Here's a site with lots of information about a variety of plant diseases and how to control them!
http://www.greenharvest.com.au/pestcontrol/fungal_info.html
A few tidbits:
We should not have planted the beans after June 15, as they are more susceptible to rust when planted late. Who knew? Next year we'll plant earlier!
As we remove the diseased plants, we need to take ALL the infected plant parts and get them away from the garden. They should NOT go into the compost, as that might allow the spores to spread. I'm going to burn the ones we pulled today.
There are many different strains of rust, each affecting only one type or family of plants, so our crop rotation plan will help us control the problem. We just have to plant something totally unrelated to beans in that plot for the next year or two.
Saturday, August 15, 2009
Breakfast meeting
What a lovely, cool morning for mid August! Several gardeners met over breakfast at the garden to discuss the garden's progress and make plans for fall and winter. Afterward, we pulled lots of weeds!
Current state of the gardens:
The tomato plants are loaded with little green tomatoes, the beautiful sweet potato vines are trying to take over the whole northeast corner, and the zucchini and summer squash plants are looking good. A small test-dig yielded a handful of mid-size sweet potatoes. Yum!! The cabbages are getting huge, but they are being eaten by bugs of some sort. There is some lettuce that can be harvested. One plot of bush beans has developed rust, but the plants are loaded with small beans. We decided to pull the plants on the west edge of the bed, since they are closest to the other plot of beans, and we don't want the rust to spread. We'll give the rest of the rusty beans another week to grow, then pull those up and harvest what we can.
The Three Sisters garden has mixed progress. The corn was looking good, but some local varmints (raccoons, we think) ate our harvest! The beans aren't doing very well, but the squash (pumpkins, right?) are beautiful, with huge leaves and brilliant yellow blossoms.
The herb garden has been weeded and there is a surviving basil plant, but not much else. We should have mulched!!
Fall/winter plans:
We are planning a work day for Saturday, October 3 from 9 a.m. to noon. Everyone who can help will be most welcome!
We will harvest the sweet potatoes that day. There is a curing process required so that they will keep, but it's worth the trouble!
We also need newspaper, manure, and straw to put on the beds. We want to put newspapers around the outside perimeter of the garden to keep down the overgrowth of grass. They will need something on top of them - any ideas?
Exciting idea:
One of our lead gardeners is replacing all the windows in her house, and has offered the old windows for building a greenhouse! This would allow us to start seeds much earlier, and get a real jump on the gardening in the spring. I've offered to help plan the building, but I welcome help and suggestions, especially if there's anyone who has actually done a similar project!! We have several offers of help with the actual building, but many hands make light work, so let us know if you want to get in on the fun.
Research needed:
1. In the interest of improving our soil more quickly, we have decided to enlist the help of our church family in a composting project. What would be the best type of compost container(s) behind or beside the church, if we can get the congregation to bring their 'compostables' each week?
2. How can we organically and safely discourage the raccoons???
3. We need safe, organic methods for keeping the bugs from eating the cabbage.
4. Do we need to do anything to the rust-infested bean bed to prevent spreading and/or recurrence?
Current state of the gardens:
The tomato plants are loaded with little green tomatoes, the beautiful sweet potato vines are trying to take over the whole northeast corner, and the zucchini and summer squash plants are looking good. A small test-dig yielded a handful of mid-size sweet potatoes. Yum!! The cabbages are getting huge, but they are being eaten by bugs of some sort. There is some lettuce that can be harvested. One plot of bush beans has developed rust, but the plants are loaded with small beans. We decided to pull the plants on the west edge of the bed, since they are closest to the other plot of beans, and we don't want the rust to spread. We'll give the rest of the rusty beans another week to grow, then pull those up and harvest what we can.
The Three Sisters garden has mixed progress. The corn was looking good, but some local varmints (raccoons, we think) ate our harvest! The beans aren't doing very well, but the squash (pumpkins, right?) are beautiful, with huge leaves and brilliant yellow blossoms.
The herb garden has been weeded and there is a surviving basil plant, but not much else. We should have mulched!!
Fall/winter plans:
We are planning a work day for Saturday, October 3 from 9 a.m. to noon. Everyone who can help will be most welcome!
We will harvest the sweet potatoes that day. There is a curing process required so that they will keep, but it's worth the trouble!
We also need newspaper, manure, and straw to put on the beds. We want to put newspapers around the outside perimeter of the garden to keep down the overgrowth of grass. They will need something on top of them - any ideas?
