New England Gardener

Question:
I have heard a lot about the Topsy Turvy planters. My question is how do you set them up? That is what do you hang them from. I guesstimate that the Topsy Turvy unit is probably 3 feet long before adding the tomato plant – then the growing tomato plant will add another 3 plus feet – and you want the lowest part of the plant to be at least 2 feet off the ground – that means the Topsy Turvy unit will need to be attached to or hang from something at least 8 feet off the ground. Or have I missed something? I’d love to hear from someone who has successfully used the article in past seasons. Thanks, Jim O.

Answer:
Hi Jim,
I wish I had first-hand experience to share with you regarding the upside-down planters that seem to be everywhere this season, but I’m in the same boat you are. We just purchased one to hang in the Children’s Garden and it’s still in the box.
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Filed under: Ask The Garden Team

Question:
I’m thinking of putting in a raised bed and wondering what kind of wood to use for the border.  If I use pressure-treated wood will it leach into the ground and contaminate the plants?

Thanks for your help …
Rick

Answer:
Hi Rick: I recommend using regular kiln dried.  Avoid the pressure treated.  PT would last longer but as you probably know it is treated with a host of preservatives, including arsenic.  Though I’ve never seen a study tracking leaching of these substances into soil in a raised bed, I’ve never talked to anyone who think it’s worth the risk. Good luck with the raised bed!
-Mike Nikitas

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Filed under: Ask The Garden Team

Lettuce Under Wraps

The community garden here in Maine resembled a campground tonight as gardeners pitched makeshift tents over tender seedlings.

The mid-May frost warning is Mother Nature’s way of reminding us not to rush the season. Conventional wisdom tells us not to transplant heat-loving seedlings until Memorial Day weekend in Maine. That’s a bit tricky this year because the long weekend falls a bit earlier than usual.

For gardeners whose weekend plans would be incomplete without planting, just keep an eye on Tim’s forecast. You might have to tuck those plants in for the night one more time. At least they don’t require a bed time story.

Filed under: Flowers | Vegetables

Photo by: meonomous

That’s right. According to Matt Noyes, meteorologist here at NECN, there may be frost in the forecast tonight. You can read his analysis of the week in weather over at the Weather New England blog. I wanted to share one piece of his analysis relevant to the New England gardening world in regards to protecting your plants from frost.

“So what can you do to protect plants against frost? Many of you have already shared with us that you saw our forecasts starting last Thursday of the frost potential and decided not to plant just yet.

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Filed under: Flowers | Vegetables

Spinach Sprouts In Just Add Water Bed

Here is the latest update to the Just Add Water project, I planted a second crop of lettuce, spinach, and a first of radishes and chard over the weekend. I was a bit disappointed by the pea germination. It’s a bit spotty. So I did some excavating. NO PEAS to be found in the bare spots. I suspect heavy rains unearthed some of my first pea planting and the birds made off with an easy supper. I’m now germinating a few more shell and sugar snap peas. this will have to suffice for a “second planting.” If these don’t take, I’ll call it good with the small crop I have because I want to use the space for carrots come mid-July.

The trellises are in place for the climbing cukes and tomatoes. I’ll put in the bean and squash seeds along with tomato and cuke seedlings right after Memorial Day weekend.

Filed under: Just Add Water Project

Zach Helps Plant Seeds Around Homemade Arbor

I know Arbor Day was created to encourage people to plant trees, but I took a little creative license with the holiday-which is celebrated the third week of May in Maine-and decided to build a sapling arbor for the Children’s Garden. I’d never built one before and found the project so easy, I now plan to construct one for my home garden as well. Collecting the building materials was as simple as walking the line where woods meets yard. It was easy to find 4, 8-10′ pliable hardwood saplings, along with the some smaller saplings.

I’m sure the arbor cogniscenti use nothing but saplings and maybe a few well placed nails to create their masterpieces, (see photo to the left that I pulled off the internet) but I’m a novice, so I grabbed a ball of twine for fortification. It’s also a defensive measure, knowing the arbor will soon have dozens of children playing, running and “oops!” knocking into it.

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Filed under: Just Add Water Project | Kids Garden