Wagner Farm Community Garden

Monday, July 29, 2019

Dear Gardeners,

The plots are finally drying up and it’s time to garden. Don’t worry, it’s not too late to plant your flowers, veggies, and herbs. You can even plant tomatoes up until the 4^th of July and still get a good late summer crop. Also, don’t forget to come by and weed your garden. It is easiest to weed your plot when the weeds are small and the soil is moist. As always, if you have any questions about your garden, feel free to send me an e-mail.

Please see the other important garden information below:

*TERRIFIC TOMATOES- Registration is open for our Terrific Tomatoes gardening class. Learn the various growing methods for successfully producing this very popular “vegetable”. Tomato varieties, planting, staking, fertilizing, pruning, and more will be covered. 6/25/19- 6:30-8:00 pm. $15 residents/$18 nonresidents.

*RAISED ROWS IN THE DEMO PLOT- Many gardeners have been asking how I built my raised rows in the Demo Plot (plots #1 and 2). I used the technique from the book Raised Row gardening by Jim and Mary Competti. First, I made a row of straw. I covered the straw with the soil from in between my rows. I topped my rows with Dr. Earth veggie soil mix and composted cow manure. My plants seem to be holding up well after all of this rain thanks to my raised rows!

*MY NEW GARDEN SUGGESTION- I wanted to recommend my new favorite veggie, red orach. It is in the spinach family. It is pink-red in color and tastes like a tender spinach. Red orach has a mild, delicious flavor. It is beautiful addition to your favorite salad. I have been enjoying it raw and in smoothies. I purchased my red orach seeds at www.rareseeds.org.

*LENDING LIBRARY-Our lending library has been installed by the South entrance to the garden. Come by and help yourself to a good book! Bring a book to share if you’d like.

*GLENVIEW GARDENERS PLANT SALE- The Glenview Gardeners will be having a plant sale at the Farmer’s Market on June 22, 8:00 am- 12:00 pm. Plants from members’ gardens will be sold and gardening tips will be provided.

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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