From the Registrar: June 3, 2026

Hello Gardeners,


Workday opportunities: There are some upcoming workday opportunities:

• There will be a workday at Eagle Heights Gardens (EH) this Saturday, June 6th from 9-12. The group will meet at the EH garden shed at 9 am. The workday will be for weeding and mulching. Volunteers should wear long sleeves and bring gloves.

• There will be a workday at University Houses Gardens (UH) this Sunday, June 7th from 8-11. The group will meet at the UH garden shed at 8 am. The workday will be for weeding and mulching. Volunteers should wear long sleeves and bring gloves.

*Respond to this email if you’re interested in either of these workdays, and spots will be assigned in the order of replies.


A few reminders: 

• The water in the gardens is safe for watering plants but is not good for drinking.

• Please remember to return communal tools and carts to the shed each day after using them.

Colorado potato beetles: Potato beetles have started to appear for the season! Plants may be hosting eggs right now on the underside of the leaves. This is a good time to check your plants and destroy the eggs before they hatch. Once the eggs hatch, plants can be quickly defoliated if there are many larvae. The best method for controlling the eggs, larvae, and adult beetles in your plot is to pick them off and dump them in soapy water. Dealing with them now and throughout the season will help reduce the number in the gardens overall.

Potato beetles will eat the leaves of anything in the Solanaceae family, including tomatoes, eggplants, peppers, and tomatillos, but most of the damage we see is on potato plants.

The link below from the University of Minnesota Extension has some good pictures of the beetles at each stage of life. Please remember that only organic control methods are allowed.
https://extension.umn.edu/yard-and-garden-insects/colorado-potato-beetles


Trapping voles and mice: Snap traps are now allowed in the gardens to control voles an mice. See the guidelines below regarding their use (please note the update that is highlighted).

• Traps must be placed inside a piece of PVC pipe that is 2-4 inches in diameter and at least 12 inches long to protect other wildlife like birds (and people). Covered, bird-safe mousetraps can also be purchased and are acceptable.
• Traps should be elevated off the ground to protect toads (a ramp can be added for voles/mice).
• Traps must be located in the interior of a plot, two feet from any plot borders.
• Only snap-traps are permitted. Sticky traps are NOT permitted.
• Gardeners that use snap traps assume responsibility for safely setting them up and regularly checking them. Gardeners must also safely dispose of any trapped voles or mice in the designated area by the weed pile or in an area of their plot visible to hawks and other predators.
• Traps are only permitted in garden plots. They may not be placed in common areas or anywhere in the University Apartments areas.

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/organic-growing