parts
of the world that an Okinawan magazine was moved to describe
Mittleider as "a man who can give hope to people throughout the
world."
Because his simple methods have proved so eminently successful
for so many people in so many countries, Miltleider is convinced
that "hunger is no longer an agricultural problem; it is a human
problem, a social problem." If politicians, educators, and interest
groups can cooperate, he says, this world can feed an expanding
population indefinitely.
In the meantime, the Mittleider method can certainly be a helping
hand for you, your family, and your friends ... in making gardening
far more rewarding - and productive - than you ever thought
gardening could be.
1'1
Mittleider growboxes can be used for large-scale production of garden crops - or, in
ones and twos, for backyard family gardens - with the same productivity.
Can you imagine this concentration of luscious tomatoes In ordinary gardening? This
Mittleider grow-box provides ideal soli conditions and adequate nutrllion to support
close planting and heavy bearing - more food In less space!
Rocky hillsides become productive farms with the grow-box technique. The boxes can be
used on any kind ot terrain, over any kind ot soil- previously barren land can "blossom as
the rose"!
Jacob R. Mittleider is an international agricultural consultant and
lecturer, Lorna Linda University, Lorna Linda, California. His
institute and lecture schedule is booked well ahead; but if you or
your group would like to hear him, he may be contacted through the
publisher of this book.
- Howard B. Weeks, Ph.D.
Santa Barbara, California
2.1
A Mittleider seminar group In Okinawa tills grow-boxes with custom-made
soil - learning how to produce super yields where nothing would grow
before.
One grow-box for 'the back yard or hundreds ot them for a university
demonstration farm - the same spectacular results are realized all over the
world. Mittleider students cover a steep hillside with boxes.
Six thousand pounds ot rice per acre on land that used to produce 800 to
1,200 pounds; 21,000 pounds ot green beans and 28,000 pounds of sweet
potatoes per acre on previously unusable land. That's why the Mittleider
Method is called a "food revolution" In many countries.
Crowds gather in the city to see the simple Mittleider grow-boxes and
super-simple greenhouse-eovering demonstrated as a means toward more
self-reliance in home food production.
Name it and you can plant it in your grow-box - tender bell peppers, melons of atl kinds;
in high concentrations with high yields, for the greatest amount of food possible in
whatever space you have to use.
D
THE MITTLE.IDEF'. ME-IHOD COMe>INE:<S lHE e>EST
FEATUf/.E.5 OF :;OIL GfAfCDt.NING AND HYDiZOPONIC
GrARDtNINCi. Ii 15 A EA<7Y- iO -FOU-OW
PLAN THAi E:L.IMINATE:<S GUE:..3hWO'*- AND INSURES
success ANYWHEf'?E j AN APAfl.iMtNT PATIO) A CITY
YAI'-O I A COUN11'-Y LOT I A F,AF?M.
TIiE Me;iHoo IS B1'6E.O ON MAXIMUM
UTIL-I:Z;ATION OF SPACE) TIMe;) AND l'E-&oul2CE5.
CfZOf'6 AF'-E LAfZ6f' /'!-,ANI? Af'C CLOSE.
} NOUf/.16HW E>Y 6UPF'LfOMENTAL.
FEXOINCiS OF MINEAAL NUTRIENTS) AS IN
HYOf20PoNICS, BUI WITH NO 6f'I'/AL E6lulF'MENT.
UNLIKe HYVf2OPONICS I THE MIT1LEIOe;f/. MeTHOt>
AL:;O GIVE5 PLANT5 ACCEf'fS TO THE: NATURAL
SOIL FQ'" NUT"'ICNT5 p..q, m UNi<NOWN Of<. THAI,
WHILE: tlDT ES5E:NTII'-L TO Pl-{>.NT Gf/OWTH)
USEFUL IN HUMAN NUTf2.1TI0N.
2"\
TI ME. 15 f>ElIEfl. UTiLiZED eCAUSfO 11IE-
MITTLEIOE./l. GROW-fOX AND 5IMPL.E
EXTEND 11IE. GROWING 6E,A'SON. IN TflE:
MITTLE:IOE.f1. MEfflOO YOU KAVE. A eu:,o.fl.
fO FOLl..OW FOfl. SOIL. AND
f'L.ANTING) FEeDING AND WATeRINGI PL.ANT CAflC AND
I AND f'/2Ol"'eCliON FROM IHsecr6,
D/9eASe, !'NO YOU SIMPLY CANNOT FAIL.
___YOU WILL HAVE A SUCCE.S6FUL. GARDEN IF YOU
FOL.L.OW THE METI-IOO IN (HI'?
ea:>f'. .
N43; SOME 6PEGIAL FEATUiZE6 OF "WI:.
ME-fHOD :
I. "CUSTOt-01- MAoe; 601L."
IN OF'EN-FUF<ROW C7AF<OENING Of'.. FAAMING',
MITTLE:IDE.,CZ. PLANT NUTiZlflON COMPE.NSATE6
FOfZ. NATUAAL 601L. VEFICISNCIE:S. IN
SOIL CAN ee. ''ClJ0T0t-01- t-01A1/E.'' J!1'(
WITH INEJ2.f ANO OI'6ANIC wrrEf/.LAL5
L1fl 5IWO ANo q,o.WOU5T. (CHl\f'T'ef'.. 4o)
2. SIMPLE. I GN<-OEN GflOW - eooXE'3
OPENI WOOD FAAME5, FIL.LED WlfH
"CUSfOM-/'o1AOE'. '301L.", PiZOVIOf:. RJfZ.
FaJl7 Pf2OOUCTION IN LlMITEO SPKE Of'. ON
OIFFICULT TEiZAAI N,WliH NO '3P&C1AL. EllIUIf'ME.NT
OF,ANY ""ND. "THE E!:OI<E5 !'lAo Ei<TEND 1116
GROWING 5E/'6ON ANI? '3IMf'L-IFY THE. "\IIOfl.l<'-"
OF ING. 3)
3. PLANT NUTf'.liION
THE MITTL.EJOEf'. NUif'.leNi FOf<MULA'3 GIVEN TO

You IN THIS !!a?k__ H,wE. C31fZf3.AT VI\l-UE j

THE 1"&6UI-T OF ?O '(EAI<6 OF IN
Al-M05i E:lfEfZ.Y Pf'F':( OF iHE WO/4.0. THEY iHE
THE. GU&.;<;;WOfZlL OUT OF PLANT FEEDING.
CCI\'f'l"E.f'. 1 ; APPE.N0 1)1. IT )
4: '6YGTEMi'"G WbiEf'.lNG
THE. tvlITTlEJDEf'. tvlE::Tf-\OV U5f;S 40 PEfZ.GE::NT
LEGS WAIE:f'. THAN 1XI'3 WNVENTIONAL.
P<T THE TIME. IT GIVE'S THIf'.ST,(
f'1...'\NT'S \HE. WP<Te<Z- THEY NeED MOfZ6
CON'SISTENTI-Y AND EFfl::Cnvay. (CIlP<f'['EJa 7)
5. PI'OOUcriVE. PLANT CAI"E
SfEP- etr'-SIEf' INSlf'.UCTION5 Af'.E GIVEN IN lHl'S
fXVl( FOE'- R?/..UNAilNG,
PLANTS Ff20M IN<SeGTS AND
VISEA'7E--- i..ElTING NATUI"E- OUTOO
IN Pf2OOlJClNO AOONDNli FCOD. (CIl!'PTEfZ.5 8,11)
iU. F'f!OTEGTION Ff20M WEATHEfZ.
0HalEf2. eecoME'S SIMf'LE P<ND
INEXf1::NSlVE THE WAY. Gf20W- eoXE''6
QoN ee S1MP/..Y COVEfZEO) SiI"lPI-Y
CONGTIWCTEO. YOU/,- G!"OWING %AOON CAN e>E
LONG f*jO fl2OOtJCTIVE: AT 5/VIA/..L C05T AND
WIIH ,HE: MOOT ELEMefiTp..fZ-Y EtSIUIPMEfil.
CCHAPTEflG '1, 10I
?>I
GITH /HE. MIl"Tt..eIOE.f2. METHOD::J
I. OJ2VINAI<'( PEOPLE: q>.N ro

'1. 6IMf'LE. I HANO c;.N ourPEf2.FO,*"
E';.XPeN6IV6
,AWNONJI RX>O CAN 01'1 N-l,(
OF LAND) ON l..ANO--- ANYWflEllf: IN-ruE.
k. 6ucces6 IS C(2:T',AlN f!:;ECAl.J68 i'lOTIIlNa I<S-
tEff 10 CAAr-JCE:
J. R. Mittleider and his chief
associate, Edmond Henkin
(left), examine the produce
of lush experimental and
teaching gardens.
The Mittleider method
makes the most of land area
available by close spacing
of plants in simple "grow-
boxes," filled with inert or
organic materials at hand
plus nutrients.
It is like hydroponics in
that supplemental feeding
of nutrients make this close
spacing highly productive;
but unlike it in providing for
root access to the natural
soil for the best possible
plant nutrition.
Simple greenhouse shel-
ter, where necessary, pro-
duces abundant, year-
round yields.
The best
features of
organic,
hydroponic,
and regular
gardening
produce
outstanding
quality in
the Mittleider
Method
The Mittleider "grow-box" technique makes
a real difference in home gardening. In the
open or sheltered by a simple greenhouse
covering, grow-boxes produce quality
foods - to spare!
Corn and tomatoes, cabbage and
potatoes, broccoli and onions,
melons, squash, and cucumbers -
or papaya and rice - name it and
you can grow it the Mittleider way!
Nitrogen Potassium
Symptoms of nutritional
deficiencies. You no
longer need to leave
plants to the mercy of
depleted or hostile soils.
The Mittleider nutritional
program will prevent
most deficiencies and
provides help should they
appear. See Appendix III
for description of
symptoms and corrective
measures.
Potassium
Calcium
Boron Molybdenum

000 ruro 000
GROW- Ex:)XE:.'3 Afi!.E. WnOMu:.?5) WOODEN op...
CeMeNT FAAME.S LEVELE.D IN PLACE. USUALLY
5 FEET WIDE:.) FEET LONG) INCHE.'3 VE.E.P j
WT THE.Y CAN bE ANY SIZE:.. THE.Y CAN e,e:.
I?UIL.T i\LM06T ANYWHEF-E:.. THEY ARE FILLED WITH
"CU5fOM-MAlJE 601L/
1
A MIXTU!ZE OF
ANO SANO ) OJZ. OfHE:JZ. INEJ2.T Al'lV Of2.&,ANIC
COM2:>INATIONS TOGETHE:JZ. WITH A e>ALANCE
Of
"CU<STOM- MADE. 'SOIL" IT'3 e>Ai.ANCC"O
AND AND .FE:E:.DING Pl2OOUCE. H/GHEP-
YIELDS ANO 6'1UALI1Y ON MUCH l..!?35 TI{<\N
eoiL.
THE. 'SOfT 'SOIL. II
OFFEr<.5 t-WJy INCL.UDING
DAAlNAGE) AEI<:/';T!ONjAND
f>ALAtJCE:O FEEDING. IT
THE: U'?IJAU-Y HfllZ.D SUe>'SOfL-
O,AMP AND OFT. u:.l<S
11lG TI-IE
t-1ANY I __ .
F3irAA IMPOfZ.TANT f\:'
"" .",,,,,. I.......EN'" d \ '" '"
IT HA? A CCVL.ING d J \,
ON FOOTS VU(Z.ING 1llG HOT '!3UMHe:fZ.. AND
IT UP IN THE: r:A(2.LY 5Pf2.ING.
LVGL GflON- f:,OXEG FILLE:!? WITH OFf)
"CU9!Ol'1-tvl,AOE OIL-" GAVE: ,t>.e:x?UT 40 IN
WArE:!<..i WATEfl... PE-Nf3,IAAT5S UNIFOfZ.Ml-Y) EiASIL..Y')
AND cSlU/CKL-'(.
THE GfLOW-e>ox. MUGT HAVE GO:7D )
'Df<:AINAGe N-L NZOUNO rilE Ff2.A.1'1 E
ASPECIAL- ,aEASON fOfZ. GI20WING PLANTS IN
G(lON-ex:Y!.EE> IS 1lll'-T '(OU CAN Cfl.f.e fOP. 1llE croP FFOM
THE SIDES. 'StlOE.'3 CNlfl-Y'DISEASE. AND WEE.D eeEOO.
va NOT IN 11-IE GflOW- P-:;O)(ES !
.1
Gf<OJJ- OOX
FEW TooL.S. TIlE I'CUflTOf'o'!-MN:e
SOIL-" CAN f:E. WOP-I'&O
WIIH HN-lO Tool-S
0(2- JUS, WITH "THE. HAN06.
WITH Gf2Ow-eo><es YoU CAN MAIlG OF
,ANy SIZE.. FOUr<- CAN A NEH-L-Y
CONTINUOUS HNZVOOT OF- RX>O MUCH OF "THE: YE:/>f--
R:>fl. A fiAo,MIL-Y OF FOU(Z. I IF Pf2OPEiZt..:"" MANf.GE.O.
"TEN GfZOW-eoI<e:.S f"t2Ov'IPE:. FOr<- A
NEWS !Wo A l.#CJf; R'12- 0f2-
SH.JNG. TWENTY-riVE. TO FIFTY Gf!OW-eoxES
CAN FOr<- COMPL.E:'E ECONOMIC
SeL.F - -6UFFIGIENCY !
" '0
EVEN IN Nl&6
WITH <;VE:(Z. WINTE.F-
TEMPEf2,A.TUFCS ,1111::
CAN e>E COIfE:/ZE.O TO
G f'6 q,IlOWN IN QVo.PT"Ef2- "I.
35
WHAT Af;OJT 6llJAL-liY
?
?
f(X)O PI200UCE:.O IN GflOW- eoXE.'S THE
HITrLeIOE-f2.. HE1ll00 IS EtSlUAL 012-
TO iHAi 0120WN e>Y ANY OTHE-r'- HE:iHOP. IT
COMP.;>INES T!-Ie e:eST OF HYOf2.0R?tJICS) Orz<s,c.NIC)
AND CONVENTIONAL G,AIZOE:NltJG MeTHQ1/g>.
/1 f?MPHA'SIZES THE Use. OF NUifZ.lENTS.
IT FOf2. f2a:Ji ,0 -rne. OOIL
UNOef2.NEATH THE:: eoXE:S. THe: f'l...ANT> THu>
1f2,N;et8 Of ,A.U... OfHe:tz. AVAI t..N?;:JU3. NUTtz.teNTS POIJNO
IN tJOll- NUTfZ.lE:NT> VE:ft..Y
Ne:Weo f7( MAN.
, i Iii II I
W..J:1TTt'..u-'-'5ELECT A SUNNY LOCATION,
IN CCOL CLlMATEOS, etJlLD eoXcs
WITH A <:oUTHEf1N E:,l(A:JSUF. NW-
AHOUGE: ) PATIO, 012- PUG
INTO A H
YOU CAN f:.\IEN eoll-O Gl'OW-eoXE:5 ON R::OF'-,
HILLSIDE; L,6NV, ttaALY SOIL) CLAY) ALt<Al-1) CJr2.- A5F'HN-T.
rr mCSNT MA11Bf1., TIlE' GflOW-/!:O><Y.3> WILL WOf!-l<.!
JUST LEVEL 012- T!0J2.12,ACE:. THE: SPfCE: R?F'- 11/G
GI'OW-eoXGS. PIZOVIt?e. Ga::>O 1:'/'NN.NSE': AWAY Ff'avI
THG Gl'OW- f!;OxG0. f2<XTf5 'OF'OWN IN
STANOING WI'ifGft..
e>UIL.V THEo OF GI'ON-WXE5 NEE:OW TO FIT
YOute- PLOT. GPOW-wx 'SIZE. CN4 VNl-Y TO FIT UNUSUAL.
eouNPN'lES. IF GPOw-wxe;"" HlE WIL-T
5101:-TO-511::1:, I L.INe; THSo1 UP SfAAIGHT FOte-
ATTI2."CTIVENE9S AND fA5'( WOf'l'-lNG. PI2Or'IOEo ?J-o" OF
WOf'lLlNG 'GP/IC.C aJ EI'C+l 610E.= OF 1\11: !!OX AND
!?'-O" OF v-tlf2.l"INIS 6P.Aa: AT THE END";' OF THE !Ox.
HEflf' 15 THE MATEf2.IN.h L-1'3T fOl'- -me; 6fANON'-D
5-RXlT-WI0E />.NO
)
GPOW-!;OX.
A} 70 FEET OF I" FWWroD 01'- ceoN'-.
e - le"lONlS R::>INiE'O f'E'0WC0D 6f,Ai<e5.
c.) ONe fl:)UNO OF 4" NAlLG.
1) ON e; Wf2E;E.--POUNO HAMMEJ2. 01'- KAU.-.
Eo) ONe f'e6>UL.,b0J2. CLAW Hf'MMeJ2.
F) ICO FEeT OF COf'O.
IS) ONE lEVEL- !"< lE,"6T 1W0 FEET L.ONG
lElIa 612Ou,-/0 FOP- E,ACH eox
THE. !.OCI'TION OF THE CO!'NEJ2.S OF THE
6I2OW-eoX. WlfH THE: COW, TIE -rw:: COf'-O
6ECUfZL.Y TO THE
NOTE: COt2-NEfZ.6 iIOut-!/ &UA"E ('10) UNI..6%
THE MEA 16 IfZ.fZ.EGU!..,AFt JN GfWE:.
<:::::".
NINE. INCHE.S FI'OH A COf"NEJ2.)
ALONG ONE SIDE.) Dl2-tVE. THE
STAI'-l: INTO THE: GFOUND} TO A
0Ef'fH OF AeOUT NINE: INCHE'S. />J..WAYS 'P!"lVE: STA!'ES
ON THE OUn3ll/Eo OF ille- GI'OW-e:vX, NE.VEf!-
ON -mE INBIt:'E; E:C\%6. DI"IVE: ST.AreS f'.e;OUT ?O
INCHES />J..ONG THE COJ4;> l-INEO FOf'. ONE Glt:E
OF WE WHEN IJ'-li.-EO %C<il'el-Y TO THE lEVEl-EO
I"XB" e<::l'<W? I THE TOf' OF AND Tfi
eE lEvel.- (Fu.J5/1).
--

NAIL A ,'xe," sire I!:Q'fO

WITH lOP OF STF*Eo NeJ\I2E"'T A
l!:OI\ END. D!"lVE 5T,AfE <SIDE
-DEEfEIZ. TOSETHEI'!- UNTIL ecrrOM E:C\9E: OF SlOE
e:o,..,e.o TOUCHES -mE Gf2O(JNO. PJ2<XEEO TO eecotJo

40
/1
/1
I
NAIL A 5-FOOT r .
f!>OX ENO- PIEce (I".ei') 0
TO E/>Ql END OF -me
LEVELED 51 DE.
WITH Po LElIa ON ToP
= OF e.::#O """ISS
Of'- LOWE!"- TO
LEva Fl::>SITION j
Ol'IVE veEI'EJ2..
UNTIL. FLLJ!'>H WITH
,
THEN NAIL. TO
"'Tm Wlnl "TWO NNL.'2>.
/'PEAT 11110 SAME AT E/ICI1
STN'-: TO 0fI/EI2. END OF !!:OJ<..
Sloe; e<:JAJZ.00 f2a51Ult2J?
SPL.lCING. HEf'C AI'E TWO
OF spL.lce. R:JF'-
ONE I'<ND -r.E' A
1'2.-INCH-lL!N6 1";< e"
e.?A"-D, NAIL. IT
.............
TIJE JOINT WHEfZE THE '31C'e : ::
e<?AF'O Meet. \ .,
\,Ji
POfZ. t'lND OF -3f't-Ia; v
0fZ.1VE. A 1-" i.IB' .ONe ) CENlCl'ED WHe!'E THE
e>UTT TOGETHE12-. Ni'lL. THE eJOf'UJ ENDS TO
THE STN'.
41
A ST!'J' NEAl'- mE
ceJTEI' OF eoTH 5-FOOT ea<
!:NOS IN l-INE WITH "THE COF'-D.
PI.;'CE l.I?-VEL. l-I/l& A TJ2.lAN6L.E f>C./ZO'2I& TOPS OF eoTH
5101i- eND WAf2.PG. l.I?-VEL.. 11-IE S>.Fa1T
Of2.vl?- 9fN'e 70 fl2Opef2.. t:EPTHI AND L.. W !5-Fa1T
f'Ef'EAT "OlE f<"IZ. "F'I"O"'ITE El<O OF!!t'l'.
TO l-EVEl.- "OlE Of!'05ITe 6108 PL.'CEo LEVEL-)
Ae>\lN l-11'e A TJ?1.A1/ISL.E I 1/iE s;-=r E'NO-F'IEa':
AND THE TOP OF THE I"xe" SID eoAF'-D. I.ElIa SI06
TO I-'IATCH S-FaJT ENO- PIECE' . Of(lVE: 5T!'J<E.
TO f'IZOfEI!. rePrHI f-\<\IL.. TO 5TAI'e.
1"Ef'E\'<T, 1'5 FOI'- FII26T
SIDe eoNZPI AND CONTINUE
TO 0PFt:lS1TEc' EONV OF eo)<.
42
WHEN MANY 61'DW- Aflf:. TO e; BUILT,
HEJ'E; IS A METHOD TO 6F'EED UP CONsnauerION.
STI'E-TCI1 AND STAi<E COf2.D6 R:1f". nll= 'TWO ENOS
AND ON/..Y ONE SI\?E.. /..E.VEl- THE- '5IOE AL.ONG -mE COf2.D.
use; 11-15 lEl/EL.- TO L.EVE:L. 1l!
SlOE Al-JD THE- 1WO ENPS.
II IS A Z"X4" XcD-FCOT-
LOI-6 ecAJZ.O WITH 'l"X4" IIL.CNG NAILED
<DO INCHES !'f'AI"-T (ourSIDE DIMENSION). THE TWO
et..ocre CONTWL. THE IN51tlE WI'D1"H OF THE eo)/..
PI.ACt. THE SPf2EAVE,e. fJOf'-IZONTAl-L-Y /'C.flO'3J3
-mE eo)'.. I?Y AAISING -mE I..OOe SlOE
TO THE- LEVa.. ON THE- "Sf'l2EKJE-fl.
You CNJ MAI'E- THE LCo.3E- SIDE- lEVEL-) UN8 IT
UP SfAAIGHT) 5TP-I'E 11'+10 NAIl.- IT iN ONE
opE.!2ATION !
-
"' t
I
Members of a Mittleider class and workshop clean up the area after construction of
grow-boxes. The boxes are now ready to be filled with custom-made soli.
'If>

IICU5TO!'.H"VVE. OIL II 15
USeD TO {WOlD
CflOPG FAlL. IN 5TUe:>e:oFaN)
HAW-TO-MANAGe OILS
OF OIL 'D1Ge:ASE
AND INSECTS)GOPflE.l26) MOlES)
,AloJD 1'J..'20 WEfZ.6 IS
THE CONSTANT E!l'\11'LE. We::r>G) #10 THE NumENT
'DEFICIENCIES IN SOILS WHICH NZf!:. ee.coHING tv1Of2G
ANO MOF!e SE/OUS. OIL II-THE HeA<!=r
OF 1}Ie MITTLEl0E.{2. M8THOO- 15 U6O '-0 MOlD f"J..J.-
THE:OSG 'DISAPPOINTMENTS. I,. AflGUfl.E.'S GUCC8SS
EVE:fi1.Y TIME) AND INGreAGE'S
'1 00 111m
C\.. 15 "cUSTOM MADE. SOIL-j
,.,;:;:; ..
IT IS A MI f2E OF INaz:r AND
M,A.TE,eJp,L.S ) S,ANO )
erc. )TO HOLD 1'HE Pl.MTS - PWS 1llE
NUTfZJEtJTS IN THIS e:a:>j(.,
IT PE:Ji'.FO(lJY1'S ALL THE FUNCfONS OF Mol
IDEAL !J,A.TURA/- 601L., 60IL IS NO
MYSTEF-Y j IT IS SIt-1PI..:( TIN'(.'9OMCTIf'1ES
NOT 60 TINY f1OCI<- F!2f'GMENTS/ pws
NUTfZ.I8NTS FrzoM VNtlOUS SOUJ2CE5 ,
4S
CHC\96E: />.Ny MATe:rz.IAL'5 LlI'e THs;E AND
/"fAltB TliE: COMf>INATION YOU LII':
m50% ewW>,AND WI/H 5'0% PE;A.r M06G.
@ 15% WITH fINE: f'.N17.
(ID SO% Wr-m fl:=AT t-1O'SG 0(2. 5fo.WDU5T.
Il 50% SAWDUGT WITH 5070 eTY'(2.0fVAl'1
PIeces.
a:il3g eLOW5AHD IS FINE 5I*JD L.11'f. THAT H&R:D UP
e>Y THE WIND OUNES).
IS f'JITS OF VO/..QNIC Gl./>6S 1/ POFPED /I BoY tlI;,A.T.
IT IS "'T CClNSTUcrION <3UPPLlE.iZt:;.
5,6WOU>T IS 10 Uge Ff2Olv1 ,Ai..MO'ST />U- ""NO'S
OF wcoo. FfleSH FIlOI-1 THE 'SAW Oil- I'eF:D- EITtIZ-
loS ea:>o. ""VOI'O THEY To
MIX Pt-Jo PL,t>.N, IN. TJ-IEY TE.ND TO FLATTEN INTo
/.AYrEfl4; f>..NO
TtlE 'SOIL Yourz.
G(2OW-f!;C)'I. CAN '>NJO) f20aG)

0(2. CEMENT.
ctlEy.ac'5 HOW TO FIl.l. YOUIl- GPOW-'OOX)
Sfl2NJ TEN roUNDS (l-IME.) E.VENl.Y
OVfJ2.. THE. l/\liSIOE. OF ONE
fiLL. THE erzow- 00)( LE.VE.L. FUl.L. WITH iHE.
You CHOSE. Frzot-'l TilE. FOUp..

[..I6rW E?,AfZ.L.1e.F-.
ro NOT TAMP orz..
f'fa::. THE. OIL.


