Wagner Farm Community Garden: August 2016

Tuesday, August 30, 2016

Dear Gardeners,

I certainly have not needed to run the irrigation system lately! We have had more rain than we need! I hope your plots are not too flooded and that your plants are still surviving and producing for you. I am constantly amazed at all of the delicious vegetables ready for harvest in our garden. PLEASE COME AND HARVEST YOUR VEGGIES!!!

Here are some more announcements:

•HARVEST VEGETABLE COOKING CLASS- You have a variety of veggies-now what do you do with them? Taught by local chef, Jill Houk, you will discover new recipes, especially using TOMATOES and eat what you cook! Please join me on Tuesday, September 20 from 6:00-7:30 pm for this fun class!

•GARDEN CLOSING- These are words we all don't want to hear! I will try to keep the garden open until around the 3rd week in October. If we happen to have an early frost or very cold spell, we may have to close earlier. So that means, we have plenty more gardening time!!!! Be a good community garden member and continue to harvest and weed your plot.

•EARLY CLOSING- A few gardeners have expressed interest in being done with their plots for the season. If you would like to close up your plot early, please remove all non-organic materials such as tomato ties, plant tags, stakes, string, cages, etc. Take them home or put them in the trash. Remove all plant material and put it in a compost bin. When you are completely out of your plot, please send me an e-mail. I will check your plot to see that it has been properly closed down. We will mow any remaining weeds/grass to keep our garden looking neat. E-mail me with any questions.

•DONATIONS- I will be at the farm on Saturday from 10:00-11:30 to collect donations for the Northfield Food Pantry. Your fresh food donations are greatly appreciated.

•MILK FUNGICIDE (Upon Request Only)- Lately, I have not seen anyone using the milk fungicide. If you would think you will be using it this Saturday, PLEASE E-MAIL ME. I am happy to mix it and put it out if you would like to use it.

Happy Gardening!

Alyssa Tadelman

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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.