March  2015

1) MARCH IS THE MONTH TO....
  • Keep your bird feeders filled. Picture splashes of bright yellow, blue, red, and black against that carpet of
    white outside your window.  Learn more about types of feeders, food, avoiding unwanted visitors, locating feeders, sanitation and more.  
  • Sketch your 2015 garden.  Be prepared to be flexible when the time comes to plant.  This bulletin has a nice table with information about plant spacing and amount of seeds/plants to order.  
  • Sow certain types of seeds indoors. Early March: celery, celeriac, onions and leeks. Late March: peppers, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cabbage, cauliflower, and eggplant. 
  • Grow microgreens indoors. Here's how!  Nutrient-packed microgreens are a great addition to any meal.  
  • Scout for pests on your houseplants and manage problems before they get out of control.  More information.
  • Save wood ash in a closed container for use in garden or lawn.  Unleached wood ash can be a useful soil amendment if your soil has a low pH (acidic), but only should be applied if recommended after testing your soil. 
  • Avoid putting wood ash in compost piles.  UMaine Compost Specialist Mark Hutchinson, recommends putting no more than 1/4 cup of wood ash in a 3'x3'x3' pile.  Yes, you read that correctly - that's a very small amount of wood ash.  Too much ash will alter the pH of your pile and result in an unhealthy environment for your hard-working microbes.  
  • Force stems from flowering shrubs to bloom indoors. Learn how to get an early view of spring.  
 
Ana Bonstedt

carrots
2) STARTING SEEDS

 

As you start planning your 2015 gardens, consider building your own seed starting bench or light stand for greater propagation success, money savings, and the satisfaction of growing your own plants. Bench plans range from simple to quite elaborate. If you are designing your own seed-starting bench, keep in mind the following environmental conditions:

 

Read more

Also find more information on the following link:

Starting Seeds at Home


 

 

 
3) GARDEN SNAPSHOTS

Master Gardeners enjoyed a fun composting lesson this week with Mark Hutchinson at the UMaine Orono composting facility.  Above is a snapshot of the classroom activity where they evaluated different types of compost feedstocks. Below is the compost digester. 
4) CARROT LEEK SOUP

Ingredients
  • 1 medium leek, thinly sliced and soaked in water to remove sand
  • 4 teaspoons margarine
  • 6 medium carrots, sliced
  • 2 medium potatoes, peeled and cubed
  • 3 cans (14-1/2 ounces each ) low sodium chicken broth
  • 2 cups skim milk
  • 1/8 teaspoon pepper  

Click here for directions and nutritional information 

  

  
5) FEATURED PLANT OF THE MONTH:  ASPARAGUS

Developed by Assistant Professor Mark Hutton and Extension Educator Tori Jackson, UMaine Cooperative Extension

  

 Asparagus (Asparagus officinalis) is a perennial crop that originated in Asia Minor but is now grown throughout the world. It has been cultivated for more than 2000 years for culinary and medicinal uses. Wholesome and nutritious, asparagus can be eaten raw or cooked, and is used fresh, frozen, or canned. In Maine, asparagus is one of the most popular early spring vegetables. Harvest in central Maine typically begins in early May. Read more  

UMAINE EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

Grow it Right Plant Sale 
Highbush blueberries, asparagus crowns, and strawberry plants for sale to benefit Master Gardener Volunteers program.  Plants come with full educational materials to make your growing experience a success.  Order today! New! Now offering blackberry, raspberry, and rhubarb plants.

Fruit Tree Workshop

April 4th 9am-noon, Bangor and other off site location TBD.  1 hour indoor presentation followed by a demonstration in the field. Pre-registration required - space is limited to 20 participants. First come, first served. Call Theresa or Kate to sign up - 942-7396. 

 

Environmental Horticulture Student Presentations
FREE 12:30-1:45, Page Farm and Home Museum in Orono. Directions.
 
3/17 Microgreens
3/17 TBA
3/19 Hydroponics greens production
3/19 Wild edibles
3/24 Carnivorous plants
3/24 NET hydroponics in urban ag
3/26 High tunnel tomato production
3/26 Local food
3/31Cool season grasses
3/31 IPM for turf
contact Marianne for more information mariann2@maine.edu  

 

Tick ID 

We are pleased to announce that there will no longer be a $10 fee for tick identification at UMaine Extension.  Please follow the instructions found on this website to submit samples and find a wealth of information about ticks.

 

Statewide Gardening Newsletter

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

 

Job Posting: Assistant Extension Professor and Assistant Professor of Sustainable Agriculture

Successful candidate will work out of the Aroostook County Extension Office in Presque Isle with instruction on the UMPI campus.  More information.  

