midterm 2 pt. 2

Question 1

cucurbitaceae

Answer 1

very large and complicated family
includes summer squash, winter squash, cucumbers, pumpkins, gourds, watermelons, cantaloupe, honeydew melons, marrows …
worldwide this family is very important economically ; edibles and ornamentals
native to warmer regions of the world but several species can be grown here ; over a hundred cultivars can be grown here
warm season crops ; will not tolerate cold soils / freezing temperatures ; tender annuals
many MUST be started indoors and later transplanted to the garden when soil temperatures have warmed ; 15°C + measured at 10 cm depth
some have short growing season (cuc) and can be ‘direct seeded’ while others must be transplanted (melon) (long growing season) ; can transplant shorter growing season cultivars and extend growing season ; cost, expertize vs yield
ideally start 4 to 6 weeks before transplanting to garden ; often transplant to garden in early June ; depends on many factors ; don’t want plants too large when put into field ; shock
do not disturb roots when transplanting

Question 2

cucurbitaceae 2

Answer 2

really benefit from floating row cover / tunnels / mulch and trickle irrigation
most are vines but can be bush plants ; many require a large space to grow
variation within flowering / pollination
most in family are monoecious - having separate male and female sexes on different flowers but on the same plant ; male flowers ; female flowers
not all flowers produce fruit ; first flowers are often male ; usually many more male flowers formed than female flowers
cross-pollinated ; benefit from bees in area – transfer pollen
some newer cucumber cultivars have a larger proportion of female to male flowers ; higher yield
in particular with cucumbers – new cultivars can be all-female / (90%+) are female ; gynoecious types / predominantly gynoecious ; pollen supplied by male flowers from a monoecious pollenizer which comes in same package of seed ; ‘cultivar blend’ ; pollenizer fruit edible ; pollenizer has both male and female flowers ; need male and female to set fruit
cucumbers can be parthenocarpic - have no seeds ; do not need pollen to set fruit ; all female flowers - all produce fruit ; non-fertilized fruit is seedless ; many are greenhouse cultivars ; $$$$ ; can get seedless field cuc cultivars
most commonly if parthenocarpic cucs are pollinated by bees, the resulting fruit will be seeded ; if growing parthenocarpic cucs in field, must isolate from other cucs ; some parthenocarpic cultivars are simply harvested when very young before seeds can form

Question 3

cucurbitaceae 3

Answer 3

stored for a few days / many months
plant growth during hot weather can be VERY fast ; 20 - 30 cm / day ; fruit can enlarge very fast ; may need to harvest daily up to every third / fourth day for some types of crops

Question 4

cucumber

Answer 4

grown worldwide ; very popular vegetable
slicing cucumber is most common garden type
skin can be thicker (need to peel) or ‘non-peel’ / ‘thin skin’ – just eat as is
can be ribbed or not ribbed ; can have spines or not
shape, width and length is extremely variable
pickling, field (slicer / garden), English / European / Greenhouse types ; specialty - Lemon, Armenian, Persian, Gherkin, many Asian types, African cucs, ….
cocktail / snacking (beit alpha) cucs – package of 5 or 6

full sun ; warm season ; soils 15C + ; late May / early June
well drained soil ; high organic matter content best ; tolerates most soils – sandy dry fast so need more moisture ; like compost
need moisture ; will be bitter if droughted especially when fruit forming
average fertility ; within row 30 cm ; between row 1 m
respond well to mulch and FRC
can direct seed ; early June ; mature in 50 days + ; can start as transplant 4 weeks early – no earlier / smaller plants
mostly vine cultivars - patio cultivars are very dwarf vines
patio types do not yield like vine types
respond well to trellis ; especially long cultivars ; no need to support fruit
rotate one year in four ; disease control
pickling types – shorter ; some will grow to be large (15 cm long ; 4 cm wide) but best to harvest when younger (10 cm long ; 2 cm wide) ; may require harvesting daily - grow fast under ideal conditions
first harvesting in mid July
Gherkin type (Cornichon) - specific cultivar ; ‘Parisian Pickling’ Cucumber ; ‘Paris pickling cuc’
any cuc can be pickled ; smaller and seedless better

