From the Registrar: October 15, 2024

Hello Gardeners, 

Freeze warning: There is a freeze warning for tonight. If you still have plants that are sensitive to cold, today is the day to harvest everything and bring it indoors. Winter squash should be harvested today at the latest. Frost can cause the squash to not store well. In contrast, the flavor of Brussels sprouts will be sweeter if exposed to a frost before harvesting.  

 

These are not complete lists of which plants can or cannot survive a frost, but they are some of the more commonly grown crops in the gardens: 

• Plants that can’t survive a frost include: Tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, squash (winter or summer), beans, and cucumbers. 
• Plants that can survive a frost include: Cabbage, kale, cauliflower, brussels sprouts, peas, lettuce, beets, carrots, chard, onions, spinach, and radishes. 

 

Garlic planting: Mid to late October is the best time to plant garlic in Wisconsin. It's possible to plant it in the spring, but it won’t do as well. If you plant it in the fall, it can begin to grow right away in the spring and take advantage of a longer growing season. Garlic should be planted late enough in the fall that it won’t grow shoots. You can get garlic cloves for planting at a garden store or a Farmers' Market. It’s better not to plant garlic from the grocery store unless you can be certain it hasn’t been treated in any way. There is some helpful information on planting garlic in the garden manual on our website:  

http://www.eagleheightsgardens.org/tips/garden_manual_v_1.12.pdf (page 80)    

 

Leaf mulch: For those of you that are wondering about deliveries of leaf mulch this fall; we can probably expect them in November. Our leaves are delivered by the Village of Shorewood Hills. Once the leaves have fallen, they will first fill their own mulch piles and then deliver to us. We will be keeping tools and carts available in the gardens so everyone that wants to mulch their plots for the winter has access.  

  

Thanks, and happy gardening,   

Lily  

  

Maintenance request form:  https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScyjHBH_xBH229AVwmqTE-2L3znGrLwn3TNJfw2ri9T01MMfA/viewform  

Previous emails:  https://eagleheightsgardens.blogspot.com/  

Gardening resources: https://eagleheightsgardens.org/gardens/org 

From the Registrar: October, 8 2024

Hello Gardeners,  

We have placed a work order with the UW plumbers to shut down the Garden water systems by Monday 10/14. The extended forecast is showing a possible low of 30 degrees that night, and we have to shut the water off if there is a chance of a freeze to protect the system. The order was placed today because we need to give the plumbers enough advance warning of the request. Once a work order is placed, we do not have a choice about when it will be done. The Gardens are a lower priority than other plumbing on campus, so our requests are completed within a window when they are available to help. This means that the water could be off as soon as tomorrow. If you are still watering any crops you may want to carry water in.  

Happy gardening, 

Lily   

 

Maintenance request form:  https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScyjHBH_xBH229AVwmqTE-2L3znGrLwn3TNJfw2ri9T01MMfA/viewform 

Previous emails:  https://eagleheightsgardens.blogspot.com/ 

Gardening resources: https://eagleheightsgardens.org/gardens/organic-growing/ 

From the Registrar: October 1, 2024

Hello Gardeners,  

Winter squash: Winter squash is ready when it turns the right color for the variety, the vines die back, and the stem is hard. Some gardeners harvest earlier to prevent pests from eating the squash, or theft, which can both be problems in our gardens. If you can wait a bit longer it will help the squash store well. Here is some information on harvesting and storing winter squash: 

https://savvygardening.com/harvesting-winter-squash/ 

https://www.johnnyseeds.com/growers-library/vegetables/winter-squash/winter-squash-eating-guide.html 

Putting your garden to bed: It’s time to begin putting the gardens to bed for the season. You can start by pulling out plants that have finished producing and weeds and taking them to the weed pile. Remove as much dirt as possible from the roots of plants before taking them to the weed pile. Later, once we receive new leaves for the fall, spreading mulch over your plot will help protect it from erosion and add organic matter to the soil. Try to avoid stepping on the beds when you remove plants, to prevent compacting of the soil.  It is still a bit early to plant garlic. If you plan to plant garlic later this fall, you can prepare the beds now. It’s quite cold in mid to late October at garlic planting time, so getting the garden ready now will make it easier when the time comes.  

Independent workdays: If you still need to fulfill your workday requirement and you are interested in an independent workday please contact me. Also, if you are not sure if you have done a workday yet or not this season please ask, and I will look it up for you. 

