Testing for Soil, Plant Compost and Water Quality

Vern Grubinger, Vegetable and Berry Specialist A variety of tests are available to assess soil in the field and greenhouse, plant tissue, compost and water used for agriculture. Test results provide data that can inform management decisions aimed at optimizing crop quantity and/or quality, as well as fertilizer and soil amendment costs. Conducting tests on …

Estimating Nitrogen Availability From Legume Cover Crops

By Becky Maden, Vegetable Nutrient Management Specialist, UVM Extension Farmers appreciate the value of cover crops for the wide range of benefits they provide to the soil and the environment, but when it comes to calculatingnitrogen (N) contributions to cash crops from legume cover crops, there is a lot of uncertainty. Legume cover crops have …

Nutrient Management and Water Quality on Vegetable Farms

Nutrient management is part of a suite of farming practices aimed at supporting healthy soil and protecting water quality. Nutrients for vegetable crop production are managed with crop rotation, cover cropping, soil testing, and appropriate and timely applications of fertilizers and soil amendments. Nutrient Management Planning Tools Click the links below to download these tools. …

General Information for Commercial Vegetable and Berry Growers in Vermont

Welcome to growing vegetables and/or berries in Vermont, I’m glad to know you will be farming here. Here are some resources for commercial growers that you should know about. If you have specific questions, members of the UVM Extension Commercial Horticulture Team are available to provide information, guidance, and/or referrals by email or phone. The …

Soil Testing in High Tunnels

Why should you use a different soil test for high tunnels? Management of high tunnel soils differs from field soils, largely because of the lack of rainfall and because higher rates of amendments are needed to achieve yield potential in high tunnels. In addition, over time, certain nutrients(such as phosphorus) and soluble salts may accumulate …

Vermont Vegetable and Berry News – March 2, 2026

REPORTS FROM THE FIELD (Westminster West) Although we don’t aim to store crops over winter, those we did stored really well in the insulated barn with just enough heat to keep above freezing. Squash, onions and garlic have been amazing, half a bin of pie pumpkins too! Tunnel garlic is emerging under row cover. We …

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