JOIN THE FUN!

ADVENTURES IN AGRICULTURE

Talk about your garden, learn to grow better tomatoes, pick up information sheets, enter to win a soil test kit, have the kids plant bean seeds and pick up coloring pages and crayons.

Join the Master Gardeners at Palmer Park Mall near Easton PA this weekend.

Lots more to see throughout the mall.

Adventures in Agriculture

Starting at 4 pm on Friday 2/10/12 and through the weekend, Palmer Park Mall will host its annual shop, play and learn event - Adventures in Agriculture. Penn State Master Gardeners, Northampton County Farm Bureau, 4-H of Northampton County and much more! Merchants will be on hand with local farm production for sale.

Learn about local food, 4-H Activities, ecology, antique toys and farm implements, animals. Fun and games for children are scattered throughout the mall. A mall-wide scavenger hunt is always popular.

Want to grow great tomatoes? The Master Gardener display includes “Tomato Time” covering tomato diseases and growing methods. The kids can learn “How seed Grow” and plant bean seeds. Gardening question? Ask a Master Gardener. Pick up free information fact sheets. A free raffle drawing for a Soil Test Kit will take place at the end of the show. Sign up any time. You don’t have to be present to win.

Get out of the cold. Come in and enjoy the displays and the great store sales that usually accompany Adventures in Agriculture.

Vegetable Garden Quiz

True or False?

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Plant tomato seeds indoors 5 to 7 weeks before last frost date.

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Determinate tomatoes produce fruit in a batch and indeterminate tomatoes produce fruit continuously until frost.
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Leggy tomato stems can be planted in a trench leaving the top of the plant above ground and they will grow roots along the stem.

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Potatoes are actually underground stems.

Cucurbits include cucumbers, muskmelons, watermelons, pumpkins, summer squash, winter squash, and gourds.

Beans are nitrogen fixing plants.

Blossom end rot on tomatoes is a calcium deficiency caused by anything that interferes with the supply of water during fruit development such as drought or long periods of heavy rain..

As you know, all of the above are true.

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If you are planning your 2012 vegetable garden and want a refresher from Penn State College of Agriculture, check out the “Vegetable Gardening – Recommendations for home gardeners in Pennsylvania” here.

2012 Spring Garden Shows & Classes

Before we know it spring gardening season will rush in.
There are a lot of local events to look forward to before the real gardening begins. Mark your calendar and be sure to join the fun.

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Adventure in Agriculture
Feb. 10, 11,12,2012
Friday - 5-9pm, Saturday - 10am-9pm and Sunday - 11am-6pm
Palmer Park Mall
123 Palmer Park Mall
Easton, PA 18045
Phone: 610-258-6017
Some local exhibitors: Penn State Master Gardeners, Northampton County Farm Bureau, Becker Honey Farm, Smith Krekk Alpacas, 4H clubs and much more! Fun for kids and adults.


Valley Flower and Garden Show
March 2, 3 and 4, 2012 –
Ag Hall, Allentown Fairgrounds
302 North 17th Street
Allentown, PA 18104
Description:
Since 1973. Beautiful flowers and horticultural exhibits to make you feel that Spring is on it's way


Master Gardener Spring Garden Series – Brochure
http://extension.psu.edu/lehigh/events/files/spring-garden-series
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”Vegetable Gardening: From the Ground Up."
(call 610-391-9840 for more information)
Classes to get ready and get in the mood for Spring.

in Northampton County at the Bethlehem Township Community Center, 2900 Farmersville Road, Bethlehem, PA. 18020
- March 14 “Plan Before You Plant” 6 p.m.; “Seeds and Transplants” 7:15 p.m.
- March 21 “Garden Maintenance: The Endurance Stretch” 6:00 p.m.; “Maximize Your Efforts” 7:15 p.m.

in the Lehigh County Agricultural Center, 4184 Dorney Park Road, Room 104, Allentown,
PA 18104-5798
- March 22 “Plan Before YouPlant” 6:00 p.m.; “Seeds and Transplants” 7:15 p.m.
- March 29 “Garden Maintenance: The Endurance Stretch” 6:00 p.m.; “Maximize Your Efforts” 7:15 p.m.

Philadelphia International Flower Show – Islands of Aloha
March 4 – March 11, 2012
What can be better than gardens of Hawaii?

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and for fall 2012 - Workshops for the Gardener: September 15, 2012, Holy Cross Lutheran Church, Nazareth.
(Contact 610-391-9840) Save the date!

Nature Apps

We have an abundance of information these days. The technology is evolving fast making it easy to get answers on your phone wherever you are. Here are some of my favorite nature apps.

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Bird identification: iBird Backyard – ”iBird Backyard Plus covers 234 birds, including all 149 common backyard feeder birds of North America, plus 86 common shorebirds and raptors.”

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Tree identification – Leafsnap – " Leafsnap is the first in a series of electronic field guides being developed by researchers from Columbia University, the University of Maryland, and the Smithsonian Institution. This free mobile app uses visual recognition software to help identify tree species from photographs of their leaves.”

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Plant database – Landscaper’s Companion – “Landscaper's Companion is your mobile plant reference guide. It fits in your pocket or in the palm of your hand. It's great for simple browsing, selecting plants for lands, gaining greater plant education, or just viewing beautiful high quality images of flora. Landscaper's Companion is perfect for casual gardeners, landscapers, or aspiring botanists.”

What are your favorite apps? Leave a comment and share them with the all of us.

The Christmas Pickle

The myth: A very old Christmas tradition in Germany was to hide a pickle [ornament] deep in the branches of the family Christmas Tree. The parents hung the pickle last after all the other ornaments were in place. In the morning they knew the most observant child would receive an extra gift from St. Nicholas.
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Good friends gave me this Garden Pickle Christmas Ornament. He’s too cute to hide.

