Page "Vegetable farming" Paragraph 1

Traditionally it was done in the soil in small rows or blocks, often primarily for consumption on the farm, with the excess sold in nearby towns.

Later, farms on the edge of large communities could specialize in vegetable production, with the short distance allowing the farmer to get his produce to market while still fresh.

The three sisters method used by Native Americans ( specifically the Haudenosaunee / Iroquois ) grew squash, beans and corn together so that the plants enhanced each other's growth.

Planting in long rows allows machinery to cultivate the fields, increasing efficiency and output ; however, the diversity of vegetable crops requires a number of techniques to be used to optimize the growth of each type of plant.

Some farms, therefore, specialize in one vegetable ; others grow a large variety.

Due to the needs to market vegetables while fresh, vegetable gardening has high labor demands.

Some farms avoid this by running u-pick operations where the customers pick their own produce.

The development of ripening technologies and refrigeration has reduced the problems with getting produce to market in good condition.