Wagner Farm Community Garden

Friday, September 22, 2017

Dear Gardeners,

I am so proud of the big tomatoes I picked this week. Check out the picture to the right of this article. It is a photograph of me with one of my favorite varieties of tomatoes, Chef's Choice Pink. This tomato is a hybrid tomato with the taste of an heirloom. It has a potato-shaped leaf and grows very large fruit. I voted this variety my favorite last year, so I grew it again. I can't wait to taste these beauties on a BLT sandwich.

This Week in the Garden:

-END OF THE SEASON REMINDERS- If you are finished with your plot for the season, please remove EVERYTHING from your plot. All non-organic materials must be taken home or put in the trash. All tomato plants should be put in the trash as well. All sunflowers should be pulled and piled up next to the compost bins. ALL OTHER PLANTS should be pulled and put into the compost bins. Please let me know as soon as you are done cleaning out your plot.

-HARVEST, HARVEST, HARVEST- Don't forget to come and harvest your veggies! Take advantage of your hard work! Yum!

-WEED, WEED, WEED!- Please be a good community garden member and remember to weed your plot!

-FOOD PANTRY DONATIONS- Please bring any pantry donations to the information booth at the farmer's market Saturday between 10:00 a.m. and 12:00 a.m.

-MILK FUNGICIDE- Please bring your own spray bottle for milk fungicide. I will be out of town this weekend, so if the milk is not out at the garden, please ask for it at the front desk of the Heritage Center.

Please check out some of the special opportunities coming up at the farm:

*Craftsmanship Series- Are you interested in woodcarving by hand, basic basket weaving, or beginning broom making?

*Harvest Supper- Our harvest supper will be a night to remember. Dining under the stars, on the farm, true farm to table cuisine. Our friend and chef Natezore Cooks is already preparing the meal by checking out the ingredients being grown and checking on the progress with the farmers. For more information and to purchase tickets:

http://www.glenviewparks.org/events/historic-wagner-farms-harvest-supper/

Happy Gardening! Have a great weekend!

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.

Friday, September 22, 2017

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