The Potting Shed Official Jones County Master Gardeners Newsletter

Transcription

1 Iowa State University Extension and Outreach The Potting Shed Official Jones County Master Gardeners Newsletter January/February 2015 Master Gardener Winter Activities Coordinators Island Produce Tour Langworthy Did you know 1/3 more water is used for plants in ground (soil). Entering Island Produce - Structure was a machine shed converted in 2013 which was a science project. Frank did a lot of internet research and Farmtek in Dyersville assisted also. Peg Mere, owner explaining how the business started with spray foam insulation, adding concrete flooring and plumbing. Then putting the system together. Peg demonstrating how the hydroponics system works; she rotates trays daily. Frank did more research on LED lighting which includes blue, red and yellow bulbs. Six small fans cool each LED fixture. About 20 gallons of water a week is used for plants in facility varieties of lettuce, kale and some herbs in this photo Starting seed station within the facility. Depending on types of seed(s) approximately 3 to 6 weeks then transferred to the hydroponic system. Dennis Orris sampling a leaf of lettuce Prior to the meeting, the Jones County Master Gardeners toured Island Produce, a business located in Langworthy, Iowa. The business focuses primarily on growing leafy vegetables hydroponically as well as growing garden produce in a high-tunnel and a regular garden. Frank and Peg Mere explained the importance of grow lights specific to leafy green vegetables and how the fertilizer circulates through each trough. Island produce raises types of lettuce, kale, chard and has several types of herbs: dill, rosemary, and chives. Island Produce greens can be bought at their current location, but can be found elsewhere throughout town: Savor the Barn, the Eagles club, Fancy Fritter, Heights Supper club and the Jitney. They also can be found at the Monticello Farmer s Market in the Summer/Fall time. Contact Island Produce at Article submitted by Kara Burrack, Master Gardener Secretary Column January 5th our office welcomed Holly Hall. She is the new Extension Director in Jones County. Joe Yedlik retired January 30th after 20 years with ISU Extension and Outreach. I hope everyone is staying warm in February. I heard on the news that March might be cooler than normal also. I m wondering how this weather will affect trees, shrubs and some perennials. If you have some seeds to share for the Home and Garden show, March 7th, please let me know as soon as possible, call the office. Thank you! Kim

2 Educational Opportunities Popcorn and Plants Master Gardeners will host a 2-part presentation of Melinda Meyers's DVD, "How to Grow Anything: Your Best Garden and Landscape in 6 Lessons" at ISU Extension and Outreach Linn County, 383 Collins Road NE, Suite 201 * Cedar Rapids Register: call (319) or kwimer@iastate.edu FEBRUARY 26, 2015 * 6:30-8:30pm Lessons 1-3 will be shown: 1. Plan the Garden of your Dreams 2. Get the Right Plant for the Right Place 3. Prepare Healthy Soils and Plant for Spring MARCH 5, 2015 * 6:30-8:30pm Lessons 4-6 will be shown: 4. Design for Light, Water, and Microclimate 5. Refresh Your Summer Garden 6. Add New Color in Fall and Prep for Winter Wednesday 6:30 7:30 pm Hiawatha Public Library February 25 The Zen Garden Japanese Gardening Principles Thursday 6:30 7:30 pm John Clegg Public Library Central City February 26 Daylilies: A Most Mis-Underestimated Perennial ISU Extension and Outreach Linn County Dubuque County 2015 Spring Garden Seminar March 7 th Jackson County Adventures in gardening X March 14th Benton County MG 2015 Extravaganza April 18 th Back to School 2015 Winter Webinar Series Thursday, March 12th, :30 8:30 pm Learn how Master Gardeners are engaging in school gardens and supporting systems change for health. All webinars count towards Master Gardener educational hours for Redbud- Colorful Understory Tree Cercis canadensis L. While many sweethearts received their flowers this weekend, local Redbuds will wait until spring for their flowers. This small, native tree blooms with beautiful clusters of 4-8 pink flowers in the spring. This is a great ornamental tree for most of the Midwest, but some sources cannot tolerate the harsh winter northern parts of the state receive. Redbuds do well in a variety of soils and can thrive in full sun or partial shade. Consider this lovely tree the next time you are looking for a small ornamental tree. Trees Forever Articles High Bush Cranberry Even in the cold winter, a plant like high bush cranberry provides lots of benefits to our landscapes. Northeast Iowa field coordinator Meredith Borchardt says, "We have incorporated high bush cranberry into our windbreak and also planted a block of it in an area to screen our home from traffic." She also loves how the red berries add a wonderful color to her home's winter backdrop. High bush cranberry provides food for songbirds, such as robins and cedar waxwings, during winter months after the tart berries have sweetened. "White spring flowers and red foliage add to the winter berries in making this shrub showy on the landscape year round."

3 Fruits prune grapevines (RG 502) Garden Tips Guidelines to Seasonal Chores Last two weeks February thru month of March remove all weak, diseased or damaged canes of summer and fall-bearing raspberries at ground level (RG 501) prune apple trees (PM 780) Trees and shrubs check for rabbit damage Prune deciduous trees (PM 1304) Put cut branches of magnolia, crabapple and forsythia in vases for forcing booms indoors Flowers start seeds of petunia, snapdragon, impatiens and salvia indoors (RG 314, RG 326) Herbs use the herbs you dried/stored for sauces and soups Houseplants continue watering amaryllis, poinsettia and holiday cactus after flowers fade (RG 308, RG 316, RG 328) Vegetables spread fireplace ashes sparingly on garden start seeds indoors of cole crops (such as broccoli, cabbage and cauliflower) 5 to 6 weeks before April planting date (PM 1896) start seeds of eggplant, peppers and tomatoes 8 weeks before planting in mid-may (PM 874) Wake me when it s spring! Quote is from the 2015 Whimsy Garden Calendar (March) Master Gardener Hours are Increasing Starting in 2015 Educational 10 hours per year Volunteer 20 hours per year

4 Jones County 800 North Maple Street, Ste # 2 P O Box 28 Phone: Fax: kmiller5@iastate.edu Learn it Grow it Teach it Calendar of Events 2015 February 18 new moon Saturday, March 7 Anamosa Home and Garden Show Anamosa Lawrence Community Center 9 am to 4 pm Just a friendly reminder to record your hours. Website March 8 daylight savings time begins Thursday, March 12 monthly meetingprogram Central Park 6:30 pm March 20 First Day of Spring 29 days until the first day of spring Thursday, April 9 monthly meetingprogram Fruit Trees Youth Development Center 6:30 pm Late April/Early May garden flower bed clean-up Fountain Park/Riverside Garden Get the drift? Reconsider using plastic bags at all... If only the urban tumbleweed littering the streets and trees/fields and fence lines disintegrated. These bags often don t even make it to the trash and few people make the effort to bring then back to the store s recycling bins. The solution? Try reusable shopping bags. You ll reduce your waste and may even save some cash in the process. Today, some stores offer a small credit for bringing your own bags. Source: See attached Delaware County s Mondays in March If you want to happy for a year, plant a garden; if you want to be happy for life, plant a tree. English proverb

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