Question 5

cucumber harvest

Answer 5

better to harvest immature than over-mature ; may need to harvest daily
can used FRC in autumn to extend season
harvest in the morning ; highest turgor ; cool ASAP to remove field heat ; store at 5-10°C ; will store 2 + weeks ; the more immature - the shorter the storage (moisture loss) ; long slicers – shorter storage ; gh – very short storage (very thin skin)
If harvest when over-mature, rind will be thicker and can store for a few months ; can remove seeds and use flesh
field / slicers = most common type ; MANY cultivars

Question 6

muskmelon

Answer 6

two categories; ribbed skin, smooth skin
ribbed skin = muskmelon ; technically cantaloupe is different

smooth = honeydew, crenshaw, casaba melon, Persian melon
many types of melons ; most are long season crops
muskmelon - sweet orange flesh ; musky aroma ; round to slightly oblong

immature fruit has smooth skin ; will develop a ribbing with maturity ; rough skin can be contaminated with salmonella ; always wash with water before cutting
treat like vine cucumber ; longer growing season
monoecious
need space (within row 30 cm ; between row 1.5 m)
thrive on heat ; good moisture ; average soil fertility ; full sun
choose cultivar carefully ; long growing season
start indoors 4-6 weeks early ; to garden early June ; warm soil ; respond well to mulch, FRC, trickle irrigation
use FRC in autumn to extend season in autumn ; best to be mature before picking

Question 7

muskmelon harvest

Answer 7

melons = climacteric fruit = will ripen after picking, but may not mature properly (develop ultimate taste), will soften / ripen
often picked slightly immature (firm) so can be shipped ; will sweeten more if harvested mature on the vine ; BIG difference locally grown vs transported
should be left on plant as long as possible - will not produce ethylene and will not mature / ripen properly
http://www.fao.org/docrep/008/y4893e/y4893e04.htm - REALLY good website - storage & post harvest physiology

how to tell if ripe and ready to pick - non-stem end should be slightly soft, should smell musky, fruit may be starting to soften
skin turning yellow colour
http://www.ipm.iastate.edu/ipm/hortnews/2011/7-29/melons.html
best stored at cool room temp (10°C) ; 15°C if picked slightly immature
once cut, can store in fridge (5°C) ;
buy from a local source – not shipped
can grow on trellis but fruit needs supporting

Question 8

honeydew melon

Answer 8

C. melo inodorus ; round-oblong ; typically larger than muskmelons
smooth green / yellow rind ; green flesh ; sweet juicy flesh ; fairly thick flesh ; thin rind ; centre filed with seeds
treat same as muskmelons ; remove new flowers mid Aug ?

Question 9

watermelon

Answer 9

Citrullus lanatus
native to southern Africa ; brought to the US with slaves
sweet, juicy red / yellow / orange flesh
leaves look different than other melons
long growing season ; start as transplants (4-6 weeks early) ; responds well to mulch / FRC and trickle irrigation ; THRIVES on heat ; check cultivar for length of growing season - some will not mature in this area
climacteric - will ripen, but may not develop ultimate flavour / sweetness
slow to grow / mature ; faster in hot temperatures
seedless / seeded cultivars ; seedless are hybrids (triploids) ; must have seeded cultivar present for pollen or will not get fruit ; don’t save seed

seedless often sweeter than seeded
rind can be solid colour (dark green, yellow) or stripped
fruit varies in size / weight - 2 kg to 10 kg + ; shorter growing season = smaller fruit

Question 10

watermelon harvest

Answer 10

harvest when
fruit produces a hollow thump when tapped
tendril opposite the fruit is dry
fruit surface looses shine - becomes dull
harder to puncture rind with thumb nail

Question 11

squash

Answer 11

informally divided into two categories:
summer squash - consumed when immature
- zucchini, scallop, straightneck, crookneck, …
winter squash - consumed when mature
- hubbard, buttercup, butternut, acorn, pumpkin, turk’s turban, spaghetti, marrow, ….
http://whatscookingamerica.net/squash.htm
bush types / vine types
vine types much more aggressive plants ; require more spacing than cuc ; cannot stake / trellis due to weight of fruit
within row 60 + cm ; between row 1- 2.5 m

Question 12

summer squash

Answer 12

Zucchini, patty pan, scallop, crooknecks, straightnecks, …..
Cucurbita pepo ; mostly bush type
commonly consumed immature before rind hardens ; immature = short storage ; if allowed to mature, may store for months ; if allowed to mature, use differently in cooking
full sun
well drained soil ; high organic matter content best ; tolerates most soils
need moisture ; average fertility
most commonly direct seeded ; early June ; start harvesting early Aug ; can start as transplant 4 weeks early – no earlier ; extend harvest season
within row 45-90 cm ; between row 1 m
fruit can grow rapidly ; may need to harvest daily
four plants usually sufficient for a family ; will produce until killing frost