EOXE,S CANNOT ee.
WATEf2erl ,bCCUAATel.'(.
MIX THE. M,b.TEfl./AL.
THOf!OUGHL.Y. Af!H.E
0f2. FOTOTILLEF-
WIl.l. NICE.l..Y.
WHIl-E. lVllXltJG) fl.f)V
ENOUGH WATEJ2- TO
Pf2-01)uCE:. A WE.T ME.OIUt-'\, WT NOT GO WET
You COUL.O 5:S)UEEZE WATEfZ- Ffl.OM IT.
41
Tf-lE. INSj2.E.DIWTS FOF- THE MITTLEIOEF-
M1)(.. CAfl.E.FUL.L'( WE.IGH
AND MIX TOOE.THEf2. THE:. FOL.L.OWING, WHICH AfC.E.
AVAIr..Ae>t..F3. AT YOUp- SUPPLY 5TOf!..C.
.
l. 4 Ft)UNDS OOUe,L.E 5UPEJ2..PHOSPHATE.
'l. '2. POUND5 POTA<55IUM '3ULF,A.TE OF- OILOr<-IDE..
4- POUNV> 5ULFATE: OF N-1MONIA.
4-. '1. POUNDS W6NEf31UM SULFATE..
5. '1. OUNCES (c..o GAAM5) e:ol2ON
C. eoDlUM E:Of4>.TE. Of2. Wf2.IC ,A.(,IO).
5Pf1.EAO THIS 'DF-Y MIXTUf2.E: E.VENLY OVEf2-
THE. "WSTOH-MADE: SOIL. I' IN THE. Grzow-ex:;;>)(..
NoW S POUNV5 GYPSUM (LIME)
EVENL.Y OVEf2.. THE. Gt2-OW-exJX Af2EA f2-1GHT Ol'-l
TOP OF 'TIlE FE.j2.TIUl.E.US.
LIME. I USE GYPSUM IN
USE: AGf'ICUt..TUAAL DOL.OMITE.
L.1t-1E IN Af2.6A'5 THAT GeT MOrz.e, THAN
'2.0 INCHES OF (Z,6.IN YeAf2.L.Y .
THOf2.QUGHLY MI)(. 61EJ2.YTHING IN THe:
TOGE.THE12- -TH6
L-1r-1E.) AND FElZ-TIUz.EfZG. AOO ENOUGH
WAT&1t TO t-'!A(E A WET I"\Il<.TU12E. 00 NOT OVE/Z--FILL
THE. eflOW-ez,)<.. WITH 1I01L.\1 flNI5H f;I(
NEATL.Y LE.VE.!.-ING THE. MIXTUI"'-E. TO
THE. Tor WeE. OF "THe &f2OW-e:ax.. 6f'1Z.lNI'LE
U6HTL.Y} USING A FINE. WATE:.2. TO
TIlE BOIL 5IJf2.f7!>.C FflOM AAPIO 1/fZ.YI NG
. .... 0\\
" 0
YOUf!. GFOW-eox 15 COMPL..E1E ANV mvy
PLANTING. You CNi PLANT 5CEO VIf!.ECTL-Y IN
THE. 00)(. Of!. YOU CAN Tfl.I\N5PL..N-lT 5EE.OL.IN05
fl20M NUF-5EfZ.Y O[L YOUIL OWN
6TArz:rlNG FAAME.6.
HEIZE IS IHE AMAZING THING YOU
HAVE: OONE IN THIS CHAPTEfZ.:
I. YOU HAVE C(VI.TED A 6f'5CIAL. ,I'IND OF 'oIL.
ANt' PJ,..,ACW II IN A PFOTECTIIIE FRAME. TIl"T
Wlu... LET YOU ENJOY THE: PL.EASU,zES Of
WITHOUT ITS HEAV,AC"'66.
YOUF- "5011.." IS rztCH AND EJi6Y TO WOf2.-.
PQJTS q.,N F'EN8TAATe INTO THE Pe.fZ.PETUAU-.Y
MOIST SUe:>OIL FOfZ. AODD)
UNiLNOWN NUTf!.ICNT5.
EXPE,e.lENCE.S Af!OUND"THE SHOW THAT
YOU C'l-N OOUe>t.f:. ,AND T!Z/Pt..E
OfLOINAre.y '(IEL-OS ANYWHe,e.E.) IN
ANY eLI MATE:.
4-. WITH nilS SIMPLE. PI..AN yOU CAN Gf!OW IN
Youre.. OWN ,(AI2O Au... THE f'/2ODUCE YOU NCED.
P;,Y At'DING G(l.OW- eo><.E5 you CAN eVEN)
IF yOU WISH, eECO""E ECONofVflC,AU...Y
saF- SUFFICIeNT 01'1 AN p.aze OF- LESS.
YOUr<. Gf20W-eoy.. IS fl.f.ADY
TO PLANT. tASY TO WOP-iL-) IN
A SMALL. Sf'ACE--ANO IT WILL
t--\OI2E OE:.L.ICIOUSI
HEAL.THFUL. FOOD THAN YOU
E.V6f2. IMAGIN6D.
HEf2bS
CEL.Ef1-Y
PEN-!UT'3
PfAs

'3f'//-lACH
RifATOee.
ONION'3

?

NAMe IT ,AND YOU CAN

PLANT IT IN A
GFOW-eox :
eEANS
TOMATOES
PEPPEr<..:;
MELONS
ZUCCHINI
f#OCCOL./

EGGPLANT

C\ 't.
.
o
SEED O/l2eC-rL'( INrO -me. "CUSTOM -MADE: OIL" IN WE:
6fi1OW-eoX Cf:E, CHAFTEf2. G) ) 0fZ. "f1ZI'.N5Pl,ANT YOUNG
SEeDLINGS. YOU CAN PfeiL Ff2t:.Gt-t fTZODUCE. 8 TO 1'2. WW-'5
Tf2ANSPLANT/NG SE8:'UNOO. G(2OW '(OUIZ.
OWN FOLLOWING THE M11ILE.loe.JZ. METHOD
':3!iOWN IN CHAPTEfZ- ) Of!.. GE.T THEtv1 Ff20M You!2-
SHOP.
THE. GflON- eoXE'S NYO E.XTfZA -o"'YS TO THE
G(20WING 6E,bON. E,AJZ{..y J FfZ05TY NIGHTS I'-lLL.
} 1-!E;f2.E: A LiST OF SOHE WHlaI
CAN eE. PL.,ANTEO EVeN mal. IF M,A"TUf2E. E'.tOUGH)
TIlEY c,oN !2.EM.AlN IN iHc Gl>-12VEN UNTIL Mlo-teeeMee:p:.
IF PFOrecreo !:t'( SNOW J LE.AVe; } OJZ. <;;TAAW.
52
HEr< IS " LIST SHOWING THE. LATEST
!li'TE.S FOfO- PLANTING SOME COMMON Cf'.OPS.
(SEEV IN MOST CASES) TI't'NSPLANT IN OTHEfO-S.)
MAY 15 TOKA-iOE.'S I PEPPE!".S
JULY 1 COf2.N ) ZUCCHINI
JULY 5 POTATOES
JULY 10 COLLAf2.VS
JULY IS eEANS) eET'S
AUGuST 1... ..CAf2.I2OTS I ONIONS I GAf2.LIC

AUGUST 10 !"ALE
AUGUST IS. e>f<OCCOLI ) CHAfLV,
Bf2.U65EL 5f'f'.OUTS. Cp.,e,BN!>E
,
AU6UST 10 W fLUTAe>AGAS
AUGUST '1.0 lETTUce
SEf'TEM2>E./<. i. ... TUfI-NI PS
SEPTEMl!:>EF'- 10... .sPINACH ) MUSTAj2.0
CELE.f2.Y
1..... AAoISHES
VATE'S (>.fI.E. ef>6E.D ON CLiM,ATE IN THE
PACIFIC ALL EXCEPT THOSE.
LiSTE:O IN MAY AND JULY WILL WITHSTAND
TEMPf2.,o..TUf2.S) ZE.I<D IF
PI?OTECTe:o e>Y "?NOW 012- 5rflAW.
Hm 1'5 " >"MPLC PLANTING LAYOUT. IT H.'6 T0"6TE
APFeN- AND VA/<Ie;TY R:l12- YOUI"- TI'e>LEI Lf>6TING
FOf'. MONTH",.
ro" -4 "_._ . ._.. _
._._.-._....
lO'l --" _
II
10 - _.. _._.. _._._
II _._-._--._._.-
10 --- _
14
"
- - - - - - -
14"1 ---'l' _. _ _ _ _

le'l --t ._._._._
Jel' _.}
""" .._-----
?XiI -)
?Oil ---,
LEAF LeTTUCE: rows e" f>.PNLT
t=>- IP rows eo II M!'f'.i.
ear rows 2>" M!'f'.T.
.--SWISS CHAf'.O.
..-- /4-" VI/lMEl"E.eS.
<--- CAUL.IFLOWEf'.- /4-" VIAMen;.e.s.
<-- e>fZOCC01.-1 14-" VIAMETE:f'.6.
> flOWS OF PEAS Ie> II A"Ml-T.
..- ea-L.. '8 Pl.t"N1S K-F'086.
7FOTATO I20WS Ie." APAJ2.T
POLE. eQN !'OWS 30" AfN'-T.
7
.----CUCUMe>EF- rows '!Io" APMl-T
(oNE P-OW)
'------ TOiYIATO PONS
(ONE flOW)
PL.AN VIEW OF STANOI>-I2-0 Size 50'" '!:>O'
G!'Owe>:>x SHOWING PLANTING OI6f!'NCE
LAYOUT OF V!'f'.IOUS VEGETAP7L.ES.
A CI'OP IS APPL..Y
iHE MITTUEiDEj2. FEf2.Tll.-lzel2- 1'11l< f>6AIN
(CIl!'fi6l'- 4-). MIl< AND f2.EWL./INT THE s,o,HE. V.Af2.IETY
0,," A PI FFEF'-ENT C!'OP.
SHAVE F!UINS =OME Cf'OPS. PLJo.NT TI'LL GflOWEl26
ON THE NOJZrH SIIlE. OF LDW-G/'OWING Cf1Gf'S.
TO THE TAe<E- SUPPLY OF Ff2.ESH YEbETp.e,LeS
SC/lE:OUU::: TEN V....yS e.TWreN PLANTINGS OF
J CN'flOT'0) TUf2.NIPS) LE,AF LETTUCE:. J
e:EE:fG) ETC .
PfZOPE::1'- SPI'ONG GIVES PLANTS L.IVING Sf'pcE
TO e#Ow . THE 6fZOW (>.LLOW MOI'E- Fti'NTS
TO G!?OW) ANO 6(!OW E\E;rr61"- IN A6M!'LL-EI'- SF!'C..
THIs 15 fbeGIBU::: You N'E !!>I'-INGING Mo(l a=
THE NUTf1IE'NT<9 To THe F'I../>oN'T. f2C0T'5 W NOT NESO
p.."J MUCH I1roM To f!O,AM. IS (>. FOf'.
UNlFOI2M FL#JT Sf1>C.ING. IT IS A I"x 2" 5' eo,AJ<V
WITH Yot" VIAMETEI'- '2 "LONG WOOD roWELS ST
AT 1" 01'- 14" SPACINGS.
THE MN'I'El'- /5 IMFOf'.TANT j I, />6SUI2CS e,AOl
PLAN, ITS SPACING. THE. TOOL IS USED 'TO
I'1A12f'. eoTH 11lE LEN01H AND WIUTH OF THE GI'OWOOX.
55
HEi<E. IS I>. LiST OF PLANTS I>.NO
SPI'CING !'ECOMMENOATION5.
PISTANCS ee.TWEEN
INPIYIDUI>.l.. 6!:EOS
AND PLANTs.
DISTANCE: eawa=N
f2.ows OF PLANTS.
CM'I'OT5 7"
IN I'OWS
6I'eeJ ONIONS Y5I'-y CiD-lE lOOeTlIEI'- 4-"
I" 5"
I" Ie"
eETS 2." 5"
ONIONS '2..
11
(oll
eE.ANS 2,." 15"
'.3c\ltJI'8Il , E6PLANT __ PLANTS!'CfZCti:6 'lb"
THE 7' WIDE ""ROW-eo>'.
PEANUTS 4" J e, 1\
-------- - ---------
RJt.e =ANS 5" Z4"
------- -----------
1" 10"
eeu... 1" Ie>"
1Q1J':1lJES__1" +e>"
MN'-E. YOUI'- IT IS Pf'.PCTIC/'-L)
MAGNETIC, AAV A OF PLE....SUfl.E AAV f'1tlVE. \
Gf'OW ONe CI'OP IN YOUiZ- e>j>.Ow-eo", IF yOU
CilCO%, Of". IJ,f.OW A VAF-lETY.
5eD
YOU CAN fJW SEEDS PIi>ECTl.Y I Of'. YOU CAN
TAANSPLANT PLAN'-S INTO YQUf'. GI2OW-eoxES.
IF You ON EGOS VIJ2CTl.Y INTO YOUf'.
(?;p.j)W- f!:O'/. I1a--1EH!!:I'- THSGG WI t-JTS :
I. use. c.af2.TIFIEO %Eo) WHeNEVE:F- F!>9SIe>l.6.
(CSMIFIEO 0EEr;I '''' f'F'Ot:>UCO UNPef2. i"-"Of25
"'GID .)
ee SUI2e THE <;:OIL. MIXTUI2e !'NO THE <;:o'L
SU/2F,bCe IN THE 0fZ.OW-f!:OX !'f'. weT) NOT
JUST VAMP.
3. t:l:lNT PL.ANT TOO EP;2L.Y WHIl-E -me. SOl/... IS COW!
4. t:l:l NOT COV&.fZ. 65EDS VEEP. USE THE
Fi:lU.OWING AS A GUIDE..
COVE/<- SEEDS TIMES THEIl'-
THICi<NESS (NOT THEIf'.. LENGTH).
SEEDS THE SIZE OF PEAS)
I?E,ANSI PEANUTS - THF1EE TO
cauf'. TIMES THICl4JESS.
51
PO NOT COVE12- SMAL.L- SEEDS L1J'E. PI<I'-5L.EY)
DIL.L. ) 01'- CN'-f2OTS WITH gaiL.. I< GNTL.E
WI<TEf2.ING AFTEf2.- eoWING G1VE.S ADEQUATE
YOU WIL.L. HAVE. MOf2.E SUCCESS
IN GEf2.MINATING SMAL.L. SEEDS IF) I<FTEf2.-
50WING AND GENTL.Y WATEf2.ING) yOU COVEfZ-
THEM WITH I< LAYEf2. OF E?Uf2.l.,W Of'. CHeESE. CLOTH.
GENTL.Y THfIOUGH TftlS COVE,eING UNTIL-
THE seeDs E;>E6lfJ SPf2.QUTING.
12-E1Y10VE: THE E>Uf2..LN' COVEI'-ING AS '5CON
AS YOU SEE. iflE' FlFtsT WHITE SEEV-SPF'OUT.
FAiL.Uf! To DO ifllS WIL.L. 12-ESUL.T IN WEAiL) T\lIN
SEVUNGS. <::ieEOL.lNGS f2a9UIf2.E LOTS OF
LIGHT 6lUlCI.L.Y.
.,..:. .. r..
TAAN'SPLANTI Ne YOUNe 'SEOL.I Nee,
You CAN I'AL-Il.e EAl'-LIEI2- PI2OOUC<: AND f!A'l.VE'ST
f?IGGEI2- CflOPS e>Y TfW.!SPL.ANTING HfALTHY
5E.eDL.lNGS PUF::CH,Ae,ED FI":OH THE NUfZ6EI2-Y OF'-
G.AfZOEN 012- GtzoWING THEH YOUI2-9;L.F
IN SEEV-<?TAi<-nNe I!>QXE'S. CflAPTEI2-
ONE OF THE "MOST FUN" fN':!'S OF IS
TIWJSf't.!"ITIN6 5TFONGI HEAL.THY SEEDLIN6S !
YOUNG SEEDUNGS NEED Pf2OTECTION
FfI.OH PE5TS. ESPECIAL.L.Y CUTWOI1MS, Sl'(A.IL.6)
SWGS foND eoll.. MAGGOTS. FtlIOONED I!'IT OF'-
PELl-ETS CAN ee. PUf2CH,ASED FfI.OH YOUit-
Go'-fZOeN SUPPLY <STO!2-E. FOL.LOW OlflGCTJONS
Cf'/lBFULL'(.
59
( FOI.LDW THESE: I'UL.EoS FO'" Gfl.EATEST success )
I. CHECi'- THE. P/?-E-PI..I'NT Fe"'TIl-Iz.EF'- MIX, IF THESE.
NUiI2IENTS HI'VE:.N'T e>eeN SPF'-E:AV ON THE "SCIl-"
IN THE 6f1OW-WX, ro IT NOW.
(5E CIi.APTEfZ. 4)
2./?-EPLENISH THE MOISTUI2G SUPPL.Y IN THE
Gf1OW-WX e>Y WATEf'1ING FNI"-L.Y HEAVIL.Y TfIE
AFTEI"-NCON YOU PL.ANT,
3. THE NEXT MOf2NING) THOf20UGHL.Y STIf2..) MI)(J
ANO l..iXl'2>EN THE "SOIl-" HIXTUI2E, nlls CAN
e>E WNE <S;>UICl'-LY ANO E,b611-Y WITH A 4-TINEV
CUI"-VEO FOf2.IL, f'N'E) 0f2.. rzoroTII-L.Ef2...
4, WITHOUT ANY 'VE.l.AY
J
/Z.AI" L.EVEL. THE "SOIl-"
EVEN AND 'SMCOTH.
5. It-1MWIATEL.Y GIVE \HE "SOIL.
1I
A L.IGHT
5P1"-1NI<'L-I NG TO f'E.F' THE' 'W1"-Fi'CE FF'-Ot-1
Ol"-Y/NG TOO MUCH. ee SU/ZE. THE 6(2ON-W)(
IS L.Eva- FUL.L. WITH THe: 115011." MIXTUflE.
FOf2- ?UCCE% CONTINUE.D_
(Po THE 0f20W <e>u f2.Fi"CE AfZ..A Ic? NOW
rz.eAc7Y TO e:. WITH THE:
TO f'!2OVIOE. EJ>Q.l WITH THE.
SP.ACIN6 !>-No GJZOWING N2eA IT MUST HAVE.
Healthy young seedlings off to a good start In a Mittleider growbox filled with nutrient
rich, custom-made soil.
(01
GENTLY {>, PLANT
FPOM THE SEED eo'" (FLAT)
e>Y THE. !'COTS
WITH TWO FING>e.f'.'3 WHIl.E
LIFTING> THE PLANT E>Y
THE SEED LEAF WITH
THE OTHEF- HAND.
Al.WAYS HANDt-EO PLANTS
/l>Y THelf'. l.eAVES.
TAANSPl.ANT IN THI'eE MOTiONS
I. WITH THE L.FT HAND
MAI'E. (SHAPE) THE P/lOPE.f'.
SIZE. HOl.E.) IN ONE:
e.{>,C'I'-WAf'-O PUt-l.ING
MOTION. (00 Nor MOVE:
HAND FfI.OM HOLE..)
GJVi:B {>, SIZE HOt-E IS
ENOUGH FOFl THE J2aJT5 OF- THE: Pl.ANT m
CLEAf'. WITHOUT Of'. TURNING UP Fi'OM
e>f'.U5HING AGNN6T THE SIOE.S OF THE. HOLE.
2. GENTL.Y LOWEP-
PLANT (HeW IN
F-IG>HT ~ N O INTO
THE HOL.E TO TH E:.
PflOPE:.fI.. DEPTH.
~ ~ THE Pf/OPEF- DEPTH WIl.-L- N.J,..OW
THE PLANT TO STAND WITHOUT TIPPING
OVER) 0/<. e>E. BL.OWN OUT OF THE "SOl t..!'
l?Y LIGHT WINDS.
3. fZ,fv10VE. THE !..CFT Hl'-NO FF-Ofv1 THE HOLE
{>.NO IN THE. 5f>.fv1E. MOrtON P ~
(ONCE ONLY) THE 'SOIL FlftMLY (eoUT NOT
5E.VEflELY) ,bG{>.INST THE. PL..,I;NT I"<X1Ts.
DO NOT Pf>O!- Of2. Pi'T THE SOIl.- ArzoUNV /
/
THE. P/...f>.NT. /
110
TO KELP "",pua; THE.
SHOCiL OF TAAN5PLANTING
1!1UICI4..Y N20UNO
EACH PLANT ONE PINT Of
A TAAN5Pl.ANTING 5OL.-UTION
(FUNGICIDE AND Vf2ENCH
INCWDED IF
TAANSPLANTING 5OWTION
A FIVE-G.'-l.LON E!>l'-TCH WILL Tf!.CAT
40 PLANTS
5 GoALLON'" OF WATEfL
AMMONIUM NITAATE
I".. OUNCE'S VIAfVlMONIUM PHOSPHATE
2.0 0AAM'3 f!:)fASSIUM SULFATE CHLOf2-/0E.
'20 0AAtv1S fv\AGNESIUM SULFI'rrE (EI"SOM SALT)
IF FUNGUS VISEASES Af!G f'IaE'SENT
(ESPeCIALLY IN Af2eA5) AOO
:!oS GfIAM'S OF- A ecoo FUNGICIVE roWOEf2-.
LOCAL AGf2-/CULTUAAL OFFICEl'-S CAN I-IE.LP YOU
IDENTIFY VISE,AISE 0
00 0 .
o .
.. '
.J" .Q? .
/'<:- .0.
TO CONTF'OL "WHIPTAIL- VISEASC"Jl-CAUSED E!>Y
MOLYI?OE:NUM VEFICIE.NCY AVO 20 Gl2AINS
(Naf GAAt-1S) S?VIUM OP-
MOLYe>'DIC !'CIV. TO CCNTiZOL '.:OIL MASGOTS
1'00 20 GAAMS VIA'ZINON POWVE:f2.
(Of!. '.:OME. SIt-1ILAf2. P/ZOVUCT).
ALL THE.SE. t-11'TE.F'IAL'::> CAN e>E I'VDE.V AND
APPliED IN ONE. OPE.MIION.
USE. CHeMICALS ONLY WHEN !Z6lUliZEV.
I?E. Vf:P!.Y CAfZE;FUL ANV ACClJAATE. WHEN
U51N6 THEM. I'EEP OUT OF I2,ACH OF
CfllL-V/Z.E.N.
'" 5E COLOf'. PLATE' 'S - tlE"FICICNCIES .
cDS
THE flf2.ST WI',Ef2.ING I'FTE.f2. Tf2.I'N'SPt..>-NilNG
15 THE MOST IMPOf2.TAN, ONE. IT SHOUI-D e>E
GENTI-E. I!>UT THOf2.0UGH ENOUGH TO SETTI-E.
THE <:;OIL.- FII'-MI-Y AL.L. Af2.0UNP THe;. i<OOT
THE PLAN, LEAVES MAY F'E6lUlf2.E. '2. TO '"
LIGHT SPf!.II-li"-L.ING5 E,ACH 'DAY 'DUf2.ING THE.
FI!'6T '2. 0f2. 3> 'DAYS AFTEI2- T1!PNSPLAt-J,ING
TO iLEEP ,HE LEAVES ff2.0/Vl SUNE?Uf2.NING.
PI-ANTS USUAI-LY f2.ECOVE/2-
ff20/Vl TAANSPLANT WIL.TING
IN '2. 0f2. :; PAYS. THEf2.EAfTEf2. i
NOf2.MAL. WATEf2.I NG 1'2> VONE .
(SEE. CHAPTEf'. 1 FOf'. NOf2.MAL. Wi'TEf2.ING.)
/PI<>
D
PLANTS NEW WATEf!- AL.L-
THE TIME. THE AMOUNT VAf/.IES
WITH T&1f'EAATUIZE, HUMIOITY)
WIND) THE IYPE CF SUe>sGIL..
UNDE.1C THE GJ'OY'{-E!OXES,
ANO WITH THE SIZE
ANO !'-INO OF PlANTS.
CONOITIONS
MA!'-E yOU THIIlSTY
AFFCT PL.ANTS TIlE
SAME WAY.
GiVe; THEM WATEi<- WHEN THEY
NEEO IT \ THE!2- 15 NO
Af!.e>ITAA1W "eoesT TIME.."
PLANT I2COTS VIE. 0
(5MOTHE/<.) IN 901L-5
THAT 'DON'T OI',t>.lN
Y !
EVE.l2.Y TIME. You WATEf2-) PUT ON ENOUGH-
iT's THE- I2COTS THAT NE-E-D IT! AWUT
W MINUTES AFTEl" WATEf'-ING) '3OME- Wi'TEY-
SHOULD BE. OOZING QU, THE E01\OM
SIDE-OS OF THE GfZOW-W)I.. ONE 0(2. TWO SUCH
WATEf1.INGS PEf2. W ~ N'E USUAu-y
ADE6/U,o.TE.
PLANTS Q>.N BE
WATEf1.EV WITH A
SPI2.I N1'-L1NG- aN)
012.,0. fIOSE- WITH
SPAAY ATTPCHIv1 ENT
you CAN USE A HOSE
WITH THE END
CLOTH-COVE,<tED TO
,Ai...Low FUl-l-
VOL.UME. WITHOUT
OAMA6ING PLANTS
012. EfZODING THE SOIL.. ~ '"
THIS GIVES GOOD PENET""'TION
"NO f2.eDUCS Wf'-TEf'-ING TIME..
<DB
FI'OM THE ENO OF THE DEEPEST OF'-
LONGE'S! F'CO! IN THE SOIl.- TO THE 8NP OF
THE HI0HEST LEAF-TIP," PLANT IS"
CONTINUOUS W"TEF- PIPE.
,
NEAALY 95 PEPaNT Of A PLANTS WEteliT
IS WATEfI-. EVEI'-Y DAY PLANTS LOSE.: Gll-u..oNS
OF WATf-R (DEPENDING ON PLANT SIZE) TO
THE ATMOSPHE..'<E THFZOUGf.l "T!".ANSPlf'tI-TION".
NOW THAT THE G>I'OW-ec>l'- is PLANTED; yOU
eG>IN A I'EG>UL./'1'- WEEJL<..Y FEEDING> PI'OSAAM
TO SUPPLY PLANTS WITH THE: NUTfl.IENTS NE'CE!J-N'Y
TO VE.Vaop THE. W5CIOUS VEGETAE:>LE. CfZOPS
YOU WANT. (YOUr<. Gf'OW- W)'. ALflCAoy HPG THE.
PF1e-PLANT FE/2:fIL.lZE.F- NUTFtIENT MI)(
iNCLUDED IN ITS ItCUSTO/VI-MAVE "=OIL-It
- CHWTEf2. 4.)
THE MITTLE.lDE.F- METHOD USE5 Df'.Y, G\ZIINULf>.Ft-
NUTi<lEN,<;; FOf'. WEEi<-L-Y FEEDING Pl'OGf'I'oM.
THESE AFtE: PLACEV) E:>Y HANV) THE. PLANT.
THEY NZe lllUICI'-LY DISSOLVED IN CONTPGT
WI,H WATEf'. IN YOUIZ- I'E6ULAfZ.. WATEf'.ING
PfZOGAAM. H.ANO- FEEDING 'KE. PLANTs WITH
G!'ANULAf2. FErz-TI LI"l.Ef'."" 1-:; VEf'.Y EA""Y AND
,l>.CC.UF4'TE IF 'KE NUTf'.IENTS Af2.E WElSHED
AND N"PL-IED C/'./ZEFULL-Y.
HEI'f. IS THE MITTLE.lDEf2- NUTf'.IENT RJf'.MULf>.
FOf2. YOUf'!- PLAN,S WIZI<'L-"( FEEVI"'S -THE'.
f'.ESUL-T OF 30 YEAf2-S E'.)<PEFtIENCE l
(YOU i"1AY WltlTE
THE. PUe>LlSHEI'-
FOr<. UPDATED
US, OF
NU'f'.IE.N'
SUPPLIER'S.)
Ml1ll.E.IDISf'- NUTF'-IENT FOfZ-IV1UL.A
I. 9 POUNDS c,<>.u:;IUM NliAATE-
2. 4- POUNOS AMMONIUM NITAATE
IYol. fOUND'S DIAMMONIUM PH0'3f'HATE-
4. 4
Y
ol. POUNDS POiASSIUIV1 CHL.Of'-IOE
OIZ SUL.FATE.
5. <0 POUNDS MP6NE.SIUIV1 SUL.FATE
(EPEOM SALT)
CD. 1'2. GAAMS WI"ON eoAATE
Of'. OOf2.IC ACIO.)
oj< 1. B OUNCE.'S I!"ON SULFi'TE
*8. 4- GAAIV\S COPPEI'" SULFi'TE
*9. B GAAIV15 Z-INC SULFATE
;1\ 10. 1'2. Gf4*o15 Mi'NGANESE SULFATE
* II. ? G/ZAMS 1V10LYe>OSNUM (SODIUM
MOLYI?VATE 01'" MOL.YWIC "CIO.
'!fUSE ONLY IF NEEDEO.
USUAL.LY NOT NEE.OE.O
Of'. 4 YE,AJZ.S
OF HEAVY Q20p
(E.><CEPT IN G/<EXNHOUSE5).
FE-E.D I POUND 4- OUNCE'S OF THIS Df'-Y
NUTIiIl::'NT MIXTUFCE. ONCE. EVEI'"Y WEE/L TO
EACH STANDAI'"O-'SIZ-E GJ2.0W-eox (S'i<?o').
STOP FEEOING :2 WEEKS ee.FOf2,E fl.A,eVESllNG
THe q20P. 7/
Tf-IE. FOI2-MULJ>. GIVEN IS ENOUGH TO
FE.EO 0T,A/'JOJ>.l2.O-'7I"lE GfZOW-f;O)(
FOfZ- '2'2. WEE:/(.S. IN A
WITH TI6HT L.IV
PLASTIC) ACCUAATEL.Y WE.I0!-I THE:
,AND MIX At-L T06E:T\l6f2... THOrzoUGtlLY.
WHEN 1-10 TI0HTl-'( Gl..05EO!
FORJv!Ul-AS FOR GPOW- BOXES IN
4--FOClT 5ECTIONS Afl.. GIVEN ON PAGES
11B I nCf. FOR SOURCE.S OF f4:ADY-MIXED
WRITE TO -..J. R. MITTLEIDE.R
IN CARE OF THE. PUBL.lSHE.F<..
Melons flourish, fed by dry, granular nutrients spread in a narrow band down the length of
grow-box. Regular watering dissolves nutrients, carrie. them to plant roots. This grow-box
Is watered by means of plastic pipe, drilled with ,mall holes.
"'7'1.
HOW YOU APPLY THE. Oi<-Y FEIZTILIZEfl.-
Hill TO THE. 0f20W- E::Ql<.ES :
WITH ,HE HAND) JUST e:.FOf2t WATE.f2..ING)
SPf'E;f>.O ... NAAF"OW !?I'ND OF THE FEFtfILIl.8f2-
MIXTU142- eoE.TWEEN THE. PLANT !'OWS I'<GHI
ON THE SOl L SUi<-Ff'CE.. IF Ft:lS'31 E>LE. ) i"CEP
THE. 4- INCHE0 AWAY Ff20M STEM';:' OF
PLANT0 AN0 OFF ALL. LEAVE'?
"I/) r;p !,J '" ..,
"" '<P 'IJ .;..jJ

