Ethnic Vegetable Production Trials on a Plasticulture System
for the Development of an Ethnic Food Market in Southern Maryland

R. David Myers¹, Stephan Tubene², Mark Spicknall³, Alfred Hawkins⁴

¹Extension Educator
University of Maryland
Anne Arundel Cooperative Extension
7320 Ritchie Highway, Suite 210
Glen Burnie, MD 21061

Introduction
In 2000 a preliminary ethnic vegetable study was conducted at the University of Maryland Research and Education Center (UMREC) in Upper Marlboro, Maryland to examine the five West African vegetables: hibiscus (leaves), sweetpotato (leaves), edible amaranth, African eggplant, and an African pepper variety.  This preliminary study was also featured as part of the Upper Marlboro UMREC Farm Field Day on July 26, 2000, which stimulated interest among the farm community, and resulted in a grant awarded to a three-member investigative team.  The grant entitled “Developing an Ethnic Food Market in Southern Maryland” included the following three major areas of concentration: 1) The evaluation of ethnic vegetable markets and their economic development, led by researcher Stephan Tubene, Coordinator, University of Maryland Small Farm Institute; 2) The development of community awareness of ethnic vegetable produce through dietetic workshops and cooking demonstrations, led by researcher Constance Pergerson, Extension Educator, University of Maryland; and 3) The examination of commercial ethnic vegetable production techniques, led by researcher R. David Myers, Extension Educator, University of Maryland.

The ethnic vegetable study planted in 2001 and 2002 continued focus on the five African vegetables stated and expanded to include Caribbean, Oriental, India, and South American vegetables and herbs for comparison.  An examination of yields and the development of production practices was the focus of the study on a plasticulture intensive management system.  However, the dietetic, marketing, and economic assessment of the vegetables will ultimately serve as the springboard for developing a regional alternative enterprise for Southern Maryland farmers.  The Maryland ethnic vegetable team plans to develop a series of extension fact sheets for the purpose of educating growers for the successful transition into production and marketing of these new cropping opportunities.

Of mentionable note, a similar ethnic vegetable study was conducted in 2000 by researcher William Sciarappa, Agricultural Agent, Rutgers University, and reported in the 2000 Mid-Atlantic Vegetable Workers Conference Proceedings.   The previously reported results were very collaborative with this trials finding.

Materials and Methods
The project was designed as a randomized complete block, with four replications for each of the ethnic vegetables or herbs grown. The plot dimension were 15 feet wide by 20 foot long with three 6 inch high by 30 inches wide raised plasticulture beds on 5-foot centers.  The transplants or directly seeded crop was spaced either 36 inches or 12 inch by 12 inch in the row as indicted in Table 1., with either 2,904 ppa or 17,424 ppa, respectively.   The transplants were contract grown with seeds from Johnny’s Selected Seeds, or from sources within the local ethnic communities.

The research trial was conducted in 2000 and 2001 at the University of Maryland Research and Education Center in Upper Marlboro, Maryland, on a Monmouth fine sandy loam soil.   Soil tests revealed optimum levels of phosphorus and potassium for both of the sites.   A complete starter fertilizer was applied during bed making, and additional nitrogen was supplemented through the trickle irrigation system as required.   Insecticide and fungicide treatments were made as required, based upon IPM scouting evaluation, if labels existed for the individual crops.

The trials were planted on May 12, 2000, May 9, 2001, and May 10, 2002 with the following exceptions:  In 2001 the African eggplant, African/Jamaican hot pepper var. Scotch Bonnet, and Solanum gilo “Jamaican bitter balls”, and the sweet potato var. Red Hayman were planted on May 24th.   In 2002 the amaranth, spinach, and holy basils were planted on May 17th.  The tomatillo plots required staking and twine weaving for standability.   All other crop species were free standing, however, this was only accomplished in 2001.

