SHARE:  

Summer 2023

tomatoes2.jpg

News

Sharing is Caring: Community Minded Gardeners Help Out With Garden Resource Days  

gardening-tools-banner.gif

Garden Resource Days are back in full swing since the pandemic. Held every 6 weeks (or so) during the non-winter months, these events provide both home and community gardeners with free garden resources including compost, mulch, plant starts, seeds, composting worms, and research-based gardening advice, courtesy of our UCCE Master Gardener partners. Additionally, we provide an on-site station with the tools and supplies for gardeners to clean, sharpen, and sterilize their tools with guidance from our program director, Mei Ling Hui.


Participants have often asked how SFRPD's Urban Ag/Community Gardens Program can provide all these resources. And the answer is: it takes a community. Below are some of our partners who regularly assist us in collecting and distributing garden resources.


COMPOST: You will see two piles of composted material at our Garden Resource Day events, collected from two different sources. 


One of these compost products, which we call "fines" or "tub grindings" is produced by RPD's Heavy Equipment Operators in the Maintenance Yard. This material is green waste from Park operations that has been partially composted and mixed with a bit of sand. It has a higher percentage of un-composted finely shredded wood-waste than the other compost product we have on-site. It's great for all compost application needs, providing nutrients and water holding capacity, but is slightly better for ornamental plantings than the compost we are currently able to purchase through the SB1383 program. 


We also bring in compost that is California SB1383 compliant. This bill requires municipalities to distribute compost that is produced with the food waste collected from business and residences. Grant funding to provide this additional compost has been secured by the San Francisco Department of the Environment and is expected to continue through the spring of 2024. Through this program we have increased the amount of compost we have been able to share to nearly 300 cubic yards in this calendar year.


MULCH: Another in-house product, the mulch we are providing was produced by the Maintenance Yard. The severe winter storms we experienced this year caused many of our park trees to fail and shed branches. Mulch produced from this green waste is being made available to the public to help combat climate change, by increasing the soil's water holding capacity, reducing water loss, and reducing weed and pest problems without the use of toxic chemicals that are made with fossil fuels. 


Thank you to RPD's HEO team, SFE, and the State of California for supporting this program. 

PLANT STARTS: SFRPD operates a nursery in Golden Gate Park to support park operations and programs. Their staff, managed by Gabe Ortega, help us grow the plant starts we share. Being able to grow these plants in the nursery greenhouses has allowed us to substantially increase the quality and quantity of the plant starts we share with the public. Thank you, Gabe and the nursery team!!


Additionally, we have some gardener friends that bring plants to share. Rich Teich, a generous community member who has been gardening and sharing plants in the city for years says, "Sharing is divine. I am always glad to help the San Francisco gardening community when I can. Leafy greens like kale and chard grow well all over the city and we always produce more plants than my family can eat. To this past SFRPD event, we brought 36 kale plants in recycled containers. People seemed happy to see them. Thanks to the gardening staff for all the hard work they put in to support the San Francisco community gardens." Thank you, Rich, for sharing with your community! Neighbors loved receiving these beautiful and healthy plants.


If you would like to be like Rich and share your extra plants, please get in touch with us at communitygardens@sfgov.org.

Photo courtesy of Rich Teich

SEEDS: Our seed lending library provides seeds that are suitable for seed saving. Program participants are provided with enough seeds per packet to grow a crop as well as allow one or two plants to go to seed to check back into the library. Though collecting seeds can be tricky, several gardeners have shared seeds with us and we would love to expand this component of our program. If you do have seeds to share, we have an intake form asking for information about your seeds that will help the gardener who receives them. Please fill out the form when dropping seeds off and do not worry about packaging them for distribution - we will take care of that.

COMPOSTING WORMS: Community worm wrangler, Dave Reardon, has been vermicomposting for nearly 30 years. In addition to his own kitchen food waste, he collects vegetable pulp from the juice booth at his local farmers' market to feed his worms, which are so healthy that he has plenty of worms to share with others.


