WVU Organic Research Project

Objectives
1.	Disseminate the basic and practical knowledge 
	and information gained from the Organic Research Farm 
	in organic production to clientele groups.
2.	Provide technical support to gardeners 
	and farmers interested in the organic production of crops.

Project outline
	In order for our objectives to be met we will start the following projects.

Display Garden
	A display garden showing various organic practices will be placed in 
	close vicinity to the research plots of the market garden.  
	The display garden will be used throughout the growing season to 
	educate Master Gardeners, extension personnel, 	various visiting groups, 
	and any other people interested in the organic production of vegetables.
	The display garden was split into 2 areas.  One area will be planted with 
	common plants and the other area with uncommon plants. 
	The common plants will include cucumbers, watermelons, red cabbage, 
	broccoli, onions, carrots, garlic, peas, and beans.  
	The uncommon area will include butterscotch melon, loofa, belgium endive, 
	mache, fennel, parsnips, fava beans, and black beans,


Seed Collection
	In addition to the display garden, plots will be set up to collect seed 
	from the tomato variety 'WV63'. This tomato variety was developed at WVU 
	and a significant demand for its seed exists. However, the seed source of 
	this tomato variety is rapidly diminishing and a serious effort will be 
	made to maintain this tomato variety and assure a consistent supply to 
	meet the demand in West Virginia.


Variety Trials
	A number of plots will be assigned to variety trials of vegetables in an 
	organic production system.  The purpose of these variety trials is two-fold.  
	First, most vegetable varieties are tested for yields and other traits in 
	conventional production systems.  In order to test their suitability under 
	organic management practices there is a need to test these varieties in an 
	organic production system.  Additionally, some vegetable crops are more 
	popular in Appalachia than other regions of the country and relatively 
	little information exists on the relative performance of the many varieties 
	of those crops.

The variety trial will compare different varieties of peas, beans, squash, and pumpkins.  
The pea varieties include Alaska, Mr. Big, Knight, Maxigolt, Dakota, and Wando.  
The bean varieties include Mountaineer Half-Runner, Black Seeded BlueLake Snap, 
Kentucky Wonder, Italian, and Romano.  The Squash varieties include Sweet Dumpling,
Cream of the Crop, Table Ace, and Heart of Gold.  The pumpkin varieties include Racer, 
Ghost Rider, Orange Smoothie, and Howden.

As of today June 1st all crops have been sown and 168 tomato transplants have 
also been planted. A row cover has been placed over all crops except tomatoes, 
beans and peas to keep the area warm and moist and to keep insects and disease away. 
After the plants have been successfully established, newspaper and straw will be 
placed between rows to control weeds.  The plants will be monitored for 
insects and diseases until harvest.  After the plants are harvested the soil 
will be tested for fertility and a winter cover crop will be established.

That about sums it up!
Please contact Melissa VanTine or Sven Verlinden at 293-6023 if there are any questions.