Results
 The plots were harvested, utilizing random destructive plant sampling, or whole plot for yield determinations.  Some crops were harvested multiple times, whereas others were harvested once over.  Mean weights of the marketable plant portion were determined for each crop species and/or variety, and reported in Table 1.   The project experienced cooler and wetter than normal summers for 2000 and 2001 delaying the fruit harvest, whereas the vegetative growth and quality were enhanced.  The 2002 crop season was hotter and dryer than normal.  Early hot dry winds, following the 2002 planting, completely desiccated the chervil and cilantro plots, resulting in no harvest.  The fruit quality in 2002 was excellent and timely, whereas the vegetative growth was diminished.  The smooth leaf spinach var. Denali was harvested June 6, 2001, and June 21, 2002. The savoy type spinach var. New Zealand was harvested on June 21, 2002.  On August 4, 2000 the following ethnic vegetables were harvested: Solanum gilo;  amaranth var. green;  edible hibiscus leaves var. African indigenous;  sweet potato var. Red Hayman;  and pepper vars. African type indigenous Scotch Bonnet, and cayenne type Mesillla.  On July 3, 2001 the following vegetables and herbs were harvested: Asian cucumber var. Suyo Long;  sweet basil var. Genovese;  cilantro var. Jantor;  and chervil var. Brussels.  On July 6, 2001 the following vegetables and herbs were harvested: amaranth var. red;  Solanum gilo var. African indigenous “Jamaican bitter balls”;  holy basil vars. Kaprao, and Osmin Purple.  On July 20, 2001 the following vegetables were harvested: Asian cucumber var. Suyo Long;  Solanum gilo var. African indigenous;  tomatillo vars. Toma Verde, and Purple;  leeks var. Upton;  pepper var. Pimento Elite;  and eggplant vars. Nadia, and Zebra.  On July 31, 2001 the following vegetables were harvested: eggplant var. Kermit;  and pepper var. African type Scotch Bonnet.  On August 24, 2001 the following vegetables were harvested: pepper var. ornamental type Numex, habanera types, green, red, and orange, and African type indigenous Scotch Bonnet.  On July 3, 2002 the following vegetables and herbs were harvested: Asian cucumber var. Suyo Long;  sweet basil var. Genovese;  leeks var. Upton.  On July 18, 2002 the following vegetables were harvested: Asian cucumber var. Suyo Long;  Solanum gilo var. African indigenous;  tomatillo vars. Toma Verde, and Purple;  leeks var. Upton;  pepper var. Pimento Elite;  and eggplant vars. Nadia, Zebra, Kermit and African type, indigenous;  holy basil vars. Kaprao, and Osmin Purple; amaranth var. green and red;  edible hibiscus leaves var. African indigenous;  and sweet potato var. Red Hayman.    On August 8, 2002 the following vegetables were harvested: pepper var. ornamental type Numex, habanera types, red, and orange, and African type indigenous Scotch Bonnet.

Conclusions
The ethnic vegetables in this three-year study yielded consistently with sufficient quality and quantity to convince growers of their production potential in a plasticulture system.  There are potentially hundreds of specialty vegetable and herb species and/or varieties that have market development potential in our ethnically diverse population centers, which require further research and educational programs.  Promotion of specialty vegetables and herbs will help to mainstream them into our marketplace, thereby, enriching our diets and lives.
 