These worms are livestock, just like honey bees, and need to be well cared for when they leave us. Interested gardeners must have a worm habitat set up and demonstrate that they know how to raise them. Note: These are not earthworms. Composting, or red, worms are specifically bred to convert food waste into a type of compost know as worm castings (poop). These castings are then harvested from your worm farm to add to your garden soil in the same way as other types of compost. Vermicomposting is a great solution for creating home compost if your garden is small or lacks the material for aerobic composting. If you would like to learn more, come by the next Garden Resource Day to learn how to set up a bin and collect some worms to get started.


Thank you, Dave! We love this partnership.

Dave's backyard worm habitat. Photo courtesy of Dave Reardon.

GARDEN ADVICE: The University of California Cooperative Extension trains local volunteers to become Master Gardeners with the expectation that they will share their new knowledge with the community. We are so fortunate to have a group of Master Gardener volunteers here in San Francisco that are familiar with our growing conditions and can't wait to share research based advice on everything from soil preparation to plant selection to Integrated Pest Management practices. The volunteers come out for

Garden Resource Days whenever possible and have also been conducting workshops in some of our community gardens. A new class of Master Gardeners will be graduating soon and we look forward to keeping them busy. If you missed the volunteers at one of our events, reach out to their help desk to get "advice to grow by".


Ask a Master Gardener

Do you need help with your garden? Have a pest problem? Curious about what will grow well in your region? Visit the Master Gardener Helpline by phone, email, on the web or in person:
Phone: (650) 276-7430
Email: mgsmsf@ucanr.edu
Web: https://ucanr.edu/mg_helpline
In person: Tuesdays, 10:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. at the SF Botanical Garden Library, 1199 9th Avenue

EVENT VOLUNTEERS: Our small team could not run these events without community help. Many community members have volunteered to support these events; helping park cars, collecting waivers, passing out seeds and plants, and carrying buckets of compost and mulch for those who need assistance. If you would like to lend a hand at a future garden resource day, please email us at communitygardens@sfgov.org! We would love to have your help.


Additional Garden Resource Days are scheduled for August 12, September 16, October 5. More info here.

Top 5 Questions Series - #3 "How do I keep birds and other critters from eating my seeds and seedlings?"

Untitled Design

In our Winter 2023 edition of The ComPost, we shared the preliminary results of Kelley Langhans' doctoral thesis that catalogued the presence of a variety of birds in our community gardens as well as how our community feels about our bird friends. In her final report, Langhans shared that the majority of garden members understand that birds can be beneficial. Gardeners recognize that birds are fun to watch, help us connect with nature, and eat things that are trying to eat our crops, like slugs, caterpillars, and moths. But they are just as likely to eat newly planted seeds and seedlings.


The only way to keep your plants safe from birds is to cover them. Repellant strategies such as artificial owls, hanging metallic or shiny items, planting companion plants with strong scents or using essential oils may work at first, but tend to lose their power over time. And feeding birds to redirect them is not allowed in public parks or community gardens and can increase your problem over time. The good news is that once your plants have reached about 8 inches tall, most birds will stop bothering them (until you have fruit or berries - then you will need to step up your barriers again). For the younger plants, bird netting or garden cloth work great as exclusionary materials. Netting has the additional benefit of allowing small beneficial insects access to your crops for pollination. Use netting with holes smaller than one centimeter to avoid injuring the birds. Replace it when seams fray or fail. You will need to construct a frame to support the fabric - this can be PVC, bamboo or bendable arches purchased from your garden store. Stretch the netting or fabric over the frame and secure it to the ground with gardening staples or rocks.


Kelley Langhans' final report can be viewed here. Thank you, Kelley, for sharing your findings with us.

UPCOMING EVENTS

A partnership with SFRPD's Community Garden Program

Join library and Community Garden Program Staff to explore and learn about composting worms. Then, come back the next day to walk with us to the Agricultural Lot in Visitacion Valley to help apply compost to garden beds, plant some seeds and help with a little weeding. There may even be a few fruits or veggies to taste!


July 25, 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Visitacion Valley Branch Library (201 Leland Avenue) for story time and a worm explore.


AND . . . .


July 26, 12 - 2 p.m. Meet at the library to walk to the community garden at 200 Rutland Street. We will return to the library by 2 p.m.