Question 13

summer squash harvest

Answer 13

harvest in morning, store cool, use ASAP after harvesting – will loose moisture easily – especially when immature
cut or twist fruit to harvest ; damage very easy ; handle with care ; skin very thin and easily damaged – disease entry & dry out
immature summer squash usually do not store more than a week (or so) ; 10°C (cool room temperature) (loose moisture, soft rind)

Question 14

winter squash

Answer 14

eaten when rind is hard ; mature ; harvest Sept ; store for several months / eaten in winter
mostly vine type - longer growing season therefore transplanted ; start indoors 4 weeks early (no earlier) ; can direct seed ; to garden early June – after risk of frost
large plants ; within row 60 + cm ; between row 1+ m
full sun ; need moisture ; 1 inch/week +
well drained soil ; high organic matter content best ; tolerates most soils – sandy dry fast so need to water more often
average fertility
generally, the larger the fruit, the smaller number of fruit harvested per plant

Question 15

Cucurbita maxima - winter squash

Answer 15

VERY variable group of squash ; many cultivars
Boston marrow, buttercup, hubbard, Turk’s turban,
generally large fruit ; winter squash ; long storage
readily hybridize within cultivars
if save seed, need to isolate from all other squash / cultivars

Question 16

Cucurbita moschata - butternut squash

Answer 16

VERY variable group of squash ; many cultivars
Butternut, calabaza, West Indian pumpkin, Cheese pumpkins, Golden cushaw, ….
generally medium fruit ; both winter and summer squash
readily hybridize within cultivars
if save seed, need to isolate from all other squash / cultivars

Question 17

Cucurbita pepo - field pumpkin

Answer 17

VERY variable group of squash ; many cultivars ; acorn, crookneck, pumpkins, patty pan / scallop, straightnecks, vegetable marrows, zucchini, delicata, spaghetti, dumpling, ornamental gourds, ….
generally small to medium fruit ; both winter and summer squash
readily hybridize within cultivars
if save seed, need to isolate from all other squash / cultivars

Question 18

winter squash harvest

Answer 18

winter squash harvested in late autumn when rind has hardened ; some will store for 8 + months (10°C, low RH)
BIG difference in taste / sweetness / texture - experiment - try each of them
average yield / unit area, tasty, easy to grow, require a lot of space

Question 19

beets

Answer 19

Beta vulgaris ; beet, beetroot
Chenopodiaceae ; native Mediterranean, Europe
same as Swiss chard and sugar beets ; chard = silver beet
sugar beets have 15-20% sugar content ; ≈ 5 % + in beets ; some new hybrids 12% +
garden beets grown for edible root ; leaves are also edible ; thinnings are used as edible leaves

easy to grow ; annual, cool season, fairly short season veggie (50 - 55 days)
full sun, tolerates most soils (clays can compact and restrict root development) ; prefers sandy loam with high organic matter content ; neutral pH, average to good water, average soil fertility, good drainage essential
succession seed every two weeks to ensure tender beets all summer / autumn

Question 20

beet seeding

Answer 20

seed mid May ; soil temp 10C + ; seeding into cold soil may result in seed stalks forming ; vernalization ; biennial crop in warmer areas

Other stresses may do the same
5 mm deep, scatter row, 30-45 cm between rows ; thin to 5-7.5 cm within row – eat thinnings ; thin before roots start to swell – less damage done when removing thinnings
germination is variable ; ‘seed’ is actually a multiple fruit ; can get a few plants per seed ; germinate over a period of time
sensitive to soil crusting and dry soil during germination
can grow in raised beds ; easy to modify soil with organic matter ; allow deeper penetration (cultivar specific)
often harvested when roots are about 5 – 7.5 cm wide, but can grow much larger

Question 21

soil crusting?
formation of a hard layer on soil surface 
usually following a heavy rain
common on soil with high clay content
prevents weak seedlings from emerging

Answer 21

add OM!

