From the Gardens Registrar: Empty Garden Plots; Spinosad Spraying; Bean Beetles; When to Dig Up Your Garlic (not yet, but soon); Why You Should Mulch Your Garden; Workday to be Announced Later

Hello Gardeners,

EMPTY GARDEN PLOTS – Do you have friends who envy you because you have a garden plot at Eagle Heights, and they don’t? Well, now you can share the experience. We have garden plots opening up, and will need some new gardeners to take care of them. Some of these garden plots have been abandoned, so they may be in very bad shape. But since it’s getting late in the season to start a garden, the fees are half-price. If you know anyone interested, please ask them to email me for more information.

SPINOSAD SPRAYING – Due to windy conditions, and frequent rain this last week, we have not been able to spray for potato beetles. Spraying will still take place as soon as weather permits.

BEAN BEETLES – A few gardeners have spotted the first bean beetle eggs and larvae. There aren’t many of them here yet, but if you grow beans, please keep an eye out for signs of these pests. When we start seeing a lot of them, we will be ordering parasitic wasps to control them. This is a website with information and good pictures of the beetles and larvae: http://idl.entomology.cornell.edu/files/2013/11/Mexican-Bean-Beetle-21q0nah.pdf

(If you think your plot has bean beetle eggs, larvae, or adult beetles, please let me know.)

GARLIC – Many gardeners have garlic growing in our plots. If you planted the garlic in the fall, July will probably be the time to harvest. This is a website with good information on when and how to pull out your garlic, and how to store it:  https://www.thespruce.com/harvesting-garlic-1402402

MULCH – Now that University Houses Gardens finally have mulch, I can talk about the benefits of using it. We have leaf mulch and bark mulch at both gardens. The partially-composted leaf mulch comes from the Village of Shorewood, and it is excellent to spread on your garden. This mulch will improve your soil, smother weeds, keep moisture in (very helpful in dry weather, which we’re not having), keep plant roots cooler, make a softer and cleaner surface for your fruits and vegetables to rest on, and prevent soil erosion. The bark mulch is excellent for paths in your garden – it controls weeds, and it doesn’t deteriorate quickly, so one good thick application, and you’re done for the season. And it also looks nice. This year, we are getting a steady supply of the bark mulch, so gardeners should really take advantage of it being here.

WORKDAY – Will be announced separately.

Happy gardening,

Kathryn