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Piscataquis & Penobscot
Gardening Newsletter
Volume 10 Issue 6 June 2012
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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 & Penobscot Gardening Newsletter is to provide timely information on practical, sustainable, research-based horticultural practices, tools and techniques which will improve home gardening success in our two counties. Upcoming events and programs of interest will also be included. |
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June is the Month to...
 Keep up with garden weeds. A thick layer of wet newspaper topped with straw or bark mulch can be a very attractive and effective weed barrier. - Visit a local strawberry farm to pick your own delicious summer fruit. You can find a farm near you at the Maine Department of Agriculture's website. When you get home, enjoy your berries fresh or preserve them by freezing or making jam.
- Sow seeds directly into the garden for a fall brassica harvest. Brassicas include: broccoli, cabbage, kale, Brussels sprouts, kohlrabi, and cauliflower. It's also not to late to direct-seed carrots, peas, beans, beets, nasturtium, spinach, and lettuce. Keep your garden full!
- Get ahead of garden pests by regularly scouting your plants for insects. Consider Integrated Pest Management (IPM) when you have a pest management issue.
- Remove flower stalks on rhubarb plants and dead flowers on all of your ornamental plants (unless they have a particularly nice looking seed head).
- Stake your tomato plants to ensure good air flow, reduce diseases, and improve fruit development. For a quick how-to, check out Vegetable Specialist Mark Hutton demonstrating some best practices. If you prefer tomato cages, he can give you some tips for that as well.
- Enjoy a nice glass of iced tea while watching your garden grow.
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 New Home Horticulture Coordinator for Piscataquis Extension Office
University of Maine Cooperative Extension announces that Craig Anthony has joined the Piscataquis County Office as the new Home Horticulture Coordinator. Craig will be managing the Master Gardener Program in Piscataquis County, teaching home gardening programs, and answering horticultural and agricultural questions. Craig comes to us from Boylston, Massachusetts, where he was the education director at Tower Hill Botanic Garden operated by the Worcester County Horticulture Society. Craig earned his Master of Education degree at Plymouth State University in New Hampshire and possesses an undergraduate degree in environmental science from Unity College here in Maine. Craig is a lifelong gardener and spent many years operating his own landscaping business specializing in historic landscape management, including care of several properties in the Kingston Historic Management District in Rhode Island. Having recently returned to northern New England, Anthony commented, "One thing I do not miss is the plethora of invasive plants." Over the years, Craig assisted his mother in her perennial shade plant business, where he learned the fine arts of dividing plants, weeding and mixing soil. "Anyone can garden, that's why it is so fun. It is an ongoing learning process that stimulates your mind. And the rewards are significant. The only requirement is that you get your hands dirty," Anthony said. Craig looks forward to assisting gardeners throughout the Piscataquis County region and answering their gardening questions. Feel free to stop in to say hello or call the Piscataquis County Extension Office at 564-3301 in Maine or 1-800-287-1491. |
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New Book Reveals Insider Secrets from Maine People Who Love to Play in the Dirt
Fern Leaf Publishing announces the release of a new gardening book called The Maine Garden Journal - Insider secrets from Maine people who love to put their hands in the dirt written by author Lisa Colburn.
After ardent gardener Lisa Colburn moved from her home in St. Agatha, Maine (Zone 3) to downstate Orono (Zone 5) she was challenged to find trustworthy information to help her be successful in her new location. She reached out to the Maine gardening community for help. Passionate gardeners throughout the state were delighted to share their hard-earned strategies for gardening success. "I love gardening so much, I swear I can smell the flowers right through the catalog pages." "I've been waiting to tell someone this stuff for years!"
The Maine Garden Journal contains the living stories and vital experience, generously told, of over one hundred knowledgeable and experienced gardeners from throughout the state, including some University of Maine Cooperative Extension Master Gardeners. Written in a down-to-earth, neighbor-to-neighbor style, the gardeners are quoted liberally throughout and make this book a helpful resource to Maine gardeners as well as people visiting Maine who garden in other short-season, cold-climate areas of the country. Full-color photos bring the plants vividly to life and make the book a valuable resource for all home gardeners.
FMI (207) 866-3861, www.MaineGardenJournal.com
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Giant Hogweed, Heracleum mantegazzianum
Giant hogweed was introduced into Europe and North America from Asia in the early 1900's. It's impressive growth made it a desirable garden plant. However, giant hogweed soon escaped cultivation and established itself in natural areas in several states including Maine. Distribution of giant hogweed in Maine
Along with its impressive growth habit, giant hogweed is also noteworthy because its sap can cause severe skin irritation. When susceptible people come in contact with the sap and the skin is then exposed to sunlight, painful blisters develop.