Exciting idea:
One of our lead gardeners is replacing all the windows in her house, and has offered the old windows for building a greenhouse! This would allow us to start seeds much earlier, and get a real jump on the gardening in the spring. I've offered to help plan the building, but I welcome help and suggestions, especially if there's anyone who has actually done a similar project!! We have several offers of help with the actual building, but many hands make light work, so let us know if you want to get in on the fun.
Research needed:
1. In the interest of improving our soil more quickly, we have decided to enlist the help of our church family in a composting project. What would be the best type of compost container(s) behind or beside the church, if we can get the congregation to bring their 'compostables' each week?
2. How can we organically and safely discourage the raccoons???
3. We need safe, organic methods for keeping the bugs from eating the cabbage.
4. Do we need to do anything to the rust-infested bean bed to prevent spreading and/or recurrence?
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Saturday, May 16, 2009
The peas have sprouted!
It was a lovely, cool morning for gardening! The peas are up and look great, so we weeded around them. We put mulch on paths in the main garden and the herb garden, and planted some herb plants and seeds. The clover beds (Row 5, A-C) were weeded and planted, and the potato beds were weeded a bit, too. Some heirloom corn was planted in the 2 north sections of the Three Sisters garden- but we didn't have quite enough seed to finish the last row.
As suggested, we put caution tape around all the beds, in case the usual crowd shows up to watch tonight's fireworks. The 200 ft. roll didn't quite make it around the main garden and herb garden (our garden is HUGE!!!) so we got a 1,000 foot roll. Now we have plenty for July4th, too.
Row 2 has not been planted yet. The weather was so cool, we decided the tomatoes and peppers could wait another week.
Next week:
Row 1- weed as needed
Row 2- weed, then plant tomatoes (from the greenhouse) and peppers
Row 3 - weed, the plant beans in B and Cucumbers in D.
Row 4- weed as needed
Row 5- wait for clover to sprout
Three Sisters- need to finish building hills on the 2 south sections, and get corn planted. Beans and squash will go in when the corn is about 4 inches high.
Herb garden- more seeds could be planted
Paths- some still need plastic and/or mulch
We need to build supports for the peas- any ideas?
As suggested, we put caution tape around all the beds, in case the usual crowd shows up to watch tonight's fireworks. The 200 ft. roll didn't quite make it around the main garden and herb garden (our garden is HUGE!!!) so we got a 1,000 foot roll. Now we have plenty for July4th, too.
Row 2 has not been planted yet. The weather was so cool, we decided the tomatoes and peppers could wait another week.
Next week:
Row 1- weed as needed
Row 2- weed, then plant tomatoes (from the greenhouse) and peppers
Row 3 - weed, the plant beans in B and Cucumbers in D.
Row 4- weed as needed
Row 5- wait for clover to sprout
Three Sisters- need to finish building hills on the 2 south sections, and get corn planted. Beans and squash will go in when the corn is about 4 inches high.
Herb garden- more seeds could be planted
Paths- some still need plastic and/or mulch
We need to build supports for the peas- any ideas?
Thursday, May 14, 2009
Caution tape for Saturday
Ronnie (our neighbor) was concerned that there might be a lot of traffic around the garden on Saturday - with the fireworks. So, we got some yellow caution tape to string around the garden on Saturday morning.
Saturday, May 9, 2009
Tomatoes
Hey, tomatoes are small but ready to go in, peppers, hot and sweet, can also go although small and can wait since soil is only 57 degrees. I will be at the Main St greenhouse/garden if anyone wants to pick up. Also have more collard greens and seeds if needed. Thanks for planting a mammoth sunflower somewhere - one is enough unless you have plans for more.
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Friends,
The garden is coming very well. We had a wonderful work day last Saturday, and expect another one this week. You are invited to a potluck breakfast at the garden at 9am this Saturday morning (5/9). Lead gardeners, please RSVP to Meme so we know if you can come! Hope it works for you. You don't have to stay and work if it is a busy day!
