|
It's Raining Again!?!
According to the National Weather Service, our rainfall for June was less than an inch above normal. But it sure feels like we are way wetter than usual. Here are a few things to keep in mind during an especially rainy season:
Taking Advantage of the Rain
Watering:
- Normally, watering the garden takes considerable time, especially for young plants. Enjoy the break from watering duties that Mother Nature provides during a rainy season.
Capture the Rain for Later:
-
Collect rainwater for future use. Check out this article from UW Extension on how to install and use rain barrels.
Watch for Issues
Mosquitoes:
- Empty containers with standing water to remove mosquito habitats.
-
Rain Barrels: Cover openings with screens and use a hose on the overflow drain to prevent mosquito access. Consider mosquito dunks containing Bacillus thuringiensis israelensis (Bti). Read more here about mosquito control and rain barrels.
Ensure Proper Drainage in potted plants:
- Drainage Holes: Make sure your pots have sufficient drainage holes to allow excess water to escape. If necessary, drill additional holes.
- Elevate Pots: Place pots on pot feet, bricks, or a slatted surface to allow water to drain freely from the bottom.
- Soil Mix: Use a well-draining potting mix. Incorporate materials like perlite, sand, or bark chips to improve drainage.
- Check for Blockages: Regularly check and clear any blockages in the drainage holes to prevent water accumulation.
Improve Airflow
- Spacing: Avoid overcrowding plants. Space them out to ensure good airflow around each plant.
- Pruning: Prune plants to remove any dead or excess foliage, which can promote better air circulation.
- Placement: Place pots in areas where they can receive some natural airflow, avoiding overly sheltered spots that stay damp.
Manage Moisture Levels
- Mulching: Apply a thin layer of mulch on the surface of the soil. This helps manage moisture levels and reduce splash-up of soil-borne pathogens.
- Watering Practices: Adjust your watering schedule based on weather conditions. Remember in ground gardens will retain more water than elevated planters or pots. Stick your index finger about 1 inch in the soil to determine moisture level, only water if it is dry.
Monitor and Act Quickly
- Regular Inspection: Regularly inspect plants for signs of mold or fungi, such as discolored spots, fuzzy growths, or wilting.
- Remove Affected Parts: If you notice any mold or fungi, promptly remove the affected parts of the plant to prevent spread.
By keeping these tips in mind, you can take advantage of the rain while preventing common issues associated with excessive moisture.
Submitted by Melissa, N.E.W. Master Gardener
Open AI
| |
Six tips for success in saving seeds
Choose healthy plants
Seeds from healthy plants are more likely to produce strong seedlings and are less likely to pass on disease or genetic weaknesses.
Grow open-pollinated varieties
Seeds from hybrid varieties may not breed true, meaning they may produce plants that are very different from the parent plant.
Let seeds mature
Allow seeds to fully mature on the plant before collecting them. For example, you can leave bean pods on the plant until they are completely dry, or leave pepper fruits on the plant until they are fully ripe and full-sized.
Dry seeds thoroughly
Make sure seeds are completely dry before storing them. You can test if a bean seed is dry by poking your fingernail into it—if it doesn't leave a dent, the seed is ready to store.
Store in a cool, dry, dark place
Keep seeds away from moisture, sunlight, soil, and extreme temperatures. A temperature between 32° and 41°F is ideal.
Label containers
Include details about the plant variety, date of harvest, and any other useful notes.
Submitted by Peggy, N.E.W. Master Gardener,
OpenAI
| |
|
One Seed, One Community
Temptation, temptation, temptation! Am I the only one finding it difficult to NOT eat the Sugar Ann Snap peas? It’s like opening a bag of your favorite candies. Once you start, it makes it harder to resist the temptation.
Succession planting to the rescue! I have decided to plant a new section of peas every few weeks. Fifty-five days to maturity, a dwarf size plant that doesn’t need trellising, and cold hardy means I can keep replanting these peas wherever I can find a small space of garden or an extra unfilled pot in my yard until mid-August.. The average freeze date for Brown County according to this Purdue resource is October 6.
It’s not too late to join the One Seed, One Community program and grow some seeds to share and show your support for the free Brown County Seed Library. We may run out of other types of seed packages in the library, but Sugar Ann Snap peas will be restocked until mid-August. If you have any questions, do not hesitate to contact us at seedsaver@newmastergardeners.org. Join me in resisting the temptation!
Submitted by Peggy, NEW Master Gardener
| |
|
Sustainability within the Seed Library means cultivating a self-sufficient system where seeds are harvested locally, eliminating the need to purchase new seeds. This goal is crucial because seeds collected from local plants are naturally adapted to the specific climate, pests, and diseases of the area. Over time, these seeds become more resilient and hardy, leading to improved germination rates and healthier, more robust plants. By saving our own seeds, we not only preserve a diverse array of food crops for future generations but also significantly reduce the costs associated with running a free seed library for the community.
