UMaine Cooperative Extension Logo
June 2014
Piscataquis and Penobscot
Gardening Newsletter
Practical horticultural information based on university research

How much can we learn from fertilizer labels? 

by Ana Bonstedt Home Horticulture Coordinator UMaine Extension

 

 

 

Plants are living organisms that require sufficient amount of nutrients to grow and produce, so as gardeners we need to understand the label information attached to the fertilizer we are buying in order to provide those nutrients at the right amount and time.

All fertilizer makers must follow certain guidelines when they label their products. The label information must clearly explain the percentages of the nutrients they contain and knowing how to read those numbers will help us to choose the fertilizer that will meet our plants' needs.

Let's focus on the three numbers that most commercial fertilizers are labeled with. These numbers are separated by dashes (for example 5-10-5), and, refer to percent of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (as P2O5), and potassium (as K2O) respectively. If we purchase a 10 lb. bag of fertilizer labeled 5-10-5, it would contains 5% N, 10% P and 5% K, the remaining 80% would consist of other nutrients and inert filler materials that help to apply the nutrients evenly over an area.

Fertilizers that include all three major nutrients are considered complete fertilizers.

These nutrients are essential for the growth of plants and they need to be applied periodically, through one fertilizer or another, to restore soil fertility. Let's see the role each of them plays.

Nitrogen, (N) is a component of chlorophyll and encourages healthy leaf and stem growth. When there is a sufficient amount of this element in plant tissues photosynthesis occurs at high rates. Nitrogen is water-soluble and does not remain in the soil for very long. The 10 lbs. bag of fertilizer mentioned above would contain 0.5 lb. nitrogen by weight.

Phosphorous, (P) contributes to many fundamental plant processes such as cell division, production, storage, and transfer of energy throughout the plant. Adequate supplies of phosphorus will promote flowering, resulting in the production of seeds and fruits. The 10 lb. bag of fertilizer mentioned above would contain 1.0 lb. phosphorus by weight.

Potassium, (K) contributes to the overall health and vigor of plants by protecting the plants against disease and promoting efficient use of all nutrients. It also helps in the formation and growth of roots. Furthermore, potassium regulates the intake and output of water and increases the plant's ability to survive under adverse growing conditions like drought and cold. The 10 lb. bag of fertilizer mentioned above would contain 0.5 lb. potassium by weight.

Other Ingredients: Any additional ingredients will be listed on the side label. This may include other nutrients like calcium, magnesium, iron, micronutrients and even the percentage of organic matter.

Based on the N-P-K percentage, many formulations are available for gardeners to buy. Here are some guidelines for the different type of gardens:

All purpose fertilizer: contain either equal amounts of N-P-K like 10-10-10, for example or a slightly higher percentage of nitrogen than phosphorus and potassium.

Such fertilizers are intended to meet most plants general requirements throughout the growing season.

Vegetable: Fertilizers formulated as 10-10-10 or 5-10-10 is the most common for vegetable gardens, but the nutrients available in your garden soil should determine the fertilizer your vegetable plants will need. For a suitable harvest, we must balance the amount of nutrients too much or too little will make the difference between a failure and success.

Flowers: the ideal fertilizers for flowering plants are those that contain lower amounts of nitrogen than phosphorus. This is because phosphorus encourages flowering.

Woody Plants: the ideal fertilizers for shrubs and trees are those that are high in nitrogen for example: 8-2-2, 15-5-5, 24-8-16, and similar formulations. It is necessary to apply this type of fertilizer because of the high competition for nutrients among the nearby plants and grass in the yard.

Now that we know the meaning of N-P-K numbers and the benefits that each chemical element offers to the plants, we can choose the right fertilizer for our gardens.

