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Things To Do This Month
- For Mother's Day treat your favorite Mom and yourself to a hanging basket class. You will create your own LO beautiful hanging baskets. See classes listed below.
- Dig compost into your vegetable garden. Add some lime if you didn't add it last fall.
- Clean up garden debris that could be hiding slugs. Check under boards.
- Use floating row covers to protect seedlings from pests.
- Put up or clean out birdhouses and stock feeders for songbirds.
- Let foliage on spring-blooming bulbs turn brown and die down before removing.
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GARDEN ACTIVITIES
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Returning gardeners who have NOT attended one of the required Orientation Meetings this Spring must attend the final meeting scheduled for Thursday, April 4th at the West End Building at 7pm. Those not attending will be required to work more volunteer hours during the 2013 garden season.
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Good News - Garden Help Is Available For Hire!!
If you need work done in your plot this year you might consider hiring Luscher Farm's Caretaker, Brice Anderson. Brice is available to do projects you don't want to or aren't able to do yourself. You may contact him directly at 503-313-5478 to discuss details.
Interested in having your plot rototilled?
Working up the soil in a plot that hasn't been worked much for a few years is back breaking work! Consider bringing in some mulch and then tilling, it makes gardening much more enjoyable. Bring in your own tiller or call Karen at 503-638-0376. Our caretaker will till overgrown/ weedy plots for $75 or mostly weed free plots for $50 .
CLASSES AT LUSCHER FARM
Cake Decorating
Learn the secret techniques of cake decorating from pastry chef Laura Content. Class participants will bake small cakes and decorate them with special tools for frosting. They will use fresh flowers and berries to decorate.
Saturday, April 27 9a-1p
To register, click here
Organic Gardening 101
Eager to grow more food organically but overwhelmed with all the choices? Learn the principles of organic growing and see them in action in Tilth's demonstration Garden. Free seeds and helpful handouts included.
Saturday, April 6 10-11:30a
To register, click here
Your New 20X20 Plot Introduction
Learn the basics about your new garden plot. Keep it simple and go home with free organic seeds and veggie starts.
Saturday, April 20 10a-12p
To register , click here
Tomato Tips from Master Gardeners
Master Gardeners share their knowledge and secrets for growing America's favorite vegetable. You will be the most popular person in the neighborhood! Topics include choosing varieties, transplanting, fertilizing, staking and watering needs.
Saturday, May 11 2:30-4p
You may register for this class after April 22 by contacting www.lakeoswegoparks.org and entering "tomato tips "
Lake Oswego Hanging Baskets
Love those hanging baskets on our city streets? Learn to make your own basket using identical plants, and other materials. Leave with your creation that compliments your home's color. theme.
Saturday May 5 10:-11:15 sign up here
Saturday May 5 1-2:15 p sign up here
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To register for other classes, click here
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Spring Gardening Tips
Select plants carefully. Look for sturdy rather than large seedlings. There should be at least three pairs of dark-green leaves. Plants should be well rooted, not pot bound. Locally grown starts, rather than starts shipped into our climate are a better choice. Out-of-area plants are likely to be just out of a heated greenhouse.
Most store bought seedlings will benefit from a week of hardening off. To harden: put outside in progressively brighter light but bring back in at night. Continue for a few days, up to a week.
Scoop out a hole 4 inches deep in the garden, put in up to a small handful of organic fertilizer mixed with loose soil. In transplanting, touch the plant as little as possible, only touching the rootball or the end of the leaves - not the stem. Plant up to the first two leaves so the plant won't flop over. Fill the area around the plant with the soil mixture. Press gently, but firmly around the plant and water with tepid water. Keep soil around the young seedling slightly damp as it adjusts to it's new surroundings.
Seed Longevity
Most healthy seeds if kept properly are viable for many years. Seed life charts indicate:
1-2 years-corn, onions; 3 years-bean, carrot, leek, peas; 4 years-beets, pepper, pumpkins, Swiss chard, tomato; 5 years- broccoli, cabbage, celery, cucumbers, eggplant, kale, lettuce, radish, spinach, squash, watermelon.
Soil Temperature is the Key!
Invest in a soil thermometer
Crops that germinate down to 40 degrees are peas. arugla, spinach, lettuce, radish, kale and poc choi. Above 50 degrees you can plant Swiss chard, onions, and leeks. When soil warms to 60 degrees plant beets, beans (beans will not tolerate any frost), broccoli, cabbage, carrots, Brussel sprouts, and cauliflower. Finally you can plant warm season vegetables such as tomatoes, eggplant, peppers, cucumbers, squash, corn and melons.
The most accurate temperatures are taken mid-day and averaged over several days. Spring temperatures are taken about two inches deep and early summer temperatures are about four inches deep (root depth).
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The traditional day to plant potatoes is on Saint Patrick's Day.
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