Our sustainability efforts are focused on several key varieties, known as the Focus Five: Scarlet Runner Bean, Riesentraube Cherry Tomato, Pimento Sweet Pepper, Muncher Cucumber, and Sugar Ann Snap Pea. These five seeds are our primary targets for seed-saving this year. By concentrating on these specific seeds, we aim to reach a new level of sustainability within our Seed Library. Achieving independence in these seeds will mark a significant milestone in our journey toward complete self-sufficiency.
Community involvement is crucial to our success. If you are interested in contributing, there is still time to plant Scarlet Runner Bean, Muncher Cucumber, and Sugar Ann Snap Pea this year to harvest seeds. To learn more about seed harvesting, visit the Northeastern Wisconsin Master Gardeners' website here. Becoming a Seed Steward is a rewarding experience, and we deeply appreciate the support of community members who participate in seed saving. Join us in this endeavor and help ensure the future of our Seed Library by focusing on these five essential seeds.
Submitted by Peggy, N.E.W. Master Gardener
OpenAI
| |
|
Book Review
Gardening Your Front Yard: Projects and Ideas for Big & Small Spaces
Authored by: Tara Nolan
Whether you are looking to invite your neighbors in or create a private oasis, this book is filled with inspiration for gardening in your front yard. Tara Nolan begins with advice for planning, then offers steps for project implementation.
This book provides gardening guidance and an array of ideas that are helpful as we come out of our Wisconsin winter. Examples include landscaping with salt-tolerant plants, choosing plants for all four seasons, and plants that withstand changes between rainy and dry seasons. In addition to front yard garden ideas, Gardening Your Front Yard includes step-by-step instructions with lists of necessary tools and materials for helpful DIY projects including benches for seating, versatile rolling planters, and setting up a rain barrel for rain catchment. Colorful photos provide visual aid and may spark excitement for getting your garden projects started.
Gardening Your Front Yard is available for checkout and on our Libby app.
Submitted by Jennifer Classon, Brown County Central Library Associate and N.E.W. Master Gardener
| |
|
Plant Profile: Lettuce
Growing lettuce is fairly straightforward. Place seeds on the soil, cover lightly, and keep watered. Baby lettuce is usually ready within 30 days, and full-size lettuce in 50-70 days. Lettuce grows best in the cool weather of spring and fall. Ironically, lettuce is a staple crop during the summer months, even though it can be challenging to grow in the heat. Heat tends to make lettuce "bolt," or send up a flower stalk quickly instead of producing many leaves first. Once it sends out a flower stalk, the leaves turn bitter and are not as tasty.
To maintain a constant supply, it is recommended to plant new lettuce seeds every few weeks. During summer, try to provide them with light shade, especially during late mornings and early afternoons when the sun is hottest. This can be accomplished by suspending a light shade cloth above the plants or by planting your lettuce at the base of a taller, larger plant, such as a tomato, which will provide some shade during the day.
If your lettuce does end up bolting, don’t despair! Let it flower and allow the seeds to dry on the plant. Once the seeds start to loosen and fall, harvest the seed heads and allow them to finish drying on a screen. Alternatively, you can harvest the top part of the plant and place it in a paper bag to finish drying. Since the lettuce seed we offer is a mix, you can donate any lettuce seeds you don’t need back to the seed library, and we will include them in our mix. These Forellenschluss lettuce heads will hopefully produce lots of seeds for the library!
Check out this article from UW Extension for even more information on growing lettuce in Wisconsin.