 

Lumber wanted!

Looking for 6-10" wide boards to construct school garden raised beds. Please contact Kate Garland if you have any spare lumber to donate to a good cause. 942-7396 or katherine.garland@maine.edu     
OTHER LOCAL EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS
 
Grange offering $500 scholarship for high school seniors pursuing a career in agriculture Scholarship rules and application can be found here.  
Edible Landscape Workshop
March 12th, 3-5pm Region III, Lincoln. Contact Glenda Shorey to register 794-3004 ext.211 or gshorey@msln.net

Protecting Your Backyard Poultry Flock from Disease
March 14th, 10am-noon. Penobscot County Extension Office (307 Maine Ave. Bangor). FMI and to pre-register contact Melissa.freeman@maine.gov or 287-6564. 

Food Sovereignty Discussion
March 17th, Bangor Grange. Heather Retberg from Blue Hill will speak about local food, community self-governance and food sovereignty.  Potluck at 6pm, meeting at 7pm.  Contact galen.the.beekeeper@gmail.com for more information.

Maine Science Festival
March 20-22 Events located at the Cross Center and throughout Downtown Bangor. Keynote speaker Tony Derose of Pixar. Events for all ages.  Look for UMaine 4-H! More information

Organic Gardening Workshop Orono adult ed. April 7th, 6-9pm. Cost $10. Contact: 866-4119 or acaballero@rsu26.org to register.  

Healthy Soil & You: 
why healthy soil is important for everyone
April 11th, East Sangerville Grange. 9:30-2:30pm with light lunch.  Free (donations welcome).

BDN Maine Garden Show
April 11th and 12th Cross Insurance Center, Bangor
2015 theme: Naturally Nautical

HOPE Festival 
April 25th, 11-3pm UMaine Student Rec & Fitness Center. This year's theme: "Simple Solutions to Big Problems". More info

Intermediate Beekeeping  
Bangor adult ed. April 27, 6:30pm, runs for 3 weeks. Cost $45.  More info. 992-5523


Invasive Forest Insect Outreach Volunteer Training
Baxter SP Headquarters, Millinocket May 5th, 10-2:30 More info

Maine School Garden Network Regional Gathering
May 14th, 4-7pm - Ridge View Community School in Dexter. Network with peers and resource professionals. Invigorate your program with new ideas, takeaway advice, and collaboration.  Contact info@msgn.org FMI or register here.  
CLUBS AND ORGANIZATIONS

 

Maine Herb Society Monthly meetings in Bangor through most of the year. Visit their website or call Theresa for more information 942-7396.

 

Penobscot Beekeepers Association Monthly meetings through most of the year.  Visit their   Facebook page or contact Peter Cowin petercowin@tds.net for more details.

  

Maine Organic Famers and Gardeners Association Penobscot Chapter Potluck meetings the last Sunday of every month.  Contact Galen Young of Argyle Acres, 745-4797 or galen.the.beekeeper@gmail.com.

Brewer Garden & Bird Club 1pm, 3rd Wed. of the month at the Brewer Auditorium. Sept-June. Dec and June meetings are 2nd Wed. of the month. Contact Carol 989-1083 or visit www.mainegardenclubs.org/Brewer.html.
 
Dover-Foxcroft  Gardeners Monthly meetings Feb.-Nov., the third Wednesday from 11:30 am to 1:00 pm. Next meeting February 18th. at the UMaine Extension Piscataquis County Office 165 East Main Street Dover-Foxcroft. For more information call: Dotty Hadler at (207) 564-7256

 

Orrington Garden Club
10am, 1st Wed. of the month Sept-June. Meetings are held at member homes.  Contact Barbara 989-3746 or barenaj@gmail.com.

Hampden Garden Club
Monthly meetings Feb.-Dec., fourth Tuesday.  Call Pat 862-3909 or Ellen 234-2945 for more information.

Veazie Garden Club
Meetings second Tues. Sept-June, 7pm Veazie Grade School.  Call 866-4564. 

 

Penquis Beekeepers

Meetings 7pm on second Tues. of the month at the Dexter VFW. 

  

 

Events Calendars

MOFGA (Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association) 

Fields Pond Audubon Center 

Hirundo Wildlife Refuge 


Maine School Garden Network -

farmers' markets, CSAs, and other sources of locally produced food.
PUBLICATIONS
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, ana.bonstedt@maine.edu 

Kate Garland, Horticulturist

Erin Thomas, Master Gardener Volunteer
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