Question 22

beet growth

LEAF HIGH FIBRE
ROOT HIGH SUGAR

Answer 22

ok if root pushes out of ground ; feeder roots are below ground ; no need to ‘hill’
harvest starting at 5 cm - tender young roots ; cut petioles at least 4 cm above the top of the root (prevent bleeding) ; do not cut the root at the bottom ; desiccate
will tolerate some autumn frost ; sweetens with cool autumn temps ; July / Aug planting for autumn harvest (succession seed)
use FRC to extend season in autumn
store at 0°C and high humidity ; will store for a couple of months at these conditions if the tops are removed ; if store drier, cover to prevent excess drying

not many problems ; beet leaf miner ; birds eat seedlings ; slugs & mice eat roots
if no roots formed but lots of leaves – excess fertility (N) ; over crowded
small, tough roots – excessively hot & dry, lack of fertility (slow growth) ; light coloured rings inside root caused by excessively dry soil (& heat) or stoppage of growth
yield – 150 pounds + / 100 foot of row
depends on size of root when harvested
sold as ‘beet bunch’ and beet ‘root’

Question 23

Carrot

Answer 23

Daucus carota
a favourite garden veggie ; second in sweetness to beets
easy to grow, cool season annual veggie
good storage ; high yield per unit area
can eat right in the garden ; kids love them
various colours, sizes and shapes available
rich orange colour achieved with cooler temps ; 15-20C

full sun ; will tolerate clays but can restrict growth of the root and yield deformed roots (or roots push out of ground and get green shoulders) ; good water ; average fertility ; good drainage essential
soil should be dug deeply - allow root to penetrate deep in the soil – roots up to 30 cm long ; loamy soils ideal especially with high organic matter ; stone free
forked / bent roots caused by hard pan or obstructions or compact soil or drought or check in growth or flooding
do well in raised beds ; allow deeper penetration

Question 24

carrot growth

Answer 24

treat like beet ; can succession seed - depending on cultivar
wide row, scatter seeds, 5 mm deep, rows 30 cm apart
weak seedlings ; crusted soil will prevent emergence - careful watering
how to seed shallow and thin when seeds are tiny? ; mix with sand or peat moss to increase volume - scatter over wide row ; keep somewhat moist to promote better germination
soil temp 10C + ; SLOW to germinate - 2-3 weeks ; warmer temp will speed up germination ; need to be kept fairly moist ; especially if using raised bed

thin to 2 cm + between plants , VERY time consuming and often difficult to do w/o damaging remaining seedlings ; cut with scissors
seedlings are not competitive with weeds ; hard to pull weeds out in a carrot patch - weak seedlings
if roots start to push out of ground, can hill to prevent shoulders from greening
harvest when roots are mature size ; dig rather than pull as roots may break
roots sweeten with cool temps ; more orange - more flavour

Question 25

carrot care

Answer 25

water deeply to ensure water reaches bottom of root ; not a drought tolerant veggie problems are mostly cultural forked roots - compaction / obstacles, flooding all leaves and no root – excess fertility (N) small shriveled roots - drought excess foliage & hairy root - aster yellows hairy root – too much un-decomposed OM holes in root - wireworms, slugs, mice minimize un-decomposed manure / OM in the soil – can cause hairy roots, deformed roots

Question 26

carrot storage

Answer 26

store 0C and high high humidity ; tend to dehydrate easily and shrivel ; can store for several months if conditions are appropriate ; desiccation is biggest problem do not cut the top of the root off ; remove the leaves but don’t cut into the root (will loose moisture) Yield at least 2 pounds per foot of row

Question 27

parsnip

Answer 27

Pastinaca sativa easy to grow, cool season annual veggie MUST have deeply tilled soil ; rootscan exceed 30 cm in length can autumn seed (after risk of germination is past) ; if spring seed, first crop to seed slow to emerge (MARK rows) long growing season (110 – 140days) full sun, tolerates most soils BUT prefers loamy soils with high organic matter that allow deep penetration treat like a carrot good drainage essential average moisture, average fertility ; excess fertility = hairy roots slow to emerge (2-3 weeks) ; uneven emergence , not great germination can scatter row seed ; rows 30 - 45 cm apart ; 5-7.5 mm deep ; thin to 5 cm between plants ; time consuming ; papery seed - can mix with sand / peat moss to seed thinly ; do well in raised beds ; plant into hills / deeper penetration

