April  2015


1) APRIL IS THE MONTH TO....
  • Be patient!  The urge to dig and plant will be strong as things come back to life, but working in the soil before it's truly thawed and dried can damage its structure and hamper your gardening efforts.  Good soil needs air pockets throughout, and digging and turning it when it's still soupy and wet will compact it making root growth and respiration difficult.  For more information on spring soil management, see here.
  • That said, it can be a good time to scout for any early-rising weeds and pull them while the ground is moist.
  • Test your soil if it's been a couple of years since the last time.  Learn more about soil testing here.
  • Start tomato, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, and cabbage plants indoors from seed.
  • When things warm up and thaw out, sow beets, carrots, lettuce, peas, radishes, spinach, and turnips from seed, and onions from seeds or sets. This may need to wait until next month (our crystal ball is a little hazy).
  • Scout for and harvest fiddleheads, our annual spring treat!  Learn more about how to identify the Ostrich Fern (Matteucia struthiopteris) here and get tips on the best way to cook them up for supper here.
  • Finish up your maple sap tapping before the trees start to bud.  After that, the syrup will taste "buddy" and won't be pleasant to eat.  Learn more here.
  • Consider any early season pruning that you might want to get done before the plants begin vigorous spring growth:

 
J Foster
Ward Briggs
2) LEAVES: TO DROP OR NOT TO DROP?

 

As we all wait with bated breath for the first buds and leaves of spring, consider for a moment the impending annual foliage transformation.  Our Maine view will shift from a partially bare landscape (that reveals all the nearby buildings we never noticed in summertime) to the lush greenery that screens our garden plots and yards during the growing season.  Have you ever wondered why our deciduous trees bother to drop their leaves in Autumn and regrow brand new leaves when warm weather returns, while their evergreen relatives doggedly hold onto those beautiful green needles all winter?  


 

Read more





 


 


 

3) GARDEN SNAPSHOTS

At long last, spring is finally beginning to emerge in the Pine Tree State!  While plenty of snow cover remains to keep our wild-eyed gardening plans properly grounded, promising signs of the new season are starting to pop through.  These early-rising crocuses and daylilies were passed along to us by Ward Briggs, a member of the current 2015 class of Master Gardeners in Penobscot County.  His bed was mulched in the fall with one year old horse manure, pine needles, and shredded leaves.  

 



4) SPINACH POTATO PANCAKES

Ingredients


 

1 1/2 cups spinach, chopped and steamed

2 cups zucchini, shredded

1 medium potato, peeled and shredded

1/4 cup onion, finely chopped

1/4 cup all-purpose flour (matzoh meal can be substituted for Passover)

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon pepper

1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

1 egg, beaten


 

Click here for directions and nutritional information 

  

  

5) FEATURED PLANT OF THE MONTH:  SPINACH  

Prepared by the University of Maryland Extension.

  

Spinach (Spinacia oleracea) is an edible flowering plant in the family Chenopodiaceae.  It is a hardy annual plant which grows 8-12 inches.  Spinach is thought to have originated in ancient Persia (modern Iran), from which traders carried it to India and China.  Read more


UMAINE EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS

FREE Intro Beekeeping Class April 23rd, 6-9pm UMaine Extension 307 Maine Ave. Bangor. Preregistration is required. Contact Theresa 942-7396 or [email protected] to sign up. Full details here.

Building a Healthy Soil for Organic Gardening April 29th, 6-7pm Maine Holistic Center 81 Main Street, Bangor. Contact Kate 942-7396 or [email protected] for more details. 

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. 

 

Master Food Preserver Volunteer Training 10 three-hour kitchen lab session from June-September to train volunteers to educate the public about food preservation. Classes are held in Falmouth and Gorham. Graduates serve at least 20 hours volunteering as a requirement of the course. Learn more and apply here. 

 

Seeking UMaine 4-H Youth Development Professional in Augusta This is a full time, year round position. Review of applications will begin 4/20/15 More information can be found here. 

 

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.   

OTHER LOCAL EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS
 
TONIGHT (4/3)! Free film "The Permaculture Orchard" about starting and working in a permaculture orchard. 6pm w/ discussion at 8pm. Abbott Memorial Library Dexter. Coffee and tea will be available, potluck snacks welcome. 277-4221 or [email protected]

Bangor Community Garden Now accepting applications for new members.  Plot fees have been reduced to $12.50. Click here for application and member agreement. Follow on Facebook

Organic Gardening Workshop Orono adult ed. April 7th, 6-9pm. Cost $10. Contact: 866-4119 or [email protected] 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 info992-5523


 

Invasive Forest InsectOutreach VolunteerTraining

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 [email protected] 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 [email protected] 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 [email protected].

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 [email protected].

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

VIDEOS

How to Build a Seedling Stand
How to Build a Seedling Stand to Extend the Gardening Season


How to Maintain a Home Lawn in Maine
How to Maintain a Home Lawn in Maine


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
 
Jonathan Foster, Horticulture Program Aide, [email protected] 

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