Status Report as of 5-7-09
1a- A row of Swiss chard, and a row of scallions are planted
1b - turned it over and prepared it for planting (Lettuces, spinach, onions need to be planted)
1c - turned it over and prepared it for planting (Lettuces, spinach, radished need to be planted)
1d - 4 rows of carrots (need more rows of carrots)
2a - (need to be weeded)
2b - (need to be weeded)
2c - (need to be weeded)
2d - (need to be weeded)
3a - 2 rows of dwarf gray sugar snow peas, 2 rows sugar snap peas are planted
3b - turned it over and prepared it for planting
3c - turned it over and prepared it for planting
4a - potatoes coming up (need to be weeded a bit)
4b - potatoes coming up (need to be weeded a bit)
4c - potatoes coming up (need to be weeded a bit)
5a - prepared for planting (clover needs to be planted)
5b - prepared for planting (clover needs to be planted)
5c - prepared for planting (clover needs to be planted)
A - New asparagus has been planted, strawberries have been weeded
B - Needs to be weeded and herbs need to be planted (ask Jill about starters)
C - Path has plastic, needs wood chips. Bed needs to be weeded, corn planted (use rubber gloves)
D - Flowers have been planted in half the bed - other half can be planted
The garden is coming very well. We had a wonderful work day last Saturday, and expect another one this week. You are invited to a potluck breakfast at the garden at 9am this Saturday morning (5/9). Lead gardeners, please RSVP to Meme so we know if you can come! Hope it works for you. You don't have to stay and work if it is a busy day!
Status Report as of 5-7-09
1a- A row of Swiss chard, and a row of scallions are planted
1b - turned it over and prepared it for planting (Lettuces, spinach, onions need to be planted)
1c - turned it over and prepared it for planting (Lettuces, spinach, radished need to be planted)
1d - 4 rows of carrots (need more rows of carrots)
2a - (need to be weeded)
2b - (need to be weeded)
2c - (need to be weeded)
2d - (need to be weeded)
3a - 2 rows of dwarf gray sugar snow peas, 2 rows sugar snap peas are planted
3b - turned it over and prepared it for planting
3c - turned it over and prepared it for planting
4a - potatoes coming up (need to be weeded a bit)
4b - potatoes coming up (need to be weeded a bit)
4c - potatoes coming up (need to be weeded a bit)
5a - prepared for planting (clover needs to be planted)
5b - prepared for planting (clover needs to be planted)
5c - prepared for planting (clover needs to be planted)
A - New asparagus has been planted, strawberries have been weeded
B - Needs to be weeded and herbs need to be planted (ask Jill about starters)
C - Path has plastic, needs wood chips. Bed needs to be weeded, corn planted (use rubber gloves)
D - Flowers have been planted in half the bed - other half can be planted
Other issues:
- need to finish black plastic and wood chips in paths
- dig around outside of garden to help with grass control????
- get seeds for gigantic sunflower in 5C corner, in honor of Susan
- stay vigilant on nasty grass removal
- Mike will put in the irrigation system soon
- beneficial bugs??????????
- morning glories on perimeter?
Saturday, May 2, 2009
Seeds
IGO has seeds at the greenhouse on Main St - I am headed there now - 9:50 Sat AM Call me 2043985 or just come by and get seeds
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Come this Saturday!
Special thanks to Matt and Catherine who worked last Saturday while all of us were at Women's retreat! I will be out of town this Saturday, but all of you who can, please come and enjoy working in our garden!
Plans are moving forward for a perminent sign for the garden. So far, we think it should say what is listed below. Please share your comments.
Have fun on Saturday
Thanks!
Meme
River Community Garden
Join Us Saturday Mornings 10:30 – 12 noon
in the spring and summer
Partners: Church of the Savior, BG Products, and IGO/CityRoots
Plans are moving forward for a perminent sign for the garden. So far, we think it should say what is listed below. Please share your comments.
Have fun on Saturday
Thanks!
Meme
River Community Garden
Join Us Saturday Mornings 10:30 – 12 noon
in the spring and summer
Partners: Church of the Savior, BG Products, and IGO/CityRoots
Garden Status--4/20/2009
Last Saturday was a pretty quiet day at the garden, only Catherine and I were there--but it was such a beautiful day I was where I wanted to be. We did turn the remaining potato plot and then got all the potatoes planted. I've recruited a neighbor to water the garden when necessary until the irrigation system is put in place.
For this coming Saturday, there are still a few beds to be turned. 3B, 2C and 2D. As for planting I would recommend planting peas, carrots, spinach, lettuce, and onions--not in any particular order. I have some of these seeds: peas, carrots, spinach, and a few onions. I don't know the procedure for getting other seeds we need.
It would also be great to give some attention to the strawberry/asparagus garden--pulling weeds. I'm not familiar with growing either of these plants.
Finally, we need to spread the plastic for the pathways as well.
