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Piscataquis Gardening Newsletter |
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| Volume 8 Issue 3 |
March 2010 |
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New Look!
As you can see the Piscataquis Gardening Newsletter has a new look. With the new content management system web pages will no longer be available after a certain date. Articles will not be archived. We will try to add popular articles to the Piscataquis County Gardening Web site in the future. But for now if you see an article that interests you, please download it to refer to it again.
Thanks. |
Mission
University of Maine Cooperative Extension is the major educational outreach program of the University of Maine, with offices statewide. UMaine Extension provides Maine people with research-based educational programs to help them live fuller, more productive lives. |
Goal
The goal of the Piscataquis Gardening Newsletter is to provide timely information on practical, sustainable, research-based horticultural practices, tools and techniques which will improve home gardening success in Piscataquis County. Upcoming events and programs of interest will also be included. | |
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It's Time to Start the Seeds
Finally it's time to start many of our seeds so we will have seedlings to transplant out in the garden when the weather warms up. Mid-March marks 10 weeks before Memorial Day and twelve weeks until it is safe to set plants out in the garden so they won't be damaged by frost. Depending on the plant it can take from 4 to 12 weeks to have the transplants ready for the garden.
A common mistake is to sow seed too early and then attempt to hold the seedlings back under poor light or improper temperature ranges. This usually results in tall, weak and spindly plants, which do not perform well in the garden.
It is important to start with good quality seed. If you are using seed left over from last year, you may want to do a germination test to determine the seed's viability since different types of seed remain viable for different lengths of time. Also, how the seed was stored can affect the viability.
We have several bulletins on starting seeds and making seed starting equipment that gardeners can download from our web site. Generally seeds need a place that is warm and gets adequate light. We need to check the moisture level of the soilless media and plan to fertilize regularly.
Remember to start seeds based on when they can be transplanted into the garden. Slower growing plants should be started in March. Faster growing plants should wait until April or May to start. Vine crops can only grow in a pot for about four weeks before it needs to be transplanted into the garden.
Plants to start in March include:
- Begonia
- Geranium
- Impatiens
- Onion
- Larkspur
- Vinca
Late March to Early April Plants to start:
- Ageratum
- Alyssum
- Broccoli
- Cabbage
- Cauliflower
- Eggplant
- Pepper
- Petunia
Plants to start in April
- Aster
- Marigold
- Tomato
- Zinnia
Plants to start in May
- Pumpkin
- Melon
- Squash
- Cucumber
Cold tolerant crops can be transplanted as soon as your garden is prepared in the spring. Cold sensitive crops need to wait until after the chance of frost has past (mid-June) or you will need to plan to cover these crops to protect them from late frost. You can use a cold frame, row cover or individual covers in the garden to protect plants from late frosts.
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Garden / Food Contests for Youth
- Cooking Up Change challenges teams of high school and college students to create a healthful and delicious school meal that meets the Institute of Medicine nutrition standards, incorporates a local food item, draws from ingredients commonly available to food service, and can be easily prepared in a school kitchen. Finalists will prepare their recipes in Detroit for a prestigious panel of judges. Conference participants will sample the teams' delicious creations. Submit your recipes online by March 26, 2010. For contest guidelines and information, visit www.cookingupchange.org .
- Real Food Is...2010 National Video Contest challenges students to define what real food means to them by creating a short video that completes the phrase "Real Food is..." Created by the National Farm to School Network http://farmtoschool.org and sponsored by the Lunch Box Project http://www.thelunchbox.org/ , this contest is open to K-12 and college students and runs until March 29, 2010. The winners will receive $1,000 and an all expenses paid trip to the conference to show their videos during the opening plenary. More info is available at www.video.farmtoschool.org
Source: Ellen B. Libby,Extension Educator, University of Maine Cooperative Extension, 377 Manktown Rd. Waldoboro, ME 04572, (207) 832-0343 or 1-800-244-2104, Fax: (207) 832-0377, elibby@umext.maine.edu
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Ground Water Awareness Week - March 7 to 13
Most people in Piscataquis County get their water from private wells. During Ground Water Awareness Week the National Ground Water Association recomends that you have your water tested. The Maine Center for Disease Control (http://wellwater.maine.gov or 800-292-3474) suggests that private well owners test their wells annually for bacteria, nitrated and nitrites. They also suggest that every three to five years to test for Arsenic, Radon, Uranium, Lead, and Floride.