Table 1. Ethnic Vegetable Yields 2000, 2001 & 2002 Harvested Fruit or Leaf
 

Vegetable Crop Species/Variety	Population (Plants/acre ppa) Spacing	Average Yield Harvested Portion (Pounds/plant)	Average Yield Harvested Portion (Estimated pounds/acre)	Average Yield Harvested Portion (Estimated Tons/acre)
Hibiscus. Edible African	2,904 ppa  5' X 36"	Leaves 8.17	Leaves 25,294	Leaves 12.65
Amaranth, Edible Green Jamaican Calaloo	2,904 ppa  5' X 36"	Leaves 8.09	Leaves 23,493	Leaves 11.75
Amaranth, Edible Red Jamaican Calaloo	2,904 ppa  5' X 36"	Leaves 6.51	Leaves 18,905	Leaves 9.45
Sweet Pepper, Green/Red Bell King Arthur	2,904 ppa  5' X 36"	Fruit 6.75	Fruit 19,602	Fruit 9.80
Sweet Pepper, Red Pimento Pimento Elite	2,904 ppa  5' X 36"	Fruit 5.25	Fruit 15,246	Fruit 7.62
Hot Pepper, Ornamental Numex	2,904 ppa  5' X 36"	Fruit 3.33	Fruit 9,670	Fruit 4.84
Hot Pepper, African Dutch Bonnet type	2,904 ppa  5' X 36"	Fruit 2.96	Fruit 8,596	Fruit 4.30
Hot Pepper, Green Habanera	2,904 ppa  5' X 36"	Fruit 1.00	Fruit 2,904	Fruit 1.45
Hot Pepper, Red Habanera	2,904 ppa  5' X 36"	Fruit 2.8	Fruit 8,131	Fruit 4.07
Hot Pepper, Orange Habanera	2,904 ppa  5' X 36"	Fruit 2.13	Fruit 6,186	Fruit 3.09
Solanum Gilo, African Jamaican Bitter Balls	2,904 ppa  5' X 36"	Leaves & Fruit 4.19	Leaves & Fruit 12,168	Leaves & Fruit 6.08
Sweet Potato Red Hayman	2,904 ppa  5' X 36"	Leaves & Petioles 11.25	Leaves & Petioles 32,670	Leaves & Petioles 16.34
Cucumber, Asian Suyo Long	2,904 ppa  5' X 36"	Fruit 27.84	Fruit 80,847	Fruit 40.42
Tomatillo, Green Toma Verde	2,904 ppa  5' X 36"	Fruit 6.12	Fruit 17,772	Fruit 8.89
Tomatillo, Purple Purple	2,904 ppa  5' X 36"	Fruit 7.63	Fruit 22,158	Fruit 11.08
Eggplant, Black Oblong Nadia	2,904 ppa  5' X 36"	Fruit 8.17	Fruit 23,762	Fruit 11.86
Eggplant, Purple Striped Oblong  Zebra	2,904 ppa  5' X 36"	Fruit  4.33	Fruit  12,574	Fruit  6.29
Eggplant, Green Striped Round Kermit	2,904 ppa  5' X 36"	Fruit 5.93	Fruit 17,221	Fruit 8.61
Eggplant, African Indigenous Variety	2,904 ppa  5' X 36"	Fruit 2.98	Fruit 8,654	Fruit 4.33
Leek Upton	17,424 ppa 5’ X 12” X 12”	Leaves & Bulb 0.40	Leaves & Bulb 6,970	Leaves & Bulb 3.48
Spinach, Savoy Type New Zealand	17, 424 ppa 5’ X 12” X 12”	Leaves 1.24	Leaves 21,605	Leaves 10.80
Spinach, Smooth Leaf Denali	17, 424 ppa 5’ X 12” X 12”	Leaves 0.6	Leaves 10,454	Leaves 5.23
Cilantro Jantor	2,904 ppa  5' X 36"	Leaves  1.88	Leaves 5,460	Leaves 2.73
Chervil Brussels	2,904 ppa  5' X 36"	Leaves 0.50	Leaves 1,452	Leaves 0.73
Sweet Basil  Genovese	2,904 ppa  5' X 36"	Leaves 2.95	Leaves 8,567	Leaves 4.28
Holy Basil, Green Kaprao Thailand	2,904 ppa  5' X 36"	Leaves 1.31	Leaves 3,804	Leaves 1.90
Basil, Purple Osmin Purple India	2,904 ppa  5' X 36"	Leaves 0.69	Leaves 2,004	Leaves 1.00

²Co-Researcher, Coordinator, Small Farm Institute, University of Maryland.
³Research Facility Manager, Upper Marlboro REC, University of Maryland.
⁴Agricultural Research Technician, Upper Marlboro REC, University of Maryland.