"JJ "'I tP

\. "". ':
f

WATEF!-ING VI9S0LVES THE FE.F!-TIUZ-EF!-0,
THUS THEY MOVE. WITH THE SOIL Wf'TEJe TO
THE PLANT f2C0TS. FEED PLf'NTS ONLY ONCE
A WEEj<C NO Mi'TTEI2- HOW MF\NY TIMes You
MAY WATEJ'- . IF PLANTS SHOW HUN6EF'-
SYMP1VMS (SIX M'PENVlll JII.) ro NOT INCI'I'6E
THE p.MQUNT OF TIlE FeFtfILlz.E12. PEF'- APPL.ICATION.
FEEO TWO TIME'? A WEEI<'- FOf2- TWO
WEE!"G) THeN TO THe f2E6UL,AfZ..
ON(G-A-WeEI<'- FeEDING. 13
Grow-box gardening makes efficient use of overhead space. These Ilmple
trames support tail-growing plants like pole beans, melons, squash, cucum-
bers, tomatoes.
74
pOLLINATION 15 USUALLY AUTOMATIC, BUT
TAAINING) ING) WEEDING ANO PFOTEC,ING
PLAN,S VI5,A.SE: AND PESTS 15 NECESSN''1'.
TO MAi'-E. e:EST USE OF ALL f"JAJL.Af:>l-.E Sp,oa:.)
INCWDING THE: Sf'i'CE OVEf2.l1EAV,
sUPpOJq FOfZ.. PLANTS. THIS ALLOWS
uGtlT ANV AI12-, TOO.
HOW TO SUPPOf1" TALL PLAN,S LII'-E.
POLE: eeANS, pOLE. PEAS I TOMATOES) CUCUMf;>C12-S,
MELONSJ AND ZUCCHINI 96{UASH. NAIL TO THe
OUTSIOE. 51PlO5 OF THE. FAAME..)
1-fQO, -LONG l"x1."s. ,HE. lOP Of'
THE: 1 - FCOT STAt'E.S AND ACF0e!5 ,HE
TOP E06E.. OF THE GIWW-e,oX SlOES) NAIL
5-FOOT-LON6 I"X'll/ s .
15
TIE HEAVY DUTY 5Tf2.ING5 NlQUND nlE TOP
5-FOOT l'x1-" TO WI,H THe PLANTS
IN THE 6flOW- eox NJ.'D I-ONG ENOUGH 10 Tie
THE 5-FCOT I"x'!." AI THE 001L- t..e:Va.
0/.. " .
WHEN PLANT'; GET 00
Tf'LL THE.Y E'::6SIN TO FAL-L
OVEF-, 6U10E
THEM {>.F!OU NO THE. 'STI'! NG'S
IN A CLOCI'-W/5E. VlflECTION.
M{>.Y HAVE TO e:E. WNE
2. 0f2- ? TIMeG A WEEJ<:..
7(0
II
PLl>NTS UP
lIND i'I2OUNV STf'.ING'3
DEMAND'3 CAP-:-. MOIO
TWISTINS)
Of'.. e>(l.UISING THE
STEMS OF
/<UNNEJZ.S.
TWISTING O/Z-
UUISINS A
STEM I'-Iu..S IT.
GeNTLY GUIDE THE
fl.UNNEf'..'& Af2OUNO THE \,
STf'..INGS IN A CUJCI'-WISE (f'.IGHT) 'OI=TION.
TOKA-T0E'3 ) CUCUtvl eEJ2S, MELONS) FbL.E eE;"NS
,
ANV POL.E 1X'NT flf'6;>UII2B lYlNS TO TflE
ST!'INGS f=, THEY ft)L.E BEANS WILL
THE STF'lNSS) IF THEY N4=. Pl,"CED
FPDPE&-Y) WITHOUT ANY A9SISTNJa.
MOf'..E ZUCCHINI SQU;'SH
WILL f:>E. Pf'..ODUCED
INAVEf2.Y SMAL. L
AfZ.E.f>. IF THE
Gf'..QWINS END
IS TIED TO A
STfZlNG i'6 IT
LENGTHENS. TI1I'&
PLANT CANNOT
0U1OEO
A/ZOuNO THE: SWI NG.
/
k:/
GTE:M5 N'-E e. INCHE:", HI6HE:f2. THAN
THE 5TI'IN65 CUT -rwo INCHES OFF THE: eND OF
THE: STEM. THIS STOPS THE:. STeM FI'OM GI'OWIN6
LONGEI"-. P/WNING HE.LPS po. PLANi TO ee MO!'-E
Pr<GOUCTIVE.. HERE'S HOW -ro Pf2.UNE; %VE;F2/>L
OF PLANTS.
( ft?LE eEANs AND RJL-E PEAS)
PLANT 3 SEeDS fE/<. PLANi LOCAi/ON) IN LINE
WITH iHE 0T/Z.INGS. iHflEZ VINe; CAN CL//VI1!7 A
51 NGLE STf2.1NG.
WA,CH FOf2. NEW
f2.UNNEf2.S iHi'T GflOW
OUT iHe; II MIU", II
OF THE MMJ STE.t-01.
(THE AXIL. 15 iHE UPPEf2.
f'lN6LE. eeTWEEN
L.EAF AND 5I'Et-01 )
78
CUCUMe>E12-6 t\NO ME.LOfJ6 AfZB
Pf'1.uNED AL-I!LC,
PLANT '2. 5EW6 PE.I2- f'l./IoCC:.. mez. se:e:z:;>;.
HAVE SPf2QUTEO J PUL-L. OUT THE.
PLANT) L.EAVING ONe PL.ANT PEt<- L.O<:ATION.
AL.L.OW ONL.Y ONE MAIN /2.UNNCf2-. (STEM) TO
THE STf2ING. WATCH THE MAiNSTEM
LEAF NOVE-'S (THAT PAf!.T OF THE STEM NOJ'.MAU.Y
CAAAYING A L.EAF.). EVEI'-Y NOPE. HAS A e>uD.
THESE e>uJ?o? BeCOME NEW flUNNEi<S. {l.L-L.OW
THEM TO GfiOW TO THEIf2. FIF'ST L.E,AF. THEI'-E
YOu WILL SEE -? THINGS.

ill THe LEAF) STEM,!'ND NODE

ffi A SMALL CUCUME>EI2-
ANv -::'OME MALE
FLCWE,e'3 17EVeLOPING
THE APEX (6f2QWING
'-- TIP OF THE .-"
7"1
. ,' ','" I .":'C'." .'
/
T', J1J
, , I"
FOLLOW IN5TF<UCTIONS
CAf2.e.FULL. Y
I. CUT OFF THE YOUNG
L.EAF. (SHOWN WITH
VA6HED WNE0
ON SI'CTCH).
1.. L.EAVE. THE
1Jf.VEWPING (ljCUMeEf'.
AND MAL.E FLOWEf<'3 IF
MALE. FLOWE.F<'3 N2

? CUT OFF THE. APE)!.
(THE Gf?OWING TIP OF"''''''.,''''''''
THE f?UNNE$-).
AfTEJ<. PiWNING} E.ACH NEW J<UNNEft-
WIWL. HAVE A SMAL.L. alCUMef1. WITH ITS
FLOWEfZ. f;UO AND f'QS<?1E?L.'( '2Ot-oIE.
DBIELOPING MALE FLOWEfZ.S. THE. MNNSTEM
WIL.L. ee. CAfll'-'(ING LEPlIE.'S) CL.U'3TEfZ.'S OF
MALE. FLOWE!"?) AND CUCUMef'.S AT E.VE!Z-Y
NODE. f'J..CJNG IT'S E.NTlf2.e. LENGTH. '00 NOT
PfaUNE THE. i'-'\,AJ NSTEM. Pr'UNE. ONl..:( THE
SIDE f<UNNE./<.S!
80
THE. NE.W IF NOT PP-UNE.D) WIL.L
0f2.0W L.I!<C THE MAIN STEM. THEIf'. NOVES
WIL.l- Pt<oDUec. MO!'-E. F'UNNEf<.S) ETCj THE
VINE? WIL.L e>ECOME UNMAN/>6EJ\1';>LE) THE;
MASS OF FOL.IAGE: WILL. CUT OFF UGHT
NECESSA/<.Y TO VE:VEL.OP Ff'.UIT AND THE
CI"OP FAI L'S
Pf<.UNIN6 Pf'.E.VENl'S
TIllS.
MALE FLOWEI<- __
MAiN VINE Of>-
STeM
A NOVE IS TH"T_--"\
PAf'.T OF" STEM
TH"T CAP-f2.IE'S A
L.E'AF AND e>UV
Af.lV ONTO
THE MAIN VINE
0(2. STEM
81
MEL.ONS OTi-lE.1'- TAAN WATE'I"-MEL.ONS
N' PF'UNED THE:. S/'.ME /'.S CUCUMef"S.
WATEl'-ME.LONS f'.E:QUIf'-E SPECIAL. PI'VNING
Pf<CJC.EDUf2-E.S. THEY Af'f3. A L.J>.W TO THEMSEL.VES
ANO EXf'EI1.IENCE. IS THE eEGT TE,ACltE./'-.
(?UCCHINI WUPGH) P#3. PLANTE.D WITH TWO
SEEDS AT Et'CK PL.p..NT I..OQ.TION. e:G1N
TYING THE GI20WING POINT TO THE S-rf2-ING
WHEN P ~ T IS 14 fo 18 INCflE.<7 LONG.
TEI'M/NAG BUD'?
012- CJZOWNS.
:::--r--..,
THE ONL.Y f'!'<UNING
MUI!ZE.o WITH WCCHIN/
IS THE 1'&10'1AL OF- El<Tf2-A
CI20WNS THI'T MAY Tf2-'( TO
VEllELOr ) !'NO J2MOVAL OF rHE. Ol.:DEf2- LEAVE.'S
16 ftlE'( NO/Z-MIIU..Y VIE. THE FWWEfZ.'S
~ W IN !HI"" ""/'-.TcH Af'f3. IN THE. CLOSED
!'t>'?ITION. 'SEE Cf>AFfE.Ie. II R:JI'- OPEN l'DSITION
AND ftJL.L-INATION. 8'2.
(TOt-1P-TOf:<S) N2t USUAl.LY Gf10WN Fi<OM
TiZANSPLANTS. S(;LECT ONl.Y H(;ALTHY,
VIGOf<OUS PLANTS. TIE. STf2..lNGS A'S You
VIO FOf1- AS THE: tvlAINSTEt-1
0f'OWS IT WILL PI"OOUCE. NEW SHOOTS
AT EVEf!..Y LEAF NOVE.
THE'SE NEW 'SIDE 'SHOOTS MUST CUT
OFF 012- E:>i2OiLEN OFF AS SOON P-S POSSI ::>LE
THE. TOMI'TOE'S THEMSELVE0 I'f/.f:.. PI'OVUCE:D
ON SE:PMATE ST{;IvIS OF FLOWE.S WHICH
Gf'OW Ff1Ot-1 THE MI'l NSTEIvI TtiE
NaVES. ro NOT CUT TI-IE'SE OFF. TtlE'SE
FLOWEi'< STEIvI5 PI"OVuCE THE. TOMATOES.
83
SAVE. ,AJ..l. THE. TOM"'TO Fl.OWE/<.S TAAT GI'OW.
12&10VE. ONl.Y THE. NEW 'STeM SHOOTS TAAT
-
Gf'.OW OUT AT THE NODE'S AND THe ow
YELL..OWING l.EAVeS THAT N'-E. D/<.YING.
THE TE.f'.MINAL
BUD_ SAVE.
"7"1---SUCI'f'. TO E:E.
!'-MOVED! CUT
Of'- E>J2.CAt'- OFF.
,AJ..l. THESE FL.OWE.J2.S
eM' Ff'.UIT_ S;WE.
(tEA'S'I"USH) !'-EGul..N'- e.USH PEA,? PF'ODUCE
CflOP5 WHeN THEY Afl-E. IN
GI'OW-eo)(E.S. PL.ANi PEAS IN MULTIPL.E.
I'OW5. EXAMPL.E J 4 J iP ALL.OW TKE. PLANTS
TO GflOW
UNTIL. TKE-Y e>f.6IN
To FAL.L oVErt.
THE.N 6E.N'LY ,MIN THE. PLANTS
(f>Y PUSHING OVEFl) SO THE TWO I'OWS
L.E.AN TOWAf2.DS E,AOl DiHE./<..
VEJl.Y 5XlN iKE. PLANTS
fiASTEN TENDFlILS APOUND EACH OTHEf2.
AND WILL 6f1.OW UPWAf2.D TOGETHEF-}
SUPPOFtTING EACH OTKEf2.. THUS TKE MAIN
Cf1.OP IS MATUFlEO UP OFF TIlE 6(20UNV.
DOING THIS ELiMINAiE-S STAlLING AND
TYING ANV ACCOMPLlSHE.S THE.
s,<>.ME PUFlPOSE-. 85
WDING IS IMPOF!-TANT I E>UT WE.EDS AP<.
f;A<':>Y TO OE;STF!-OY AND PUl.l. OUT OF
THE SOFT J "CUSTOM-Mi'OE; SOIL." IN THE
MlTIL.EIOEI'- GF<OW-OOXES.
YOUF!- PL-ANT5 DISEASE..
THIS STN'TS WITH Tf'.E,A.TED AND CEl"-TIFIEO
SEED; E>uY Pt..ANTS ONL.Y Ff20M
01'- SHOPS) OF!- GI"OW
OWN HEAL.THY PLANTS.
i'ff.p OUT OF YOUI2- G!'f!.DE.N AL-L. DISEASED
PLANTS Of<.. OfHEF'. F'O?SIe>L.. CONTAl'1INATEP
MATE.I'tJAL.S. BUI2-N AL.L. PL.ANT P,Af1.TS THAT
II E.VEN" VISEA<::>E.V.
THE MITIL.EIVE.f2.. 501L. VI'-ENCH (CH,APTEfa eo)
PF!-E.VeNTS 5OME:. PI"OE:>LE.M<::> f2.16H-r FIlOM
THE STAf'tT. CONTINUING PIlOTECTION,
E;SPECIAL.L.Y FOfa INSe.c-r CONTf20L.) IS
e>EST 'CUSTOMI'ZE.V" TO MEET YOUfl NE.EDS.
CONSUL.T YOUf2. f..OCI>.L }>6f!.ICUL.TUI'-E
AGENCY FOF'. ADVICE ON sPECIFIC
;r-'"
"
__ I '\
...... 000< I " I
--/ '" I (, I \
.... <; I I \
/ 'I '\ I \ I
I '\/ I \ I I
r I ,'I " I
: 1\ I ,',', ....' I .' .
I '. . II
I..
50 FAA IN THIS STEP-flY-STEP MtTI1..CJOER
e.UIDE.BOOJ<. YOU HAVE. LE:ARNE.V THE.SE.
THING5:
flOW TO MAi<E. 51i"\PLE. GNWE.N ef'OW-et::Jff=.s.
HOW TO PPEPAPE "CUSTO!-1-MAVE. SOIL.. ".
HOW TV A Pf'ilCTlC!'L LAYOUT.
HOW TO PLANT YouPo G"f".OE.N GfIOW- eox
How TO WATER AND FEEO YOUR PLANTS.
HOW TO TAA1N) NURTURE, AND PRUNE:. YOUR
SF'Ec.lAL Cf'OP5.
NOW YOU CAN TAi<E A Gf!EAT STEP FORWAIO-P et(
PROTECTING YOUi< Gj20W-l!Ox GN2DE.N WmI A
COVERING YE'S A Gf2.eE:.NHOUSE. !
en
YOU PANIC SEE. HOW AND
EASY IT CAN i:! YOUR Gf'OW-eoi' ITSELF- CAN
AS THE Bf>6E; OF A SIt'\Pl-E GREENHOUSE..
ONE WAY TO MAKE A SIt'\Pi.-E. SHEL.TER FOf'. YOUi<-
GF'OW-WX IS TO USE PLASTIC (PVC) PIPE. FOf2.
THE Fi<,AME STf'.UCTUf'.E.. THIS PIPE. (AT WIL.OING
SUPPLY STO!'e'S) 15 L.IGHTWEIGHT)STi<ONG,ANP
f./'-SY TO USE. IT Al-'SO M....XIHUrv1
LIGHT TO f'ACH THE
PLANTS. C::'J.--:-J
IS A LIST FOf'. EoUIl-PIN6 A
STRONG FAAME. TO SUPPORT A Pi.-A'STIC COVER.
B-PIECES 34-INO! PVC PIPE. e;,o-INOIES LONG FOf'.
THE WIDTH.
IG>"PIE.CE.S o/4-INCI1 PVC PIPE. 'Ie-INCHES L.ONG R:Jf'.
THE L.EGS.
B-PIECE'S %-INCH PVC PIPE 1't-INCHE'S LONG FOR
THE CUR-VED 12COF-.
leo"PIECt'S I-INCH PVC PIPE IS-INCHES LONG
FOR- HOl-DING n1E. FI"AME. L.EGS.
leo-METAL. HUH CLAMPS.
50-FEET WIf'.E.
I - PINT PLASTIC CE.HENT.
IG>- %-INCH PVC TE.E.5.
JG>- o/4-INCH PVC EoLBQWS (45).
POUND ?-INCH-LONG GALVANIZEO NAILS.
THE LENGTHS OF
PL"STIC PIPE SHOWN IN
THE. MATERIAL'S LIST
ARE. THE. Pf<OPER
LeNGTHS FOR QUICK
ASSEMBLY.
PRIVE.. THE I-INCH,
IS-INCH-LONG PLASTIC
PIPE. (L1G1ITWEIGH,)
DOWN THE. SIDE.S OF THE
Gf'OW-eo><. (OUTSIDE.)
UNTIL. FLUSH WITH TOP
. EDGE. OF THE SIDE. eoAAV. STN<-T
FLUSH WITH THE. ANV SPI\CE
INCHE.'S N'AAT. THI'S WILL. GIVE THE.
CO/1.RE.Cr LOCATION'S ON Ei'CH SIDE. OF THE OOX.
10 P/1.C.VENT
VAMAGE. TO THE
PtJ>6TIC PIPE. USE. A
WOODEN ON
TOP OF ,HE PIPE ,0
THE.
HAMME./<. BLOW5.
WITH A t"1E.TAL"u"
CLAt-1p; NAIL THE I-INCH
PIPE TO THE SIDE.
OF THE.
Gf'OW-BOX.
PLASTIC TEE5, AND 45"
ELE::OW FITTINGS MME. IT
EASY TO TURN CORNERS
AND CuRVE THE. i<OOF
Af?CH.
, ,
: : cunl NG THE.
PIPE INTO
PROPE.R LE.NGTHS,GLUE
TOGETHER EACH OF THE.
EIGHT FRAtv1E.S.
g THE. TOP PIPE
15 CURVED TO PROVIDE. THE PITCH OF THE
WHE.N COVE.RED WITH PLASTIC IT SHEDS
MIN IQUICi<J..Y.
90
--
HEf'.E. IS "N El>6Y WM TO eoE
SUi<.E "L.L. E.IGHT ME
EVE.N AT THE F<iOGE'S AND TOP.
MARK E,AD\ PI..ASTIC LEG THAT
FIT6 INTO THE I-INCH PIPE,
G> INCHE5 Ff<OtvI END OF-
THE PIPE I-E.G.
A 5MAI-L...
HOI-EO AT tvIAf<-K
.N-lD PUSH A 'l.-INOl
NAIl.- THf<.OUGH IT.
WHEN THE. PIPE. 15
SI-IPPE.P INTO THE:
I-INeH PI FE THE: NAJ l.- f<.E5TS ON THE TOP
OF THE I-INCH PIPE. ANO HOL...V<S II "T
THAT P051\10N.
AFTER PLACING N-L. EIGHT FAAMES,
ATTACH A 'L" WCOD SIDE.-Wf>..f<.V WITK
ME-TAl.- nU" CL.,bM P<3> TO THE.. LEGS OF TKE.
Ff<.AME.5 (IN<3>IDE.). AI-SO ATTAO! A 1")('2."
WooO TIE. TO THE. f'.IVGE.. OF IKE CUi<.VEO
f<-1e>6 (OUi'?IDE.). USE METAL. "u"CLAtvlFS
TO !'\TACH. "'"
THESE. WCOD A'-ONG THE.
TWO SIOEb AND AT THE f'.IVGE. WIL.l.-
SUPPORT AND liE. A'-L. THE FAAME.<3>
TOGeTHE.f<. '11
ATTPCH "
X
" ~ "RACING "'T EACH END.
"'LSO ATTACH ONE DIP.GONP.L. WIPE. f:>AACE
AT Ei'CH 5101:. OF THE. FIF<.5T FF<AME. SPACE.
AT EACH END.
.'1>'
. / ..........
';., .
. ' : --
. -.'/:"/1Y I
THIS WIPE. Bf',ACING STIFFENS
THE: 5TIWCTUF-E.
"12.
.............
WITH "LL IN PLACE. "NO PflOPE$l.Y
THE STi<UCTUF<E IS F<EADY TO E>E.
COVEi<ED. USE 4-t-1IL) TAAN'SPAAENT
F'L,"6TIC E>UILOING 'SUPPl.Y COMPANY.
PUT THE END PLJ>6TIC ON FIi<5T i 5TITCr! IT
WITH NYLON C.ORD LINE. TO THE:. E:.NV
FAAME.5.
C.f>UTION : usE. STITCHIN6 NYLON COfl!.O
THAT
,
, '
, ,
\ \
I I
I I
I I
I I
___J. I
.......--t -L
--
----c,:t'F',,-
CUT
A II:;'-FOOT-WIDE.)
4-MIL WLL OF
TAANSPAAE.NT PLAsTIC ONE
LENGTH. THis WILL CO""PLE.TE.LY COVER
THE. sTRUCTURE. '13
L/>oP THE. TOP PIE.CE. OVE./< THE. E.NDS AND
STITCH JUST THE. CURVED FORTI ON OF THIS
TOP PIECE TO THE. END FRAMES.
--
;'
,
,
,-
/
I
I

"
I
I
I
I
, I
, I
, I
, ,
, ,
:
I --- ,
I ---.J , I
I __ -,.,.'1"
- rl " ___
,
THE. SIDE.S MAY BE. FaLLEo UP FroM
THE. BOTTOM TO PERMIT WORt<.IN6 THE
&ROW-I3OXES j CARING FOR THE CI<OP, IINO
VENTILATION.
I
/
,; ! I
II I
/ /
NAIL.. 10'-0" LONG STRIPS OF
WCXJD ON EAOl SIDE OF THE. PLASTIC
NEAi<. THE. E.oGE. THAT IS i<.OLL..Eo UP.
NAIL THIS SECURE.LY-TO TIGHTLY
THE PLASTIC THE
PLASTIC WILL TEAR LOOSE..
(NAIL.. EVERY 10 INCHES.)
q..,.
YOU CAN VARY THE GJPOW-eo'i. Gl<CNHOU5E.
SHELTE/<.. CUT AIO-INCH W/>J..K-W"y roWN THE.
MIVDL.E. OF THE. IO-E.GUL.Af<, Gi<OW-00)(,. PUT A
IN EJ'CH ENV ANO YOU HAVE. Af;OUT THE.
M05T UNIQUE:. ANO INE:.)I.PE.N6IVE.
EVEf1. ! IN THI'S TYPE:.) THE:. PLA'STIG SIOE.S MIG
COVE.f<E.O WITH SOIL. "T iHE. GF1OUNO L.E.Va
AND FIXED.
THE VOO!<WAY5 PROVIDE. VE.NTILATION
YOU CAN BUIL-O OWN
AS St-1AL.L- of<. COtv1PL.E.)( AS YOU PREFE.f<..
YOu CAN E.VeN WY A r<:EAVY-tvlA'DE:.
GReENHOUSE:. FOf<. ASSEMBL.Y IN YOuR.
YAR.D AND MAI<E.

