Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
their beds, and this can create worry and frustration, both for the gardeners themselves and for other
gardeners who are watching lovely produce die on the vine for lack of care.
To solve this problem in the Peterson Garden Project gardens, we created “water me” sticks. Garden-
ers who were going to be out of town could place the stick in their plot to signal to other gardeners that
they needed assistance. We found that there were some people who loved to water and would make an
effort to find the “water me” sticks and tend those plots—no matter how far away from their own bed.
When the gardeners returned from vacation, the sticks went back to the storage area for others to use.
We have several on hand in each garden and the system really works.
As with anything, you'll find the one person who puts a “water me” stick in their bed at the start of
the summer and would leave it there all season if someone didn't remove it. Make the rules clear about
the system, and it can go a long way toward a healthy, happy garden with participants who help each
other with this critical task.
SUMMER—WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE GARDEN
The spring busy season is over, you've taught the basics, and hopefully everything is growing strong.
Life in the garden slows down to a more manageable pace as people water, tend their germinating seeds
and seedlings, and await the first big harvests of high summer. To help gardeners along their way, this
is the time to share the next round of skills.
These topics address what gardeners will most likely encounter during the height of the growing
season. In our gardens, they are hands-on sessions taught by volunteer Master Gardeners. You can offer
them throughout the summer (and beyond; we schedule them June to October) because they are relevant
to what's happening in garden plots as the season progresses.
Summer Education Topics
How to Trellis Plants
Recognizing and Dealing with Pests and Plant Diseases
The Weed Walk: How to Recognize Weeds
HOW TO TRELLIS PLANTS
As vertical crops mature, they'll need support to keep from sprawling out of control. It's easiest to
install such structures early on, when plants are small; waiting until later might disturb plant roots. A
small cage, trellis, or stakes should be sufficient for most determinate plants. Plants that vine continu-
ously—such as pole beans, winter squash, and melons—will need a taller, wider trellis system.
Vertical crops will need varying levels of attention throughout the season, depending on their climb-
ing habit. Beans are self-climbers, so they'll do fine on their own as long as they have a trellis to
climb. Cucumbers, winter squash, and melons will wrap their tendrils around nearby supports. Secure
the vines to supports with flexible garden tape, twist ties, or rope (try not to tear the tendrils as you do
this—gently unwind them if necessary, and then wrap them back around the supports). Gardeners can
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