For more detailed information about fertilizers please visit the following sites:

Applying Fertilizers on Your Home Gardens

Fertilizing a Home Lawn in Maine

Do plants need fertilizer? (Video)

Six Beneficial Insects for Your Garden 

Pretty soon, if they are not already there, you will be noticing some insects visiting your garden. Some of them, feeding on your plants, pollinating flowers, and others eating or parasitizing on those that feed on your plants. This article will show you how favorable it is to grow plants that attract beneficial insects in order to maintain the natural balance of your garden ecosystem.

 
article courtesy of the National Garden Bureau

Speaking strictly from a gardener's perspective ... There are good bugs, and there are bad bugs. And the more you have of the former, the fewer problems you'll have with the latter. Here are six beneficial insects that every gardener should know, and tips on how to get them to hang around your garden.

 

To read how each of these beneficials help in the garden, click here.

 

 

Attracting Syrphid flies to the garden:  

The best way to attract syrphid flies is to plant sweet alyssum. They also like catmint, yarrow, buckwheat flowers, cilantro flowers, and many other blooming plants. Nothing, however, draws them in like sweet alyssum.

 

 

Attracting Bumblebees to the garden:

Bumblebees are not picky. They love clover, sunflowers, mint, coneflowers, asters, tomatoes, and any number of other flowers. The trick is to plan your garden so that you have plants in bloom all year long, from spring hellebore through fall dahlias. See HGSA's article "Priority Pollinators" for lists of early, mid-season, and late season pollinator plants that you can grow from seed.

 

Attracting parasitic wasps to the garden:
Parasitoids can make a substantial contribution to your garden, so it makes sense to attract them with nectar-producing flowers. Two large families of plants that make excellent lures are the carrot and sunflower family. Choices within these groups are many: dill, cilantro, eryngium, parsley, asters, goldenrods, and sunflowers are just a few. By planting annual and biennial flowering plants right in the vegetable garden, and perennials along the borders, you can attract parasitoids when and where you most need them.

 

 

Tachinid flies to the garden:

Most adult tachinid flies feed on nectar and pollen, especially from plants in the carrot, sunflower, and mint families. Attract them in the same way as you would parasitic wasps, with a diverse planting of flowers and herbs. The flies will also feed on aphid honeydew.

 

 

 

 

Consumer Pesticide Survey 

The University of Maine Cooperative Extension is conducting a Consumer Pesticide Survey to request your opinion regarding how consumers feel about a small fee on their pesticides going to Extension in the possibility that the State of Maine will approves one.

To complete the survey online, please click on the following link Consumer Pesticide Survey. If you do not have access to the Internet, or prefer to answer the questionnaire on paper, please click here to print it and mail the complete questionnaire to:  

 

James Dill

PSEP Program Coordinator

University of Maine Cooperative Extension

Pest Management Office

491 College Ave.

Orono, ME 04473-1295

Phone: (207) 581-3880 or 1-800-287-0279 (in Maine)

E-mail: [email protected]  

 

Your answers will be completely confidential.

Thank you in advance for your participation in this important survey.

Rogers Farm Master Gardener Demonstration Garden 

by J. Jonathan Foster, Horticulturist UMaine Extension

 

The 2014 growing season has kicked off at the University of Maine's Rogers Farm Master Gardener Demonstration Garden in Old Town! The garden is a dedicated portion of the farm, with 41 individual plots run by volunteer gardeners for the purpose of public education, outreach, and illustrating sustainable gardening practices. Organically managed, the garden was started in 1994 and is humming along stronger than ever after 20 years!

From the early season bed-cleaning doldrums, through several rainy spring nights, to last week's frantic planting of 3 deliveries of seedlings, 20-30 dedicated gardeners have already diligently transformed the dreary winter palette into a burgeoning spring masterpiece. The current year's class of Master Gardeners have taken on the front bed and are transforming it with herbs, vegetables, and edible flowers on an architectural framework of reclaimed, recycled, and reused items to fully embrace the farm's sustainable agriculture ethic.

Beyond that, our permanent, themed gardens stretch back from the road to the workhorse plots of the enthusiastic Maine Harvest for Hunger vegetable growers, who produce enormous amounts of fresh vegetables every year for donation. Visit the Moon

Garden, observe how the All-American selections are performing, take a break in the Meditation Garden, or soak up the colors and textures from the many other plots.