Other times to test your well include:
- someone expecting a baby
- water changes smell, taste or color (drink bottled water until tested)
- new parts to your water system (pump, pipes, water softener)
- well runs dry then comes back
The CDC has a list of Maine labs certified for well water testing. You can either call them for the list or go to http://wellwater.maine.gov or 800-292-3474 |
Thinking about starting a Community Garden?
These web sites are especially helpful for people who are organizing community and school gardens:
If you would like assistance in starting a community garden in your town give us a call at the Extension Office. |
Rip, Rap and Roll
Laura Wilson, with the Lake Stewards program announced that they are replacing their program newsletter, RipRap and Roll, with a new blog. This will allow them to provide more timely information to you, and reduce our costs and paper waste at the same time. She hopes you will sign up for theirr RSS feed to the blog - as well as follow them on twitter. I
You can view/subscribe to the blog and/or twitter at their new (and hopefully improved) website: http://extension.umaine.edu/waterquality/
She hopes this will enable them to provide you with better information. Your feedback is always welcomed - so let her know what you think. Contact her at:
Source: Laura Wilson, University of Maine Cooperative Extension
495 College Ave., Orono, ME 04473, (207) 581-2971
lwilson@umext.maine.edu or www.extension.umaine.edu/waterquality |
10 Question Census Form Set to Arrive in Mailboxes
It costs the government just 42 cents for a postage paid envelope when a household mails back the form. It costs the Census Bureau $57 to send a census taker door-to-door to follow up with each household that fails to respond. In 2000, the nation reversed a three-decade decline in mail rates, achieving a participation rate of 72 percent. Let's do are part to keep the cost of the census down and mail back your form. For more information about the Census you can go to www.census.gov Source: www.census.gov |
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Monthly Garden Activities
- Plan to visit a maple sugar house to watch how they boil down sap to maple syrup. Did you know it takes an average of 40 gallons of sap to make a gallon of syrup?
- Build you own light table for starting plants.
- Assemble you seed starting equipment (containers, media, germination mat, seeds, etc.
- Check fruit trees for mouse, vole or rabbit damage on the trunk.
- Sharpen your garden tools to get ready for the season. It's a good time to service your lawn mower and other power equipment to be sure they are in good running order.
- Pruning time for fruit trees, raspberries, etc.
- Delay tilling the garden until it has dried. Tilling too wet soils results in the formation of clumps and compacting that will damage soil stucture for the summer. When you squeeze a ball of soil in your hand and release it, the ball should fall apart. If it stays in the shape of a ball, your soil is too wet.
- If you haven't tested your garden soil in the past three years now is a good time to take a soil sample and send it to the lab for testing results. We have the soil test forms and boxes in our office.
- Recycle your gardening magazines by sharing with others. Local schools, senior citizen housing, senior centers or even the local laundromat are good places to share magazines.
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Featured Extension Publications
The following agriculture related Extension publications are available or can be ordered at the Extension Office nearest you. You will notice that some publications are free and some have a cost recovery charge. Many other publications are available for free online or may be purchased at our secure publications web site.
