Just Add Water Project : New England Gardener

Just Add Water Project

Jun 24

SWENDALL HERALDS START OF SUMMER

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Zach Plants Swendall In The Just Add Water Garden

There’s a new addition to the Just Add Water garden. “Swendall” the scarecrow is now standing guard, doing his best to intimidate the slugs and cucumber beetles. The kids stuffed Swendall and a number of other child size scarecrows during our Start of Summer Celebration in the Children’s Garden last weekend. In past years, the celebration served as an opportunity to put many hands to work planting before the start of summer programming. But the heavy rains swamped most of the garden right before our event.

Jun 14

Livin’ Off The Land

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We're Livin' Off The Land!

The rains that drenched southern New England all weekend made their way north into Maine today for an all day soaker, but not before our first harvest of the season from the Just Add Water garden.

On Saturday, we picked spinach and radishes. The radishes, Easter Egg from Johnny’s, were fine, but nothing to get excited about. The spinach–Johnny’s Emu–is worth noting. The color and flavor are quite good. The leaves seemed more resistant to chewing insects than others I’ve seen at the community garden. Germination and production, especially from the first planting in early May, were excellent. I plan to save the remaining seeds for another planting in late August.

Jun 09

Garden Fever

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Warmer Soil Makes All The Difference

I know June is a bit late for a big revelation about the importance of soil temperature, so I’ll just say this.
A soil thermometer will be at the top of my Christmas wish list.

Sure, I scan the carefully researched information on the back of the Johnny’s seed packets, but after I answer the big question–HOW MANY DAYS TILL FOOD?–my attention begins to wane. Was it 2 seeds every 6 inches or 6 seeds every 2 inches? My point is that I tend to overlook the information about optimum soil temperature for germination. The Just Add Water project is reminding me just how important that little detail is. I planted a slew of seeds on May 25th. Nearly two weeks later, only a few of them had started the big push towards life. Then last Saturday, a garden explosion.

Squash Seedling Emerges From Slumber

Cucumbers, squash and bean seeds all erupted within a 12 hour period, as if they’d had a meeting and agreed to grow.
Of course, there’s no vegetable conspiracy here, just enough hours at the right soil temperature.
So next year, in addition to a soil thermometer, I’m going to do some trials with black and red plastic to see how much of a jump I can really get on the season.

I’m curious about what others do to prolong the season. Moving to Florida doesn’t count.

Jun 05

Slow Start

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Planted May 25th...Come on warmer weather!

The latest batch of seed is starting to pop in the “Just Add Water” garden, but overall, growth is much slower than anticipated.

The MOFGA (Maine Organic Farmers & Growers Assn. ) newsletter confirms that gardeners across the state of Maine are experiencing slow growth and poor germination this spring, especially with beans and peas, due to all the cool, wet weather. That’s certainly the case in my garden. My bush beans, cukes and squashes went underground nearly two weeks ago and they’re just now seeing daylight. And to be honest, the bean sprouts look like they’re not so sure they want to make the trip. The tiny seedlings are hunched over, heads still in the dirt. I may, yet, become one of those crazy garden ladies who’s seen crouching over plants whispering words of encouragement. The letuce, spinach, peas, and chard are on their way. And of course, the radishes, but you can’t stop them.

Jun 04

Dreaded Cucumber Beetle

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Small Beetle. Big Appetite.

I’ve posted a large photo in this blog to give everyone a good look at my most hated garden pest. That’s him in all his yellow and black striped glory preparing to feast on my lovely bottle neck gourd seedlings. The dreaded cucumber beetle is back and this garden demon doesn’t mess around. That tray of seedlings had been in the garden for less than 10 minutes, when the first beetle landed. He knew eventually I’d show up with something tasty and so the games begin.

File Photo of Cuke Beetle

I’ve learned to coexist with some pests in our organic garden, but the cucumber beetle eats way more than his share. If action isn’t taken, your young cucurbits will be nothing but skeletal sticks in a matter of days. Been there.
Because we’re organic, going in with a haz mat suit and fog spray isn’t an option and I’ve yet to find an organic topical that works. Most of us use row cover (cloth barrier) and keep the plants tucked in until blossoms appear. By then, the plants are mature enough enough to survive the beetles daily feeding.

May 25

Seedling Envy

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Guess Which Tomato I Grew?

Normally a lunchtime stroll through the weekly Farmer’s Market in Portland is a pleasant diversion and a chance to glean growing tips from the pros. But last week’s trip left me feeling a bit inadequate and conflicted. You see, like many other New Englanders, I started a few crops from seed under grow lights this spring and managed to keep them alive and relatively healthy. Then, I saw the mammoth seedlings being offered by my local farmers. Not only were they gorgeous, they were cheap– a mere buck or two for the promise of a month’s worth of mouth watering tomatoes. And I’m not talking Beefsteaks and Early Girls here. These friendly farmers had many hard-to-find heirloom varieties.