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I wish you all a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year filled with bountiful gardens!

Chia Hussy

In October, while looking for something that might work as a quick project for kids, I tried making a Chia Pet.

I collected a knee high stocking, potting soil, some grass seed from the garage and various cups, funnels, spoons and markers. I stretched the stocking over a plastic cup and put in about two tablespoons of grass seed.

Then I filled the stocking with potting soil.

I tied a knot in the end of the stocking, cut off the excess and turned it over.

I drew a face with permanent markers, watered the chia head and stood it up in a plastic bathroom cup. I thought she looked a like a bald lady of the evening.

In about 7 days she started growing hair and here she is after her latest haircut –

a chia hussy with a spike.

Founding Gardeners

Founding Gardeners: The Revolutionary Generation, Nature, and the Shaping of the American Nation by Andrea Wulf

This extensively researched book takes you into the minds and lives of Washington, Jefferson, Adams, Madison and Franklin.

Starting with the insistence of George Washington to plant native trees at Mount Vernon in the 1700's, continuing through the Revolutionary War and on through the Presidencies of Washington, Adams, Jefferson and Madison, this book contains an overwhelming amount of information.

A 128 page bibliography testifies to the thoroughness of documentation. It is an interesting tale of how much horticulture meant to the founders of our country.

FREE Fertilizer

PSU Fact Sheet “Home Compost: a Guide for Home Gardeners” contains information on making compost.
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Over the last 20 years I’ve put compost on the garden almost every year. The garden’s soil is rich and black. I rarely use other fertilizers. You can buy a bin or simply make a pile (heap composting). I used the heap method for many years. Plans for “ConstructingCompost Bins” from PSU Center County Extension.

I simplify the recipe: Three parts brown (leaves) to one part green (garden cuttings. weeds, vegetable scraps). Water if it looks dry, Mix it once in a while to aerate. If I don’t get the ratio exactly right, It’ll turn into compost anyway.

I try to avoid adding weeds that have gone to seed. My pile may not get hot enough to destroy the weed seeds. I also don’t use anything twiggy or woody because it takes too long to break down. Newspaper counts as brown, if I run out of leaves. Coffee grounds count as green. (We drink a lot of coffee.)

You can spend time making compost or spend money on fertilizer. I choose to make compost.

Thinking of Spring

Not much time for garden cleanup this week. As I cleanup I dream of spring.

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I managed to get some compost on the garden from my little compost bin – 3 wheelbarrows of wonderful black organic matter to be exact.

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Leaf raking is in full swing. A pile of leaves, chopped and collected with the mower will help produce next year’s compost.

A few more plants need to be cleaned up.

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The hostas are a mushy mess.

Some lilies need to be cut back.

The garden phlox is waiting to be lopped off.

There is more to do before the snow arrives but I’ve got a good start for spring.
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HAPPY THANKSGIVING EVERYONE!

Garden Cleanup

Since the Halloween snow and a hard frost most of the garden is looking sad. I’ve been working steadily on cleanup. I think I’m doing better this year than usual. I want to make sure I don’t have a lot of cleanup to do in spring when it’s time for mulch.

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Canna tubers (above) have been dug up and stored.
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Autumn Joy blooms have been cut back. I usually leave the seed heads for the birds but the snow smashed them to the ground. Iris and hibiscus have been cut in the background.

Most of the mums are cut.

The annuals are gone.

The pile awaits delivery to the city’s compost site.

More to do before the garden is ready for fall compost but I’ve got a good start.

Halloween Storm

Last Saturday, Mother Nature dumped 6 to 12 inches of heavy, wet snow on the Northeast US. Trees fell everywhere under the weight. Approximately 375,000 homes and businesses lost power. Almost 1,500 were still without power as of Friday morning.
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Entire trees toppled pulling up sidewalks.

Some branches remain dangerously hung up.

Piles of trees and brush are everywhere.

Chain saws hum in the neighborhood. It seems everyone is working on cleanup.

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The Morning Call Master Gardener Blog has some excellent advice in “Snow Storm Damage to Trees”.

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This timely blog deals with if and when to hire an arborist. How to make cuts where branches are broken. It contains links to help assess the damage as well as advice when replacing trees. Good information even if you don't have fallen trees everywhere.

Planting a Tree

I am not a tree expert but even I can tell something is wrong here.

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Several years ago I learned about a tree’s root flare – the slightly wider part of the trunk directly above the roots. The root flare should be visible just above the soil surface. It’s the level that allows the tree to grow best. 
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If a tree is planted too deeply it can encourage girdling roots (roots that go around the tree instead of out or down). Girdling roots will eventually stop the flow of water and nutrients up the tree.

Tree with girdling root (lower right) at top of mulch volcano.

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Currently popular, mulch volcanos (mulch piled in a cone shape around tree) may damage tree bark and are places for insects and disease to enter. Mulch volcanoes cover the root flare.

According to Martha A. Smith, Extension Educator, Horticulture, University of Illinois Extension:

“A mountain of mulch, piled high against a tree trunk will not kill the tree immediately – it results in slow death. Homeowners don't associate their actions with tree decline several years after they over mulched a tree.”

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Mulch volcanoes may also cause the roots to surface in search of oxygen as in the top picture.

Tree with bark damage at base on top of mulch volcano.

Mulch is useful to keep moisture in the soil and keep the weeds down. But mulch needs to be 2 to 4 inches thick kept an inch or two away from the tree bark. Trees are expensive to buy and plant. Why not give them the best chance possible.
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It is a shame to see such beautiful trees may be doomed. With a lot of luck they may last a while. It would be nice if they would last 100 years.

Information on tree planting from Penn State College of Agricultural Sciences “Planting Ornamentals”.