There is a 50/50 chance I'll be around Saturday to help.
For this coming Saturday, there are still a few beds to be turned. 3B, 2C and 2D. As for planting I would recommend planting peas, carrots, spinach, lettuce, and onions--not in any particular order. I have some of these seeds: peas, carrots, spinach, and a few onions. I don't know the procedure for getting other seeds we need.
It would also be great to give some attention to the strawberry/asparagus garden--pulling weeds. I'm not familiar with growing either of these plants.
Finally, we need to spread the plastic for the pathways as well.
There is a 50/50 chance I'll be around Saturday to help.
Friday, April 17, 2009
Horse poo and garden prep
River Garden Prep Sat 4/4/09.The progress is wonderful. Please let me know if IGO can help. Remember we have seeds and lots of collard green starts like we ate at Forever Crowned last year. Also the tomatoes and peppers started in the greenhouse are coming along and there are lots of them.
Thursday, April 16, 2009
Garden Status--4/16/09
Greetings all!
Well, we had a great day last Saturday, April 11th, and managed to get a lot done in the garden...and we had a great time visiting as well!
Anyway, I wanted to report that we got the soil turned and weeds pulled in most of the beds. We used rakes to pull back the compost and manure, then we used shovels and hoes to break up the soil and pull out any weeds, then we mixed the soil and compost as best we could. The beds that have been finished are ready for planting--I think. The beds that have not been "turned" yet are 2C, 2D, 3B, 4C, and 5C.
So for this coming Saturday, April 18th, we could finish turning the beds listed above. We could also plant potatoes in 4A and B (and C when it is finished). We could also plant peas and carrots. Perhaps more importantly, we have a roll of black plastic that was donated and that could be cut to length and put along the walkways--a few were finished last Saturday as well.
You all might have other ideas about what needs to be planted or done on Saturday, which is fine with me, this is just the direction we were headed last Saturday.
Also, Catherine and I will be there on Saturday morning to help out.
peace
-matt
Well, we had a great day last Saturday, April 11th, and managed to get a lot done in the garden...and we had a great time visiting as well!
Anyway, I wanted to report that we got the soil turned and weeds pulled in most of the beds. We used rakes to pull back the compost and manure, then we used shovels and hoes to break up the soil and pull out any weeds, then we mixed the soil and compost as best we could. The beds that have been finished are ready for planting--I think. The beds that have not been "turned" yet are 2C, 2D, 3B, 4C, and 5C.
So for this coming Saturday, April 18th, we could finish turning the beds listed above. We could also plant potatoes in 4A and B (and C when it is finished). We could also plant peas and carrots. Perhaps more importantly, we have a roll of black plastic that was donated and that could be cut to length and put along the walkways--a few were finished last Saturday as well.
You all might have other ideas about what needs to be planted or done on Saturday, which is fine with me, this is just the direction we were headed last Saturday.
Also, Catherine and I will be there on Saturday morning to help out.
peace
-matt
Friday, April 10, 2009
Slow gardening
Nice article about gardening and nature - Enjoy
http://www.garden.org/regional/report/arch/inmygarden/3088
Susan
http://www.garden.org/regional/report/arch/inmygarden/3088
Susan
Thursday, April 9, 2009
Garden Layout #2
Friends, Please look at this alternate layout. I think it has some important advantages over layout #1 in that next year we can rotate by rows. Everything can just move one row to the north, and it will do what needs to be done for the soil, etc. What are your concerns and thoughts?
(if you click on the picture, it will get big)
Thanks for thinking about all of this!
Meme
(if you click on the picture, it will get big)
Thanks for thinking about all of this!
Meme
Action Needed This Saturday
Possible Actions
1. Move some of the manure where it is very thick to Garden C (3 Sisters)
2. Rake and work in the manure left on the beds
3. Send a team to the green house to plant seeds
4. If we have the watering system ready - Plant some of the beds
1. Move some of the manure where it is very thick to Garden C (3 Sisters)
2. Rake and work in the manure left on the beds
3. Send a team to the green house to plant seeds
4. If we have the watering system ready - Plant some of the beds
Wednesday, April 8, 2009
Dear Fellow Gardeners,
I decided to try starting a blog so we could all see what we all are saying about the garden and what needs to be done from week to week. BUT, I don't really know what I am doing with this blogging business, so it may be a bit cumbersome at first. Let's give it a try and see if we can figure it out!