Space limited. Reservations required: (415) 355-2848. Children must be accompanied by an adult.

Workshops

July


Lyngso Zoom Series: Growing Terrific Tomatoes: from seed to salsa! Join us to learn everything tomato… starting from the seed to the seedling, when to plant out your tomatoes, how to prune them, how to trellis them and what to do when things go sideways! Growing them for flavor, not watery blobs. What varieties are best for your climate, how to increase yield, and how to reduce disease. We cover it all… from starting from the seed, all the way to your kitchen counter.

When: Wednesday, July 12, 1 to 3 p.m.

Where: via Zoom

Registration: Tomatoes


Growing A Garden: Where to Start Are you really curious about gardening but don't know where to begin? This workshop will teach you the fundamentals so you can get started! $25

When: Saturday, July 15, 10 a.m. to noon.

Where: Garden for the Environment, 1590 7th Avenue

Registration: Growing a Garden


Beginning Beekeeping: The Basics and Focus on Urban Beekeeping Come learn beekeeping basics, bees' activity in spring and summer, and how to keep a mid-season colony healthy in this engaging workshop! $25 - $50

When: Saturday, July 22, 10 a.m. to noon.

Where: Garden for the Environment, 1590 7th Avenue

Registration: Beginning Beekeeping


Summer Fruit Tree Pruning Fruit trees require year-round care, and summer pruning is critical to their health. Learn best techniques for it in this workshop.

When: Saturday, July 29, 10 a.m. to noon.

Where: Garden for the Environment, 1590 7th Avenue

Registration: Summer Pruning



August

Grow Your Own Food in August In this workshop, learn how to take advantage of San Francisco's "second summer" and what crops to plant now for the winter months. $25 - $50

When: Saturday, August 12, 10 a.m. to noon.

Where: Garden for the Environment, 1590 7th Avenue

Registration: Grow Food


Container Gardening with Succulents Learn everything you need to grow the most colorful and healthy succulent planters. This talk provides the basic information you will need to design, plant and care for succulents in containers. Sun, shade and indoor appropriate plant lists will be discussed.

When: Saturday, August 12, 10 - 11 a.m.

Where: Flowercraft Garden Center, 550 Bayshore Blvd

Registration: not required. For more info email mgsmsf@ucanr.edu.



September

Growing A Garden: Where to Start.  Are you really curious about gardening but don't know where to begin? This workshop will teach you the fundamentals so you can get started! $25

When: Saturday, September 16, 10 a.m. to noon.

Where: Garden for the Environment, 1590 7th Avenue

Registration: Where to Start


Gardening with San Francisco Native Plants In this workshop, discover the amazing world of San Francisco native plants, and learn why growing them benefits native wildlife and more! $25 - $50

When: Saturday, September 23, 1 to 3 p.m.

Where: Garden for the Environment, 1590 7th Avenue

Registration: Native Plants


How to Grow Spectacular San Francisco Roses Grow beautiful roses in San Francisco. This class will provide tips on late season care of roses, the steps to prepare sites for new roses, plus information on how and when to prune different types of roses. Come and learn about the tools you will need to take care of your roses!

When: Sunday, September 24, 2 - 3:30 p.m.

Where: San Francisco Public Library, Mission Bay Branch, 960 4th Street

Registration: not required. For more information email mgsmsf@ucanr.edu



Beginning Beekeeping: The Basics and Focus on Urban Beekeeping Come learn beekeeping basics, bees' activity in spring and summer, and how to keep a mid-season colony healthy in this engaging workshop! $25 - $50

When: Saturday, September 30, 10 a.m. to noon.

Where: Garden for the Environment, 1590 7th Avenue

Registration: Beginning Beekeeping



Gardening Tips from your

UCCE San Francisco Master Gardeners:

To Prune or Not to Prune?

