Wagner Farm Community Garden

Monday, July 29, 2019

Dear Gardeners,

With all of the rain and heat, the Community Garden is doing amazing! Just a reminder, as you weed your garden, please put weeds in the COMPOST BIN. If you are having a friend or family member garden for you, let them know where to put the weeds.

*NO WEEDS in the GARBAGE CANS

*NO WEEDS in the RECYCLE BIN

*NO WEEDS left on the GRASS

*WHAT’S GROWING IN THE SENSATIONAL SALAD PLOT (#73)- There are some awesome “greens” growing in the Sensational Salad Plot this season (above left). On the left, I am growing Beni Hushi Mizuna. This ancient Japanese plant has green leaves and purple stems. It has a spicy flavor that can be used in salads, stir fries, or it can be sprinkled on soups. Due to the purple color, the stems contain powerful antioxidants like blueberries do. This variety is very adaptable to growing in hot and cool temperatures too!

I am also growing Endive (2^nd to the right), Sanguine Ameliore lettuce (3^rd from the right), and Lunix Lettuce (left). I can’t wait to make a delicious and colorful salad!

*COMBATING JAPENESE BEETLES- (see picture on left above)-Unfortunately, it is Japanese Beetle season. For us gardeners, that means they will be eating holes on our plants’ leaves. The best way to get rid of Japanese Beetles is by hand-picking. Bring a container of soapy water to the garden. A few drops of Dawn liquid dish soap will do. Knock the bug into the soapy water. They will drown. If you don’t want to touch the bugs, bring a plastic knife to knock them off with. Please cover your container and take it home with you to dispose of. Dawn soap is not organic and cannot be dumped in our garden.

*GARDEN HELPERS for HIRE- Below are a list of garden helpers for hire if you need a teenager to water and/or weed your garden while you are on vacation. You arrange everything with them and decide on what you will pay them per hour.

Madeline- Mschimka103@gmail.com

Meghan- Mschimka103@gmail.com

Eliza- eliza_schloss@aol.com (224)226-3048

Jack- jackfrya@gmail.com (847)656-6891

Soren- sorenwibers751@gmail.com (847)626-8177

*RAW MILK FUNGICIDE- This week and every Saturday at 10:00 a.m., I will be providing a solution of raw milk (from our very own cows) and water to help prevent powdery mildew on your plants. Bring your own spray bottle. Note- this does not deter insect pests.

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.

Monday, July 29, 2019

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