| |
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
1) APRIL IS THE MONTH TO....
-
TRY SOMETHING NEW, GET IN ON THE GROUND FLOOR WITH
CITRUS X
PARADISI.
The USDA's Economic Research Service recently released its 2016 Crop Outlook Predictions report, stating that with Maine's changing climate, grapefruit is surprisingly likely to be a very strong crop in the coming decade for both our commercial growers and home gardeners. High quality seeds can be obtained simply and inexpensively from squeezing out fruit purchased at your local grocery store or farmers' market-just make sure the flesh hasn't lost firmness and there are no dark blemishes on the fruit's skin (both signs of prolonged refrigeration and reduced seed viability). Now is the time to plant those beauties in rich, well-drained potting medium and watch them grow!
-
BE PATIENT WORKING THE SOIL.
With the unimpressive winter and early spring this year, it's tempting to get out and starting working in your beds. But turning things before the ground dries will damage the structure of your soil, giving you a heavy, leaden mess with few air pockets and greatly diminished capacity for root and soil microbe health. Remember that the ideal soil is 45-25% not even there! That is to say, we like to see about that much air space in any given sample, to provide proper aeration for the living community beneath our feet and plants. See the USDA's comparison of good vs. compacted soil here. To check your soil, take a good handful and squeeze it into a ball, then prod it gently or drop it to the ground-if it crumbles easily, you are ready to work, but if it SQUISHES or compresses, fight the temptation to dig. If you absolutely must get your hands dirty, this can be an excellent time to get a head start on early season weeds. For more information on preparing spring soil, please see this excellent University of Missouri Cooperative Extension resource.
- SOW THOSE SEEDS. Once the soil has warmed and dried, it's finally time to get out there to plant-beets, carrots, lettuce, peas, radishes, spinach, chard, spinach, seed or set onions, and turnips can be directly seeded or planted. It's also time to start your tomatoes indoors, although they'll have to wait a bit before exploring the outside garden.
- THINK ABOUT SOIL TESTING. We generally recommend that you have your garden soil tested every 3-5 years, or if you notice a drop-off in productivity. It's always wise to test before adding soil amendments, as you may unintentionally overdo things with the best of intentions and hamper your efforts. You can learn more about soil testing in the University of Maine's Bulletin #2286. Free test kits are available from your local University of Maine Cooperative Extension County Office or the University of Maine Analytical Laboratory and Maine Soil Testing Service.
- SCOUT FOR GARDEN DAMAGE. We all know winter can be hard on our plants, and late winter/early spring are great times to remove dead or damaged branches-just be sure to prune before vigorous growth begins and do your homework on your perennials to make sure you don't remove any flower buds for this season!
- EDUCATED YOURSELF ON NEW INVASIVES. While you're out looking for winter-damaged plants, make sure you check for evidence of predation and damage from other garden pests. Deer and rodents can be expected to cause a certain amount of damage each year, but we have a particularly aggressive Scandinavian newcomer cropping up in our Maine landscape, with the ungainly name of Nomea diminutiva var. Botanicalis. Utah State University's Cooperative Extension has a great practical guide to control of the pest here. Even more info here.
-
-
WIND DOWN SAP OPERATIONS.
Make sure you complete your maple syrup tapping operations before the trees begin to bud out with new growth for the spring-the taste of the sap will deteriorate thereafter. Learn more about how to make sugary deliciousness in your own yard from University of Maine Cooperative Extension Bulletin #7036.
|
Photo by UMaine
|
Witch hazel.
(
Photos by Kate Garland)
|
Photo by U
Maine
|
2) Compost 101
By Jonathan Foster, UMaine Cooperative Extension, Penobscot County
Spring often sees gardeners turn out the mysterious contents of the compost bin and once again marvel at this fantastic transformation from kitchen scraps and lawn waste into rich, crumbly, black compost. Compost is the decomposed remains of organic materials after they have been broken down by beneficial microorganisms, and the process happens in our managed heaps just like it does on the forest floor. But sometimes this can be a daunting project for beginners, and other times...
|
3) Garden Snapshots
Crocuses.
Nature's garden art during our recent, late season ice storm!
|
4) Spinach-Rice Casserole
Makes 12 Servings
Ingredients:
1 cup onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, minced
3 tablespoons butter or margarine
1 pound fresh spinach (or other greens such as bok choy, Swiss chard or kale), chopped
4 eggs, beaten
4 cups cooked brown or white rice
1 cup fat-free (skim) milk
1 1/2 cups low-fat cheese, shredded
2 tablespoons lite soy sauce
Black pepper to taste
Directions:
- Sauté onions and garlic in butter...
|
|
|
 5) Featured Plants: Common Buckthorn (Rhamnus cathartica) and Glossy Buckthorn
Developed by the Maine Natural Areas Program and University of Maine Cooperative Extension
Although seedlings of both buckthorns invade apparently stable habitats, they grow most successfully where there is ample light and exposed soil. These buckthorns have long growing seasons and rapid growth rates, and resprout vigorously after being topped. In North America, both species leaf out prior to most woody deciduous plants, and can retain their leaves well into autumn. Buckthorns rapidly form dense, even-aged thickets.
|
|
|
|
|
|
UMAINE EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS
The Rogers Farm Demonstration Garden will hold its annual safety training for the 2016 season on Tuesday, April 5th, at 5pm, at 914 Bennoch Road in Old Town. Anyone interested in helping in the garden this year should attend or contact jonathan.foster@maine.edu.
