Wagner Farm Community Garden

Thursday, May 26, 2016

Dear Gardeners,

We finally got the rain we needed! This morning, I checked the rain gauge. We had 3/4" of water overnight! HOORAY! Please read other important garden reminders below:

This weekend, I will be checking which gardeners have not been out to their plots yet. IF YOU ARE NO LONGER INTERESTED IN HAVING A PLOT, PLEASE LET ME KNOW AS SOON AS POSSIBLE SO I CAN GIVE IT TO SOMEONE ON THE WAIT LIST.

*Garden Ornaments for sale!- This Saturday, from 10:00 -2:00 (weather permitting), there will be Girl Scouts selling hand-made garden ornaments. Bring your cash. The ornaments are $15 each. Please come out and support them!

*T-Shirts-The t-shirts are in!!! Pick up your pre-ordered Community Garden t-shirt at the Heritage Center at Wagner Farm. Shirts will be at the front desk starting this SATURDAY. If you have any problem with your order, don't hesitate to e-mail me.

*WELCOME- Blake Lanphier- Our new Farm Operations Manager. Thanks in advance for taking care of our Community Garden, Blake!

*Experienced Gardeners Needed- Join us for this FREE garden sharing session. June 14-7:00 p.m.-9:00 p.m.

How Does Your Garden Grow. Experienced gardeners will share gardening tips with the group. All community gardeners are invited to attend. If you are an experienced gardener who is willing to attend and share your expertise, please e-mail me.

Have a great Memorial Day weekend!

Alyssa

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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.

Thursday, May 26, 2016

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