Organic vegetable systems are often complex, including many vegetable varieties with plus rotations of fallow and cover crops to build the soil and reduce disease incidence.  A good farm plan includes many factors to take into consideration:

• Soil type
  
• Current state of soil
• Your expectations of the crop
• Rotations to deter the pests but also to build and balance the soil
• Climate
  
• Environment
• Market expectations
  
• Your market(s)
  
• Resources at your disposal
• Personal experiences and fellow farmers'
• Most importantly, your skill
  

When starting an organic vegetable business you should:

• Take at least a year to plan
• Speak to those with the experience
• Read to educate yourself
  
• Attend educational sessions
  
• Share your ideas with fellow farmers
• Listen to responses
  
• Attempt to incorporate ideas into a farm plan
  

Here are some information sheets to help you.  Click on the links to view the resources.

Planning your farm

• Farm Plan to determine crop rotations and building your soil (ATTRA)
• Companion Planting (ATTRA)
• Cover Crops for Vegetable Systems (MSU)
• Mustard Cover Crops (MSU)
  

Vegetable Crop Production Systems

• Organic Vegetable Production (ATTRA)
• Suppliers of Seed for Certified Organic Production Database (ATTRA)
• Producing Garlic in Michigan (MSU)
• Pumpkins, Squash and Gourds (MSU)
• Rhubarb (MSU)
• Radish, Rhubarb and Turnip (MSU)
• Onion Production (MSU)
• Cole Crops (MSU)
• Pepper Production  Production (MSU)
• Tomato Variety Evaluation (2006) (Purdue Univ)
• Transitional Dynamics in Converting Conventional Cropping Systems to Certified Organic by Andrew Corbin
• Perennial Wheat: A New Crop for Michigan
  

Harvesting and Post Harvest Information

• Expected Yields of Vegetable Crops in Michigan (MSU)
• Extending the Garden Season with High Tunnels
  High tunnels offer plants protection from wet, saturated soils and low temperatures in the spring and fall, thereby extending the gardening season.