What to Consider when growing vegetables seaside

I spend half my time in Florida living directly on the ocean and am experimenting with growing vegetables seaside. The environment on and near the ocean can be brutal on vegetable plants. Here I share four lessons I learned from growing vegetables seaside.

Lesson 1 – Soil

I learned that sandy soil needs to be amended with organic matter before any planting. While I added organic matter around the plants, that was not enough. Deeply working the soil with organic matter in advance of planting is very important.

The soil near the sea is most likely sandy. Sandy soil is not great for plants because it contains few nutrients and does not retain water. In sandy soil, water percolates quickly down and thus dries quickly. Therefore, to solve both problems amend the soil with organic material. Add and work into the top 8-10 inches of soil any of the following: composted manures, leaves, wood chips, grass clippings. Organic material will aerate the soil and add nutrients. If you live in an apartment or condominium, composted manures can usually be purchased at large garden centers.

If you are container gardening, then purchase soil that has a good amount of organic matter. Remember, read the label of all soil that you purchase.

Lesson 2 – Environmental

I learned how damaging the salt air and strong winds can be on vegetable plants.

There are two key environmental conditions when gardening seaside: sea salt and wind. Sea salt can be present in both the soil and air. When present in the soil, sea salt impacts the roots of plants. The soil can be amended as discussed above. When present in the air, sea salt impacts the leaves. To address sea salt in the air, choose plants that are tolerant to salt. Sea salt damage will manifest as burning on the tips of leaves. According to the University of Florida, the following vegetables are salt-tolerant:

• Beets
• Bell peppers
• Broccoli
• Cabbage
• Kale
• Loquats
• Spinach
• Tomatoes

The wind is present in various degrees depending upon how close you live to the ocean. To protect plants against the wind, a barrier is needed. One option is to plant a hedgerow of shrubs around your vegetable garden. A second option is to use a row cover to protect your plants. Row cover protects against both wind and cool temperatures. On windy days, leave row cover in place all day and night. In addition, leave row cover in place whenever temperatures dip below 50 degrees. If plants are in containers, then another option is to bring your plants indoors.

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Lesson 3 – Fertilization

I learned that fertilization requirements are different for sandy soil. Due to the nature of the soil, the nutrients flush out quickly. Thus, it is important to fertilize more regularly.

The first step in assessing fertilization is to understand the Ph and nutrients present in your soil. A soil test will provide this understanding. Because fertilizers are washed out of the sandy soil quickly, it is important to maintain a regular fertilization schedule once you have your soil test results. Here are two reputable companies that perform soil testing:  International Ag Labs and Logan Labs. If you live near a university that has an agricultural school, they likely perform soil tests. For example, in New Jersey, Rutgers University has a soil testing service. In Florida, the University of Florida has a soil testing service.

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Lesson 4 – Watering

I learned that new seedlings need more water than I anticipated in a seaside climate.

There are two considerations when watering: timing and frequency. It is best to water early in the morning (6 a.m. – 9 a.m.) allowing both the soil and foliage time to dry and thus reduce diseases and viruses. Regarding frequency, seeds and seedlings require more frequent watering than mature plants. When planting seeds or seedlings, it is important to water lightly twice a day for a period of two weeks. Once the plants are established, watering can be less frequent but should be more thorough. A half-inch of water will moisten sandy soil down to the root zone.

Remember, mulch your plants at least 2 inches. This will keep the soil moist for a longer period of time.

Summary

In addition to the above, it is important to make sure you are growing the right vegetable during the right season. This is particularly important if you move to a different gardening zone. If you are gardening seaside in the US, one of the best resources is the website of the Land Grant University in your state. Click this link to find your Land Grant University.

Good luck with growing vegetables seaside. Here are links to additional topics that may be of interest:

• How to use floating row cover in your organic garden
• Understanding the USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map
• Five steps to starting a vegetable garden

Resources

• University of Florida – Gardening Solutions
• Rutgers University – Cooperative Extension