Wagner Farm Community Garden

Friday, May 19, 2017

Dear Gardeners,

Please read the following last minute reminders below.

*PLOT STAKES-When you arrive, DO NOT MOVE the stakes surrounding your plot in any way. If you have a question about how they are placed, please contact me.

*SOIL TEMPERATURE- The soil temperature today in the Community Garden is only 50º. Plants such as tomatoes, corn, cantaloupe, cucumbers, peppers, pumpkins, squash and watermelons require a soil temperature of 60º or more. PLANT AT YOUR OWN RISK! Plants such as cabbage, onions, peas, celery, and broccoli can be safely planted in this soil temperature.

*STRAW- Most of the 1/2 bales of straw were delivered and the remainder will be delivered tomorrow. Please bring a scissors to cut the string on your straw. Throw strings in the trash or bring them home with you. A BIG thank you to our fellow gardeners, Stacey and Mel, who helped me deliver the straw.

*WAGON RIDES-There are wagon rides scheduled this weekend. Therefore, you will not be able to enter the circular drive on Saturday from 9:30-10:30 a.m. and on Sun. from 3:45-4:40 p.m. At those times, the circular drive will be blocked off. A volunteer will be there so that you can check out a wagon and drop off your gardening supplies there.

*PLOT EDGE-Leave a 1 foot edge around your plot when planting. Leave at least 18" or more if you are planting large plants such as tomatillos.

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

Happy Gardening!

Alyssa

No comments:

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 19, 2017

No comments:

Post a Comment