Wagner Farm Community Garden

Friday, May 26, 2017

Dear Gardeners,

I think we had a very successful opening weekend in the Community Garden. Many gardeners came out despite the weather to start preparing and planting in their plots.

*STRAW- Please make sure you secure your straw! Straw has been blowing on other people's plots. When you spread your straw, please spread it carefully and then secure it with U shaped landscaping clips or wet it down. Keep all your extra straw in your plot. If you have any extra straw you do not want, please spread it on a nearby straw walkway.

*PLOT EDGE-You must leave a 1 foot border all the way around your plot when you are planting. Leave at least 18" or more if you are planting large plants such as tomatillos. I have had to send out reminders to several gardeners to move plants in because they have planted too close to their plot edge.

*SOIL TEMPERATURE- The soil temperature in the Community Garden is currently only 56º. You can plant tomatoes and peppers when the soil temp is 60º, and nighttime temperatures are above 50º, and your plants have been hardened off. It is recommended that you plant cucurbits (cucumbers, squash, melons, etc.) when the soil temp is 70º or warmer. Chalet Garden Center posts the soil temp in Glenview on their website. See the attached screenshot of directions on how to find it on their website (Thank you gardener, Barbara Coughlin for sharing this!)

*WAGONS- Wagons will be available on Saturday and Sunday. You may borrow a wagon to carry things from your car to your plot.

*TOOLS and WATERING CANS-Please bring your own tools. I have purchased 5 green watering cans. They are in the wooden storage boxes. Feel free to use them.

*RED'S GARDENING CENTER- I have attached a list of gardening events going on in the month of June at Red's Gardening Center.

*Rain and Irrigation- Check the calendar on the bulletin board to find out how much rain we have had. You can also check out blog at: http://wfcg.blogspot.com

If you have any other questions, feel free to contact me.

Happy Gardening!

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.

Friday, May 26, 2017

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