TO FIT.
'15
THE.RE. ARE. MANY GOOD R:JR
GREENHOUSE GARDENING:
OF PE.STS AN'D DISEASE.S.
EXTENDED GI<OWING SEASON.
CONTINUOUS CROP
E.NHANCED NUTRITIONAL. cl;>uAL.llY.
OF WATEF- /'NO NUTRlE.NTS.
PREDICTABLE. YIELD AND COSTS.
FAR MOf':E. RXlt> ON A GIVEN LAND Af!..EA.
USE LAND OTHERWISE UNSUITABL.E.
FOR GARDENI NG
IN ANY Cl../MAiE Cf'!Of'5 CAN
e>E

FARMING IS NOT AS
PROPUCTIVE IN F!ELATION TO SIZE AS
THE 5TAN'DA!<D-'5/ZS MITTL.E/DEf'1..
6f':EENHOUSE f'l<E5E.NTE.D IN THE
NEXT
THE. FIRST POINT TO e>E. 'DECIDED 15 WHERE. TO
e>UILD youR PLEASE. FEAD
AGAIN CH,I>.PTE. 3) "HOW TO I'1Aj{G 6i<OW-eoXCS
Il

THAT CHAPTER DEALS IN DETAIL. WITH WCATION AND

THE. 'St'ME APPL.IE.S TO
i<ME.Me>e:R - YOU Q>.N WI LV 0I/f.F. AL.MOST ANY
KIND OF SURFACE IF IT CAN BE LE.VEL.ED TO
ACCOMMODATE THE. 6f<.E.ENHOUSE..
THE SfANOAf<.V - SIZE. GF!E:ENHOUSE.
15 8 FEET WIDE) 30 FEET LONG) ANO 10 FEET
HIGH. YOu Q>.N 2>ulL.O ANY SIZE.)OF COUf'1.SE,
TO fiT YOUf<. PATIO) YAAV) oP- oPEN Nl.EA !
ATYP/q>.L MITTLEJOE,R.
NO SPECIAL EtS;lUiPMENT)
PUt-1PS ) fANS I PH )TANi6) Of<.
CCOLING PADS.
"17
If SEVEAAl- N>E CONSTRUCTED,
SEPARATE. THEM (D fEET J>.T THE. END5 ilNO SIOE:S.
THIS IS E.SoSeNTIAl- fOf<. ADE6IUATE: l./GHT
AND AlE<...

-
""
.. "1
'_. \9
...
m Af'-EA fEET e>Y 4'l. fEET WI u.. HOl.O
fOUf<.,
THAN P-OEQUATE. TO SUPPl-'( P<l.l- THE. FP-8SH
P/(OOUct:. FOf'1. YOUf<. f"MIl-Y. A f"MIl-Y c,AN
HAVE. P/(OvuCE. M-JO eE ECONOMIe,t>.U...Y
'SE,LF-SuFFIClaJT ON THE. INCOME. 10
-
THI<E:> C!'N e>E. ,occoMPl-ISHE.D
ON f'N N4:.A OF ONl-Y 5,CCO e.sIUA"!E. FEET
( ! IF YOU !'fIE. THINi<-ING I?IG,
ONE. OF i..f'NV ACCOt-1MODATE'3 !Yo
5TAND,.O-61ZE:. !
"Ie
_--..t!E.f<.ES HOW TO MI'I'E THE
\ ---_ MITIl.E.lDE.
I I ----_
I I - ............ _
I I " .....
I I / '\
I I (I
I I I
I<' I I
'...... I
' ......
LEVEL ENOUGH "...... I /
GPQUND FOP- E;A.cH ...... ,-J-,/
GP-EENHOUSE:. uSE: ST,AJ:S) COP-D)
LE-VEl. ,0 LiNE UP YOU. 5TAAlGHT-
eoTH LeNGTH ,AND WIDIH -,AND TO COIJSTretJCT IT
PLUMe>. ST",e::,CH ,HE COf"O !'Nt:' TIE IT TO STAI'eS
THE: t.eN6TH OF ONe '7loE OF THE Gf'EENHOI..I?E::
....
/ ----
( ,---------
I
I ----
I
I I / \
I I {I
I
I I
......... I I
........
, I I
..............
E'STAe>L.ISH ....... , ......
,AND 'S>TN'G iHe::
FOUfiL
OF THE Gl:EENHOUSE.
"l"l
MEASURE AND cur
TO l.ENGTH J EI6HT
(OR CEDN<)
4",4" Fl?5TS
'I F!?ET LONG.
AND
MAF11'- Ie. INCHe;:S
FflOM ONE:. END
OF EACH OF THE:.
POSTS. THIS /S THe;:
PORTION OF THE POST TO
EMI?>EOVED IN THE: 6FaOUNO.
DIG E.IGHT HOLE'S 15 INCHE.S DE.EP WHE:./<.E.
THE 4"x4" Ft:::l'ST5 WILl.- BE. SET.
100
LDWEF- " fl:)5T INTO HOLE Ca) TO
THE IB-INCH MAi<-!<-. USE L.E.va TO Pl.UMB THE
POST (Mf'.I'.E IT VE.RTICJI,l. THEN TAIv1P iT FIRMl.Y
INTO PLACE WITH OII'<T. THE '5E:COND POST TO
SET 1'5 THE OPPOSITE COP-NER (b) j BUT
SETTING THIS POST TIGH'I YOu MUST E5TMLiSH
THE. L.EVEL. OF THE. GF<E.ENHOUSE.. 00 THIS WI,H
A COF<O, LEVE.L. I AND CAF<PENTEFl'5 5<S(UAfl.E,
L.I t<C. TH1'5 :
Dfl.IVe A NAIL. Cc) NEAR THE TOP OF POST
Ca) . TIE. THE COi<.D TO THIS
NAiL..
IIJ ,.................................... .
'N.lR\ "LEVEL eeJ (C)
5/S1UARE LEG Cf)
.. .-& .."""

(b)
..
PULL. THE COF<O OVER Tf\E TOPS OF POST (a)
AND 1liE. L.OOSE POST (t: J N'PL.YING ENOUGH
TENSION ON THE. COi<.D TO !<P IT FfI.OM
SAGGING e>E.TWEE.N ,HE POSTS. HOL.D THE
Cd) FLAT "NO ?<SlUAAE
THE LOOSE POST. LINE UP THE. DlHE:.F< LEe>
(f) OF THE. ?<SlUAF<E WITH THE COi<.D.
PLACE. THE L.E.VEL (e) ON THIS" L.EG" OF
Tf\E 5(S1UARE..
IMPORTANT: i<.EEP THE. "LEG" OF THE 'S<S1UA.E
(n STRAIGHT WITf\ THE. COFlD AT AL.L.
TIMES (e>Y MOVING THE TOP OF THE R::>5T
LEFT OR 101
RAISE. OR LOWE.R THE POST (b) UNTIl..- THE
l-EVEl- Si40W5 "l-EVE.lo" AND THE:
"l-E.G" (0 IS PN<AloloE.L WITH AND LEVEL
WITH THE. COf<.D. TAMP THE. POST TI0HT
WITH DIRT. IT IS pl..-UMe J VERTICAL., AND THE
TOP OF THE POST (b) 15 LE.VEI..- WI,H THE ,OP
Of THE POST (a).
-
NEXT, L.OWE.R POST It-lTO THE. HOLE. AT
THE. CORNEl<. ON THE oPPOSITE SIDE OF THE
STRuCTURE. THE DISTANCE:. f>STWEEN POSTS
(b) AND (9) IS [3 FEET-INSIDE.
PL.ACE. A STf4'10HT, '2."x41' 10'-0" l.ONG
e.:JARD ON TOP OF POSTS (b) AND ('3). L.AY
THE. loEVEL ON TOP Of THE '2."x4': MISE Of<.
L.OWE/<. POST (':Jl UNTIL eUBeloE: IN loEVEI..-
/<.EADS "loE.VEL ". NOW, WITH THE loEVElo,
MAi<E THE FOST (':3) VERTICAl..- AND TAMP
IT fll'<M AND 'SOUP. f<E.PEAT THIS
PROCESS AT THE. OTHER END OF THE
STRUCTURE) U'5ING POST Ca) TO SET
P0'5T (h) VERTIG,AJ.... AND I..-EVEL.
102
THE FOUl<. N'.E ESTABL.ISHED
J
L.E.VE.L..,
AND pL.UMe. NOW SET THE SIDE. POS,S
(TWO ON EACH SIDE).
----/
/
/
ON ONE SIDE. Of THE. STf<.ETCH
A eL) TIGHTL.'( FMM THE. TOP Of ONE
POST OVEf'. THE TOP OF THE. OTHEr<-
COf'(NEf'. pOST. MiSE. Of'l L..OWEf'. THE. SIDE.
POSTS (j) AND (\<.) UNTIL.. THE:Y TOUCH THE.
STf'(ETCHED COf<?D OVE.'1.HEAD. PL.UMe> THE:
Ftl5TS AND TAMP THEM TIGHT.
F'-E.PEAT fOf'l THE OTHElZ SIDE:. OF THE
5TiWCluf<?E. WITH THIS ACCOIYlPL..ISHEO THE
Mf<?OEST PMT OF eUIL.DING youfl..
GF1<:ENHOUSE IS DONE.. 103
, .. , .... , ...
N/lIL 2"J'.e" eoAi<.DS Af<OUND THE. INSIDE. AT
THE: TOP OF THE: f06IS AND f'Cf<C$S THE:
WIDTH BETWEEN THE:. POSTS. NOW JUST
N""I L. I" l<.'2" BOAf<.DS 'SPACEO 'l.4 INCHE.'S
APART DOWN THE SIDE5 /lLONG THE LENGTH.
INSTALLING Gf<OW - WXES
THE. BASIC Pf<OCE.DUf<,E. OF LE.VELING ""NO
INSTALLING THE SIPE.S OF THE. GfZEENHOUSE
GWW-BOXE:S IS SlrvtlL,AR TO THAT PE5Cf'.IBEO
IN CAAPT'E:f<. ON Gf<.OW-BOXES.
E
0 0
J
ISo "
' .. ' "
lB"
I
I
"
:;0" a
,
..
-0)
16\
I
15"
w w w w
Ul
'" III
z
HE.1< IS A PLAN VIEW OF THE: i.J'YOUT OF
THE GflOW- BOXE.S. THE SIDE. BOXE.S Nl-E
IS INCHE.S WIDE.) THE. AISLE:.S AfiG Ie INCHEs
WIDE. AND THE. GflOW-BOX IS
?>O INCHES WIDE. 104
---
,,- - .....
;' ...
;' '-
/ ...
/ "
/ ...
THE 1XTTTEV LINES
SHOW THE: SUPFtJRT
WIRES. THE WIRES RUN THE LENGTH OF THE
THE G!<OW-eoXES.
STRING'S THAT WILL
SUPFtJRf TIlE VINE'S ARE
TIED TO THESE WIRES.
INST/>.LL 2"X4"
FRAMING AS SHoWN
AT THE ENOS A
OPENING.
THE IS
30 INCHES WIVE.
IT IS MAVE UP
OF 2"x2" FflAMlNG
ANV HINGIED TO
SWING FROM THE
LEFT OUTWARD.
THE MUST
e>E STRONG ENOUGH
TO CM<RY TIlE ENT/r<:E.
CROP. INSTALL 2"X4-"
BAACE.S IN END WALLS.
105
THE. WOOD FAAMIN0 AND IS COMPLETE..
NE.)(T IS THE: Pi...ACCME.NT OF THE. Pl-,6-STIC PIPE.
FOR THE. CUF<VED i<lXJF. THE """.'SIC
FOR INSTAL.UNG THIS Pl-,6-STIC PIPE IS 51MILM
TO THAT VISCU9SE.D IN CHp.PTEFl q
ON 0J<EENHOU0E.-0HELTE.f!CV 0I'OW-eoXE.S.
-------
-------
.. (a)
(al
(a)
. (b)
THE PLASTIC PIPE. II LE.GSII AP-E:. FASTENED TO
THE: l"x'2" '6 (a) ALONG THE SIDES AND TO
THE: SlOE OF THE Gf!OW-r::ox (b) j USEO METAL
"U"aJ>-Mf'S. THE CURVED !"1EMBEf<S ARE:
CONNECTED 10 THE '2"x'2" A"T THE Ft-IOGE
WITI-I "u" CLAMPS AL.SO. 10'"
THI'S CflD'O'S <S6GTION INVICi'TE.S HOW TO COVEl'-
THI: WITH THE (P-FCl?"T-
WIDE. 'SoIDE. PIECE'S (a) Afl.E. T,<>.c.reD IN PL..'>CC JUST
ABOVE. THE TOP (d) ALONG
eoTH OF THE NEXT) THE.
ICo-FOOT-WIDE PLASTIC TOP-PIECE (I: 15 PUL.LED
IN PLACE.. THE. TOP- PI EeE. OVEf2..l.APS THE
cP-FCOT SIDE-PIECE. (c)- ON THE. OUT>IOE
(TO StIEO MIN). THE. TWO PIECE> OF PLASTIC
(WHEN IN POSITION) NAILED
TO THE:. TOP '2." Cd) ON earH
>IPE"; OF THE. WITf-\ LATH (9)
ANV THEN l../'<THE.O ANO NAILED TO THE. LOWEI<.
(e) ON eorH SIDES. THE. L.C09E. EOOE. OF
THE PLA'STIC ON THE. 6I1OUND (f) 16
WITH SQIL THE. L.ENGTH OF
Tf/E. Gf!EENHOu.,;E..
101
THE LATH STItIPS ,fASTENING PLASTIC
TO THE ON EACH SlOE;, 1*10 THE; 'SOIL
FIItMLY HOLDING THE; PLASTIC TO THE:. GroUND
MCHOIt YOUIt. PLASTIC COVE:.lt.ING 6Ec.Uf<.EL:(
AGAiNST AAN #lD WINDS.
THEItE ME M#lY MODIFICATIONS ,HAT CAN
MADE. ON THIS E>ASIC PESIGN. ONEO IS
ItEOUCING THE. 'SIZE:. TO '3 FEET WIOE. AND
10,'Z.O,01t FEE, LONG-WITH ONLY TWO
IS-INCH Gf1OW-BOXE'3 (ONE ON EACH SIPE)
AND A 3D-INCH 61SLE IN THE. MIDDLE..
CHANGE. IS TO TAPEf'. THE TOP
ENOS OF THE. 4-"}( 4" f'l:)SIS TO MATCH THE.
CUI'1VE Of THE' THIS HE.Lf'S ,0
THE PLASTIC COVE/<ING F/ZOH
WHEN ONLY ONE LAYE/< OF PL,<'6,IC
IS USED.
g FOIt COL.DE/< THE BASIC
1'3
DESIGNED 50 THAT IT MAY
WITH TWO LAYEf'.'.3 OF PLASTIC WilH A
3-TO 4-INCH I DEAD BE,WEEN
THE. LAYERS CAN IMFOf<T#lT EcoNOMIC
WHEN HEATING THE
IS NE.CESSAFlY). FUR:THER DETAILS
ON "COL.P WEATHEF- tI
SEE CHAf'lEf'. 1'2.
108
NOW YOU AA:. READY TO PREPAA:. THE
C;i<:OW- BOXCS IN YOUR Gr<:E.eNHOUSE. FOR
PLANTING. "CUSTOM- MADE. 'SOIL" TO FILL THE.
THi<:EE Gi<EE.NHOUsE. ep.QW- BO)(E.S CAN ee:. THE
yOU MADE. FO/<. THE OUTOOO/<. Gf'OW-
f>OXE5. CHOOsE. ANY OF THE COKf>INP-TIONS
LISTED IN
CHAPTEr<: 4.
HEf<.ES HOW TO FILL THE. THr<:EE. er<:DW-l!>O)(ES
IN YOUR GftEENHOUSE WITH THE "SOIL
A) EVENLY sPr<:EAD '2. R:lUNDS OF GYPSUtvI OVE/<.
THE lN51DE OF EACH IS-INCH f>Y
Gi<:OW-eox; AND 4 POUNDS GYP<;;uM
OIEi<: TIlE ceJTE/<. f>Y 'Uo-FOOT
6POw-BOx. 10'1
THIO 6YPSUI'1
APPLICATION (A.) IS
TO BE' ON
THIO FACE. OF THE
SOIL ,,1 THE.
eorroM OF 1HE
BOXES THE
"CUSToM-HAre
HEDIA IS "WEt>
TO FILL THE

B) FILL THE
JUST LEVEL.. - FULL..
WITH THE.
HA1EP.IA.LS YOU HAVE:
CHOSEN. 00 NaT so
THA.T WOULV OFF. 00 NaT
TAMP 0f1. p"q<.. YOuF1- "CUSTOM-MADE SOIL".
C) MIJC. THE MATEf<l"LS AAI'-E.
CUF1-VED-TINEV MiLE. WILL WOF1-iL-
NICELy'
110
OJ WHILe: MIXIN0,ADD JUST e:NOUGH WATEf'..
TO Pt<QDUCE A WET MEDIUM, BUT NOT 50
WET THAT YOU COUL.D xS1Ue:E.ZE WATE.fZ..
FJ'1OM IT.
g THE MIXTUF<E YOU HAVE JUST MADE
CAN BE. USE.O FOF< STARriNG 'SeEDS)
TMNSPI...ANTS, OF< FOF< GfIOWING croPS.
NOW ADD THE Pt<EPL.ANT FERTIUZE.fZ.. MI'TERJAL.S
TO COMPLETE YOUf'.. IlCUSTOM-MADE eDIL" . .1
A) CAF<EFUL.L.Y WEIGH AND MIX T0GE1HER (V[<Y)
THE FOL.LOWING
4--poUNDS OOUf!>LE
2-pOUNDS POTI'SSIUM SUL.FATE
CHLOF<IDE..
4--POUNDS SUL.FATE: OF AMMONIA.
2- POUNDs MA0Ne:SIUM SUL.FATE
(EPSOM 5ALT).
2- OUNCES ({pO GAAMS) BOt<ON
(SODIUM WAATE. oPo- W.IC ACID).
12-POUNDS, '2.-0UNCES
B) USE. :; pOUNDS OF THiS MIXTUf!E FOfZ.. EJ>CH
IS-INCH e>Y 8O-FCOT
(P POUNDs OF THE MIXTUr<E. FOfZ.. THE
30-INCH f>Y 2'" - FOOT CENTE./'C eoy"
HEfZ..E'S HOW TO ro IT _
C) THESE AMOUNTS (E EVENLY OVEr<
THE. IlCUSTOM- MADE SOIL" IN THE.
THfZ..EE GI4NHQu'SE: GpOW- eoY-E.S
/II
D) NOWI f<.IGHT TOP OF ,HE FEI<II L.rz:.E.f1.
EVENLY SFREAD I ,4 OUNCES
6YPSUM I E.6CH IS-INCH BOX ,!'-NO Z FOUNDS,
8 OUNCE'S GYPSUM J EACH W-INCH
ceNTEf<. BOX.
USE GYF5UH, IF ftJ5SIBLE, LIME
IN AfIEA'S GETTiNG lSS THAN Ie, INCHE.S
MIN ANNUAL.LY. IF YOUr<. Ar<EA GETS fYIOf'E.
10 INCHES OF RAIN PER YEAR, USE.
LIME': 012- VOLOHITE L.IME':,
IF POSSIe>LE..
E.) MIX EVEr<.YTHIN6 TOGETHEr<. E>'( HAND OJ<.
WITH A CU/1.VED -TINED FORt'-.
F) l.EVEL. THE IN THE BOXES !'-ND
"00 ANY "SOIL." THAT SPILL.ED OUT
MIXING. ee. eoXES AAE.
lVEL - FUL.L
G) THE -su,aF/>CE LIGHTLY TO mVENT
MPIO Vf<.YING. 1/'2.
YOUR ",REENHOU5E f>OXES) THfl.EE. PEl"-
GREENHOUSE) READY FOR Pt.J>.NTING. YOu C/J.N
PLN-lT %0 VIRCTL.'( IN THE. eoi<E;S OR YW CAN
TJ<.NlSPLN-lT SE.EVl.IN<SS FJ<.OM THE NURSERY O!'-
FROM YOUR OWN GROWING FL.,o.TS.
THE I'1ITTLE.IVE-R GJ<.OW-l3Ox YOU
HME. LEAftNED 15 THE; ef'.S1"; FOR success IN
GREa<HOUSE GMDE.NING JUST AS IT IS It-J
OUTDCOR N-L THE
BASIC PJ<.OCEVURES NZ-E TIlE; 'SAME
IN THE: GRE.ENHQUoSE; Of1. OUTOCORS.
HEf1.E ME; SOME IN F'F1OCEDURE
rTWEE.N AND OUTax:>R
GROW-ool(
PLANTS IN THE Gf<E.ENHOUoSE; AFC FED A
AMoUNT OF FERTILIZE.!'-.
THAT THE NUTf".IE.NT FORMUL..,A.S IN THIS ea?1'-
N2.E. CN-CUL/>-TE.O FOR THE STANOP&J GROWING
f>&:A SIZE. - FO!'- eoTH THE. GiZOW- OO){ NIP
THE. GI'EE.NHOUSE.. IF YOU CfJANGE. THE.
VIME.NSIOt-JS OF ,HE. oo){ES ) e>E 'S>Uf2E TO
/>-OJUSi ,HE. !'MOUNiS
N:COi<-OI t-JGL:(
II?
HE.i"t I 15 HOW TO Pf1.EPNO-IO YOUf2..
NUTI<IENT MIXTUI<. COMBINE DJ2.Y
THE fOLLOWING:
"1- R:JUNDS CALCIUM NITAATE..
4-f'OUNDS AMMONIUM NITAATE..
/Y'/.- R:JuNOS PIAMMONIUM PH05PHp;('e
POTA55IUtvI SULFATE:
Op.
(p- POUNDS !"1AGNE:SILJM SULF,A.TE-
(EPSOM SALT).
8-0UNCES I/<ON SULF....TE..
4-GAAMS COPfEI'!. SULFAiE.
B-Gf'1,AMS ZINC SULFATE .
,/'1 MAN6ANE.S SULFATE..
12 - GAAMS eoJ'ZON ('SODIUM f>Of'?ATE:)
?> -GAAMS !"10LYe>OENLJM (-:oDIUM
\. MOLYWATE. Of/- MOLYWIC ACID)
ALWAYS INCLUDE. THESE. IN THE.
USE OUTOOO.'S IF NEEDED
('SEE WPEND1)( :n:) m: ).
FJ'ZOM THE TIME PLANTS NlG SEEDED Of'..
INTO THE
G/<oWING f;.fI.C.A UNTIL.. THEY Nl.f:. e>EGINNING
TO FLOWEIi( 4 TO CD WEEJ<.S))
THEY AF(E FED (P OUNCGS OF 11lE.
MIl<.TUfl-E. FOf'.. E,AQ-I IS-INCH
GFVw-eox USE 10 OUNCES FOP- THE
3D-INCH 2(P-FOOT CENTEfl.
1/4
THE MIl<. IS SPf2.EAO IN" NJ>&>.OW
UNO N-ONG THE flOWS OF PLANTS (t<E.E.PING
3 TO 4 INCHES "WAY FflOtvI THIO PLANT STE.MS
THE l.ENGTH OF THE flOWS). BE CAl<CFUl-
NOT TO eET THE MIX ON THE. LE:f>..VES OF THE: PLANTS.
flOWE.RING e6SINS (USUALLY 4 TO Co
THE FE.eTIl-lzerz. NUTfi1.leNT
AMOUNT TO 1'2. OUNCE.S FO(Z. EPCH I!HNCH e>Y
3O-FCOT !lO></AND TO
I pOUNO} 4 OUNces FO(Z.
THE. ?O-INCH e>Y 2l;>-FCOT
Ce:NTE:i<- !lOl<.
AFTEf<. to.eoUT ? WEEK'S OF THE N?:>OVE
FEEDING THE ,AMOUNT'S OF
FEi<fll.lZEf<. NUTF4E.NT'S TO THE. FOLLOWING:
I POUND) 4 OUi'JCE..'5 (tvlMIfv1UM) FOf'!.. EPCH
IS-INCH BY ?O-FOOT 00)(, AND 'L RJUND'S)
4 OUNCE'S (fv1N<IMUM) \'O(Z. THE.
:;a-INCH er( 1&- FCOT 00)(..
AT THE TIME. THe PLANT'S !'fI.E.
OONG FeD THI'S L.A'ST INCf'1.EA'SEO AMOUNT,
THEY '5fjouL.P BE.. FtwIT)
FLOWEFl6} {>.No AAPIDLY INCFlEf'.SING IN
eF:OWTH.
115
IF P-T /'.Ny TIME. THE PLANTS P-PPE:N<- TO l?E.
- HUNGf'.Y DO NOT INC/<E:ASE. THE.
FEf'.TILIZEP- !*'\OUNTS. INCf'.EA'SE. THE. FEEDINGS
'2., TO .2... PE.f'. WEE.I<- FOf'.. ONE.. Of'.. TWO
WEEI<-S. THEN f'..E:TUf'.N TO THE. /<.E.GULAFt.
SCHEDULE.
FOFt. COLOf'. PHOTOS OF SOME NUTt<.lENT
DEFICIENCY SYMPTOMS AND INFOf'-MATION ON
HOW TO coFlFlECT THEM SEE COWf'. PLATE'S
AND APPENDIX III..
Faf'. AND CL./MBING
PLANTS IN THE G/<.E.E.NHOU5E.) TIE ONE. END OF
NYLON STf'.ING FOR EACH PLANT TO AN
.
OVERHEAD WIR.E. I
\
,
,

