Wagner Farm Community Garden: September 2013

Thursday, September 26, 2013

Finch-frenzy

Community Gardener Tom spotted this oh so happy finch lunching on a sunflower a few weeks ago in the community garden.

Wednesday, September 25, 2013

Everyone's tastes are different, but I'm curious -- what's your favorite tomato to grow? And why? Is it the beautiful color (like the Indigo Rose above), the taste, the shape, the fact that the plant seems impervious to disease or pests -- what? Is there anything you grew this year that you had trouble with? I'd love to hear!

Not limited to heirlooms, by the way -- just looking for recommendations!

Friday, September 13, 2013

Harvest Picnic is cancelled for Sunday

Sorry to say, but the Harvest Picnic is cancelled for Sunday. I have been diagnosed with pneumonia and will not be in the garden for at least another week.

Saturday, September 7, 2013

It's not just the veg -- the peelings are good for you, too

I love veg and fruit peelings. I have great memories of nicking my nuckles while peeling mountains of potatoes in the kitchen with my mom and grandma while getting ready for Jewish holidays. In those days, we put the peelings in the trash; now, I compost them and reuse their nutrients in my garden.

Apparently there's another way to get the most out of your produce -- use the peels in preparing dishes or prepare them on their own. Prevention Magazine has a neat article up on how to sneak peels -- and nutrients -- into your food. Click here for the whole story -- check out the sample below.

Potato skins

Why: About half of the spud's hunger-quelling fiber is in the skin.
How: Make potato crisps. Place peelings on a baking sheet and sprinkle with oil, salt, black pepper, and cayenne. Bake at 400°F until crisp, 10 to 15 minutes.

Wednesday, September 4, 2013

Planning for next year already...

I'll admit it -- I'm planning next year while I'm finishing up this year. And peppers are high on my list -- they're heavy eaters like tomatoes, but they're mostly maintenance free, immune to most fungal or bacterial issues, and incredibly healthy to eat. One of our gardeners grew ghost peppers this year -- aka the Bhut Jolokia -- and that got me thinking about heat levels in peppers. Check out this cool image to help you choose next year's pepper crop. And click here for an explanation of the Scoville measurement.

Tuesday, September 3, 2013

What to do with all of your tomatoes

Found this great link with a ton of recipes -- click here.

Love that gardeners are sending in recipes -- keep them coming!

And while I have your attention, here's a picture of Mike's huge (and small) radishes, with the appropriate comparison to sports equipment.

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What's This?

FieldWatch is a nonprofit organization that is intended to help pesticide applicators and specialty crop growers communicate more effectively. The site registers certified organic gardens and their beehives. This information is provided to crop dusting (pesticide) applicators to let them know the location of organic gardens. They use this information to plan their routes accordingly. Our sign alerts them to keep pesticides away! The Wagner Farm Community Garden and our Wagner beehives are registered as organic sites through FieldWatch.

Q&A

Q: Are cocoa shells allowed as mulch in the community garden?

A: YES! Cocoa shell mulch (also called cocoa bean mulch) is great for gardens. These shells have a sweet smell and look very neat in your garden bed. When cocoa beans are roasted, their shells separate. Roasting the beans sterilizes the shells. Therefore, the shells are weed free and organic. If you are interested in using them in your plot, ask for them at your favorite garden center.

Negatives-When cocoa mulch gets too wet and does not have time to dry between waterings or rainfalls, it can attract pests. Also, in hot, humid weather, the cocoa shells can develop a harmless mold. You can use a mixture of 25% water and 75% vinegar as a spray to get rid of the mold.

*CAUTION- Do not use cocoa bean mulch at home if you have dogs. This sweet mulch can be toxic to dogs if eaten.

Biggest Gardening Mistakes:

Biggest Gardening Mistakes:

1. Planting too soon-The weather forecast shows nighttime temperatures below 50º through next weekend. You are taking a risk if you plant your warm weather crops such as tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, basil, zucchini, etc.

2. Not hardening off your plants-Plants that have been grown in your house or in a greenhouse need to be “hardened off”. This means they need to gradually get use to the outdoor temperature, sun, and wind before being planted outside. Ask if your plants have been hardened off at your favorite garden store. Check online to see how to harden off your plants.

3. Improper Spacing-Your seedlings look so small and cute right now, but they will be huge! Read plant tags and seed packages for recommendations on plant spacing. Proper spacing will ensure better air circulation which leads to healthier plants and better production. Planting things too close together will make your plants more susceptible to disease. It will also make it difficult to harvest your veggies.

4. Not staking plants-It is important to stake your plants. This will promote proper air circulation and will help prevent disease. Staking is especially important because we have overhead sprinklers.

5. Not weeding-Weeds compete with your veggies for valuable nutrients and space. Some weeds even send out growth inhibitors that stunt the growth of your plants. You will get a weed warning in the Community Garden if you decide not to weed.