Question 28

parsnip 2 | High in sugar

Answer 28

can cover with floating mulch to retain moisture ; crusted soil will prevent emergence leaf area can be quite large last crop to harvest in autumn ; October flavour improves (sweetens) with cool / cold temperatures ; can leave in ground until almost frozen ; don’t be in a rush to harvest dig DEEP to remove roots – laborious remove the green tops but don’t cut the top of the root nor the bottom of the root store 0C and 95% relative humidity ; will store for several months under ideal conditions ; desiccates easily so cover if stored in lower humidity problems are few un-decomposed manure / organic matter will increase the hairiness of the root Yield at least 2 pounds per foot of row length of root varies with cultivar ; 20 – 40 cm ; long tapered root ;

Question 29

corn

Answer 29

warm season ; popular in home gardens because is ‘traditional’ HUGELY popular as a field crop, and as vegetable crop in US hence why there are so many cultivars on the market – very American crop four types of corn: sweet, field (dent), popcorn, ornamental field and sweet corn differ by only one gene ; sweetness caused by one gene and recessive mutants of that gene ; naturally occurring mutant in late 1700’s ; became popular mid 1800’s Less than 5% of corn production in US is sweet corn ; the rest is ‘field corn”

Question 30

field/dent corn use

Answer 30

cattle feed / ethanol flour corn used for cornmeal is a type of dent corn ; corn starch ; fructrose = sugar (corn syrup) taco shells, tortillas, corn chips, … Zea mays indenata

Question 31

types of corn

Answer 31

kernels are yellow, white, bicolour, purple/blue, reds, …. various colours five / six ? types of sweet corn: normal sugary / standard sweet corn (su) sugary enhanced (se ; se+) super sweet (shrunken) (sh2) synergistic (syn) super sweet augmented (augmented shrunken sh2) – trade marked sh2 x se x su ;

Question 32

corn pollination/fertilization

Answer 32

quality of the crop THIS year is influenced by source of pollen ; for sure will impact next years crop if seeds are saved Xenia effects = the immediate influence of pollen from one strain of a plant upon the endosperm of another strain ; maize monoecious plant ; separate male and female flowers on same plant ; male = tassel at top of plant ; female = cob & silk double fertilization ; fertilization of embryo, and fertilization of endosperm http://www.biologyreference.com/Re-Se/Reproduction-in-Plants.html silks are pollen receiving tubes connected to kernels best to plant in squares / blocks to increase pollination

Question 33

corn prob

Answer 33

Skips – missing kernels on cob are a result of poor pollination ; each tassel is connected to a kernel – no pollination = no growth of kernel

Question 34

corn: standard sweet (su)

Answer 34

were the most common cultivars in past ; for optimum taste MUST be eaten or put in ice cold water IMMEDIATELY after harvest ; sugars are converted to starch VERY quickly after harvesting ; ‘corn’ taste deteriorates quickly large cobs ; large kernels ; dense kernels ; chewy kernels ‘have water boiling before you pick’ hardier ; can seed into cool soils (but not cold soils) ; 10°C sweet but not really sweet ; good corn taste isolate from field, ornamental corn and popcorn

Question 35

corn: sugar enhanced (se, se+)

Answer 35

more sweet tasting than normal sweet corn ; will convert sugar to starch like Su, but has more sugar to start with and stays sweeter for longer time one gene modifies the endosperm to make it much sweeter a favourite of home gardeners kernels more tender than normal sweets ; juicer ; more rounded kernels ; softer texture require warmer soil for planting ; 12°C ; not as hardy a sweets often slightly lower yield (weight) than sweets yellow, white, bicolor cultivars, red need isolation from all other types of corn ; at least 250 feet big variation within this type ; all hybrids ; specific crosses heterozygous = 1 se parent & 1 su parent = not as sweet or tender (≈ 75% of kernels on cob are su and 25% are se) homozygous = both se parents = very sweet and tender ; ( 100% of kernels on cob are se)

Question 36

corn: super sweet/ shrunken 2 (sh2)

Answer 36

MUCH sweeter than normal ; almost three times as sweet ; carry super sweet gene ; Extra Early Super Sweet, Northern Super Sweet, also Xtra-sweet ; gene modifies endosperm to make it very sweet must be isolated from all other corn – do NOT want cross pollination ; most important for this type of corn dry kernels are shrunken / wrinkled ; tougher skin (not as tender) ; fresh kernels not as juicy ; crispy texture ; seeds smaller and lighter in weight than other types will stay sweet the longest ; do not convert to starch rapidly requires warmer soils ; 15+ °C ; more specific in growing conditions (warmer growing conditions) ; require a lot more moisture to germinate ; seed rots in cold soils ; more shallow planting not vigorous ; not stress tolerant can use black plastic mulch to warm soil and seed earlier