The Department is in the process of trying to locate populations of this plant and could use your help. Several plants including cow parsnip, angelica and poison hemlock, look similar to giant hogweed. Pictures of giant hogweed and look-a-likes When trying to identify giant hogweed plants, look for the following characteristics:
- Very tall plants, 8-14 feet in height
- Stems that are 2-4 inches in diameter with rigid hairs, purple blotches and are hollow
- Leaves that are unevenly lobed and up to 5 feet long
- Flowers clusters up to 2 feet across occurring from mid June to late July
- Dead stems that remain upright throughout the winter
If you must handle this plant be careful not to come into contact with sap from broken stems. You should be well covered, wearing gloves, long sleeves and long pants.
If you see any of these plants in Maine, please contact us at Ann.Gibbs@maine.gov 207 287 7602
MORE INFORMATION
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Food Preservation Resources
In anticipation of the bountiful harvests to come, here are some great resources to have handy for when you are ready to preserve your crops:
Food Preservation: "How To" videos Food Preservation Hands-on Workshops Pressure Gauge Testing Service Publications including USDA Complete Guide to Home Canning, Let's Preserve fact sheet series and the Canning and Freezing Quick Guides: http://extensionpubs.umext.maine.edu/ePOS?this_category=8&store=413&form=shared3%2fgm%2fmain.html&design=413
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Lily Leaf Beetle Larval Collections 2012
If you grow lilies in New York and New England, and have lily leaf beetles
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feeding on them, the University of Rhode Island would like your help. Lily growers in New England are very familiar with the beautiful scarlet red beetles (Fig. 1), and their not-so-beautiful larvae (Fig. 2), that defoliate their lilies. The University of Rhode Island (URI) Biological Control Lab is researching natural enemies of the lily leaf beetle. Small parasitic insects were established in lily plots in Cumberland,RI, and Wellesley, MA., and other locations in New Hampshire and Maine. URI researchers hope that the insects will disperse natur
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ally from these release sites, eventually reducing problems with the lily leaf beetle throughout New England.
URI would like to track these parasitic insects by collecting the large larvae covered with excrement that you find on your lilies. They will dissect the larvae to look for the parasitic insects. If you have larvae in your yard, and wouldn't mind sending them to URI please use the following instructions to send them to Lisa Tewksbury at the URI Department of Plant Sciences or contact her for more information.
Mailing instructions: Please put about 20 of the largest larvae you can find (preferably fourth instars: Fig. 2), some lily leaves and a piece of paper towel into a rigid container with a lid. Please do not add any water; the lily leaves will provide some moisture. Two suggestions for good sturdy containers are cottage cheese or yogurt containers. Label the lid with your name, complete address, and the date that you collected the larvae. Include an email address if you have one. Please tape container closed so that the larvae don't escape!
Address:
Lisa Tewksbury, Dept. of Plant Sciences, 9 E. Alumni Ave. Suite 7, University of Rhode Island, Kingston, RI 02881
Phone: (401) 874-2750 email: lisat@uri.edu
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All you need to know about lawn care! Check out these publications and videos:
BULLETINS
- #2367 Establishing a Home Lawn in Maine, Prepared by Lois Berg Stack, Extension ornamental horticulture specialist
- #2243 Maintaining a Home Lawn in Maine Prepared by Lois Berg Stack, Extension ornamental horticulture specialist
- #2166 Steps to a Low-Input, Healthy Lawn By Frank Wertheim, Extension Educator, Reviewed by Barb Murphy, Extension Educator, Amy Witt, Horticultural Professional, Kate Garland, Horticultural Professional, and Gary Fish, Maine Board of Pesticide Control.
- #2154 Fertilizing a Home Lawn in Maine By Laura Wilson, Assistant Scientist
VIDEOS
How to Establish a Home Lawn in Maine
How do I care for my lawn in an environmentally friendly way?