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Pruning Woody Landscape Plants Item #2169. Publisher: UMaine Extension Effective pruning is based on knowledge of a plant's natural growth habit and how the plant will respond to removal of its various parts (branches, buds, fruits, etc.). This 6-page bulletin explains principles of and reasons for pruning, identifies tools, and describes techniques for deciduous trees and shrubs, evergreen trees and shrubs, and hedges. Includes drawings and pruning calendar. 1998. Download it for free: http://www.umext.maine.edu/onlinepubs/htmpubs/2169.htm or buy $1.00 - Establishing a Home Lawn Item #2367. Publisher: UMaine Extension
This 6-page bulletin describes seeding, grading, mulching, sodding, mowing and weeds, insect and disease control. Includes Maine turf grass characteristics chart and seeding rate by grass mixture chart. 1997. Download it for free: http://www.umext.maine.edu/onlinepubs/htmpubs/2367.htm or buy $1.00
- Garden Equipment and Items to Make for the Maine Garden, Container & Raised-Bed Gardening series, Item #2763, Publisher: UMaine Extension
Practical, detailed plans and materials lists for newspaper pots, a light stand, a two-tier seedling stand, a cold frame, and raised beds, as well as ideas for making planting holes in plastic, blanching celery, and growing a "plant in a bag." Includes photos and illustrations. 5 pages, 2009.Download for free http://www.extension.umaine.edu/onlinepubs/htmpubs/2763.htm or buy a color printout $0.75. |
| Upcoming Events
March 20, 2010 Seed Starting Seminar 10 am to noon Foxcroft Agway in Dover-Foxcroft, two Master Gardener Volunteers will present-no registration required for this free workshop. Contact Hannah Todd for more information 564-3301 or in Maine 1-800-287-1491 or email htodd@umext.maine.edu March 26, 2010 Season Extension Class with Special Focus on Cold Frame Construction, from 9am to 11am at the Charlotte White Center on the Bangor Rd in Dover-Foxcroft, ME 04426. Are you interested in growing produce for a longer period of time? Would you like to learn how to build a cold frame? Come learn how to get your garden growing earlier in the spring and keep it producing later into the fall! The first part of class will be spent indoors viewing a PowerPoint on "Season Extension" and the second part of the class will be spent putting together model "season extenders" that are appropriate for the home gardener. Registration is required, please call Hannah Todd at the Piscataquis County Extension Office at 564-3301 or toll free in Maine at 1-800-287-1491 or email htodd@umext.maine.edu
April 3, 2010 Livestock Workshop from 8:30 am to 5:30 pm at the Pittsfield Town Office in the Council Chambers. The address is 112 Somerset Ave., Pittsfield. Use the parking lot entrance behind the Town Office and proceed downstairs to the Council Chambers. Come learn how to care for goats, sheep, horses, and cattle in a one day workshop hosted by the UMaine Cooperative Extension Piscataquis, Somerset, and Waldo Counties. The class will be broken into 3 sections: Dairy and Beef Cattle, Horses, and Sheep and Goats. Presenters will be Rick Kersbergen, Waldo County Extension Educator, Donna Coffin, Piscataquis County Extension Educator, and Dr. Anne Lichtenwalner, Extension Veterinarian. You can choose to come for the whole day or for just one section. Each section will be 2� hours and cost $10 or you can come for the whole day for $20. Topics to be covered include: basic care, feeding (conventional and organic), shelter and management. Current livestock owners or homeowners who are thinking about purchasing livestock are encouraged to attend. To register for this event please call Hannah Todd at the Somerset County Extension Office at 474-9622 or toll free in Maine at 1-800-287-1495.
April 17th, 2010 Fruit Tree Pruning 10 am to noon at Olmsted's Orchard, Rt. 15 in Charleston. Hannah Todd will give a talk on fruit tree care followed by hands-on pruning. You are welcome to bring your own pruners or borrow their's. No registration necessary for this free workshop. For more information contact Hannah Todd at the Piscataquis County Extension Office at 564-3301 or toll free in Maine at 1-800-287-1491 or email htodd@umext.maine.edu.
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Contact Info
Donna R. Coffin, Extension Educator
207-564-3301 or in Maine 1-800-287-1491
In complying with the letter and spirit of applicable laws and pursuing its own goals of diversity, the University System shall not discriminate on the grounds of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, including transgender status or gender expression,national origin, citizenship status, age, disability, or veteran's status in employment, education, and all other areas of the University System. The University provides reasonable accommodations to qualified individuals with disabilities upon request.
A member of the University of Maine System
Information in this newsletter is provided purely for educational purposes. No responsibility is assumed for any problems associated with the use of products or services mentioned in this newsletter. No endorsement of products or companies is intended, nor is criticism of unnamed products or companies implied. |
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