 

Happy gardening, 

Lily   

 

Maintenance request form:  https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScyjHBH_xBH229AVwmqTE-2L3znGrLwn3TNJfw2ri9T01MMfA/viewform 

Previous emails:  https://eagleheightsgardens.blogspot.com/ 

Gardening resources: https://eagleheightsgardens.org/gardens/organic-growing/ 

 

From the Registrar: September 18, 2024

Hello Gardeners,  

Workday opportunity: There will be a plot clearing workday on Saturday 9/21 from 8:30-11:30 am at Eagle Heights Garden. Volunteers should wear long sleeves and bring gloves. The group will meet at the EH garden shed at 8:30 am. Email me if you’re interested. 

 

One gardener from every plot must do one workday each season to remain in good standing and be eligible for renewal the following year. If a workday is not done the $45 no-workday fee must be paid. If you have not had a chance to do a workday yet it is not too late. We expect to continue running them into October.  

 

If the group times do not work for you but you’d like to do a workday, please contact me about scheduling an independent workday.  

 

Happy gardening, 

Lily   

 

Maintenance request form:  https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScyjHBH_xBH229AVwmqTE-2L3znGrLwn3TNJfw2ri9T01MMfA/viewform 

Previous emails:  https://eagleheightsgardens.blogspot.com/ 

Gardening resources: https://eagleheightsgardens.org/gardens/organic-growing/ 

From the Registrar: September 9, 2024

Hello Gardeners,  

Weeds: It can be hard to keep up with the garden as the season winds down. Please look at your plot and remove invasive weeds. We are seeing a lot of mature weeds in the gardens, with many more seedlings coming up. If they are allowed to go to seed this fall it will mean more weeds next spring. See the links here for photos of common weeds for identification: 

• Artemisia annua: https://identify.plantnet.org/k-world-flora/species/Artemisia%20annua%20L./data  
• Pokeweed: https://mbgna.umich.edu/post/blog/native-plant-week-american-pokeweed  
• Canada thistle: https://blogs.cornell.edu/weedid/canada-thistle/  
• Lambsquarters: https://crops.extension.iastate.edu/encyclopedia/common-lambsquarters  
• Giant foxtail: https://hort.extension.wisc.edu/articles/wisconsin-weed-identification-giant-foxtail-setaria-faberi/  
• Bindweed: https://authenticwisconsin.com/field_bindweed.html  

 

Workday opportunity: There will be a weeding workday on Thursday 9/12 from 8-11 am at University Houses Garden. Volunteers should wear long sleeves and bring gloves. The group will meet at the UH garden shed at 8 am. Email me if you’re interested. 

 

Happy gardening, 

Lily   

 

Maintenance request form:  https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScyjHBH_xBH229AVwmqTE-2L3znGrLwn3TNJfw2ri9T01MMfA/viewform 

Previous emails:  https://eagleheightsgardens.blogspot.com/ 

Gardening resources: https://eagleheightsgardens.org/gardens/organic-growing/ 

From the Registrar: September 5, 2024

Hello Gardeners,  

Gardening in 2024: Every year, all gardeners must reapply for their garden plots if they want to return the next season.  

• 2025 applications will be available beginning December 15th 2024. 

• The deadline to apply for renewal will be February 15th 2025. Returning gardeners in good standing have priority to return to the same plot (or to switch if they want). 

• Renewal applications received on 2/16 or after are not guaranteed. I will try to help if I can, but gardeners have lost their plots due to late renewal applications. After Feb 15th any plots that have not been renewed will be reassigned to new gardeners, and we usually have a long list of new applicants. 

• If you know now that you do not plan to renew your plot, please let me know. 

Only assigned gardeners from 2024 are eligible to renew a plot for 2025. If there is someone gardening in your plot with you now that would like to keep the plot next year, you must make sure they are listed as the secondary gardener BEFORE December 15th. If I receive a renewal application from someone that was not previously assigned to the plot, I cannot renew it for them.  

Please let me know if you have any questions about applying for next season. 

• Workday opportunity: There will be a weeding workday on Saturday 9/7 from 8-11 am at University Houses Garden. Volunteers should wear long sleeves and bring gloves. The group will meet at the UH garden shed at 8 am. Email me if you’re interested, and I will assign spots in the order of replies.    

 

Happy gardening, 

Lily   

 

Maintenance request form:  https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScyjHBH_xBH229AVwmqTE-2L3znGrLwn3TNJfw2ri9T01MMfA/viewform 

Previous emails:  https://eagleheightsgardens.blogspot.com/ 

Gardening resources: https://eagleheightsgardens.org/gardens/organic-growing/