Hello Gardeners,
WHAT TO PLANT NOW – According to the long-range forecast, we have
probably seen our last frost for this season. So if you’re desperate to plant
your tomatoes outside, it’s probably safe to do so. However, there’s no hurry.
Tomatoes will grow better when it’s warmer. If you have a thermometer, check
that the soil temperature is at least 50 degrees before you plant them out.
If you’ve grown the tomato
plants yourself in the house, it’s a good time to start “hardening them off,”
which means getting them used to being outside. You should start this about 10
days to two weeks before you actually plant them, by bringing them outside for
a few hours every day in the middle of the day. Here is some really good
information on tomatoes from UW Extension: https://learningstore.uwex.edu/Assets/pdfs/A1691.pdf
It’s still too early to plant
beans – wait at least another couple of weeks, for best results. Beans want
warm soil to germinate – at least 60 degrees – and the warmer the soil, the
better your germination will be. Lettuce, cabbage crops, and root vegetables
can all germinate decently in cool soil, so April and May are good times to
plant these vegetables. Here’s more information on the best soil temperatures
for common vegetables: https://www.gardeners.com/how-to/when-is-it-warm-enough-to-plant/9029.html
HOW TO THROW WEEDS IN THE
WEED PILE – The gardeners are doing a
much better job now of throwing trash in the dumpsters and throwing weeds in
the weed piles. Thanks, folks. However, at Eagle Heights, please be sure that
you’re throwing the weeds onto the concrete slab. The weeds have spread
beyond the pile now, and it’s becoming more and more of a mess. There’s still
plenty of room for the weeds on the slab, especially if you approach the pile
from the south (the side towards the woods.)
MOWING COMING TO A GARDEN
NEAR YOU SOON – With all the rain we
are having, the grass is growing fast. We hope to have two new garden workers
on staff in the next few weeks, and then mowing will begin at both gardens. In
preparation, please get in the habit now of checking the path by your plot when
you’re done gardening for the day – make sure your hose (why are you even
watering?) is disconnected from the water spigot and tucked away in your plot.
Likewise, milk jugs, watering cans, wood, sticks, blocks, library books, lava
lamps, and other debris should not be left in the path. We claim that anything
left in the paths will get mowed, but in reality, our garden workers will stop,
swear, and remove the obstructions, which slows them down and makes mowing even
more tedious and time-consuming than it is already.
RHUBARB – Some early gardeners may be harvesting lettuce and
spinach already. But for most of us, rhubarb is about the only crop that’s
ready to eat now. Rhubarb is not exactly the healthiest or most versatile of
garden produce, but at least it’s fresh. Rhubarb crisp is delicious and easy.
But if you’re tired of it, have a look at the hundreds of recipes on this
rhubarb-lover’s website: https://www.rhubarb-central.com/
WORKDAY
THIS SATURDAY – We
are looking for six gardeners to help sand and paint the handles on our new tools.
(We have a limited number of brushes, so we have to limit sign-ups on this one.
If you go to the link, and it isn’t there anymore, that means we got enough
people.) Saturday, May 11, 9am – Noon, at the Eagle Heights shed. Here’s the link to sign up: https://doodle.com/poll/qfnn45qrrubiv5x8
Happy Gardening,
Kathryn
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