"
11
!
IIG:>
, I
I '
\11
THE. OVEJ<J4E,A!) WI""''''' w.y
BE Tflf/OUGH
THE: CE:NTE:R OF THE. '2.'
WOOD cross -t-1EMBe;J<.5
FAAIvII NG eE"fWEEN THE. 4-.4- f\?5TS.
DE-PENDING ON THE. WElGflT OF FF-UIT TO e>E
et( THE. WIIZCS) Tfl '2..
CI'055-t-1EMBE.i<. MAY F-E<QUIr<E, BAACES TO
THE 4,4 ro5TS 1'6 6I1OWN.
THE. eoTTOM END OF Tfl STf'lING FOf'. TF1AINING
Tt\L.[..-GF'OWING Of'. CLIt-1BING PLANTS IS TIE.D
m ANOTKE.Ft- NYLON STRING p..T THE. Bl\'SE.
OF TKE:. PLANTs. THIS
"'TFtI NG IS i\TT,l>CKE.O TO
E,ACH END OF THE Gf2OW-W>c
GENTl.Y GUIDE. THE PL.ANTS

CLOCi<-WISE:. (TO THE

g. Af?OUND TflE.. Ve;J<.TICAL
....../ / STRI NG. PO THI5 TWO Of<-
.,' THI'EE TIME'=> A WE.E.I<- AS
p..S OlSCU55ED
PREVIOUSL.Y IN a-IAPTE.Ft- B. PFtUNE
IF NECES5MY AT THE ":3,"IME TIME.
SOME. PLANTS RElSlUIRE HAND POLLINATION
IN THE. G/'l.E.E.NHOUSE. DURING THE:. WINTER. SEASON
WHEJIl IT IS I<E.PT CLOSED M05T OF THE:. TIME.
ZUCCHINI J ME.LONS, (EXCEPT THE
PARTHENOCARPIC) APe. EAAMF'LES. CONTAAFtY
TO POPULAR BELIEF J TOMATOE::; AND f1:)LE.
"!:.AN'S PO NOT f<.E&u It<G ARTIFICIfl.L ftJLLINATION
e,y SHAJ<.jNG OR THE BLOWING OF WINO ON THE.
PLANTS. HEi-E NZE SOME. POINTER::; ON HAND
POLLINATION. THIS I'S 'SIMPLY THE.
OF POLLE:.N FFOM THE. MALE:.
ONTO THE STIGMA
(PISTIL) OF THE:. FEMALE. FLOweR.
STIGMA (PI5TIL)--:z..--_....-.-
-----
\1\'::

'.; '; .1' FEMALE. FlOWER
1 FEMALE:. ,iff:'1 OPEJIl FlJ5ITION.
FLOWEI<
lie I
t'\{l.LE FLOWEF.
CLO$E.D ft)51T10N
MALE
OPEN POSITJON
GENTLY TE.AI'l OFF AND THE PETALS
OF THE MALE FLOWEf1..
NOW ALL THATS
NECE55Af1.Y 15 TO
GENTLY TOUCH THE
STIGMA OF THE.
FEMALE. FLOWEF. IN
THE. oPEN P05IT10N.
ONE Mt--LE
-
CAN TAAN5FEf1..
POLLEN TO A
OFt-
FEMALE. FLOWElt5.
II"!
POLLINATE. 6<S!.uASH f'E..TWeE.N 1:00 AND
'1:00 A.M. PAIL.Y. POLLINATE. CUCUMe>Efl.S I AND
MELONS eETWEE.N 11:00 M'I. AND P.M.
VAlLy'o POLWJATE ONLY HeALTHY)
FULLY OPENED FEMALE. FLOWeRS. POL.L.INATE
OAIL.Y FOf'. MAXIMUM FF<UIT SET (CONTINUE.
FOfl. 11. TO /15 WEEJ<.S). POL.L.EN IS VlAe>L.E
FOfl. JUST A FEW 110UI':-S AS 15 ALSO THE
f'.ECEPTIVE STAGE OF fEMALE fLOWE.J<5.
EVEN THOUGH MOST VEGET,ABLE Cf<Of'S W
WELL. IN A AATHE.I':. WIDE
f'.ANGE THEY U';UALL.Y W eE'.3T e>E.TWE,EN
lS"F AND 85" F. THE. Oe-JEeTIVE. IN EITHEf'...
HEATING AND VENTILATING Yauf'. Gf1E.ENftJU5E
15 TO MAINTAIN THIS IDEAl.- AANGE..
r r
\ 1
. ...........
\._--

J
.-.
\....}
EASE OF VENTI LATION IS ONE OF THe flEST
FEATuI'!-E'S OF 'SMAl.-L. 6f1.EE,NHOU6E
GAI<VENING. THE !XX)/'t5 ON EACH END OF
THE. Gi<E.ENHOU'SE. ,AFlE. AD851UATE. TO GIVE
VENTILATiON UP TO 50F. THE.
POOfl.S CAN e>E opENED Co INCHE'S OR WIDE.
OPEN TO Pf'.OVIOE. THE ,A.IFl NEEOE-D.
1'2.0
AT HIGHEi< TEMPEPATUi<t? J ADDITIONAL. COOLING
c,o.N ?E. ProVIDED e>Y OPENING THE PLASTIC
I'-i<CHE-S f!.1WEEN THE: TOP OF THE DOOt<. FAAMES
fINO THE TOP OF THE ANOTHE/<.
ME-THaD 15 TO WHITEWI'SH THE TOP OF THE
CSi<ESNHOUSE. IN PLACES WHE.O-E TEMPEi<ATLjf1.E5
COMMONLY i<E,L>CH "IS F TO II'::>"F YOU ctW
USE SAf2.AN NETTING) 4<P TO S'Z. PGJ<CENT
SH,AJ:?E J TO COVE/<. '(out<.
IN THIS c,ASE THE E:NVS I't<.E NOT COVEf'.EO.
HEf(E N!-E 5:)ME TIPS FOt<. /<EGULATING
TEMPEi<ATu/<E<? /'NO VENTILATION:
IN Ll'TE sPt<ING !'NO <?UMMEf<., OPEN
THE vcot<.'S i71 1:CO AM. FOf1. VENTILAiION.
CLOSE THEM e>'( (p:CO P.M. TO J<.EEP OUT
THE: NIGl-IT -FLYING MIL.l.-EJ:<.S.
ON DI''('S WITH TEMPEi<ATUI"ES BE.l-OW
5S"F /<.EE.P THE: I:1X>t<.'S CLOSE.O. I'-T THIS
TEMPE!<ATu/<E. PL!'NTS i'olE..Ly
DaR-MANT MJO 15 VEf<.Y
LOW.
WATEf<,ING IN THE GIlEENHOUSE 15 USUALLY DONE.
TWICE: WE.E:/<J..Y. FOP. LN'-GE: PLAi'olTS IN THE: HE:I'T
OF SUMMEf<. INCi<EA'SE: TO 3 WATEF4NGS
WE:Ei<:.L'(. THE WINTEr:: SEASON WHEN
PLANTS N!-E NEA/<.LY WATEfl..
ONCE. A WEE"'- -OfHE..WISE THE AMOUNTS Of
WATE/<. APPLIED AND APPl..ICATION TECHNJ<QUES
f>.$E. THE AS WITH THE: OUTlXOr<-
Gf1OW-exJl<E.'S (CHAPTE/1. 1) .
12/
YOU CN4 ENJOY THE
OF
Go\,R.DEN ING EVEN IN
THE Q;>L.DEST WEATHER Y
IF YOU P/WVIDE: i
.
AD82uATE \
.
AND WARMTH. _ ........
AT SO"F Ofl. LOWER,
PL.ANT5 BECOME. DOf<.MANT. AT 32."F MANY
WIL.L. DIE.. Gf<.E,ENHOUSE.
fl.E.vuCES THE: OF "NO-GFOWTH"
VAY6. IN SEVE.PoE. WEATHE.R) OF COUf'/SE.)
Gf1.EENHOU% HE;A.T1NG roEs COST MONEY.
THIS Q-I!,-PTEJ<. SHOWS yOU %VEfl.N-- WAYS
TO MINIMIZe. SUCH COSTS.
HE.f<e ME. f!8:OMME.NDATIONS FOf<.
Gi'-F-DENING IN THfl..E.e
DIFFEftE.NT CL.IMATIC Af<-E.AS - MIl-V,
MOVERATE I AND COl.V.
MIL.D Cl.IMI'-TE.
GREENHOUSE GARDENS Af<.E EASY TO
MANAGE IN MILD roUBLE-wALL
e 4-MIl. TAAN5Pf'$ENT Pl.ASTIC)
TIGHTl..Y eU1L.T
J
Pl.ASTIC GREENHOUSES
11.?J
ARE i>-OElSlU,o.:fE TO I'-EE.P PLANT>
STEADILY AL.L. WINTER. WITHOUT ARTIFICIAL.
HEAT OF ANY j<.IND. Pi>-YTI t-1E. TEMPEAATU.E'S
Ff<.oM 4soF TO 7'3>F AND NIGHTTIfv1E.
TEMPE.t<ATUr<.E5 NEVE.j<:. THAN '2.7 F
ARE TO eoe. MILD GLIfv1ATE:O
CONDITIONS. JUST CLOSE THE P:JOfi:S Of':
VENTIL.ATION t:VICES EAfi:L.Y IN THE
TO CON5Efi:VE AND BUILD UP
SOIL HEAT TO CAfi:fi:Y THfi:QUGH THE NIGHT.
CLIMATE.
VAYTIfv15 TEMPEAATUfi:E5 eeTWEEN 40"1"
AND COOoF AND NIGHTTIt-1E
OOWN TO ME WNSlOEtzED TO BE.
MOOEAATE: CL.IMATi:: CONt/ITIONS. THE WL.O
5A'SON IN SUCH A CL.IMATE 15 P-eOUT
1'2. WEEf<.S. IF ENOUGH HEAT 15 SUPPL.IED)
OF COUfi:SE ) PL,ONTS CAN ee
IN THE Gi<EE.NHOUSE ALL
WT COSTS MN'.
VUf1.JNG THE: COL'PE'.ST WE:E:i<6 ECONOfv1ICAL.LY
UNOOUNO.
JUST PL.ANT THE. Crop TO
AOVi>-NTAGE OF NATU,ae.l:7 SUfv1fv1EJ<-
HEAT) '30 THAT f'l..ANTS F-EACH Mp..)C.IMUM
FIWIT <::E.T ANO V5GETATIVE GF10WTH f>y
AUTUfv1N TrtEN ALLOW TrtE PLANTS TO
Gfi:QW "T TH5 t-1ucH P-OUCEO AATE C,b.USi::V
E7Y THEY WIL.L
GAAVUALLY MATUF-E OECEMf>E.Fl
AND
124-
IS "'" EMHPLE.
\) TOMArOE.S q.N BE. se:.e.oeo e>Y JULY I)
INTO FLATS Of'!. 4-It-lCH
POTS AND Gf10WN UNTIL- /l-UGUST.
'I.) E'E.FOFlE. AUGUST 15 THESE
PLANTS SHOULD f'E. TfZ!'NSPL!'-NTEO
INTO THE GfZ.E.E.NHOUSE.. THEY WILL.
fl.EACH THE-lIZ- M/I-)(.IMUM &f2,OWTH !'-NO
FP-U1T SE.T BETWEEN NOVEMe>efZ. /l-ND
VECE.He>ER I.
.
.
o
YOU NEEV ONL.Y ENOUGH AF-TIFICIAL
HEAT TO THE. TEMPEAATUfZ
JUST /l-ecvE F
1'2.5
3) NOT LATEI<. Tf-l....N OCTOeE.J<- 10, THE SECOND
/.AYEI<. OF PLASTIC Sf-lOULD BE STF1.ETCHE.D
OVER THE: GI'-EENHOUSE.
THIS SECOND
l.AYEfi.. WILL
Pf1ODUCE. A
DEAD-All<.
SPAcE.
WITH THE USE OF -11----1
PL,A6TIC PIPE
ANOTHER FAAME
Fait THE
TAANSPN<ENT
P/.ASTI C COVERING
IS ~ T OVER
iHE filtST fAAME
AND C<?VE:,e.IN6.
SEE MATEfZ.lALS
LIST FOil- Tii IS
fRAME. IN
APPENt:'/X. N.
A IS NAILED TO THE.
OUTSIDE. FACE OF THE. +";<4"
ft'5TS. THESE.
SPACED 2 INCH!::"" i'OOVE THE
1"''2.'' '" NAILE.D To THE
INSIDE FACE- OF THE fl'STS
FOFl THE FI,5T' LAYEfC. OF
PLASTIC
THE PLASTIC
LEGe OF THE. 'SECOND
Ffi',AME: N!E:. ATTACHE.D TO
THE 1",1." WITH METAL
"u CL,6.MP5.
LJ
I
I
I
J
--
IS '" LOOI'- AT THE i<EJ."l>.TIONSfllP
OF THE. FAAMEWOFt.l<. OF THE. DOUeu:.-WI'Ll.
CONSTRUCTION TO ACHIE.VE. THE 1J'N)-NfC.
INSULATION SPACE.. FOiZ- THE. 'S!"l'-E: OF CLN1-ITY
THE. PLASTIC ON THE FIFlST
IS NOT 5t1OWN. ---
...- --......
,'//// "
// "............
/ \
/ \
I \
I \
I I
I I
I - l
I LOCATION OF
-u1r
11.,
AT THE. Leva THe Ffl,AME. LE.6S
At<. IN THE. THIN WALL PLASTIC
PIPE; 4-INCHES AWAY FRO!"I THE.
FAAfvtE. THE TAANSPAAENT PLAsTIC (eo-FEET-
WIDE IS PUT ON THE. SIVE.S FIll-ST.
THE TOP PIE.CC OF PL....STIC IS THEN PUT ON
N-JD LAPPE.D OVEIl- AT THE. SPLICE. LCXATION.
A WOOD LATH IS THEN NAILED THIS
WNTAL 5PLI CE TO THE. I" x'2. ".
ON THE. ENDS OF THE. GI'!-eENHOUSE ONE.
LAYER OF PLASTIC IS LATHED ON THE.
INSIDE N-JD LATHED ON THE
OUTSIDE. OF THE. 2".><4" FAAfvtE.WOf<:./<.-IX:OFl5
INCLUDE.D - THUS I Pf<OVIDING A
DE,t>.D-AIF!- SPAcE..
!"IITTLEIDER.
AF!-E. EASY TO MAKE. AND
VE.RY EFFECTIVE..
12e,
?INGL.E
PLASTIC WALL.
TWO PLI\STIC WALLS
WITH DEAD -1\11<-. Sp,o..CE.
12Cj
4) ALSO MODE.MTE. eLIMA"TE: fl.E:.610NS J
Pf<OVIDE. ACcEPTeO IN>"TN-L.p..-f!oNS FOF1-
AATIFICIp..L. ttE:A"T E:>E.FOf'l.. 10.
tte,A.T L-p..MP> J TOT,A.L.ING '100 TO
1'l.OO WATTS WIL.L. THIS FICIAL
HEAT WIL.L. ee. USED IS
ONLY AS NEeDE.D TO I'-.E..P THE.
JUsT Af>OVe 31. F. THE. COST 0HOUL.O E>E
MODEMTe.
5) ON FEBf2.UAAY IS I THE. ow TOMATO VINES
Af<G f1.E,MoveO NEW PL.ANT5
TAANSPL..N.JTEO E>Y FEf>fl.UN<-Y 'LO. THI'S
secoND CAN BE. HMVE.5TED DUf<.ING
M,A.Y J JUNE.. ,A.ND JUL.Y. THIS 'SCHEDULE.
AL.L.OWS TWO OUT-OF-SEASON
Ct<:Of'S WITH MINIIv1AL HEATING
EXPENSE..
COLD CLIMI"TE
C/wP5 CAN e>E. IN
NIeA'S Hp..VING VEfl.Y CCL.O WINTEF1-
OF f'LU", 10"F TO MINUS
3Q"F ONE-Of'. "TWO-WEEI'- O(CL.E5 j

AND AVE.f<W::>E. Di'''{LIGHT
BE.TWEEN WOF NlD 45F. PLANNING WINTEf<.
CflOPS IN 'SUCH- /'.f'.EA<:J <SHOUL.D resiN WITH
GI'ENHOUSE. LOCATION AND CONSTf<.UCTION.

...' ",
' ,
.......... i
"' """.
/ ", I I .;J "'-.;:.
( c; . <JI

I I /
, I __'0 h . '7
I I -
I ...... \(" .. _____..
-----y ''-.C
THE. THE
Gi<EENHOUSE IS BuIL.T
IS IMF'ORTi'NT. HEATING COST'S G,6.N BE
BY PLACING THE GI"EENHOUSE f:.!''=>1 AND WEST.
THE NOf'?TH-SIDE WALL CAN E.VEN e>E. PUG
INTO THE SOUTH SLOf'E OF A HIL.L., of<.
PLACED p..,s,t>.JNSI A
WAL.L LEAVING TIlE
SOUTH SIDE EXPOSED
TO THE: SUN.
- .... ,
_-------.J
,-
,-
,-
..----_ _-
.... ......
.... ..."
.................. ............ UNDEi<.Gf<OUND
, ./ HOT-WAlE./<. PIPES e_ _
ABOUT
(; INCHES DEEP INSIDE. THE Gf<ENHOUSE.
(ALONG THE OUTEF1- EDGES) WILL WAP-V
OFF COLO Ffi?OM THE
OUTSIDE
/
I..
WITH ONLY THE'?E PF<E.CAUTIONSJ '" PLP-NTING
SCHEDULE THE. E.)<,A.MPLE. DEsa.IBED IN
MODE.F\i\TE. CLIMATE. SHOULD Pf'OVUCE
5ATISFACTO/'lY flE5UL.T5.
VENTI LATI ON
IN AUTUMN) WINTEI'l, AND E./'.f'!.L.Y SPJ<.lNG-
IN ANY CLIMATE- E'ACH DI'-y'5
WILL. DETEf'!.MINE HOW MUCH I IF AT AL.L)
TO OPEN THE: DQJFl5. 8'5 A FlULE) WHEN I:l<\Y
fl.EACH to?" F OPE.N THE
. VOOFlS AOOUT U> INCHES)
-----\'\\ EVEN IF IT 15 ONLY

";}";} ';::!.J AN TWO IN THE

(- "\. MIOOL.E. OF THE
. <"'---........ DAY.
\. ,. / ...
....-<.../. '.
/ \

J
THE IMPOFlTANT THING IS
TO VENTIL.ATE AS MucH A5 POS6IBL.E
e>uT CLOSE. UP THE
EA/<-LY ENOUGH TO f<Ef' THE 'SOIL
TEMFEAATUF!ES WELL SC"F AS
LONG AS fl:)5SIBL.E FOI'l M,AJ<.IHUM
GFlOWTH.

