From the Gardens Registrar: Eagle Heights Plumbing; Planting Potatoes; Unplanting Thistles; UW Family Garden Day on May 6; Garden Hose Etiquette

Hello Gardeners,

EAGLE HEIGHTS PLUMBING – As you know, the water at Eagle Heights is currently off. We hope to have the broken and leaking spigots fixed, and the water turned back on, by the weekend. We apologize – we didn’t manage to get the water turn-on and the annual spigot repairs in synch this year.

THISTLES – One of the most common and annoying of the Eagle Heights weeds is Canada thistles. They spread both by seed, and by their creeping roots. They can develop deep taproots, which can sprout again if broken off. Thistles don’t do anybody any good – if you have them in your plot, this is a good time to get them out, while they’re still small enough to deal with. If you don’t pull them out, they will not only spread throughout your plot, but into your neighbor’s plots. Digging them out, one by one, seems to be the best control. Be careful – wear gloves. This is a link to a website with some good general information, though I’m not so sure about snipping off the thistle leaves with scissors: https://www.gardeningknowhow.com/plant-problems/weeds/canada-thistle-control.htm  Apparently, ordinary household vinegar also kills thistles.

POTATOES – After you’ve pulled out your thistles, this is a good time of year to plant potatoes, as many of our gardeners are doing. Potatoes can be planted as soon as the ground can be worked, but they’ll grow better if the soil has warmed up some. The young plants can stand light frost, but you might want to be ready to cover them if very cold temperatures are predicted. This looks like a useful website: http://www.thegardenhelper.com/potato.html

UW FAMILY GARDEN DAY – This annual event, scheduled this year for Saturday, May 6, from 10am – 1pm, is sponsored by the UW Extension’s Master Gardener Program. Events include tours of the Allen Centennial Garden and the D.C. Smith Greenhouse; hands-on activities with seeds, plants, and soil; the chance to ask garden questions; and free seeds and plants to take home (while supplies last.) Here are links to more information:  http://science.wisc.edu/family-gardening-day.htm Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/uwfamilygardeningday/

GARDEN HOSE ETIQUETTE – Once the water system is functional again, please observe proper hose etiquette. There’s no need to ask Miss Manners for advice – it’s just common sense. When you want to water your garden, you attach your hose to the spigot. When you are done watering your garden, you detach your hose from the spigot. This allows other gardeners to access the water. Then you move your hose into your plot – please do not leave it in the common path where it is in other people’s way. 

Happy gardening,

Kathryn