Pruning Woody Landscape Plants is a 4-part course taking place on Saturdays in late March/early April in the Ellsworth area (one class held in Bangor). Fee $55. Call Hancock County UMaine Extension for details and registration information 1-800-287-1479.
umaine.edu/hancock
Support Maine 4-H Camps by voting in Bangor Savings Bank's Community Matters More campaign. Top vote-getters in each region will get $5,000! You can vote for up to three organizations online or at your local BSB branch. We have three 4-H camps in Maine, and you will need to write in the camps under the appropriate county/service area. Tanglewood is in Waldo, Blueberry Cove is in Knox, and Bryant Pond is in Oxford County.
Livestock 101 Field Day. Saturday, April 2
nd
, 11:45am-3:15pm at the Witter Farm, Univer
sity of Maine, Orono.
Learn basic beginner techniques such as measuring livestock vital signs, body condition assessment, injection techniques, animal restraint, grain & feed quality assessment, sheep hoof trimming, growth curves, poultry handling, DIY poultry equipment, worming schedules and bio-security for the small farm.
Speakers include Dr. Gary Anderson, Dr. Anne Lichtenwalner, Dr. Dave Marcinkowski & Donna Coffin from the University of Maine Cooperative Extension, Dr. Jim Weber from UMaine School of Food and Agri-culture, Cindy Kilgore & Dr. Justin Bergeron from the Maine Department of Agriculture. Spon-sored
by the University of Maine Cooperative Extension, University of Maine J. Franklin Witter Center, Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, and Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association. Pre-registration is required for this free program here. Or contact Melissa Libby at 581-2788 or melissa.libby1
@maine.edu. UMaine Extension programs are open and accessible to all in accordance with program goals. Please contact Melissa Libby for disability accommodations at least 14 days in advance.
The Maine Home Garden News, a statewide newsletter by the University of Maine, is published during the gardening season. Interested Maine gardeners may access the most current issue here.
|
OTHER EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS
The
Maine School Garden Network
newsletter, from an local organization dedicated to school gardens, healthy eating, and environmental stewardship, can be accessed
here.
Learn about Maine School Garden Day, the Northeast Farm to School Institute, and more! They are also hiring a new coordinator--see the job posting
Online courses and resources:
For aspiring, new, and experienced farmers.
Support Maine farmers and eat food grown and produced in Maine. Outdoor markets will be opening soon, and many communities have year-round farmers' markets.
Find a Farmers' Market near you
Garden Pro Workshop. April 6th, 8am-4:30pm,
22 Town Farm Road, Hallowell, ME.
Prepare for garden questions and earn 4 pesticide credits. Workshop registration $18, pest answer book $25.
Register online here.
Giant pumpkin seeds for sale to benefit the Bangor Community Garden.
Each $5 packet (available at Tiller and Rye) will contain two 'Atlantic Giant' seeds and a tip sheet for growing a big beauty.
Bangor Garden Show, 4/15-17.
Cross Insurance Center, Bangor. $8 admission, under 12 free. Be sure to stop by the University of Maine Cooperative Extension booth for garden activities, soil sample kits, garden advice, and more! See further information about the show
here.
.
|
CLUBS AND ORGANIZATIONS
Maine Herb Society Monthly meetings in Bangor through most of the year. Visit their website or call Theresa for more information 942-7396.
Penobscot Beekeepers Association Monthly meetings through most of the year. Visit their Facebook page or contact Peter Cowin petercowin@tds.net for more details.
Maine Organic Famers and Gardeners Association Penobscot Chapter Potluck meetings the last Sunday of every month. Contact Galen Young of Argyle Acres, 745-4797 or galen.the.beekeeper@gmail.com.
Brewer Garden & Bird Club
Orrington Garden Club
10am, 1st Wed. of the month Sept-June. Meetings are held at member homes. Contact Barbara 989-3746 or barenaj@gmail.com.
Hampden Garden Club
Monthly meetings Feb.-Dec., fourth Tuesday. Call Pat 862-3909 or Ellen 234-2945 for more information.
Veazie Garden Club
Meetings second Tues. Sept-June, 7pm Veazie Grade School. Call 866-4564.
Penquis Beekeepers
Meetings 7pm on second Tues. of the month at the Dexter VFW.
Sebasticook Garden Club meets at 1:30 on the 4th Thursday in March-October. Most meetings are held at the Newport Cultural Center located at 154 Main Street in Newport. For information call Ann at 416-4807
Milo Garden Club-Second Tuesdays September-June. Locations and programs vary. Contact Gini Goodhind at 943-7772 or Pauline Mullins at 343-2612 FMI.
Dexter Dover Area Towns in Transition (DDATT). Folks interested in seed saving have formed an interest group. More information can be found on DDATT's Facebook page.
|
|
Mission
University of Maine Cooperative Extension is the major educational outreach program of the University of Maine with offices statewide. UMaine Extension provides Maine people with research-based educational programs to help them live fuller, more productive lives.
|
|
|
|
|
Contributors
Jonathan Foster, Home Horticulture Coordinator
Donna Coffin, Extension Educator
Kate Garland, Horticulturist
Theresa Tilton, Administrative Support Supervisor
|
The University of Maine does not discriminate on the grounds of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, including transgender status and gender expression, national origin, citizenship status, age, disability, genetic information or veteran status in employment, education, and all other programs and activities. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies: Director, Office of Equal Opportunity, 101 North Stevens Hall, 207.581.1226.
|
|
|
|
Surface mail recipients can contact their county Extension office for further information when web links are included in an article.
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