Photo by Cathrin Callas

Tomato pruning isn’t always necessary. However, careful pruning can produce higher yields, provide sun protection and prevent disease. Before pulling out your pruning shears, it’s important to know the type of tomato: indeterminate or determinate. Indeterminate tomatoes produce vines that continue to grow and produce fruit throughout the growing season. Determinate tomatoes, or bush tomatoes, stop growing when they set fruit. Most tomato plants are indeterminate, and those are the ones to prune.(Note: our favorites in San Francisco are Sweet 100's and Sungolds - both are indeterminate varieties.) For more information, see this Tomato Pruning article.

What to Do in the Garden

July

  • Pick up and dispose of any fallen fruit and vegetables to avoid spreading fungus spores and to prevent invasions of pests.
  • Deadhead fading flowers to encourage new blooms.
  • Prop up and thin fruit from limbs of heavily-laden fruit trees to prevent broken branches.
  • Grow herb seedlings in well-draining soil in a location that gets 4-6 hours of sun each day.
  • For tomato plants that produce large slicing tomatoes, thinning fruit will encourage plants to produce larger tomatoes. This will also reduce weight on fragile branches.
  • Water mature trees deeply, especially during drought.
  • To maximize the numbers of blooms on dahlias, cut back the center stems to encourage more lateral branches.
  • Cactus and succulents are drought tolerant but many appreciate some water in very hot weather.
  • Mulch garden and vegetable beds to protect them from summer heat, reduce watering needs, and keep weeds down.
  • If you have whiteflies, control them with sticky traps and increase air circulation by thinning out dense branches and foliage.
  • Keep compost turned and moist, adding greens and browns as needed.
  • This is the month to fertilize everything in the landscape that is blooming or budding, especially fuchsias, begonias, and roses. If soil is dry, water well before fertilizing.

August

  • Maintain drip irrigation systems for most effective water use; check for leaks and missing or broken emitters.
  • Continue sowing seeds for cool-season crops including beets, turnips, cabbage, radishes, broccoli, peas, kale, collard, spinach, arugula, and lettuces.
  • Water citrus trees in containers once a week or more often in hot weather.
  • Remove runners from strawberries to encourage buds for next year and to strengthen the plant.
  • Plan your vegetable garden for crop rotation to avoid replanting the same types of plants - especially Tomato and Pepper in the same area for two consecutive seasons. If you don’t have enough room to rotate, carefully remove any “sick” plants from your garden and consider growing disease resistant plant varieties.
  • Prune fruit trees to control height, maintain shape, and eliminate suckers.
  • This is the month to plant autumn bulbs such as autumn-flowering crocus (Crocus speciosus), meadow saffron (Colchicum autumnale), and spider lilies (Lycoris).
  • Fertilize azaleas, camellias, hydrangeas, and rhododendrons with an acid type fertilizer. Use a soil health-improving organic fertilizer for all plants in bloom. 
  • Prune berry vines after fruit is harvested.

September

  • Plant bulbs for spring colorful fall flowers (pansies, violas, mums, stock, snapdragons, cyclamen) and cool season vegetables: garlic cloves (2 inches deep and 3 to 6 inches apart).
  • Fertilize azaleas, camellias and rhododendrons with organic fertilizer for acid-loving plants.
  • Pull up veggie plants that are no longer producing; compost only those that show no sign of disease. Add disease free garden waste, grass clippings, pruning material and leaves to compost. 
  • Begin planting your winter garden to take advantage of the final longer days of fall to support the plant's early growth period.  In November the sun drops lower and growth slows considerably.    
  • Turn compost to keep it moist. Cover before rains start to retain moisture; cover during rainy weather to avoid the pile becoming waterlogged.
  • Check drainage systems. Install downspout diverters to direct runoff to landscape trees and plants. Watch for standing water near tree trunks and the root zone of trees; divert all standing water. Refresh the spring application of mulch to bring it to a depth of 2-3 inches.
  • Clean and disinfect pruning shears that contact infected plants. Air dry and oil shears immediately after use to avoid corrosion. 
  • Organize tool shed and inventory supplies for the upcoming season.
  • Manage weeds in the rainy season before they flower, using mechanical (non-chemical) methods such as cultivation, hand weeding, or mowing.
  • Take all recommended steps to maintain fire safety. Fire danger remains high during dry, hot months. 

Happy Gardening!

Visit our website