VEGETABLES NUMBER IN THE HUNDREDS AND MAKE UP AN EXTENSIVE GROUP OF PLANTS THAT VARY IN PHYSIOLOGICAL COMPLEXITY, MORPHOLOGICAL CHARACTERISTICS, GROWTH HABITS, LIFE CYCLES, AND CULTURAL AND CLIMATIC REQUIEREMENTS. WHILE MANY VEGETABLES ARE MERELY OF LOCAL INTEREST, NUMEROUS OTHERS ARE OF SIGNIFICANT WIDESPREAD ECONOMIC AND RECREATIONAL IMPORTANCE. NEW TECHOLOGIES AND DEVELOPMENTS CONTINUOUSLY RESULT IN CHANGES AND ADJUSTMENTS IN PRINCIPLES AND PRODUCTION PRACTICES USED IN VEGETABLE GRO