Dear Gardeners,

Fall is here but there are still a lot of fun things to do in your garden plot.  Check out the list below:

1.      Harvest your veggies each time you come. 

2.      Remove dead plants and yellow and brown leaves.  Put them in the compost bin. 

3.      Pick up rotting fruit and veggies and compost them as well.

4.      Plant greens, peas, and radishes.  There are FREE seeds in the basket at the front desk compliments of The Chalet.

5.      Trim the edge around your plot with a clippers.  This will make it look nifty and neat!  It will also keep weeds from going to seed and dropping the seeds on your plot.  I just trimmed the edge around the Demo Plot and it looks great!

*When to harvest hard squash and pumpkins- When you are ready to pick your squash or pumpkins, look at the color.  For example, butternut squash will turn from a light yellow to a golden color when it is ripe.  Pumpkins should be a deep orange color.   You also need to look at the stem on your squash.  The stem just above the squash will turn from green to brown when it is ready to be harvested.  Use a sharp knife or clippers to cut the stem where it attaches to the vine.  You need to harvest all squash before the first frost, even if they are not ripe.  They will ripen off the vine on a sunny porch or deck if they are picked when they are green.  Squash should be dried in the sun for about a week if you are storing them for winter use.  They can be stored in a cool place for about 4-6 months. 

* Bonfire and Barn Dance-  Join us this Saturday, September 14, 4-8 p.m.  Bring your family to the Farm for live music, dancing and wagon rides!  Roast s’mores and listen to stories by the fire.  Admission is $5 per person (children under 2 are free).  Food is available at an additional cost.

* Fall Sales have begun!  Come by the Farm to purchase your mums and gourds.  M-F 10:00 a.m.-6:00 p.m.  Sat. and Sun. 10 a.m.-5 p.m.  Pumpkins will be available for sale beginning Sept. 21.

                                                                                                

*PRIZE CARROTS- This picture does not do these prize carrots justice.  They are huge!  Great job Prashant Mehrotra!

                                                                                                      

                   

*TOMATO CORNER-  The tomato of the week is Matt’s Wild Cherry.  These very small tomatoes are deep red and very sweet.  They are great to eat plain or to use in salsa.  This variety is VERY prolific!  My plant never stops producing!  I am growing this variety in the Demo Plot.  I purchased the plant at The Talking Farm plant sale.  This variety is indeterminate and has some resistance to early and late blight.

*CHECK OUT OUR BLOG- The Community Garden blog is up to date!  Don't forget to check it out to find past newsletters and see gardening tips!
http://wfcg.blogspot.com

*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.  Raw milk fungicide is available in the garden on the wooden storage boxes.  Bring your own spray bottle.  Note- this does not deter insect pests.                                                                                        

Happy Gardening!

Alyssa