From the Gardens Registrar: Special Workday; EH Weed Pile; Sweet Potatoes in Buckets; Odds and Ends

Hello Gardeners,

SPECIAL WORKDAY – We’re going to have a workday on Sunday, June 2, at Eagle Heights, at the Garden Arbor, from 5pm – 8pm. We only need about 6 people, so the link won’t stay up long. The task will be clearing a former garden plot, which is going to become part of the Arbor Garden, and planting rain garden plants in it. Meet at the garden shed. Here’s the link to sign up: https://doodle.com/poll/88n5ug6f4zz84ize

EAGLE HEIGHTS WEED PILE – The weed pile at EH became a huge ugly mess. It has been cleared now, and a barrier has been put up to try to prevent gardeners from dumping weeds next to the pile. You can only dump now from the south entrance to the pile (next to the woods.) The weeds must be dumped on the concrete slab – there’s always plenty of room, even when it’s pretty full. Dumping next to the pile not only made a mess, but it blocked the drainage system. So please keep the weed pile tidy now, please?

SWEET POTATO GROWING STATIONS - On Sunday, June 2^nd, from 11am to 1pm, members of a group that has a grant to study growing sweet potatoes in buckets will be at Eagle Heights to help people create their own sweet potato growing stations in 5 gallon buckets.  “Sweet potato slips will be available but feel free to bring your slips from the Dane County Sweet Potato Project or build your buckets in advance if you have yet to pick up your slips.  We will also provide buckets, drills and some potting mix but you are welcome to bring your own supplies.” Note: this activity will not be in our gardens, but in the part of the garden that’s north of the community garden section, next to the small blue sheds by the CALS plots. Watch for signs to direct you. For more information, you can contact Savannah at sholt3@wisc.edu

COMPANION PLANTING – When you’re planting your garden, you should be aware that some plants grow well together, and some don’t. For instance, tomatoes will benefit from being planted next to basil and marigolds – the flowers and herbs will help keep insect pests away. But beans don’t grow well when they’re next to onions and garlic. Here’s an article that explains the concept of companion planting, and it includes a chart: https://www.burpee.com/gardenadvicecenter/areas-of-interest/flower-gardening/companion-planting-guide/article10888.html

LOCK YOUR CAR – A gardener has informed me that she left her car unlocked while she was gardening, and her wallet was missing money when she came back. So do be careful to lock up when you park your car by the Gardens.

DON’T LET YOUR RHUBARB FLOWER – If your rhubarb is sending up flower shoots, it’s best to cut the flowers off. It’s natural for the plant to have flowers and set seed, but letting them do it takes energy away from their production of leaves and the nice stalks we want to eat. The flowers are kind of pretty, though….Even if you let them flower, you should definitely cut the flower stalks once they start forming seeds – you probably don’t need dozens of tiny rhubarb plants coming up.

COMFREY – Another widespread weed in our gardens is comfrey. If it’s growing in your plot, and you don’t want it there, it will take a lot of work to dig it out – the roots go very deep. But comfrey is actually a good plant to have around – it makes an excellent green manure. The plant absorbs a lot of nitrogen, and it also decomposes quickly when cut, so that adds the nitrogen to your soil. Here’s some information about comfrey, including a picture – the plants are just starting to bloom in our gardens, and they’re definitely pretty – worth having as ornamentals as long as you can control them. However, I can’t speak to the medicinal qualities attributed to this plant, just to its value in the garden. https://permaculturenews.org/2010/10/01/the-wonderful-multi-purpose-comfrey-plant/

Happy Gardening,

Kathryn