Sunday, July 31, 2011
Sunday, July 24, 2011
A Short List For July
July in Chicago. The corn is beginning to look very good. It has been watered well, by humans as well as nature. Other things for July.
- Keep soil evenly moist. The even moisture helps to prevent blossom-end rot and cracking in tomatoes and squash.
- Water in the morning so foliage can dry during the day.
- Start your harvest of available veggies to encourage production of more.
- Watch out for aphids, squash vine borers and cabbage worms.
- Continue to uproot and destroy random weeds.
- Look toward Fall.................................
- Start seeds indoors for fall crops of cabbage,collards, cauliflower, broccoli and Brussels sprouts.
- By mid-July or shortly afterwards, direct sow for fall crops of green peas, snow peas, green beans, snap peas, beets, chard, kale, and carrots.
A short list for July.
Saturday, July 23, 2011
A Black and White Image in the Garden
This a shot done in black and white of the Master Gardener / Blogger cutting Kale in the WCCA garden. The kale green quite well this season and has provided a number of meals already.
The Corn is beginning to tassle
This is another shot of the garden. The corn is beginning to tassle. It loves the warm weather, but it also needs a lot of water. There are three rows in the garden.A shot through the corn
This image was taken as a shot through the rows of corn. The corn is not in a raised bed, but is planted in the fertile soil where a yard had previously existed.Images From the WCCA garden
The attached image was taken by Eric L. Payne, July 17, 2011 in the Community Garden. This is a shot of one of the squash beds.Tuesday, July 19, 2011
Watering the Garden...Addition_2
All of us should be reminded of the dog days of summer. They are now upon us.The searing heat can wilt us, affect us mentally, and take a toll on our gardens. Water is a precious commodity and we must guard it wisely and use it judiciously. Sources and uses of water must be a part of everyone's garden plan. Stay hydrated and cool.
Watering the Garden...Addition
In addition to the prior post you should be aware of the following:
New seeds: Keep moist until true leaves are formed.
New Transplants: Keep moist until new leaves start to form.
If it gets to hot, sunny, and dry: Make a tent out of newspaper and cover new transplants during the hottest parts of a day. More later.
New seeds: Keep moist until true leaves are formed.
New Transplants: Keep moist until new leaves start to form.
If it gets to hot, sunny, and dry: Make a tent out of newspaper and cover new transplants during the hottest parts of a day. More later.
Monday, July 18, 2011
gardening
During this hot weather be very careful about watering. You should be sure that your plants get at least one inch of water per week. If there is rain you will water less and allow the rain to do its part.
Push your finger into the soil up to the first joint. If it is dry up to this point the bed needs water.
Water in two stages 1. wick the soil, wet it so that there is minimal run off. 2. water deeply. Keep the hose low so that foliage is wet very minimally. Wetting foliage is disease inducing. Also, there is less evaporation and loss to the atmosphere.
At the WCCA garden we are working mainly with raised beds so this might be a twice a week need. Planting close allows the leaves of plant to self-mulch. They will cover the ground with little loss.
How to determine the water amount? Divide the square footage of your bed by 2 the answer is the number of gallons needed for 1 inch of moisture.
Push your finger into the soil up to the first joint. If it is dry up to this point the bed needs water.
Water in two stages 1. wick the soil, wet it so that there is minimal run off. 2. water deeply. Keep the hose low so that foliage is wet very minimally. Wetting foliage is disease inducing. Also, there is less evaporation and loss to the atmosphere.
At the WCCA garden we are working mainly with raised beds so this might be a twice a week need. Planting close allows the leaves of plant to self-mulch. They will cover the ground with little loss.
How to determine the water amount? Divide the square footage of your bed by 2 the answer is the number of gallons needed for 1 inch of moisture.
Sunday, July 17, 2011
Welcome To Southside Green Thumbs
This is the inaugural post for the blog that supports Gardeners at the WCCA /Westchesterfield Community Association Garden, Metcalfe School, Fiske School, and the garden club at St. Mark United Methodist Church. The group, Going For The Green (GFTG) a summer enrichment program is supported by grants from the City of Chicago, Children and Family Services. Some aspects of GFTG have been developed into continuous ongoing projects.
We will be showcasing the work of gardeners from those areas, as well taking questions and comments from any of the persons who sign on as members. General as well as specific gardening topics will be discussed.
It should be noted that even though I am a master gardener, acting as a consultant to the programs above, I do not represent the master gardener program in an official capacity... on this blog I am serving more as a gardening coach and many of my views reflect the master gardener training. I have also been involved in gardening for 68 years. At 10 years old my father engaged the whole family in a gardening effort (we had three victory gardens). My mother was a master canner and preserver. We did all of this without running water, electric refrigeration, and city gas. Our heat came from a coal and wood burning stove.
These experiences in this family of 11, 9 children and 2 parents, have led me to believe that there should be no hunger in America. We were never without food, cultivated or wild. There were no fast food restaurants in my childhood days. We grew our food and prepared it fresh every day.
I hope to show in this blog that gardening does not have to be expensive, but it does require time. We have been blessed with air, water, temperature, soil, and light. It is up to us to work in concert with nature and provide for our needs. Cooperative efforts are paramount, but if not available a person can go-it alone.
A major focus of this blog will highlight resources, techniques, education, and the need for a cooperative attitude.
We will be showcasing the work of gardeners from those areas, as well taking questions and comments from any of the persons who sign on as members. General as well as specific gardening topics will be discussed.
It should be noted that even though I am a master gardener, acting as a consultant to the programs above, I do not represent the master gardener program in an official capacity... on this blog I am serving more as a gardening coach and many of my views reflect the master gardener training. I have also been involved in gardening for 68 years. At 10 years old my father engaged the whole family in a gardening effort (we had three victory gardens). My mother was a master canner and preserver. We did all of this without running water, electric refrigeration, and city gas. Our heat came from a coal and wood burning stove.
These experiences in this family of 11, 9 children and 2 parents, have led me to believe that there should be no hunger in America. We were never without food, cultivated or wild. There were no fast food restaurants in my childhood days. We grew our food and prepared it fresh every day.
I hope to show in this blog that gardening does not have to be expensive, but it does require time. We have been blessed with air, water, temperature, soil, and light. It is up to us to work in concert with nature and provide for our needs. Cooperative efforts are paramount, but if not available a person can go-it alone.
A major focus of this blog will highlight resources, techniques, education, and the need for a cooperative attitude.
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