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Events
July 17, 6-8:30pm and July 19, 1-3:30pm - Ikebana: the art of Japanese flower arranging Cumberland Extension Office at the UMaine Regional Learning Center, 75 Clearwater Drive in Falmouth. Registration is $10. Students should bring the following materials to class: Flat bottom shallow wide container (suiban) and a metal frog (kenzan) OR a tall vase (nageire) no metal frog needed, cutting scissors, bowl for cutting in water, newspaper, 1-2 branch type materials, 3-5 flowers, Several green leaves or hosta leaves. Fresh material from your own garden would be wonderful and personal. For more information, to register or to request special accommodations, contact (207) 781-6099 or (800) 287-1471 (in Maine), or e-mail dhibbard@maine.edu.
Saturday, June 23 from 9:30-11:00 Homesteading Skills. Nancy and Kevin Grant of Ripley will share their homesteading experiences in Maine: uses of rain water, solar cooking, alternative energy, winter refrigeration and much more. If you have been thinking of making changes to your lifestyle, but not sure where to begin, some of Nancy and Kevin's "crazy ideas" may get you started! Or, perhaps you've already made changes and want to see what others are doing. This free informational workshop is co-sponsored by Dexter's Abbott Memorial Library and the Dexter Dover Area Towns in Transition (DDATT) and will be held at the Library's meeting room. To pre-register or FMI contact 924-3836 (eves) or info@ddatt.org.
Sunday, June 24 - 1-2:30 pm Foraging for Edible and Medicinal Plants Hirundo offers this introductory program. We will cover plant use, identification, collection protocol and go for a walk gathering various plants.
Directions to Hirundo Wildlife Refuge from the south:
Take the I-95 N and ME-43 exit 197 to Old Town/Hudson. At the stop sign, turn left onto Rt. 43 (Hudson Rd). Go west 5.2 mi and take a right at the large red sign (Gate 1) on your right (north side of Rt. 43). Follow gravel road 0.5 mile to the Pine Tree Parking area. Meet at the Parker Reed Shelter, which is further on the left, along the shore of Lac D'Or.
http://www.hirundomaine.org/directions
Thursday, July 12th, 3pm (rain date: Friday, July 13th, 3pm) - Caring for your Garden, Part 3 of Gardening with Raised Bed Series, UMaine Extension Piscataquis County Office, Court House Complex, 165 East Main Street, Dover-Foxcroft. The garden is to the left of the building. To register for sessions, please call the office at (207) 564-3301 or email amanda.miles@maine.edu with your name, address, and phone number.
Tuesday, July 17th, 6pm - Art in the Garden at Rogers Farm (914 Bennoch Road, Old Town)
Free public program featuring music, dancing, culinary arts, and much more! For more information, call Kate - 942-7396. No registration required.
July 16-28, 2012 - Permaculture Design Course offered by ESTIA; The International EcoPeace Community, Bucksport, Maine
A Permaculture Design Course (PDC) offers an in depth study of the theory of permaculture as a design sytstem for sustainable agriculture and ecological human settlement. Participants of the course will then implement their knowledge at the Estia Epicenter permaculture site in Bucksport, Maine. Charles & Julia Yelton are students of the co-founder of Permaculture, Bill Mollison. Meals, facilities, and tent sites will be provided. The course fee is $1,200 with a $400 deposit due by March 15th and the remainder due May 1st. Click here for a more detailed description of the course or contact EstiaMaine@gmail.com
Thursday, August 9th, 3pm (rain date: Friday, August 10th, 3pm) - Using Your Harvest with special guest Felicia Dumont, Part 4 of Gardening with Raised Bed Series (see July 12th program listing for details)
Tuesday, August 21st, 6pm - The Edible Landscape with Lois Berg Stack
Location: Rogers Farm. Details coming soon!
Thursday, September 13th, 3pm (rain date: Friday, September 14th, 3pm) - Preserving your Harvest with special guest Jane Conroy, Extension Educator; Part 3 of Gardening with Raised Bed Series (see July 12th program listing for details)
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Edited by:
Theresa Tilton, Administrative Assistant
Contact Info
Donna R. Coffin, Extension Educator
207-564-3301 or in Maine 1-800-287-1491
and
Katherine Garland, Horticulturist
207-942-7396 or in Maine 1-800- 287-1485
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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SURFACE MAIL RECIPIENTS CAN CONTACT THEIR COUNTY EXTENSION OFFICE FOR FURTHER INFORMATION WHEN WEB LINKS ARE INCLUDED IN AN ARTICLE.
Piscataquis County Office 207-564-3301 or 800-287-1491
165 East Main Street Dover-Foxcroft, ME 04426
Penobscot County Office 207-942-7396 or 800-287-1485
307 Maine Avenue Bangor, ME 04401
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