Submitted by Melissa, N.E.W. Master Gardener
|  | |
|
Calendar of Local Garden Related Events:
July 2, 6pm - 7:30pm (free)
Evenings in the Children’s Edible Garden
515 Pine St, Green Bay
July 9, 5pm - 7pm (free)
NEW Master Gardener Locktender Open House
Voyageur Park, De Pere
July 9, 6pm - 7:30pm (free)
Evenings in the Children’s Edible Garden
515 Pine St, Green Bay
July 11, time TBA (free)
NEW Master Gardener Mongin Garden Open House
2019 Technology Way, Green Bay
July 12, 10am - 11am (free)
Caterpillars and Creepy Crawlies: An Edible Garden Adventure
515 Pine St, Green Bay
July 15 - Aug 31 ($)
Registration open for Foundations in Gardening 2024
Virtual, UW Extension
July 16, 6pm - 7:30pm (free)
Evenings in the Library's Edible Garden
515 Pine St, Green Bay
July 17, 6pm - 7:30pm ($)
Wildflower Walk
2600 Larsen Rd, Green Bay
July 17, 6:30pm - 7:30pm (free)
Wild Ones Tour of LaLuzerne residence, Certified Wildlife Habitat
4238 Pouwels Ct, De Pere, WI
July 18, 4pm - 6pm (free)
Valentine Farm Tour
3026 Nicolet Drive, Green Bay
July 18, 5pm - 7pm (free)
NEW Master Gardener St. Mark’s Open House
2066 Lawrence Dr, De Pere
July 20, 9am - 3pm ($)
2nd Annual Garden Walk with the Gardeners Club of Green Bay
Map of Garden Sites
July 22, 1pm - 2pm (free)
Ask the Experts: A Monthly Garden and Landscape Q&A Series
Virtual, UW Extension
July 23, 1:30pm - 4pm ($)
Tsyunhehkwa Farm Tour
139 Riverdale Drive, Oneida
July 23, 6pm - 7:30pm (free)
Evenings in the Library's Edible Garden
515 Pine St, Green Bay
July 24, 12pm - 1pm (free)
The Role of Moths in Our Ecosystems
Virtual, UW Extension
July 24, 6:30pm - 8:30pm (free)
Ten Diseases of Native Plants (and Non-Natives, Too)
Virtual, UW Extension
July 30, 6pm - 7:30pm (free)
Evenings in the Library's Edible Garden
Saving Seeds: Why and How
515 Pine St, Green Bay
Aug 2, 10am - 11am (free)
Salsa and the Taco Dragon: An Edible Garden Adventure
515 Pine St, Green Bay
Aug 6, 10:30am - 1pm ($)
Glen Innish Farm Tour
E5427 Second Rd, Kewaunee
Aug 6, 3pm - 6pm (free)
NEW Master Gardener Tank Garden Open House
2640 S Webster Ave, Green Bay
Aug 6, 6pm - 7:30pm (free)
Evenings in the Library's Edible Garden
515 Pine St, Green Bay
Aug 13, 5pm - 7:30pm (free)
NEW Master Gardener West YMCA Garden Open House
601 Cardinal Ln, Green Bay
Aug 13, 6pm - 7:30pm (free)
Evenings in the Library's Edible Garden
515 Pine St, Green Bay
Aug 13, 6:30pm - 7:30pm (free)
Wild Ones Tour of Sikora residence
978 Lakeview Dr, Green Bay
Aug 14, 6pm - 7:30pm ($)
Hydrangea Walk
2600 Larsen Rd, Green Bay
Aug 19, 1pm - 2pm (free)
Ask the Experts: A Monthly Garden and Landscape Q&A Series
Virtual, UW Extension
Aug 20, 6pm - 7:30pm (free)
Evenings in the Library's Edible Garden
515 Pine St, Green Bay
Aug 21, 5pm - 6:30pm (free)
NEW Master Gardener East YMCA Garden Open House
1740 S Huron Rd, Green Bay
Aug 24, 9am - 2pm ($)
Wild Ones Late Season Native Plant Sale
Stone Silo Prairie Garden, 2325 Oak Ridge Cir, De Pere
Aug 28, 6:30pm - 8:30pm (free)
Hosta Diseases
Virtual, UW Extension
| |
|
Featured Recipe
Make-ahead Six Layer Salad
Ingredients
For Salad
1-1/2 cups uncooked small pasta shells
1 tablespoon oil
3 cups shredded lettuce
3 hard-boiled large eggs, sliced
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon pepper
2 cups shredded cooked chicken breast or tuna fish
1 package (10 ounces) frozen peas, thawed or fresh peas
For Dressing:
1 cup mayonnaise
1/4 cup sour cream
2 green onions, chopped
2 teaspoons Dijon mustard
toppings:
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese
2 tablespoons minced fresh parsley
Directions
- Cook pasta according to package directions; drain and rinse with cold water. Drizzle with oil and toss to coat.
- Place the lettuce in a 2-1/2-qt. glass serving bowl; top with pasta and eggs. Sprinkle with salt and pepper. Layer with chicken and peas. In a small bowl, mix dressing ingredients until blended; spread over top. Refrigerate, covered, for several hours or overnight.
- Just before serving, sprinkle with cheese and parsley.
Submitted by Eileen Rueden, N.E.W. Master Gardener
|  | |
Support the BCSL!
We are entirely supported by grants, donations and volunteers! If you are interested, there are many ways to support the BCSL.
*You can become a Seed Steward and support the library by growing out seeds from our core list to donate. We will accept seed donations by anyone who would like to donate, seeds can be dropped off at the STEM center or at the Central library.
*You can volunteer to sort and pack seeds. Opportunities will be posted on the New Leaf Foods Calendar of Events, included in our newsletters and posted with the Volunteer Center of Brown County.
*You can make a monetary donation through our Fiscal Agent, New Leaf Foods. Click here to donate.
*You can visit our Amazon Wish List, which has basic packing supplies that we utilize for preparing our seeds for distribution. Click here to access the wishlist.
| |
|
This newsletter is brought to you by:
| | | | |