WHAT WE. HAVE. 6E.E.N IN THIS CHAPTEf'2. \'" TAAT
NOf<.MAL. Gf!OWING OF CfIOPS IN THE WINTEf'2.
MONTHS MAY NOT e>E ECONOMICN- IN Al-L.
f'UT YOU CAN Gf/OW Acpop TO !'lEA'<.
W>-TUf/.ITY IN OECEMe>EfI.. AND L.E.T IT MOi'2-E.
op.. L.E.'% COI'6T THfCOUGH OECE.Me>Ef2. AND
JANUAf'2.Y e>Y JU'i'>T I'6PING IT ALIVE.. THE
FP-UI, WIL.L. 12-1PE.N DESPITE THE
WINTEf" COLV AND YOU <::;AN TAl'.
AOVANTA6E. OF H/6H OUT-OF-5E;ASON
WITHOUT
COSTS.
Producing your own seedlings for transplanting Is pleasant work - and a
real economy, especially If you are planting a number of grow-boxes.
t;;;r(.-
SEED
STARTING YOUR GNtDEN
FROM TRANSPLANTS RATHER
THAN SEEDS WILL PI<OVUCE YIELDS
AND 8 TO 12 WEEJ<..,'S THIS IS MOi<-E
Tf<UE OF 5Ml'J.-L SEED PLANTS TOMATO
fWD PEPPER THAN RJR e/>-.NS Or<. e6lUP6H.
TAANSPlMTS COST QUITE f>- BITI UNLESS
YOU GfOW THEM YOURSELF. THIS CHAPTER
TELL'S you HOW TO PO IT.
? OfZ.. 4- BOXES (Fl,A.TS)
18 INCIlE'S BY
3 INCHE.S VEEP. THE
BOrTOMS CAN BE MADE
WITH SLATS, f>-T LEAST
THREE I SEPAI<ATED
'Ie-INcH FOf'- DFt,O.INI'6E.
135
FILL THESE FLATS WITH THE. "CLlSTOM-MADE 5 ~
USEV IN YOUI<. 6FaOWOO><E'S 01<. Gf2.EENHOUSE. )
WITHOUT THE Pf<E-PLANT FEi<.TILlZE.R. SPREAD
OVER EACH FILl-ED FLAT 1''2. -OUNCE LIME) AND
Y'2. -OUNCE OOUe>LE. SUPEI<.PHOSPHATE (N'OUT
'2. TAe>LE5PCON5 OF EACH).
ADD WATER AND MIX
THOIWUGHLY 50 THAT
THE SOl L IS 6lUITE. .......,./
WET BUT NOT 50
WET THAT YOU CAN
561UEEZE. WATER
FIWM Ii.
LEVEL THE. '.:OIL
SURFACE. AND MAAfC.
FOI<. e POW5
PER FLAT.
SEEDS MAY BE: SOWN (QUITE.
CLD5E TOOETHER
CoCO -1000 SEEDS
PER EACH FLAT).
BEWARE OF PLANTING
50 MANY SEEDS
THAT PLANTS WILl.-
BE THIS
SMALL,
WEAtt- 5E:OLlNGS.
IS GCOO SPACING IN THE SEED
eoxes (FLATS) FOI"- po. FEW iLlNO'S
OF SEED.
"GEEDS flON
loo -12& CAULIFLOWEf2- 100-125
L&TTUCE loo - 125 Bf<OCCOLI 100-1'1.5
TOM"TO 100 - 1'2.5 cELERY. '1.00-250
pePPEI1.S ..l00 - 1'2.5 PAA5LEY. Ul?-Z50
e>ESTS 50 -15 SWISS 50-15
COVER THE SEEDS LIGHTLYI AOOUT 'lY.z.-iIME.':>
THEIR THICtt-NE'SS, WliH THE "CU5fot'\-MAVE eolC'
2 NolP II) SPf1.INI'-LE THE 'SOIL
MOVEl1.ATELY. COVE(2... WITH f>. PI CE. OF Wf1.I...I>,f'
IINO iI-EE.P IT MOIST UNTIL YOU SEE. THE.
FI11.-5T sPI1.OUTS. THEN) PLACE. THE. FL,I>.T5
WHEI1.E. THE NEW PLANTS WILL I1.-ECEIVE NS
MUCH LIGHT A'S fl:)SSI e>LE. IF
'''' COLO) I<E.EP THESE FLf>.TS IN "
Of'? po.
1?>1
IIFTEf<. HIWE ) WA.TEf1...
JUST ENOUGH TO Pi<OVIDE. FOft
GF?OWTH
WATEP-ING PFTEft SEEDS HAVE
IS WITH THE FOLLOWING
SOLUTION. iN 55 GALLONS
OF WATER (GASOLINE VP-UM) DISSOLVE:
8-0UNCES OF fI.Jv1MONIUM NITAATE..
2- OUNCES OF- MAGNESIUM SULFA.TE..
2- OUNCES OF pOTI'651UM SULFATE.
Of<. CI-l LOf<.1 DE .
2- OUNCES OF DIAMMONIUM PH05PHA.TE
t<E.MEMBEf<. THIS /5 THE. ONLY
L1<S>UID YOU USE: TO WATe.rz THE.
SEEDLINGS) AFTEfZ THEY HAVE SPROUTED,
FOf<. 4 -TO CO - WEf<.S
SE.EDLINGS AP-E P-Ef>,DY FOf<. Tf'.ANSPLANTING
WHEN THEY Hi'VE GP-OWN THElrz FIFlST Of>-
SECOND SET OF TFlUE. Lf;.AVES (/>'ooUT
TWO Of<. THft.EE. KI0H'). SEEDLING?
"P-E TAANSPLN-lTE.D TO
A.NOTHE.f<. FLAT ) 81 TO I' FLI'T) orz INTO
3-AND 4--INCH POTS-USING THE
" CUSTOM - tvlAVE. SOl L " .
HEf'E IS AN EXAMPLE OF A 'SIMPLE. MAfl.KE.R
MADE WITH 01 YZ-INCH - DIAMSTEr<- DOWEL'S.
THIS WILL SAVE. YOU TIME IN
YOUfl. FLATS FOf'.. Pl-ANTING.
THEY tzEPT IN A WAfl.M SEEDHOUSE:
Of'.. 6!"EENHOUSE AND ENCOUF/.A6EO
(WITH E.NOU6H HEAT) TO Gf'.OW FOf<. 4 TO 8
WEEI'-S ON THE VAAETY).
WHEN WEATHE..f1. f'E./<MITS) THEY
Pl-ANTED oUTDOOf/.5 Of/. INTO "THE
WHEf1.E THEy WIL.L FI'1-UIT
fWD MATURE.
YOU CAN FOLLOW THESE SN-'IE
FOi<- JUST,... FEW SEEDLINGS IN THE SMI'-L.L-
FLi'TS i'''' DESCf<IBEO ) Of<. USE,... i<-E.GUL.AFl. )
LAi<&E. Gr<DW-f!:Yf.- (S'x?O') TO STAAT tvlMY,
YE.S THOUS!'NOS I OF SEEDL..INGS TO PLANT
A LAf<GE. Cr<DP
...... ---e:-.:;:-- _
(
'" 'J -;---....
I ,,/ ....,
: I ,... )
I I ( I
I I I I
I I I I
I I I
I I
I
I
I
SEEDLINGS eM<
ALSO E>E.
TAAN'SPLANTED INTO THE
Gr<DW-BOXE:S IN THE: Gf2lXNHOUSE..
YOUNG SEEDLINGS Af'.E VULNERABLE; TO
fUNGUS DISEASES AND PESTS. HE.i<-E. N<E
SOME THINGS YOU CAN 1XJ TO Pl<OTECT
THEM.
I) IF FL/>..TS HAVE BEEN USED OCFOi<-E. !'NO
YOU THAT THEY Ai<-E.
OF FUNGUS Of<- DISEASES)
STERILIZE; THEM BEFOF1t fiLLING WITH
YOUR "CUSTOtvl- tvlfl.VE 'S::JIL ".
THIS CAN E. tbNE BY STI'CI'-ING THEtvl
UNOER fI. PLASTIC COVERING AND
FUMIGATING WITH STEAM Di<-
METHYL I?f20MIDE (FROM YOUf<- FARM
N'olD SUPPLY SHOP).
140
BE. CAREFUL IN USING ME.THYL e,&)MIDE..
FOLLOW IN"STf<UCTIONS ON THE !.,ABEL.-
CP-REFULL'(. SEAL THE PLASTIC TO THE Gf20UND
WITH DIRT SO FUME'S OON'T ESCAPE. LEAVE,
24 TO 'Ie HOURS) THEN EXFtlSE TO THE.
SEVEAAL HOUF<.S USING.
2.) YVU CAN THE FLATS ONE AT A
TIME JUST BY PLACING THEM IN AN OlEN
(2.50 OF) R'R 4S MINUTES. ANOTHEoF<.
METHOD IS TO COVER THE. FLATS WITH
BOILING WATERj ALWAYS BE: CA!ZEFUL.
YOU CAN TAAYS (FLATS) AND THE.
SOIL f'-.T THE. 0f>,ME TIME BY FILLING THE. TAAyS
AND STACi<ING THEM. STAG/<. THEM WITH
AiR. CIf<.CULATION f>E.TWEEN.THEN
USE THE METHYL-Bf20MIDE TREATMENT 1'6
PRE.VIOUSLY THIS METHOD I'S
ESSENTIAL IF YOU
'SEEDLINGS IN FLATS IN A REGULf>.j<..
Gf2OW-Box l..Af<.GE 5CN-E proDUCTION.
141
USE CE.f>.TIFIE.P SEED, IF POSSIBL.E, TO
MINIMIZE DISEASE PROBL.E.MS. HEFtE IS HOW TO
YOUR OWN SEED, IF YOU WISH.
a) GIVE SOME SMAL.L SEEDS i<-E.
AND TOMATO) A HOT BATH
(J30"F) FOR .30 MINUTE5.
b) You CAN AL.SO "PELLeTIZE" SEED.
THIS CONSIST5 OF COATING THE' SEE:VS
WITH A FUNGICIDE FtJWDE./<.. eoME.
FUNGI Ai<E INSIDE THE. SEED.
IT BECOMES ,o.c'IVE' ONLY WHEN TKE
SEED A FUNGICIOE
CClA-TING WIL.L. f(ILL. 'HE.M AT
THE START.
HEt<E 15 HOW TO PELLE.TIZE SEED :
I) IN A WIDE-MOUTH JAr<. 012-
PLASTIC CON'AINe:.ca- PUT !Ie' TEASFtON OF
CAFTAN) DI.....THANE. Of2- OTHEfa. FUNGICIDAL
DISSOL.VE. THIS WITH JUST A
FEW OF W..... PUT THE' SEEPS IN
THE AND THE.l-1
WITH you12- FINSERS TO SET f*l EVEN
WE.TTING AND CQ,b.TING ON THEM. THIS
AMOUNT OF M..... TERlP--L WILL COAT AT
L.EAST ?GO OF P--NY OF SEEDS.
2) NEXT !'VD JUST ENOUGH
AGf'lICUL.TUAAL. L.IME. (NOT BUf'lNED LIME)
TO THE. !lOL.L. THE.
'SEE.OS AND LIME. T00ETHEF-.
Wl.
3) 5E.W5 CAN f>E. 'SOWN IMMWII>-TE.LY
'STOf<E.O FOf<. FUTU!'lE Uo:.E..
4-) I<GeP 5EE.D FLATS BEOS
IN '5!1ELTE.i<EO NlEA Of'- IN
A6f!CNHOUSE WITH
5CfICENEO of'E'NIN6'3
TO I'a:P INSECT'S
OUT.
S) IF NECE:9SARY,
uSE. PFlEVENTIVE
SPfCAY
TO
YOUR
f'WE>LEHS. YOUf<.
LOCAL Jl6fZ.ICULTU/4'-L -_./
OFFICEF1-'S q.N HELP
YOU A LOT.
w) IN TAANSPLANTING YOUNG SEEDL.INGS)
FOLLOW THE ProfECTIVE
IN CHAPTER (0 AND II
-0 e>E- SANITATION CONSCIOUS CAFlEFULLY
INSPECT N-L PLI>-N-rS 01<- SEWS
THEM INTO YOUR Gf'F2.VEN. IF
THEY 'SHOW 'SIGNS OF VISEASE., BUf2.N
THE.H ) EVEN IF THEY
WELL-HE,ANING FRIENDS.
I DO NOT HESITATE TO i<ECOMHEND THE.
NECESSARY USE. OF INSECTICIDES. IT I'"
OFTEN A 'SIHPLE OF USING THEM
Ofl? LOSING YOUR ! YOU OFTEr-J HAVE.
TO HAt< THAT CHOICE..
14?>
you CAN USE MITTLEIDEJ<..
METHODS RIGHT IN THE COMMON SOIL.)
IF YOU WiSH. IT 15 USUALLY MOJ<..E
AND LE.SS J<,.EWAR-DING THAN
GAf<PENING
BUT IT CAN BE 1X>NE WITH SUCCESS. THE
MOST IMP01<TANT THING 15 THAT YOU AJ<.E
SUPPLYING THE: PLANTS WITH THE. VITAL
TAACE ELSMENiS THAi OFTEN
LACI<ING IN ORVINAf<Y SOIL. .
. ."
=
CLEA!< AND LEVE.L. .....
THE SURFACE. OF YOU!<. .
TILLED MEA. J<,.EMOVE ANY OBVIOUSLY
LAR6E. f<QCI"-'3 I CLODS I PI<OTRuDING
r<ooT'3 OR WEEDS.
145
IF THE. SOIL IS ) '"
CAN f>E. USEV TO IN S{>.WDUST,
PE.f>.IM055 OP- OTHE.F- SUCK Mf>-TEf<.If>-LS FOfl..
BETTE!<. MOISIUf:. f<.E.TENTION. IF THE. SOIL
IS CLAY 1,1'\00 fl..IVER S,/'\NO TO E6;)UAL I'eOUT
SO/. OF THE. TOTAL t-1lxTUf<.E. MIX
WITH A f/OTOTILLE.fl.. SI1OVE.L. CAUTION-
DO NOT <SOIL THAT IS
NEITHEfl.. WHEN f<.EAL WET!
"-"r-' <cQ. __:.Jl"

.
_. ... .--. __ '.
-", -- -
'--;.:-'..r--'"
7"'
--- -----.. -- ........... '-......"...' --./' -->l====::::2::'t;::::J
''''-', r '--"---,,,:, " ....
/' /" ....1'.... __
fl..Ai<.E AND SMOOTH .- <.... . .
-.,.
TKE. FI/1.ST. \.
THEN) LAY OUT THE \.,
OISTANCE.S BE.IWE..E.N \..
INCHES ON \nc
CE.NTE.P. (SPACING C#J VAAY n
s
'Ie, TO INCHE.S). STfl.E.TCH
BETWEEN TWO STAAE.S TO LAY OUT A
STAAIGHT FOW. THE. LENGTH OF
THE. SHOULD et FAIP-LY LEVE.L TO
ALLOW FOP. GOOD WATE.P- FLOW
WITHOUT EJ<0510N.
14(0
/
141
..)JY---
,//////"/''7!V1rl
/
/
//

, ,
/.'
, .
, ,
, ,
, .
, .
, .
, .'
f-----X.-{
WITH A DIAMOND - POINiE-D iOOl-
MN'-E- A AeOUi 3-iO 5-INCHE!S VEEP.
USE: iHE A'S A 6UIVE- iO t<EE-P THE-SE
SiRAIGHT.
PUi PLANT
MIX INiO THE FUJ<.l<QWS IN THE.
FOLLOWING MANNE-/<.:
a) SPREAD A e>AND OF iHE Vf2.Y
FERTIL-IZE-iZ- MIJ<. e>Y HAND
DOWN EACH OF THE. FURi<OWS.
b) USE- I'L OUNCES OF THE. Vf2.Y, BLENDE.D
MIX FOR EVE-fty .!Q FEET OF FUf2.i<OW
LENGTH.
c) THE-N) SPREAD aVEJ<. THE TOP OF THE
FERTILIZE.f2. A NARi<-OW E7/>.NO OF
LIME.
USE. Y
z
-POUND
(8 OUNCE.S) OF LIME:
- -., FOIt EACH 10 FE:ET
- i
4:\,. OF fLOW

LENGTH.

""'i'. .. ,:',,"'::' ,.i .r:' P/<.E. -MIX THE:
. . WITH
THE: LIME.
HE.FlE 15 THE: MITTL.EIDEt<. PI2-E. -PLANT
FERTIL.IZER. YOu st-\OUL.V USE.
WEIGH CAf'lEFUL.LY AND MI)<. T110FlQUGHLY
THE: FOLLOWING -Df/-Y (E.NOUGH FOfI-
VAfl-Y ACCOF?DING ro SIZE OF YOUF?. PLOT.
'SEE AF'PE:N0 IX lIT).
I'2.S-POUND5 POUf>L.E
15-pOUNDS POTASSIUM SUL.FATE Of/-
CHL.Ofl-IDE.
75-POUNDS SULFATE OF AMMONIA.
50-POUNDS MAGNESIUM SUL.FATE.
5-POUND5 OOFlON (SODIUM OOAATE
Or<. OOfl-lC ACID)
APPLIED SEPARATEL.Y:
'2.00 -pOUNDS OF LIME. U5E 6YPSUM
LIME FOr<. D/ZY CLIMATE.
A6FlICULTU/ZAL LIME Of/- DOLOMITE.
LIME: FOr<. WET CLIMATE..
r<-EMEMBEiZ - THESE AMOUNTS Ar<.E.
ENOUGH FOt<. 1'4 -ACf<E I TH""T'S 10,000
SQUARE. FEET. APPLY AS Pr<.EVIOU5Ly'
Dlr<.ECTE:O I WHETHEt<. THE fLOW
5PACINGS AFlE 34 INCHES ON
CENTER. I4>
e) IF THE. -:'OIL IS Df<.YING GIVE: iHE
" UGHT WliH WJ>.TEI'-
BEFOf/.E. TKE. FERTILIZE.f<.S IN TKE.
FURWW Wlili SOIL.
DO Nor COVEl'- WITH
DRY SOIL. IF PLANTING> 'SEEDS Of'..
iAAN5PLANTING PLF>.NTS.
f) COVEl< THE.
FE.RiILIZEI'- f>Y !lAt(.ING
SOIL OVER IT eerwEEN TKE:
IWW5. UP ENOU6H SOIL TO MAt(.E A
1.-;0 "?-INCH AAISE.P F-l06E: OVEfl.. THE LENGTH
OF THE FE/2.TILIZ.E.1<. IN THE FU/2.I<QW POW.
;HI<;. BUi'CIE<S THE FEl<TILIZEJ<. '3 TO 8 INCHES
eLOW THE TOP OF
THE J<.i06E. THIS IS
WELL e>E.LDW THE


PLANTS.
14"1
9) IF SEE. THi'T THE. f1O:?TS
ME. NO CLOSEF!. THAN ? INCHE.':>
TO THE. FEf'.TI UZE.f<. IN THE. FU f2.0W
UNDEF!. THE": F!.IDGE.
h) NEWL.Y TAAN'SPL.!'NTE.D PL.!'NTS Of/.
5E.ED Ff2.01"1 SOIL MAGGOTS, FUNGUS
DISEASES) CUTWOF!.I'1'S I 'SL.UGS AND SAAIL.S
1'Y APPLYING A PLANTING PF!.E.NCH
I MMEDIATEL.Y AfTEf/. TAANSPLANTING Of<.
SEEDING.
HEF!.E 15 THE I'1ITTLEIOE.!<. PLANTING
OFJCH FOf/.f'-1ULA FOF!. OPEN FUf/.F!.OW
FAF!.HING OF!.
55-GAL.LONS OF Wfl..iE.f<.
1'2. - OUNCE":'? CAPTAN (OITH/'.NE. Of<.
511'11 LAF!. Pf2.00UCTS ME fl..LL..
f/.IGHT ).
4- OUNCES DI....ZINON Of<. 'SIMILAf<.
,Pf2.00UCT.
MI)(. THOf/.OUGHL..Y TOGE.THEft. i'NO N'PL..Y
AT THE. AATE. OF ONE. TO EACH
I<P FEE.T OF FUf'.f/.OW flOW LENGTH.
ISO
APPLY DOWN THE. PLANT Of<. SE.E.D ONLY.
DO NOT N'PLY IN THE WI>-TE.f>... FUf<.f<.OWS
BETWEEN THE F4DGES. CUTWOi<.MS WILL
BE MOST ACTIVE THE FIF/.ST NIGHT AFTER.
TAANSPLANTING. CONTFtOl- THEM BY
PLACI NG '2. Of<.:!> POISON PE.LLETS 01<. A
L,bJ<GE PINCH OF FOlSON BAAN BESIDE
EACH PLANT STEM - AFTE./<.. THE WATEf'(.J NG
AND D/<ENCHING P/WCEDUfZ,E.S f'o.BOVE.
SNf'o.lLS AND SLUGS CAN BE TAi<EN
OF WITH POI'SONED e!'<IT AVAILABLE AT
MOST
L) Wf'o.TEP- THE p..owS OF PLANTS BY ALLOWING
WATEr<. FfWM A GNtVEN HOSE TO MOVE
SLOWLY OOWN THE FUp..p..oW LONG
ENOUGH FOP- WATEf<. TO SEEP UP INTO
THE i<./VGE5 TO THE PLANT
ONE SUCH Wi'-TEi<l NG i'- WEEI'- IS USUI>-l-LY
ENOUGH EVEN IN HOT, MID /'Ii<l:,AS-UNl-ESS
THE 'SOIL 15 VE.r<.Y S/'-NOY. WEEDING IS
MINI MIZ.E.D flY THIS ME.THOD OF WI>-TE.f<.1 NG.
ONLY THE. WATEfl- GET WE.T
ENOUGH FOi<. WEED SEED TO SP/<OUT.
!'Ny I'-IND OF OVErzHEAD SP/<INI'-l-ING
METHODS WAI'E. UP WEED SEE.DS aVE/<-
THE ENTIF-E. GN<VEN AF-E.A.
J) FEED youfl. Pl.1'NTS THE MITTLEIDE.f>...
NUT/<-IENT (CHi'-PTE/<. 1) FOP-
THE FIF/.5T TIME ABOUT THF<E.E WEE:.Jl-S
AFTEI<. TAANSPLP--NTING. (i<EMEMBE.r<. THAT
YOu NZ {lJ...READY WATERING THOi<OUGHLY
EVEJ<:.Y WE.EI(.-OP- AS THE PLANTS
151
""""'N FOf/- '(OUf/- CONVENIENCE IS
THE MITIl.E.IDEf/- NUTF1-IENT MIXTURE..
MIX THE FOl.LOWING T06ETHEFt DI<Y:
q -fOUNDS CALCIUM NITAATE.
4-pOUNDS AMMONIUM NITAATE:.
IY'!.-POUNDS DIAMMONIUM PHOsPHP-TE.
4Y1.-fOUNDS POTA5SIUM 'SULF;A.TE
OR CHLOI<IDE. .
(P - POUNDS MAGNE.'SlufvI 'SULFATE.
(EPSOfvl SALT).
/'2.-0RAMS 0=oViUfvI BORATE
01< 1'XJt':IC ACID)
4-0RAMS COPPER 'SUl.-FATE .
B- 0I<AMS ZINC SULFAIE. .
12- Gl<AM5 MANGIWE6E. 'SULFATE. .
3 - G!<AM'S MOLYOOIC ACID Oft
SODIUM iVlOLYE7Vf'-TE..
8-0UNCES IRON 'SULFf'-TE. .
USUALLY NOT NECE.<SSAfl-Y
THE THlfI-D YEA!<- OF HEf'-V,(
Gf'-RDENI NG
THIS FOI<MULA IS USED TO FEED GftOWlNG
PLANTS THROU6HOUI THE ENTIFtE
GROWIN6 PERIOD IN FIELD) 6flON- OOX)
OR
152
TrlE. FE.RTIL.12E.R NUTRIE.NT
MIXTURE IS SPREAD
DRY BY rlAND AND
1\ -I N II
AFTER
APPLICATION. j,
.P
APPLICATION 10 FE.E.T OF
fl.OW LE.N6TH BY HAND c:o OUNCES
OF THIS MI)(TURE. OF NUTRIENTs IN A
NAf/.fl.OW ,EVEN BAND roWN THE
OF THE WATE.R FUf/.fl.OW.
PLANTS 6fl.OWN IN -mE. OPEN FUFt.f1.OW
FIELD ME.THOD ARE. FED ONCE. EVERY
THFtEE WE.E.!'-S ONL.Y, ANO AL.Wf>.YS
JUST BEFOi<E A STOP FEEDING
PLANTS ABOUT TWO WE.EI'-S BEFOf2,E
HMVESTI t-lG
IF YOU Hf>.VE. A Pf<OBLEJY1 } YOU/<. LOCAL.
DEPi'RfME.NT OFFICe:.F.S
WE.L.COME OPf\?Ft!"UNITIE.S TO HE.t....P. THE.Y
CAN APVISE MUCH MORE. EFFECTIVEL.Y
fOR YOUR SPECIFIC [<EGlON.
SEE APPENDIX m FOR A CHf>.RT OF THE.
COMMON NUTRITiONAL. DEFICIE.NCIE.'S
AND INST[<UCf/ON'5 FOr< CO/<.r<E.CTING
THE.M
The joy of successful gardenlnglllke the author, examining these choice melons, you can
reap abundant harvests every time with the proven methods described In this book. Success
Is certain because nothing Is leflto chance!
NOTHIN6 IS THI*l PICKING
CHOICE., AND VE.GE.TAe>L-E.'5
THAT YOU/<. OWN HANDS AND MIND H/>.VE HE.l.PED
NATU[<.E. HAf<.VEST E'Af<.l.Y IN THE.
MOfI.NIN6 WHEN Pf/OOUCE IS COOL-IF F\?SSII!>L-E.
L.ATE IN THe WIl.l. DO.
HARVEST JUST COOI'-ING, EATIi'JG, Ot<.
CAi'JNING. FRESH-PICI'eD FOODI AT PEAl"-
OF PE/<.FECTION J IS TO BE.A.T! IF YOU
PLAN TO P/<ODUCE. FOt<. AWHIL-E., COOl.
IT TO SO"F QUICI'-LY AS POSSIl?LE.
(WITHIN AN HOut<. APTEt<. Plc'''.JNe).
TEMPEAATU/<.ES l.OWEI<- THN-J 4S
D
F TEND TO
DEHYO.ATE NlD WILT VE6E.TAf>L.E5.
I??
IS HOW TO TeLL WHEN THINGS AAE:
TO PICi<.:
ZUCCHINI.... ANYTIME: 5J<./N TOUGHENS.
.... CENTE./<.. &GIN5 TO
TU!<.N
GP-EEN W5H Of<. FOLE E'EAN5.... WHEN FOD
IS WELV FIL.L.ED AND SWOL.L.EN
BUT eE..F01<E. ST1<INGS DEVELOP.
Bf:ETS, Of<. CHIL.I PE.PPEf<.5....
TASTE. AS TO SIZ.E..
CABBAGE. .... WHEN HEAPS At<E SOL.ID AND
STILL FIRH.
CHIVES AND PARSL.EY.... ANYTIME.
CAUL./FLOWE/'<. AND .... JUST
HEAPS e6IN TO L.rosE.N AND