If you've never stopped by to stroll between the plots or visit with other gardeners about our common passion, there's never been a better time than now. Tuesday nights are work nights, with most plot owners and an enthusiastic team of floating helpers working from 5pm until dark, but the garden is always open to the public during daylight hours. There is almost always someone willing to say hello and talk a bit about what they're working on. For more information on the farm or on Master Gardeners in Penobscot County, please contact Jonathan Foster at [email protected].

And right next door is the Black Bear Food Guild's student-run co-op-the crew there is already hard at work planting this year's crops.

While visiting the Demonstration Garden, be sure to stop by and talk to them about their project, as well! For additional information please contact Eric Gallandt at [email protected] or 207-581-2933.

Featured Resources 


Videos

Native Plants in Maine

How to get rid of invasive plants

Maine 4-H Science Video

 

Publications

#4278 Barbecue and Tailgating Food Safety

#4279 Food Safety for Camping and Hiking

#5047 Ticks

#5108 Insect Repellents

#5110 Mosquito Management

#2286 Testing Your Soil

Growing Fruit Trees in Maine

#2367 Establishing a Home Lawn in Maine

#2243 Maintaining a Home Lawn in Maine

#2166 Steps to a Low-Input, Healthy Lawn

 

Websites

Poultry related websites appropriate for small scale poultry producers (farmers, backyard keepers and 4H leaders) contact Donna Coffinfor the list.

One Search

Research-based information from land-grant institutions throughout the nation

 

New UMaine Extension Garlic Website

UMaine Cooperative Extension: Garden and Yard

Piscataquis County Office

Penobscot County Office

Featured Recipe - Carrots with Rosemary

Simple, inexpensive, seasonal recipes from Cooperative Extension

Ingredients:

 

Ingredients:

1 1/2 lbs. carrots, sliced

1 tablespoon olive or canola oil

1/2 cup diced green pepper

1/2 teaspoon rosemary

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon coarsely ground pepper.

Directions:

1. In a skillet, cook and stir carrots in oil for 10-12 minutes or until crisp-tender.

2. Add green pepper; cook and stir for 5 minutes until tender.

3. Sprinkle with rosemary, salt and pepper and heat through.

 

makes 4 servings
Events & Announcements

Small Space Gardening Series - Skowhegan, Maine - University of Maine Cooperative Extension is offering a six-class workshop on building, planting, maintaining and harvesting in raised beds, square-foot gardens and containers. Classes meet monthly from May through October at the UMaine Extension office, 7 County Drive, Skowhegan. The first class is 9-11 a.m. May 1; the final class is Oct. 9. UMaine Extension Somerset County staff will teach the classes and local Master Gardener Volunteers will work with participants in demonstration gardens throughout the growing season. Harvested produce will be shared with area schools, and senior and food kitchen programs. Course fee is $10 per person. Scholarships are available. To register, or to request a disability accommodation, call Pete Bastien at 207.474.9622 or 1.800.287.1495 (in Maine). Requests received at least 10 days in advance are preferred; all requests will be accepted. People are welcome to register after the first session.

 

Rogers Farm Free Summer Program Series - all on Tuesday nights 6pm
Directions to Rogers Farm. More info 942-7396

 

  • Small space? Small budget? No problem! - June 24th
  • Shade Plants for the Woodland Garden - July 22nd
  • Art in the Garden - August 19th

Rogers Farm - "Ask a Master Gardener" weekly open house, June 3 - August 26

Bring your gardening questions and see the Penobscot County Master Gardeners work their gardening magic during their weekly work nights every Tuesday 5:30-6:30. Directions to Rogers Farm. More info 942-7396

 

Woodland Steward Program - Would you like to learn the basics that every woodland owner should know? This online program is aimed at helping woodland owners get the most enjoyment out of their land. To learn more, visit: www.woodland-steward.org or email [email protected]

 

Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens, June 20th - This year, their educational theme is "Growing for Pollinators!" with Carole Sevilla Brown, William Cullina and Dr. Frank Drummond. 10am to 3 pm. at the Bosarge Family Education Center. For more information, click here. 

