LETTUCE
Lettuce seeds need light to germinate. Just barely cover the seed with soil. (P)
After a couple of weeks check to see if the roots have branched out to the sides of the plug. If so, they are hardy enough to go in the ground.
Well-rotted manure or compost is ideal. (P)
The plants will need regular watering, as lettuce tends to have a shallow root system.
For the longest harvest, direct seed or transplant every 7-10 days.
After that, rinse through with water and pack into plastic boxes.
TOMATO
In general, 4-5 week old tomato seedlings can be transplanted into the high tunnel 4-5 weeks earlier in the season than they could be transplanted into the field.
At transplant, a soluble starter fertilizer that is high in phosphorus is recommended
Raised beds enhance soil warming, drainage, and volume of soil for the root system.
Raised beds can be formed with compact bed shapers or power tillers
After the beds are formed, fertilizer, drip tape, and mulch can be applied. (C)
Spraying weekly with compost tea also seems to be effective at warding off fungus diseases.
For early season tomato production, black, clear or IRT (infrared transmitting) mulch can be applied to raise soil temperatures.
Clear plastic will result in significantly higher soil temperatures than black plastic, however, weeds can germinate and emerge under the clear film.
Row covers can be kept on the tomato plants from transplant to the appearance of the first flower clusters.
Pruning tomatoes refers to the removal of axillary shoots which are commonly called suckers.
Fresh market tomatoes are harvested at stages ranging from light red to full red, which is also known as vine-ripe
Wash and pack tomatoes into cardboard boxes.
Tomatoes sold in the wholesale market are sorted by size and packed in standard boxes or cartons that hold 15-25 lbs each
CUCUMBER
Cucumbers are usually started by planting seeds directly in the garden.
Plant transplants 1 to 2 feet apart in rows 5 to 6 feet apart when they have two to four true leaves.
Plant seeds 1/2 to 1 inch deep and thin the seedlings to one plant every 12 inches in the row or to three plants every 36 inches in the hill system. If you use transplants, plant them carefully in warm soil 12 inches apart in the row.
When fruit begins setting and maturing, adequate moisture becomes especially critical. For best yields, incorporate compost or well-rotted manure before planting. Cucumbers respond to mulching with soil-warming plastic.
Side-dress with nitrogen fertilizer when the plants begin to vine. Cucumber beetles should be controlled from the time that the young seedlings emerge from the soil.
Pick cucumbers at any stage of development before the seeds become hard.
Pack fruit in plastic bags and pack into carton boxes.
Additional Pointers for Growing Good Transplants
1. Be sure that the growing medium is free of plant disease organisms. Store all containers and soil mix material where contamination can be avoided.
2. Sterilize all plant-growing containers between uses.
3. Keep hose nozzles off the floor, as the floor may carry disease organisms.
4. If containers are used, fill to a uniform depth, making certain that the soil surface is reasonably level. Fill pots to ½ to 3/4 inch from upper edge to leave room for water during irrigations.
5. When irrigating (water or nutrient solution), apply enough to thoroughly wet the full depth of soil. This will ensure moist soil throughout the container and avoid salt buildup.
6. Cover seeded containers with clear polyethylene film until emergence to improve soil temperature and moisture conditions.
References
http://www.attra.org/attra-pub/tomato.html
http://gardening.about.com/od/vegetablepatch/a/Lettuce_2.htm
http://www.urbanext.uiuc.edu/veggies/cucumber1.html