SWISS AND SPiNAcH.... WHILE
LEAVES At<E. STILL.. TENDER.
cuCUH!?EJ<. .... f;E.FOF<-E SEEDS OEVEL.OP.
GP-EEN ONION'S.... WHILE TOPS AP-E 'STILL
FULL AND Cf<.ISp.
Df<.Y ONION'S.... AFTE./<. TOPS Hi'VE DFUED.
SWEET PEPPE:.Fli?.,.ANYTIME. ,THE.Y N<.E.
5WEET E.VEN WHEN
EGGPLANT. '" BE.fOf<.E. SEEDS ME
WELL- DE.VELOPE-D.
TUF<-NIP5.... ANY SIZE. jUSE TOPS LII'-E 5PIN,t>.C.H.
CANTELOUPE.... WHEN THE. STEH
SEPMATE.5 EASILY.
roTATOE:'?.... NE.W pcrrl>-TOE:'S (SI'-lN SLIPS),
ANYTIME. FOf2- IMMEDIATE U5Ej
MATUf<.E ONE.S I>-FTE.f2- VINES
e;e:GIN TO DIE AND Sj<.JN IS TIGHT.
ISG:>
How simple can a greenhouse be! Here Is a standard MIUleider grow-box,large enough for
all the fresh vegetables you could want, covered with a simple plastic shelter.
The sides 01 your simple "greenhouse"
can be rolled up on pleasant days for
ventilation and tor easy working of crops,
from the sides.
A standard Mittleider greenhouse, simple
and Inexpensive, provides room for these
three grow-boxes, tilled with easy-la-work
"custom-made soli." See Chapter 10.
Complete economic self-sufficiency, If you wish, on Ie.. than half on acrel Food to eat and
food to sell for your financial needs. Lush vegetable crops, melons, potatoes, tomatoes-
whatever meets your needs or finds a market!
Simple, hand labor can outperform expensive equipment - the Mittleider way! Even tor
large-scale gardening operations a small rotollller is all the equipment you should ever
need. Below: Simple, plastic framework provides tor covering shelter If needed.
Tall-growlng plants are
supported on strings as
described In Chapter 8,
Page 75.
Tomalo vine Is pruned of
unneeded side growth,
leaving 1I0wer and lruli
bearing growth (at top).
Four Mittleider grow-boxes, easy to make, easy to work, wUl provide more than enough food
for a large family - In a backyard space. These boxes are filled with soft, mulch-like
"custom-made soil" (Chapter 4. Page 45), ready for planting an attractive garden
(Chapters 5. 6).
Simple grow..boxes and simple, plastic greenhouse sheller will outperform the largest
commercial greenhouse operallor'lS at a smaUlraction of the expense. Average people can
do extraordinary gardening with simple, hand tools - with certain success!
GrOW-boxes can be purchased in lour-foot increments or, as here, simply constructed by
leveling and staking boards In place to hold sand-sawdust-nutrlent mixture of your choice.
See Chapters 2, 3, 4 for detailed drawings and Instructions.
Simple Miltleider greenhouse takes shape. Growboxes In
place; plastic pipe is going on to support covering.
With two layers of plastic covering, you can keep plants
growing through cold, cold weather, forout-of-season crops!
Detail showing framewOrk for second laye, of plastic, all
ready to be covered. (See Chapters 10, 12.)
In seed-starting boxes, can you mix seed varlelles?
Generally speaking, yesl If sowed in rows and jf the germination
periods are similar, several varieties can be seeded in the same box.
Can all varieties of plants be grown in the same area?
Yes and no! Vining plants can smother out low-growing plants, and
tall-growing plants can spoil low-growing plants by shading them.
Why do you use redwood or cedar to build grow-boxes?
Only because these woods last much longer. You can use other
kinds if you don't mind rebuilding about every second year.
Should the outdoor grOW-box face north and south?
This is the preferred direction but it is not imperative,
Can grow-boxes be used for commercial gardening?
Certainly! A small seed-starting house and multiple grow-boxes,
with cold-weather protection, can easily make you economically
self-sufficient.
170
Appendix I 171
Can citrus fruits be grown In a greenhouse in a very cold climate?
Yes, but the economics of it says, "No"!
What is the difference between chemical and mineral fertilizers?
Mainly, the words. If the word minerals were used in both cases
there could be no argument.
Are the nutrients you use organic or synthetic?
With the exception of nitrogen they are neither. They are the same as
those found in mineral soils.
Is the dry, pre-plant fertilizer mix figured on square feet or cubic
feet?
On square feet - whether in the open field, the grow-box, or the
greenhouse.
Do fertilizers mixed with water deteriorate rapidly?
No. They may become concentrated when the water evaporates,
however, and they are corrosive.
Can the complete nutrient formula be used on berries and trees?
Yes!
How do you control tomato worms?
Control the butterflies that lay the eggs that become the worms.
What makes the flowers on tomato vines fall off?
Lack of water, nitrogen deficiencies, nematodes, nutritional
deficiencies, not enough light, fungus, and diseases.
Can white flies in the house or greenhouse be controlled?
Yes, by spraying with the materials available at your supply house.
172 More Food From Your Garden
Why does the fruit of apricot trees turn brown or black at the pit?
Insufficient water, excessive heat two weeks before fruit ripens,
boron or calcium deficiency.
What should be done about nematodes?
Sterilize the soil or use the right chemicals to destroy them. See your
local agriculture officer.
Should sawdust be pretreated with nitrogen?
If you want to, yes. It is not necessary.
Is it necessary to compost fresh sawdust before using?
No, it can be used right from the saw.
Can mushroom compost be used in place of sawdust?
No! In grow-boxes it can be used as a supplement but not to replace
sawdust because it breaks down too quickly.
Are wood ashes good to use as a soil supplement?
They are valuable as a covering over seeds. They are sterilized and
have nutritional values.
Are soil-test kits practical?
No! For adequate analysis of soil in the open furrow garden, you
need the services of a good laboratory. Ask your local agriculture
officer or department.
Can waste materials from the garden be used in soil?
In field gardening they can be worked into the soil where they will
decompose.
What can be done to make up for nitrogen shortages?
Use nitrogen fertilizers. If unavailable, bury organic material.
These formulas are the result of more than thirty years of testing
and successful food production all over the world. They are of
immense value to anyone who wishes to greatly increase garden or
farm yields.
Purchase the materials listed at your farm, garden, or hydroponics
supply house. You may also write to J. R. Mittleider, in care of the
publisher, for a free listing of the current best sources of r e y ~
mixed materials.
Be sure to read labels and follow instructions when using any
concentrated materials - a rule as important in the garden as in
the kitchen or workshop. Keep such materials out of reach of
children and pets.
PRE-PLANT FERTILIZER FORMULAS
For mixing with your choice of "soil materials" in Mittleider Grow-
Boxes (Chapter 4), before planting.
A. For Grow-Boxes in the standard 8'x30'x10' Mittleider Green-
house.
There are three grow-boxes inside this greenhouse - one on
each side, 15 inches wide by 30 inches long; and one in the
center, 30 inches wide by 26 feet long (Chapter 9).
173
174 More Food From Your Garden
1. Before anything else is placed in the grow-boxes, spread two
pounds of gypsum evenly over the original ground (surface)
inside the frame of each 15-inch-wide box; three pounds over
the inside area of each 3D-inch center box.
(In arid areas, less than 18 inches of rainfall annually,
gypsum is preferred; in areas with more than 20 inches of
rainfall, agricultural lime or dolomite lime are preferred. In
any case, the lime must not be omitted or plants will suffer.)
2. Fill the greenhouse grow-boxes with the inert/organic "soil"
materials you have selected (Chapter 4). Make the boxes
exactly level-full, without tamping down.
3. Spread evenly, right on top of the "soil materials," the
following formula for each 15-inch by 3D-foot box:
1 pound double superphosphate
1h pound potassium sulfate or chloride
1 pound sulfate of ammonia
1h pound magnesium sulfate (Epsom salt)
1h ounce boron (sodium borate Or boric acid)
Spread separately:
1 pound, 4 ounces lime (gypsum), or agricultural lime- (See
1 above).
For each center box, 30 inches by 26 feet, nearly double the
above formula.
4. Thoroughly mix the above fertilizers and the inert/organic
"soil materials." Again level the materials in the box.
B. For Mittleider 5'x30'x8" Outdoor Grow-Boxes
1. Spread 10 pounds of gypsum over the inside floor area, right
on the original soil (surface), inside each 5-foot by 30-foot by
a-inch box. (See note on rainfall and lime-choice in A-1
above.)
2. Fill the grow-boxes with the inert/organic "soil materials
(Chapter 4), then spread this formula over the top:
Appendix 1/ 175
4 pounds double superphosphate
4 pounds sulfate of ammonia
2 pounds potassium sulfate or chloride
2 pounds magnes'lum sulfate (Epsom salt)
2 ounces boron (sodium borate or boric acid)
Spread separately:
5 pounds lime (See note on rainfall and
lime-choice in A-1 above.)
PLANT-FEEDING NUTRIENT MIX
To feed growing plants throughout the entire growing cycle.
whether in outdoor grow-boxes. greenhouses, or open field. (See
Chapter 7 for method of application.)
Weigh accurately and mix very thoroughly together (dry):
9 pounds calcium nitrate
4 pounds ammonium nitrate
1%pounds diammonium phosphate (21-53-0)
4% pounds potassium sulfate or chloride
6 pounds magnesium sulfate (Epsom salt)
8 ounces iron sulfate
~ 4 grams copper sulfate
~ a grams zinc sulfate
~ grams manganese sulfate
12 grams boron (sodium borate or boric acid)
~ 3 grams molybdenum (sodium molybdate or
molybdic acid)
'Include these for the complete mixture for greenhouse grow-boxes
- always; for outdoor grow-boxes or open field. use only if visual
symptoms or soil test indicate need.
This mixture is applied by hand as dry granules (Chapter 7).
176 More Food From Your Garden
OPTIONAL PLANTFEEDING NUTRIENT MIXTURE
If the complete nutrient formula above is unavailable, substitute the
following formula for outdoor crops, applying at the same rate as the
regular formula. (Greenhouse crops will fail if the complete nutrient
mixture above is not used.)
Weigh carefully and mix thoroughly together (dry):
8 pounds ammonium nitrate
6 pounds magnesium sulfate (Epsom salt)
1% pounds diammonium phosphate (21-53-0)
4% pounds potassium sulfate or chloride
10 grams boron (sodium borate or boric acid)
Note: the complete formula above and this substitute formula are for
feeding growing plants - not to take the place of the pre-plant
fertilizers. This optional formula will probably produce well for two
or three years before the crops decline due to trace-mineral
deficiencies (See Appendix III). The soil cannot produce beyond its
most limiting factor.
SEEDLING NUTRIENT SOLUTION
This is a formula for the "seedhouse" - used to feed all sprouted
seeds and seedlings in the seedhouse, regardless of plant size-
until they are set out as transplants. This formula is used as a
constant feed, meaning that every watering of the plants is with this
solution. Note that before seeds sprout, only water is used to keep
them moist.
Measure accurately and mix together:
55 gallons water (1 drum)
8 ounces ammonium nitrate
2 ounces magnesium sulfate
2 ounces potassium sulfate or chloride
2 ounces diammonium phosphate
Appendix IJ 177
Or:
3 gallons water
13 grams ammonium nitrate
3 grams magnesium sulfate
3 grams potassium sulfate or chloride
3 grams diammonium phosphate (21-53-0)
TRANSPLANTING FORMULA
This formula is for feeding and minimizing transplanting shock
when plants are transplanted to where they will mature - in grow-
boxes, in the greenhouse, or in the open furrowfield. This operation
is done just once, at the time of transplanting (Chapter 6).
Give each plant 1pint of this solution (makes enough for 440 plants):
55 gallons water
2 pounds ammonium nitrate
1 pound diammonium phosphate (21-53-0)
8 ounces potassium sulfate or chloride
8 ounces magnesium sulfate (Epsom salt)
If local conditions indicate need, add:
4 ounces Diazinon (or similar product
for soil maggot control)
12 ounces Dithane-45, Benlate (or similar product
for control of fungus)
PRE-PLANT FERTILIZER FORMULA
FOR OPEN-FURROW GARDEN OR FARM
Formula to be spread in l;! narrow band and covered carefully with
soil before planting seeds or plants. See Chapter 14 for method of
application.
178 More Food From Your Garden
For 1 acre-
500 pounds double superphosphate
300 pounds potassium sulfate or chloride
300 pounds sulfate of ammonia
200 pounds magnesium sulfate
20 pounds boron (sodium borate or boric acid)
Applied separately before mixing the above with the soil:
800 pounds lime (in arid areas - less than 18 inches rainfall
- gypsum is preferred; in areas with more than 20 inches
rainfall, agricultural lime or dolomite lime is preferred.)
For 1J4 acre - 10,000 square feet:
125 pounds double superphosphate
75 pounds potassium sulfate or chloride
75 pounds sulfate of ammonia
50 pounds magnesium sulfate (Epsom salt)
5 pounds boron (sodium borate or boric acid)
Applied separately:
200 pounds lime (See above)
Per 100 lineal feet of plant row length:
2 pounds, 12 ounces double superphosphate
1 pound, 12 ounces potassium sulfate or chloride
1 pound, 12 ounces sulfate of ammonia
1 pound, 4 ounces magnesium sulfate
24 grams boron
Apply separately:
2 pounds lime (See above)
Appendix 1/ 179
Per 10 lineal feet of plant row length:
4% ounces double superphosphate
84 grams potassium sulfate or chloride
84 grams sulfate of ammonia
60 grams magnesium sulfate
6 grams boron
Apply separately:
4 ounces lime (See above)
Notes: There are 175 rows of plants in 1 acre - if the rows are 100
feet long and spaced 30 inches apart.
Weights are figured on the basis of 30 grams per ounce; 160unces
per pound.
UNITS OF MEASURE
60 drops
0
1 teaspoon
3 tablespoons
0
1 tablespoon
1 tablespoon
0
% ounce
16 tablespoons
0
1 cup
1 cup
0
8 ounces
16 fluid ounces
0
2 cups
2 cups 1 pint
'/2 liquid pint

1 cup
2 pints 1 quart
4 quarts
=
1 gallon
1 pound
0
16 ounces
1 pint
=
1 pound
1 gallon
=
8.337 pounds (8 pounds)
1 mile 5,280 ft., or 320 rods
1 acre
=
43,560 square feet
or 160 square rods
180 More Food From Your Garden
To Change Centigrade to Fahrenheit
Multiply centigrade by 9/5 and add 32 degrees
To Change Fahrenheit to Centigrade
Subtract 32 degrees and multiply by 5/9.
Equivalent Rates in Applying Fertilizers
1 ounce per square foot
1 ounce per square yard
1 ounce per 100 square feet
1 pound per 1,000 sq. ft.
1 pound per acre
5 gallons per acre
100 gallons per acre
100 gallons per acre
100 gallons per acre
= 2,722.5 pounds per acre
302.5 pounds per acre
= 27.2 pounds per acre
= 43.6 pounds per acre
1/3 ounce per 1,000 sq. ft.
= 1 pint per 1,000 sq. ft.
2V2 gallons per 1,000 sq. ft.
= 20 pounds per 1,000 sq. ft.
= 1 quart per 100 sq. ft.
FERTILIZER FORMULAS
FOR SPECIAL-SIZE GROW-IIOXES
(4' Square Segments)
PRE-PLANT FERTILIZER
4'x4'x8" Grow-Boxes
6V2 ounces double superphosphate
3% ounces potassium sulfate or chloride
6V2 ounces sulfate of ammonia
3% ounces magnesium sulfate (Epsom salt)
6 grams boron (sodium borate or boric acid)
1% pounds lime'
4'x8'x8" Grow-Boxes
13 ounces double superphosphate
6% ounces potassium sulfate or chloride
13 ounces sulfate of ammonia
6'/2 ounces magnesium sulfate
12 grams boron (sodium borate or boric acid)
3 pounds lime*
Appendix /I 181
4'x12'xB" Grow-Boxes
1'/4 pounds double superphosphate
10 ounces potassium sulfate or chloride
1% pounds sulfate of ammonia
10 ounces magnesium sulfate
18 grams boron
4112 pounds lime*
4'x16'x8" Grow-Boxes
1 pound. 10 ounces double superphosphate
13 ounces potassium sulfate or chloride
1 pound, 10 ounces sulfate of ammonia
13 ounces magnesium sulfate
24 grams boron
6 pounds lime*
4'x20'x8" Grow-Boxes
2 pounds double superphosphate
1 pound potassium sulfate or chloride
2 pounds sulfate of ammonia
1 pound magnesium sulfate
1 ounce boron
7% pounds lime
4'x24'xB" Grow-Boxes
2 pounds, 8 ounces double superphosphate
1 pound, 4 ounces potassium sulfate or chloride
2 pounds, 8 ounces sulfate of ammonia
1 pound, 4 ounces magnesium sulfate
36 grams boron
9 pounds lime*
"In selecting the type of lime to use follow the instructions given
previously for the standard size grow-boxes.
182 More Food From Your Garden
PLANT FEEDING NUTRIENT MIX
4'x4'x8" Grow-Boxes
64 grams (2 ounces)
4'x8'x8" Grow-Boxes
128 grams (4% ounces)
4'x12'x8" Grow-Boxes
192 grams (6V2 ounces)
4'x16'x8" Grow-Boxes
256 grams (8% ounces)
4'x20'xB" Grow-Boxes
320 grams (11 ounces)
4'x24'x8" Grow-Boxes
384 grams (13 ounces)
Note: Apply the fertilizers and water as outlined for the standard size
grow-boxes.
(See Color Plates for photographs of some deficiency symptoms)
Here are the nutrients plants require for growth. Deficiencies of the
first eight most commonly produce nutritional problems.
,.
Nitrogen 8. Molybdenum
2. Phosphorous 9. Manganese
3. Potassium 10. Copper
4. Magnesium 11. Zinc
5. Calcium 12. Sulfur
6. Iron 13. Chlorine
7. Boron
183
184 More Food From Your Garden
NUTRITIONAL DEFICIENCY
SYMPTOMS AND CORRECTIONS
The amounts of nutrients/fertilizers recommended here are based
on:
1. The standard Mittleider greenhouse (8'x30') containing three
grow-boxes - two, lS"x30' (one on each side); and one,30"x26'
in the center. The amount shown in each case is for one lS"x30'
box and should be nearly doubled for the 30"x26' box.
2. The standard Mittleider outdoor grow-box (S'x30').
Nutrients indicated should be spread evenly over the entire box
area. See additional instructions for application at the end of this
Appendix..
Nitrogen Deficiency
SYMPTOMS: general yellowing over entire plant; spindly,
stunted growth.
CORRECTION:
1. greenhouse grow-box - 1 pound, 12 ounces ammonium
nitrate.
2. outdoor grow-box - 2 pounds ammonium nitrate.
Phosphorous Deficiency
SYMPTOMS: a purplish discoloration of older leaves; stunted
growth, poor fruit set.
CORRECTION:
1. greenhouse grow-box - 12 ouncesdiammonium phosphate.
2. outdoor grow-box - 1 pound diammonium phosphate.
Potassium Deficiency
SYMPTOMS: scorching ("firing") of edges of mature leaves;
shriveled seeds in cereal crops; poor fruit quality.
Appendix If! 185
CORRECTION:
1. greenhouse grow-box - 1 pound potassium sulfate or
chloride.
2. outdoor grow-box - 1 pound, 8 ounces potassium sulfate or
chloride.
Magnesium Deficiency
SYMPTOMS: older leaves have dead areas and general yellow-
ing; abnormally bright colors in older leaves - bright reds,
oranges, yellows.
CORRECTION:
1. greenhouse grow-box - 2 pounds magnesium sulfate.
2. outdoor grow-boxes - 2 pounds, 12 ounces magnesium
sulfate.
Calcium Deficiency
SYMPTOMS: dead terminal buds; stunted root growth.
CORRECTION:
1. greenhouse grow-box - 1 pound, 8 ounces calcium nitrate.
2. outdoor grow-box - 1 pound, 12 ounces calcium nitrate.
Iron Deficiency
SYMPTOMS: yellowing of terminal buds with leaf veins
remaining green.
CORRECTION:
1. greenhouse grow-box - 1 pound iron sulfate.
1. outdoor grow-box - 1 pound, 4 ounces iron sulfate.
Boron Deficiency
SYMPTOMS: death of terminal buds; black heart of tubers;
flower end-rot of tomatoes.
CORRECTION:
1. greenhouse grow-box - 36 grams (1V4 ounces) boron, as
sodium borate or boric acid, mixed with 1 cup sawdust or sand.
2. outdoor grow-box - 60 grams (2 ounces) boron, as sodium
borate or boric acid, mixed with 3 quarts sawdust or sand.
186 More Food From Your Garden
Molybdenum Deficiency
SYMPTOMS: "whiptail disease" (see Color Plates), narrow,
long leaves, producing twisting patterns.
CORRECTION:
1, greenhouse grow-box - 8 grams (less than half an ounce)
sodium molybdate or molybdic acid, mixed in 1 cup sawdust or
sand.
2. outdoor grow-box - 16 grams sodium molybdate or
molybdic acid, mixed in 1 cup sawdust or sand.
When a deficiency symptom is spotted, corrective measures should
be taken as quickly as possible. For example: assume that the grow-
box has just been fertilized with the regular plant-feeding nutrient
mix and watered. A deficiency symptom is spotted and diagnosed.
Do not attempt correction on the same day as a regular feeding and
watering but don't wait a week either. The next day after spotting the
symptom, apply the corrective nutrient (as dry material spread
evenly over the box area) and water again with the regular amount of
water. Do not repeat the corrective application until several weeks
have elapsed.
Note that a deficiency correction is in addition to the regularfeeding
program, not along with it. In other words, don't simply add the
corrective nutrient to your regular feeding mixture; make a separate
application, followed by a separate watering.
STANDARD MITTLEIDER OUTDOOR GROW-BOX
(5'.30'.8")
(See drawings, Chapter 3)
Wood
70 feet 1"x8"x20' redwood (or cedar) lumber
25 1"x2"x18" pointed redwood stakes
Other Materials
1 pound blue shingle nails
1 pound 4-inch box nails
Tools
1 3-pound mall or hammer
1 regular-weight hammer
1 level, two feet or longer
100 feet strong cord
187
188 More Food From Your Garden
MATERIALS TO CONVERT A STANDARD OUTDOOR
GROWBOX INTO A SIMPLE GREENHOUSE
(See drawings, Chapter 9)
A. Box covered with one layer of plastic cover
Wood
90 feet 1"x2" boards, 20' lengths jf possible
Plastic
152 feet J;"" PVC pipe, lightweight (200PST)
20 feet 1" PVC pipe, lightweight (200PST)
16 314" PVC T-joints
16 %" PVC 45 elbows
1 p"lnt plastic cement
50 feet 4 mil, 16-foot-wide clear plastic
Cut plastic pipe to these lengths:
314" PVC pipe: 8 pieces, 60" long - for the width.
16 pieces, 48" long - for the legs.
8 pieces, 72" long - for the arched roof.
1" PVC pipe: 15 pieces, 15" long - base for legs.
Other Materials
1" metal 'U" clamps
60 feet ordinary bailing wire
Y2 pound 2-inch galvanized nails
B. Materials for second plastic layer in colder climates
Wood
210 feet 1"x2" boards, 20' lengths if possible
Plastic
140 feet %" PVC pipe, lightweight (200PST)
20 feet 1" PVC pipe, lightweight (200PST)
4 %" PVC T-joints
161'4" PVC 45 elbows
50 feet, 4 mil, 16-foot-wide clear plastic
Appendix IV 189
Cut plastic pipe to these lengths:
%" PVC pipe: 2 pieces, 64" long - for the width
16 pieces, 56" long - for the legs
8 pieces, 76" long - for the arched roof
1" PVC pipe: 15 pieces, 15" long - base for legs
Other Materials
50 feet ordinary bailing wire
1 quart white exterior paint
1 pound 2-inch box nails
Note: This list of materials does not include those needed for making
doors on both ends of this type of greenhouse, nor an extra 60' of
1"x8" boards needed to divide the grow-box, leaving an aisle down
the center. See Chapter 10 for illustrations.
STANDARD MITTLEIDER GREENHOUSE (8'.30'.10')
(See drawings, Chapter 10)
A. Materials for frame, grow-boxes. and one layer 01 plastic cover
Wood
60 feet 2"x6" boards, 10' or 20' lengths
4 2"x6" boards, 8' length
280 feet 1"x2" boards, 10' or 20' lengths
8 2"x2" boards, 12' length
8 2"x2" boards, 6' length
200 feet 1"x8" boards, 10' or 20' lengths
4 2"x4" boards, 8' length
8 4"x4" posts, 9' long
50 1"x2"x18" pointed redwood stakes
1 bundle lath
Plastic
260 feet %" PVC pipe, lightweight (200 PST), 20' lengths
20 feet 1" PVC pipe, lightweight (200 PST), 20' length
16 314" PVC T-joints
16 %" PVC 45 elbows
50 feet 2 or 4 mil clear plastic, 16' width
1 pint plastic cement
190 More Food From Your Garden
Cut plastic pipe to these lengths:
%" PVC pipe: 8 pieces, 96" long - for the width
16 pieces, 82" long - for the legs
8 pieces, 108" long - for the arched roof
1" PVC pipe: 16 pieces, 15" long - base for legs
Other Materials
1 pound blue lath nails
2 pounds 4-inch box nails
2 pounds 3-inch box nails
2 pounds 6-inch box nails
4 "0" shaped door hinges, 3
180 feet No.2 wire
12 %"x6" eye bolts, threaded
161" metal "U" clamps
60 3/4" metal "u" clamps
3 quarts white exterior paint
B. Materials for second layer 01 plastic in colder climates
Wood
30 feet 2"x2" boards, 10' lengths
180 feet 1"x2" boards, 10' or 20' lengths
1 bundle lath
Plastic
220 feet 3f4" PVC pipe, lightweight (200 PST), 20' lengths
20 feet 1" PVC pipe, lightweight (200 PST), 20' lengths
4 3f4" PVC T-joints
16 %" PVC 45
0
elbows
50 feet 4 mil clear plastic, 16' width
32 feet 4 mil clear plastic, 12" width
Cut plastic pipe to these lengths:
%" PVC pipe: 2 pieces, 101%" long - for the width
16 pieces, 90" long - for the legs
8 pieces, 114" long - for the arched roof
1" PVC pipe: 15 pieces, 15" long - base for legs
Appendix IV 191
Other Materials
41" metal "U" clamps
8 3/4" metal "U" clamps
40 3/16"x4" threaded bolts with nuts
16 2/16"x2%" threaded bolts with nuts
c. Measurements for three greenhouse grow-boxes
Materials are included above for the three standard grow-boxes in
the standard Mittleider greenhouse. Two boxes (either side of
greenhouse) are 15" wide by 30' long, outside measurements; one
box (center) is 30" wide by 26' long - cut short 24" on both ends of
greenhouse to allow for aisle access. See Chapter 10 for detailed
illustrations.
Dramatically increased yields - and income - are possible, even
on poor land, with the simple 5'x30' grow-boxes and the inexpensive
S'x30' plastic greenhouses described in this book.
The world demand for food increases daily and the problem is
growing in intensityl
The so-called "good land" on planet Earth is already under intensive
cultivation. But there are still millions of acres of "earth" lying idle in
most countries.
Over the years, crop yields per acre on this "good land" have
increased many fold, and no doubt will be increased still more. Just
how much more remains to be seen. It is reasonable to believe that
future increases will be limited in comparison to the recent past.
The greatest hope for providing food for an expanding world
population is in the millions of acres of land that today lie unused,
unproductive.
192
Appendix V 193
Until very recently, this land was regarded as worthless - but today
it has been proven that a very large part of this "worthless" land can
be used very easily and with maximum results.
Simple grow-boxes, covered where necessary by inexpensive,
plastic greenhouses, present the key to agricultural use of this land.
Their dramatic productiveness in our Mittleider demonstration
projects in many countries is unchallengeable.
Look at the following comparative figures - you will be surprised!
Comparison 01 grow-box/greenhouse farming
with some other types of farming
Crop: CABBAGE
Conventional Tractor Farming
Number of plants per acre
Average weight per head
Marketable heads per acre
Marketable cabbage per acre
Crop income per acre at 8lf: lb.
Possible crops per year
Potential income per acre, per year
5'x30'8" Grow-Boxes
14-15,000
3 pounds
40-50%
24,000 pounds
$1,920
2 (?)
$3,840
Number of plants per grow-box 135
Grow-boxes per acre 156
Plants per acre (135x156 19,000
Average weight per head 3 pounds
Marketable heads per acre 90%
Marketable cabbage per acre 51,300 pounds
Crop income per acre at 8 lb. $4,004
Possible crops per year 2 or 3
Potential income per acre at 2 crops $8.008
Note: Conventional farming requires heavy mechanization. Grow-
box farming, after the small cost of lumber. requires virtually no
equipment - just one 7HP rototiller is all the machinery needed.
Grow-boxes organize farming so that hand labor can compete with
farm machinery - and make it possible to use much of the poorest
and heretofore unusable land.
194 More Food From Your Garden
Crop: TOMATO
Large, Automated, Hydroponic Greenhouse
Greenhouse size
Cost to construct and equip
Tomato plants per greenhouse
Fruit per house, per crop
Fruit per plant (6-months picking)
Fruit per acre (9 houses)
Crop income per house, per crop at 25 lb.
Crops per year
Crop income per house, per year
Income potential per acre per year
150'x30' (1/9 acre)
$25,000
1,680
10 pounds
16,800 pounds
75 tons
$4,200
1V2
$6,300
$56,700
Simple, 8'x30'x10' Greenhouse
Greenhouses per acre 86
Cost to construct and equip, inc. heat $385
Tomato plants per greenhouse 150
Fruit per plant (4 months picking) 14-20 pounds
Fruit per house, per crop at 16 lb. 2,400 pounds
Fruit per acre (86 houses) 103 tons
Crop income per house, per crop at 25 lb. $600
Crops per year 2
Crop income per house per year $1,200
Income potential per acre per year $103,200
Note: Modern hydroponic greenhouses require much equipment
and continuous, fixed monthly expenses for operating.
The Mittleider 8'x30' greenhouse (except for the simple heating
equipment already included in the $385 construction cost) requires
no special equipment or machinery to operate. This eliminates the
heavy monthly expenses and turns man-hour production into ready
cash.
As the figures indicate, there is an improvement in crop yields with
the small greenhouse and it allows the use of land formerly
considered "worthless."
Deciency Symptoms in Vegetable
Plants
(Corrective Treatments Per 30!-long Row)
BORON (1-2 ounces Borax)
General Symptoms Rosette Crown terminal buds; Death of terminal buds; leaves
are an off-green color; leaves are distorted; leaves are brittle, stiff, along margins;
owers and pods fail to mature. Cotyledons enlarged and true leaves of young
plants turn purple; terminal shoots curl upward and die; blossom end rot of fruit.
Black Heart in tubers.
Variety Specic Symptoms
Bean Death of terminal buds; leaves are an off-green color; owers and pods fail to
grow.
Beet Rosette terminal buds; leaves die in crown; roots show heart-rot and dry-rot;
leaves are red, small and deformed.
Broccoli Head and margins of leaves are rust-brown discoloration; leaves become
necrotic; stems of curds are hollow.
Cabbage Stems are hollow in the head region; leaves are distorted; leaves are brittle,
stiff, along margins; leaves making up the head are unattached.
Cantaloupe Rosette terminal bud; and death of terminal buds.
Carrot Margins of leaves yellow, followed by red; roots split long and wide.
Cauliower Same as broccoli.
Celery Crosswise cracks in the petioles; small center leaves turn brown.
Corn Growing point dies; no silk and no ears develop.
Lettuce Distorted terminal leaves; death of growing point.
Onion Leaves are deep bluish-green color; basal leaves develop transverse cracks on
upper side.
Pea Yellow or white veins in leaves; terminal bud dies; blossoms shed; pods are
poorly shaped and empty.
Potato Older leaves curl upward at margins; bushy appearance of plant; foliage thick
and brittle; older leaf stalks break off easily
Radish Terminal bud dies; tubers crack and become hollow.
By Jacob R. Mittleider Edited by Jim Kennard 2010 Food For Everyone Foundation
Variety Specic Symptoms
Tomato Cotyledons and true leaves of young plants turn purple; terminal shoots curl
upward and die; blossom end rot of fruit.
CALCIUM (16 ounces lime or gypsum)
General Symptoms - Margins of leaves are light colored; leaves of terminal buds have
dead tips; plant growth is stunted. Leaves roll up at margins with necrotic edges.
Death of terminal bud; older leaves - small to large portions of the leaf collapse,
brown and die. Condition moves up the plant to younger leaves; warty appearance
of leaves; stubby roots; death of plant. Quick and severe wilting, scorching, and
death of large areas of a leaf or leaves; poor plant color and growth; enlarged
leaves; poor ower set and poor fruit set.
Variety Specic Symptoms
Bean Death of terminal bud; death of plant.
Broccoli Leaves roll up at margins with necrotic edges.
Brussels
Sprouts
Same as broccoli.
Cabbage Same as broccoli.
Cantaloupe Small to large portions of the leaf collapse and die; older leaves brown and die.
Carrot Leaves show chlorosis, later scorching and die; poor foliage.
Cauliower Same as broccoli.
Celery Young leaves of center hearts die; pale green color; growing point dies.
Corn Youngest unfolding leaves gelatinize and later stick together; weak stalks.
Cucumber Margins of leaves are light colored; leaves of terminal buds have dead tips;
plants are stunted.
Lettuce Young leaves pale and distorted; rosette crown.
Pea Chlorosis on lower leaves; plants are short and die; root tips die.
Potato Young leaves roll upward with marginal scorching; buds die; crops fail; young
leaves are pale green and small.
Radish Narrow white bands on margins of leaves; marginal leaf wilting.
Tomato Terminal owers die; plants are weak and abby; roots are brown; blossom end
of fruit rots.
By Jacob R. Mittleider Edited by Jim Kennard 2010 Food For Everyone Foundation
CHLORIDE (Very rare no corrective treatment given)
General Symptoms - Unnatural wilting of the plants. Resembles the symptoms of
excess nitrogen and excess salt.
COPPER (1 ounce copper sulfate)
General Symptoms - Copper deciency is rare. Narrowing of broad leaves;
characteristic brownish yellow, or pale yellow color or stripes, and curled leaves. In
severe cases the color is gray. Poor root system; greatly reduced yield or none at all.
Variety Specic Symptoms
Beet Bluish-green color of younger leaves; older leaves become chlorotic beginning
rst at the tips; leaf veins remain green.
Cabbage Heads fail to form; leaves become chlorotic, poor growth.
Carrot Poor tuber development; leaf growth is stunted but no chlorosis appears.
Corn Leaf tips wither and appear grayish; tips of newest leaves die; leaves become
chlorotic.
Lettuce Leaves become chlorotic, starting at the margins; leaves become cupped;
heads are not rm.
Onion Bulbs are not solid; leaves are chlorotic.
Pea Tips of terminal buds wilt; owers abort and no pods form.
Potato Young leaves remain permanently wilted; terminal buds die when ower buds
are developing; almost no chlorosis appears.
Tomato Growth of shoots severely stunted; very poor root growth; foliage dark bluish-
green color; owers fail to form; chlorosis appears.
IRON (1 ounce chelated iron)
General Symptoms - Bleached yellow color between the veins of young leaves; leaf
veins remain green ; yellow and green intermixed in interveinal tissue; older leaves
turn yellow, dry out, and fall off; stunted plant growth; leaves and owers shed
prematurely.
MAGNESIUM - (8 ounces magnesium sulfate)
By Jacob R. Mittleider Edited by Jim Kennard 2010 Food For Everyone Foundation
General Symptoms - Chlorosis in the older leaves, with multiple colors between the
veins. Older leaves show patches of orange, red and purple; later the chlorotic
patches coalesce, brown and drop out. Older leaves show interveinal chlorosis and
necrosis; leaf margins turn up; stems are slender; interveinal light green or yellow
patches on maturing leaves; later these patches dry up; ower set turns yellow and
drops off; fruits are poorly shaped and poorly developed; bright colors of reds,
yellows, oranges, and purples appear on maturing leaves. Because magnesium
moves within the plant, older leaves show deciency.
Variety Specic Symptoms
Bean Older leaves show reddish-brown mottling; later the spots become necrotic.
Beet Chlorosis in the older leaves, with reddish shading between the veins.
Broccoli Older leaves show patches of orange, red and purple; later the chlorotic
patches brown and drop out.
Brussels Sprouts Same as broccoli.
Cabbage Same as broccoli.
Cantaloupe Necrotic spots develop in older leaves; later the spots coalesce.
Carrot Leaves are colored with yellow, reds, and purplish; older leaves are very
chlorotic; poor tuber development; poor growth.
Cauliower Same as broccoli.
Celery Leaf tips and margins are chlorotic with reddish blotches; later entire leaves
become necrotic.
Corn Older lowest leaves turn bright red color; later leaves become necrotic.
Cucumber Leaf veins remain green; chlorosis develops between veins; leaf edges
become brittle.
Lettuce Older leaves show chlorosis and later complete yellowing.
Onion Tips of leaves die; foliage dies prematurely; growth is retarded.
Pea Leaf-tips are brown and dry; leaves die prematurely.
Potato Older leaf margins and centers show mottling and chlorosis; later these leaves
become necrotic; leaves turn up at margins.
Radish Older leaves become chlorotic between the veins.
Tomato Older leaves show interveinal chlorosis and necrosis; leaf margins turn up;
stems are slender.
By Jacob R. Mittleider Edited by Jim Kennard 2010 Food For Everyone Foundation
MANGANESE (2 ounces manganese sulfate)
General Symptoms - Predominant symptoms of manganese deciency include uniform
yellowing (brighter than nitrogen) over the entire leaf surface, including veins not the
entire plant, only some leaves. Symptoms can appear on mature leaves or terminal bud.
Often they are more clearly identied by their descriptive names, such as gray speck,
white streak, dry spot, and yellow disease in spinach and beans.