Question 37

corn: synergistic hybrid

Answer 37

have su, sh2 and se kernels on same cob ; mixture of kernels 25% se and 25% sh2 and 50% su on the same cob ; some 75% su and 25% sh2 ; patented ; Triplesweet™ ; 75% se & 25% sh2 ; ‘Sweet Breed’ – Harris Seeds sweet creamy flavour of Se with high sugar content and slower conversion of sugar to starch tender kernels like se and sweetness of sh2 ; kernels slower to sweeten so ensure kernels are mature before harvesting or will not taste sweet ; days to harvest / maturity MUST isolate from sh2 types – do not want cross pollination may have same soil / environment factors as su or se

Question 38

corn: augmented shrunken 2

Answer 38

newest generation of breeding Augmented super sweet ; sh2 x se x su ; all kernels are modified sh2 kernels ; more tender and sweeter than se ; have flavour of su ; longer harvest / storage period tender, very sweet kernels ; slow conversion of sugars to starch, juicy and tender must be isolated from all other corn types must be planted in warm soils ; 15+ °C and moist don’t plant seeds deep – ideally 2.5 cm Gourmet Sweet Brand, Multisweet, Xtra-Tender Brand most specific in terms of soil and growing environment

Question 39

corn growing

Answer 39

-must isolate white types from yellow and bicolor or risk having yellow kernels in cob ; minimum distance (rural) 250 feet ; bicolor should be isolated from yellow or risk having less white kernels in cob urban setting – 100 feet + wind pollinated ; shelterbelt can block wind need heat ; soils 10 – 15C + ; seedlings not frost tolerant ; full sun essential ; will tolerate most soils ; high organic matter preferred require high fertility ; large plants ; need extra N ; add during growing season (45 cm tall) ; side dress N require higher moisture ; especially from flowering to harvest (first sight of tassels to harvest) ; 2.5 cm + per week ; drought will greatly decrease yield, length of cob, filling of cobs and quality of kernels sweeter varieties require more moisture for germination want rapid growth to achieve larger leaf area maturity varies from 60 – 100 days + ; depends on heat unit accumulation plus other factors early maturing varieties generally have smaller cobs and are less sweet tasting

Question 40

corn root system

Answer 40

adventitious: to increases root area – moisture and nutrient uptake

Question 41

corn isolation

Answer 41

popcorn, field corn and ornamental corn MUST be isolated from all types of sweet corn and from each other can isolate by distance or cultivar (maturity date) ; most reliable to isolate by distance ; 250 feet at minimum because wind pollinated maturity dates vary ; growth and date of flowering dependent on environment / growing season and maturity characteristics can also isolate by date of flowering ; stagger planting dates to help avoid cross-pollination ; allow 2 weeks separation of flowering for isolation purposes ; reliable in short growing season ???? best to grow only one type of corn (sh2 or su or se or …) ; if growing more than one type, then best / essential to isolate each type by at least 250 feet if growing different types, cross pollination occurs, the extra sweetness of the se and sh2 types is lost – taste like regular sweet corn MANY cultivars – read the labels carefully!!!! early, mid, and later maturing cultivars ; some in each type of corn ; late may be pushing limit for maturity can plant early and mid cultivars to extend harvest season (stay within the same type) ; usually do not succession seed

Question 42

corn harvest

Answer 42

squeeze the top of the cob – if rounded and firm, then is mature ; when tassels are very dry, then is mature ; alternatively, gently pull back the wrapper leaves to expose the tip of the cob, if filled and of proper colour then is mature * in most instances better to harvest whenslightly under-mature rather than over-mature kernels should be milky / juicy rather than firm and dense low yield per unit area – only 2 - 3 cobs per plant ; often one cob (lowest) will be larger than the other ; rare to get more than 3 cobs/plant number of rows of kernels is genetically determined but environmentally modified ; rows in pairs (16 rows / 14-16 rows / 12-14 rows / 18-20 rows ….) length of ear is genetically determined but environmentally modified ; 7.5 inch / 8 / … 12 inch ears corn requires a lot of space in a garden