Matt, Catherine, Ashley and BJ got the garden beds all plotted out and put string around them. Great job!!!
Here are comments I already recieved from Jill and Matt about what is happening.
Feel free to comment as you can!
Blessings,
Meme
Comments from Matt
As Catherine and I were discussing garden plans, we had some questions. First, I thought this Saturday (4/11)our team should plant: potatoes, peas, lettuce, and radishes, since these are all early planters. Does that sound good to you? Or is there already a timeline?
If we plant the list above, then we need to get the potatoes soon and get them chopped up and healed. Do we need to pick those up, or do you have some? If you have them, Ashley offered to cut them for us, so if you could give them to her Tuesday at pottery we'll do the rest. What about the other seeds?
Also, Catherine mentioned using rock for the paths of the garden. I would suggest that we use something else, either straw or roofing paper under straw or something along those lines. My reasoning is that rock will be more difficult to remove if we decide to change the plot sizes, whereas straw could just get tilled into the ground.
Finally, I saw that the recommend distance for tomato plants on the sheet was 2.5 to 3.5 feet. If we follow those guidelines we can only get 8 or 9 plants per plot. However, according to the "Vegetable Gardener's Bible" that I use as a guide, the plants can be much closer--15 inches apart, which means we could fit 27 plants per plot! Just information to consider as we start sizing things up. If we go with the Bible suggestion, we might not want 3 plots of tomatoes ;-)
Okay, I think that's it.
Comments from Jill Lokke about the garden:
Friends,
Beans, peppers, cabbages, and cucumbers need to be started in the greenhouse right away. We are welcome to just go over there and plant stuff. Susan has TUBS full of seeds. She has already started tomatoes and collards. I pulled out a few packets of seeds- no quite a few packets! She has another tub at her house with flower and herb seeds we need to check out. She said she'd bring them to the greenhouse.
For the next work days, after the irrigation is installed:Plants that can be direct-seeded or planted right away- lettuces, endive, radishes, peas, spinach, potatoes. The peas should probably have gone in yesterday, actually. Carrots could wait a couple of weeks. I'm not sure about chard.
Jill
I decided to try starting a blog so we could all see what we all are saying about the garden and what needs to be done from week to week. BUT, I don't really know what I am doing with this blogging business, so it may be a bit cumbersome at first. Let's give it a try and see if we can figure it out!
Matt, Catherine, Ashley and BJ got the garden beds all plotted out and put string around them. Great job!!!
Here are comments I already recieved from Jill and Matt about what is happening.
Feel free to comment as you can!
Blessings,
Meme
Comments from Matt
As Catherine and I were discussing garden plans, we had some questions. First, I thought this Saturday (4/11)our team should plant: potatoes, peas, lettuce, and radishes, since these are all early planters. Does that sound good to you? Or is there already a timeline?
If we plant the list above, then we need to get the potatoes soon and get them chopped up and healed. Do we need to pick those up, or do you have some? If you have them, Ashley offered to cut them for us, so if you could give them to her Tuesday at pottery we'll do the rest. What about the other seeds?
Also, Catherine mentioned using rock for the paths of the garden. I would suggest that we use something else, either straw or roofing paper under straw or something along those lines. My reasoning is that rock will be more difficult to remove if we decide to change the plot sizes, whereas straw could just get tilled into the ground.
Finally, I saw that the recommend distance for tomato plants on the sheet was 2.5 to 3.5 feet. If we follow those guidelines we can only get 8 or 9 plants per plot. However, according to the "Vegetable Gardener's Bible" that I use as a guide, the plants can be much closer--15 inches apart, which means we could fit 27 plants per plot! Just information to consider as we start sizing things up. If we go with the Bible suggestion, we might not want 3 plots of tomatoes ;-)
Okay, I think that's it.
Comments from Jill Lokke about the garden:
Friends,
Beans, peppers, cabbages, and cucumbers need to be started in the greenhouse right away. We are welcome to just go over there and plant stuff. Susan has TUBS full of seeds. She has already started tomatoes and collards. I pulled out a few packets of seeds- no quite a few packets! She has another tub at her house with flower and herb seeds we need to check out. She said she'd bring them to the greenhouse.
For the next work days, after the irrigation is installed:Plants that can be direct-seeded or planted right away- lettuces, endive, radishes, peas, spinach, potatoes. The peas should probably have gone in yesterday, actually. Carrots could wait a couple of weeks. I'm not sure about chard.
Jill
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