Variety Specic Symptoms
Bean Young leaves become chlorotic, increasing in severity; later leaves turn
yellow, drop and the plant dies.
Beet Chlorosis between leaf veins; growth is erect; red and purple tinting
appears on leaves.
Cabbage Leaves are usually small and yellow.
Celery Chlorotic marginal bands on leaets; leaves have olive-green coloring.
Corn Yellow and green striping the full length of the leaf.
Cucumber Between leaf veins the color is pale green to yellowish white; veins remain
green; leaves are small; blossom buds turn yellow.
Lettuce Leaves turn pale and become chlorotic, then necrotic.
Potato Leaves are rolled forward and are chlorotic.
Tomato Sometimes growth severely stunted; leaves near terminal bud are small,
rolled forward; dark-brown spots appear along leaf veins.
MOLYBDENUM (1 ounce sodium molybdate)
General Symptoms - Whiptail disease (narrow long leaves with twisted patterns) in
cabbage, broccoli, and cauliower; cracked stem of celery; ruptured cells in leaves
of affected plants; missing portions of leaves, either inside or on the edges; loss of
living green color; ower drop, and poor fruit crop; death of the terminal bud.
NITROGEN (16 ounces ammonium nitrate or urea)
General Symptoms - Growth erect, becoming stunted; young leaves become a light
green color later turning to light yellow; lower leaves turn yellow, scorch and die.
Plants are weak, stems are thin & woody. Fruit pointed on blossom end. Yellowing
over entire plant, including the leaf veins; weak, spindly plant stems and leaves;
death of the older leaves; failure to fruit.
By Jacob R. Mittleider Edited by Jim Kennard 2010 Food For Everyone Foundation
Variety Specic Symptoms
Red Beets Growth is erect; older leaves a dark reddish color; young leaves pale green
color.
Broccoli Pale green color, particularly on young leaves; older leaves may show
reddish to purple colors and will shed prematurely.
Cabbage Same as broccoli.
Carrot Leaves light green color, later turning to yellow.
Cauliower Same as broccoli.
Celery Yellowing of older leaves; later they will wilt.
Corn Older leaves dry (scorch) at the tips; death of the leaf follows; plants are
weak with thin stalks.
Cucumber Leaves are light yellow to pale yellow; thin woody stems; fruit yellow-green
color; fruit pointed blossom end.
Lettuce Pale green color on leaves; older leaves show "ring" and die.
Onion Young leaves light-green color; older leaves die; growth pattern upright.
Potato Young leaves light-green color; leaves yellowish color, later drying up; leaf
veins deep purple color.
Radish Stunted growth; bulbs small, poorly developed; stems weak.
Sweet Potato Defoliation of lower leaves; leaf color yellowish green with purplish areas;
stunted growth.
Tomato Growth upright; lower leaves turn yellow and die; young leaves light green
color; purple veins on under-side; stems are slender.
PHOSPHORUS (8 ounces triple super phosphate or comparable)
General Symptoms - Poor foliage; leaves dull green to purple color; weak slender
stems. Leaves small; dark purple color; short leaf stock (petiole). marginal scorch on
leaves. red and purple blotches; missing kernels on ears & in pods. Thin, weak,
spindly plants; red and purple colors on tops of leaves; purplish blotches on
underside of tomato leaves between the leaf veins; poor fruit set and poor fruit
quality.
Variety Specic Symptoms
Beet Leaves Small; dark purple color; short leaf stock (petiole).
By Jacob R. Mittleider Edited by Jim Kennard 2010 Food For Everyone Foundation
Variety Specic Symptoms
Broccoli Underside of leaves show purple near veins; leaves have dull purple color;
margins of leaves die.
Cabbage Same as broccoli.
Carrot Leaf stalk upright; older leaves die; small leaves are dull-green color with
purple.
Celery Slender leaf stocks; plants hardly grow; rosette crown.
Corn Tops of mature leaves red and purple blotches; slender stalks; missing
kernels on ears.
Cucumber Thin stems; older leaves dull-green color.
Lettuce Late maturing; leaves dark green with purple shading.
Onion Tips of leaves die back; older leaves wilt and die.
Pea Weak stunted shoots; reduction in leaves with bluish-green color.
Potato Older leaves fall off; upright spindly growth; tubers may have internal
cracks; marginal scorch on leaves.
Radish Underside of leaves reddish-purple color; stunted growth; poor bulb
development.
Tomato Poor foliage; undersides of leaves purple color; weak slender stems.
POTASSIUM (16 ounces potassium chloride)
General Symptoms Yellowing then ring (scorching) of leaf edges (ratty-looking
appearance); brown, dry blotches within the leaf and between the leaf veins; ragged
tears within the leaf; poor quality fruit set; poor root growth; grain stems weaken and
lled heads bend downward and later fall to the ground.
Variety Specic Symptoms
Bean Leaf margins develop necrotic-brown areas between the veins; leaets turn
downward.
Beet Leaf surface crinkled and edges turn downward; stems of older leaves
have brown spots; roots poorly developed and tend to rot.
Broccoli Browning of leaf margins, and browning between the leaf veins; curds are
soft and poorly developed.
Brussels Sprouts Same as broccoli.
By Jacob R. Mittleider Edited by Jim Kennard 2010 Food For Everyone Foundation
Variety Specic Symptoms
Cabbage Same as broccoli.
Cantaloupe Lower leaves turn brown and die; fruits split at blossom-end; leaves have
yellow necrotic spots near edges.
Carrot Roots are spindly; growth is poor; leaves are chlorotic and brown.
Cauliower Same as broccoli.
Celery Leaets curl, turn brown with necrosis; leaf stems are short.
Corn Leaf tip and marginal scorch; tip end of ears lled with shriveled kernels;
weak short stocks; lodging.
Cucumber Necrosis on leaf margins; young leaves crinkled; fruit very small at stem
end.
Lettuce Dark green leaves; marginal scorch and interveinal scorch on leaves.
Onion Older leaves turn a slight yellow, wilt, and die; leaf tips die and dry; poor
bulbs.
Pea Firing of margins of older leaves; pods poorly lled and hollow; poor spindly
growth.
Potato Yellowish color on older leaves; later necrosis and browning of leaf-tips and
leaf margins; slender stalks with short internodes.
Radish Center of leaves bluish-green color; leathery leaves and they curl
downward.
Tomato Leaves scorch along margins, later become necrotic; stems are thin; fruit is
ill- shaped; fruit ripens unevenly.
SULFUR (8 ounces agriculture-grade sulfur)
General Symptoms Bleached - creamy white to light yellow color of entire leaf or
leaves, including the terminal buds; creamy white color of older leaves; dying
terminal buds; older leaves die and fall off.
ZINC (4 ounces zinc sulfate)
General Symptoms - Slow early growth; leaves thicken; leaves tend to curl downward.
Flower buds and leaves drop off. Small terminal leaves referred to as "little leaf' in
fruit trees; severely reduced fruit-bud formation; small, seedless pods in some
vegetable crops; streaks of yellow and long bands of yellow in the leaves of some
crops; red ring on orange-yellow leaves with green veins can be fairly bright
colors. Affects younger leaves rst.
By Jacob R. Mittleider Edited by Jim Kennard 2010 Food For Everyone Foundation
Variety Specic Symptoms
Bean Flower buds and leaves drop off.
Corn Older leaves have light-yellow streaks or chlorotic stripes between veins;
sometimes appearing as broad bands of yellow or white tissue, occurring
mainly on the lower half of the leaf and seen when the young leaf comes
out of the whirl; tasseling and silking are late.
Pea Margins of lower leaves become necrotic; stems are erect; no owers form.
Potato Grayish-brown spots develop on leaves half-way up the plant.
Tomato Slow early growth; leaves thicken; leaves tend to curl downward.
Quiz:
For which nutrients does yellow color show if deciency exists describe symptom.
Nitrogen
Manganese
Molybdenum
Zinc
Potassium
Iron
Magnesium
Overall yellowing
Yellow, including veins brighter than nitrogen
Yellow edges on small leaets
Yellow and orange with green veins
Yellowing, followed by scorching or ring of leaf edges
Yellow with green veins
Bright yellow and/or red, and/or purple, and/or orange
By Jacob R. Mittleider Edited by Jim Kennard 2010 Food For Everyone Foundation
Garden Planting Details
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beans, bush either frost-sensitive On ADLF 3 2 0.500 68 lbs. 240 5 20 -2 +0 65 3
beans, pole (vertical) either frost-sensitive On ADLF 2 1 0.500 180 lbs. 180 10-12 84 -2 +0 75 16
beets, red seed moderately-hardy 2-3 weeks before 2 2 0.250 120 lbs. 362 5 12 -2 55 20
broccoli seedling hardy 4 weeks before 14 2 alt.* deep 80 lbs. 52 5-6 20 -8 -4 85 4
cabbage seedling hardy 4 weeks before 12 2 alt. deep 150 lbs. 60 5 15 -8 -4 85 2
carrots seed moderately-hardy 2-3 weeks before 1 2 0.125 90 lbs 720 6 12 -2 65 16
cauliflower seedling hardy 4 weeks before 14 2 alt. deep 100 lbs. 52 5-6 20 -8 -4 100 4
celery seedling moderately-hardy 2-3 weeks before 12 2 alt. deep 120 lbs. 62 5-6 18 -6 -2 60 2
chard either moderately-hardy 2-3 weeks before 6 2 0.250 150 lbs. 124 3-4 12 -6 -2 60 20
corn seed frost-sensitive On ADLF 8 2 alt. 0.500 115 ears 92 5 72 +0 80 2
cucumbers (bush) seedling frost-intolerant 2-3 weeks after 12 2 deep 248 lbs. 62 6-8 18 -1 +2 65 16
cucumbers (vertical) seedling frost-intolerant 2-3 weeks after 9 1 deep 410 lbs. 41 8-12 84 -1 +2 65 4
eggplant (vertical) seedling frost-sensitive On ADLF 9 1 deep 400 lbs. 41 10-12 72 -8 +0 90 16
kohlrabi seed hardy 4 weeks before 2 2 0.250 120 lbs. 360 4 12 -4 65 4
lettuce, head either hardy 4 weeks before 12 2 alt. 0.125 112 lbs. 62 4 12 -7 -4 55 2
lettuce, leaf either hardy 4 weeks before 6 2 0.125 45 lbs. 122 3 12 -7 -4 55 6
melons, cantaloupe (vert) either frost-intolerant 2-3 weeks after 9 1 0.250 246 lbs. 41 8-10 84 -1 +2 85 10
melons, honeydew (vert) either frost-intolerant 2-3 weeks after 9 1 0.250 246 lbs. 41 8-10 84 -1 +2 85 8
onions, green tops either hardy 4 weeks before 1 4 0.125 144 bunches 1440 3 12 -7 -4 65 2
onions, large bulb either hardy 4 weeks before 4 4 1.000 135 lbs. 360 7 15 -7 -4 65 4
parsley either moderately-hardy 2-3 weeks before 6 2 0.125 23 lbs. 120 3-4 12 -6 -2 65 24
parsnips seed moderately-hardy 2-3 weeks before 3 2 0.125 160 lbs. 244 7 12 -2 65 12
peas, bush either hardy 4 weeks before 2 2 0.500 90 lbs. 362 4-5 18 -7 -4 60 3
peppers, all types seedling frost-intolerant 2-3 weeks after 12 2 alt. deep 310 peppers 62 8-12 16 -7 +2 85 12
potatoes seed moderately-hardy 2-3 weeks before 8 2 alt. 1.500 145 lbs. 92 4-5 16 -2 65 8
radishes seed hardy 4 weeks before 1 2 0.125 60 bunches 722 2 8 -4 25 3
spinach either hardy 4 weeks before 6 2 0.250 46 lbs. 122 4 8 -7 -4 45 4
squash (vertical) either frost-intolerant 2-3 weeks after 9 1 0.500 154 lbs. 41 8-12 84 -1 +2 90 14
squash, crooked-neck either frost-intolerant 2-3 weeks after 21 1 0.500 135 lbs. 18 8-12 24 -1 +2 90 14
squash, yellow either frost-intolerant 2-3 weeks after 21 1 0.500 135 lbs. 18 8-12 24 -1 +2 90 14
squash, zucchini either frost-intolerant 2-3 weeks after 21 1 0.500 135 lbs. 18 8-12 24 -1 +2 90 14
tomatoes (indeterminate) seedling frost-sensitive On ADLF 9 1 deep 615 lbs. 41 10-12 84 -8 +0 90 16
tomatoes, bush seedling frost-sensitive On ADLF 14 2 deep 208 lbs. 52 6-8 24 -8 +0 90 6
turnips seed moderately-hardy 2-3 weeks before 2 2 0.125 120 lbs. 362 4 12 -2 25 4
watermelons either frost-intolerant 2-3 weeks after 21 1 0.250 320 lbs. 16 6-8 16 -2 +2 90 3
Find this in the Mittleider Yahoo Group [Gledhill Folder] 1 of 1 Planting_Helper_Simple_20090427.xls Printed 4/20/2010

How to build & use T-Frames 1 3/5/2010
HOW TO BUILD HOW TO BUILD HOW TO BUILD HOW TO BUILD & & & &
USE USE USE USE T TT T- -- -FRAMES FRAMES FRAMES FRAMES
Recommended for the Mittleider Method of Vertical Growing

Author: Jim Kennard
Illustrations: James Gledhill

Supplies

The quantities below are required to build 4 T-Frames.
This is enough for one 30 foot-long grow bed

Quantity Item / Description
6 8 foot-long Treated 4x4
4 of these will be used for the 4 post.
The other two will be cut into sections for crossbars and
support braces
8 6 inch-long nails (spikes)
These are to attach the crossbar to the post
32 Smaller nails or screws
These will be used to attach the support braces to the
crossbar and the main post.

Construction

1. Set four of the 4x4s aside. They will be the main posts
2. Cut the other two 4x4s into equal lengths of 32 inches long.
a. Four of these 32 inch pieces will be the top cross bar of the T-Frames
3. Mark two of the 32 inch long 4x4s as follows (see the diagram below for more detail)
a. On the bottom of the 4x4, mark at the following locations from left to right.
i. 10 5/8, then 3 5/8", then 10 5/8", then 3
5/8"
b. On the top of the 4x4, mark at the following
locations from left to right.
i. 3 1/2", then 3 5/8", then 10 5/8", then 3
5/8"
c. Draw lines between these marks, then, using a
table saw, cut on the lines.
4. Pre-drill through the top center of the 32" tops, then use a 6"
spike to nail into the 8' post.
5. Screw or nail the braces to the top and post.
6. If you feel like your wood could use more treatment where it
will be placed in the ground, paint or cover the bottom 20
inches with exterior paint or roofing tar

Your T-Frame should look like the diagram above.

How to build & use T-Frames 2 3/5/2010
Put in the garden
1. Bury the T-Frame 15" in the ground at 10' foot (or shorter) intervals.
T-Frames should be placed on the same side as your single-row of
plants. The outside edge of the post should be lined up with the top of
the soil-bed ridge.
2. Install the wire/pipe between the Ts on the outside edges. Some
options are:
a. Use 1/2" galvanized pipe held in place by two nails (you may
be able to find this at junk/scrap metal places), or
b. Use 1/2" rebar, or
c. Use 2 X 4's on edge (or other strong supports you can find
for a good price), or
d. Use #8 gage wire and eyebolts between the T-Frames (this
is very heavy gage wire do not use smaller wire). Braces must be used on the outside Ts to keep them from
being pulled together by the weight of the fruit.
3. Attach a tie-wire to the outside edge of the Ts at ground level the tie-wire will follow the ridge. Nail 1 inch nails to the
outside edge of the T and wrap tie-wire around the nail. Tightly stretch the tie-wire to the next T and wrap around that nail.
Do this with each T until the end of the bed.

NOTE: The weight on the support wire/pipe become very heavy as the plants grow. These supports need to be very strong to support
that weight.

How to use
1. Cut 9 feet lengths of bailing twine for each plant. Tie a knot on each end of the twine so they do not unravel. This way you
can re-use them next year.
2. Tie the bailing twine with a slip knot to the wire/pipe at the top of the T. Alternate sides for each plant left, right, left, right,
etc. This creates an alternating V that allows the maximum sunlight in.
3. Attach bailing twine from both sides of the wire/pipe at the top of the T down to single tie-wire near the base of the plants.
4. As the plants grow, guide them up the bailing twine, alternating sides for each plant.
5. Remember to remove and prune suckers. (See Mittleider Gardening Course, Chapter 15 for details)

NOTE: If you want to extend the growing season, use 2 X 4's on edge at the top of the T, and make an arched canopy with 3/4"
PVC and 45 degree Slip fittings every 2', then cover in early Spring and late Fall with 6 mil clear plastic. And for those in hot climates
place 25-30% shade cloth on top of the arched canopy only sufficient to give partial shade during the hottest 3 hours of the day. This
can help your tomatoes, etc. continue fruiting in the heat of summer.

Cutting Details

The diagram to the right shows the major
cuts used for the six 4x4 post.

Four posts kept un-cut at the full 8 feet.

Two posts are cut in three equal lengths of
32 inches. Four of these sections are used
for the top crossbars.

The remaining two sections of 32 inches
are cut for the supporting braces. (See
diagram above)
32.00in. 32.00in. 32.00in.
T-Post main post #1
T-Post main post #2
T-Post main post #3
T-Post main post #4
32.00in. 32.00in. 32.00in.
Top Crossbar #1 Top Crossbar #2 Top Crossbar #3
Top Crossbar #4 Braces (see diagram) Braces (see diagram)
8'-0"

How to build & use T-Frames 3 3/5/2010
The big picture!