Question 43

corn storage

Answer 43

all cultivars should be cooled ASAP after harvesting ; ice cold water ; most important with su types harvest in the early morning ; less field heat remove outer wrapper leaves but leave one or two inner leaves to protect kernels store cobs 0°C, very high humidity (90-95%) ; will store for 2 weeks + (depends on cultivar) Corn on the cob (BBQ / fire pit) ; boiled ; cut off cob and frozen / prepared in various ways

Question 44

Failure to fill to end of cob, caused by:

Answer 44

hot and dry when silks forming and being pollinated too much competition / plants too close together poor soil fertility / lack of moisture poor pollination / failure of pollen to pollinate

Question 45

corn has high concentration of

Answer 45

insoluble fibre

Question 46

what is a brownfield?

Answer 46

Brownfield – parcel of land that due to past history or location to a nearby pollution source MAY be contaminated and therefore limits its redevelopment ; examples - gas stations, car washes, demolished warehouses / commercial buildings, garages, electrical substations, processing, laundry facilities, old houses, …. contaminated through spills / leaks, leaching, runoff, ….

Question 47

brownfield options

Answer 47

remove and replace soil ; replace with non-contaminated soil, compost increase organic matter ; can bind some contaminants ; dilutes mulch paths / walkways to prevent water/soil splash onto leaves and dust ; use hedges to block / divert wind ; avoid planting near busy highways ; deicing salts on road – damage to nearby plant containers ; prevent roots from growing into existing soil grow non-food crops ; grow plants that take up (absorb) and retain contaminants thus preventing them from moving in the soil or being available

Question 48

remediation

Answer 48

= removal of contaminants from soil / air / water Fascinating area of study ; proving very effective Phytoremediation - use of plants to remove heavy metals from soil ; some plants known as hyperaccumulators - efficient at absorbing metals ;

Question 49

World food day is coordinated by

Answer 49

Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO)

Question 50

world food day

Answer 50

Observed annually in over 150 countries Purpose of WFD is to increase awareness and understanding of the complex issues of food production, trade and security Theme every year 2016 “Climate is changing. Food and agriculture must too”

Question 51

food waste

Answer 51

FAO estimates 1/3 of all food produced in the world is wasted In developing countries, up to 40% of food produced is wasted in field and in storage In developed countries, up to 40% in stores and homes Food losses and waste per year are roughly 30% for cereal grains 40-50% for root crops, fruits and vegetables 20% for oil seeds, meat and dairy 30% for fish

Question 52

5 ways to reduce food waste

Answer 52

Plan your meals Only purchase what you need ; no impulse buying which often leads to food going to waste because it was not used Use your scraps Don’t throw away half an onion or half a head of cabbage ; put them in containers and store in the fridge or make another dish and freeze it Left over onions, celery, green pepper, and hamburger – make a hamburger soup and freeze it for consumption at a later date Buying in bulk may not always be the cheapest Five pounds of hamburger for the price of three pounds is a deal only if you use all five pounds ; if you are not going to eat all of it immediately, make other dishes and freeze them If you cannot think of dishes to make and if the food is not going to be eaten, then don’t buy it, even if it is a good deal Don’t shop when you are hungry because people tend to buy more than they need & want ; make a shopping list and try to stick to it Check your fridge, freezer and cupboards before you go shopping and plan meals around what you find. Shop for what you actually eat, not for what you want/wish you would eat (e.g. "I am going to be really healthy this week and eat lots of salads") and then not eat them! Foods you can keep in your refrigerator include: apples, grapes, lettuce, broccoli, carrots, strawberries, raspberries Foods you should NOT keep in your refrigerator include: bananas, pineapple, potatoes, onions, pears, oranges, lemons Use your freezer, but keep an inventory of what is in it. Out of sight – out of mind means it will likely be thrown away due to freezer burn Watch serving size ; be realistic about how much you CAN and WANT to eat

Question 53

food waste in canada

Answer 53

$31 billion worth of food is wasted in Canada each year When include value of energy, water, land, labour, capital investment, infrastructure, machinery, transport, then value of food wasted exceeds $100 billion $31 billion estimate is higher than the combined GDP of the world's poorest 29 countries Approximately 47% of food wasted in Canada occurs at home Methane gas from land fills is 25x more damaging to the environment than carbon dioxide Households in Canada on average waste $28 worth of food each week ($1456 annually)