 

Herb Society - Meetings are held 10am-12pm the second Thursday of every month (except for July and August) at the Penobscot County Extension office, 307 Maine Ave. Bangor, ME. Refreshments at 9:30. Anyone is welcome to sit in on one meeting without having to join. Membership is $15. Visit their website: https://sites.google.com/site/maineherbsociety/2012-yearly-program  Contact Theresa at 942-7396 for more information.

Penobscot Beekeepers Association Monthly Meetings - Meetings are typically the last Thursday of every month. Locations will differ each month with some open hive meetings through summer months. Anyone is welcome to join one or two meetings for free. Educational programs and timely discussions are enjoyed each month. Visit: https://www.facebook.com/PenobscotCountyBeekeepersAssociation or contact Peter Cowin for more details [email protected] 

 

Join the Dover-Foxcroft Gardeners - Anyone is invited to join the monthly group which was established last year to discuss a wide range of gardening topics including: annuals and perennials, shrubs, border plantings, and much more! Meetings will be a great opportunity to share success stories, challenges, ideas for projects and activities, gardening tips and creative ideas. Meetings will be every third Wednesday of the month. For more information call: Dotty Hadler at 564-7256.

 

MOFGA Online Event Calendar - If you're wondering what may be going on for educational events in the area, the MOFGA Events calendar may be of interest to you. Check out their schedule of upcoming events on the Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association website: http://www.mofga.org/Events/tabid/78/Default.aspx

 

Find a Farmers' Market - The Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry maintains a website where you can search for local farms or local farmers' markets by county or town or by product that they sell. Check it out at http://www.getrealmaine.com/.

 

Sign up for the Maine Home Garden News - You may access the most current issue of the 2013 Maine Home Garden News at: http://umaine.edu/gardening/maine-home-garden-news/

1) Subscribe via RSS feed by clicking on Subscribe to the RSS feed at: http://extension.umaine.edu/gardening/feed/

2) OR, to receive an e-mail announcement when a new issue of the Maine Home Garden News is posted, fill out the online form at www.umext.maine.edu/forms/maine-home-garden-news/subscribe.asp. 

3) OR, like/follow us on Facebook and/or Twitter to hear about updates.

 

Upcoming programs at Hirundo Wildlife Refuge

Upcoming programs at Fields Pond Audubon Center

Piscataquis and Penobscot Counties Gardening Newsletter Update 

The Piscataquis and Penobscot Counties Gardening Newsletter (PPCGN), now received by over 1,200 readers, has been offered as an educational resource by University of Maine Cooperative Extension for over 10 years. As of January 1, 2015, the PPCGN will be transitioning to electronic-only delivery. There will still be three ways to receive the PPCGN from your local UMaine Extension:


  1. Piscataquis & Penobscot Counties Gardening Newsletter is available online for free! You can sign up to receive the newsletter through your email or view the archived issues anytime at free e-mail newsletter. If you currently do not have an email, you can get one for free from several email hosts. If you do not have a computer, community libraries have computers for you to use to access information on the Internet and to view your email.
  2. Those with no email can opt to pay an annual subscription to receive the newsletters monthly for $15/year. More details on how to subscribe later this fall.
  3. A third option is to come into the Piscataquis or Penobscot County Extension Office and pick up a free printed copy of the newsletter.

We appreciate our readers referring others to the newsletter, and sharing it with their family and friends.

Thank you for your continued support of the PPCGN, valuable gardening information from Extension for folks in the central Maine area since 2003.

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.
Contributors

Donna Coffin, Extension Educator
 
Ana Bonstedt, Home Horticulture Coordinator, [email protected] 

Kate Garland, Horticulturist
The University of Maine does not discriminate on the grounds of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, including transgender status and gender expression, national origin, citizenship status, age, disability, genetic information or veteran status in employment, education, and all other programs and activities. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies: Director, Office of Equal Opportunity, 101 North Stevens Hall, 207.581.1226.
Surface mail recipients can contact their county Extension office for further information when web links are included in an article.  
Penobscot Office 
307 Maine Ave. Bangor, ME  04401  207-942-7396 or 800-287-1485

Piscataquis Office 
165 East Main St. Dover-Foxcroft, ME  04426  207-564-3301 or 800-287-1491 
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