Fall Vegetables

For those of you that ordered plants (broccoli, etc.) they are in.  I'll try to keep an eye out so I see you, but if not, yell at the backdoor!  I should be in most of the week.

Fall Planting Time

Rather than addressing the Gardens of Shame here - those that have weeds that are 6 feet tall are on the list...

Instead... the Fall planting season is rapidly passing.  Yesterday, I stopped by the Big Value Garden Center, just south of Mason Ave. ( 768 N. Nova Rd., Daytona Beach, FL 32114, 386-252-2534) and picked up some onion sets.  They have red, yellow, and sweeet onions by the pound.  A pound is $2.50 for most varieties.  A pound of tiny set onions is quite a few onions.  I haven't counted, but will let you know later today after I plant, as I only bought a 1/2 pound of each.  They also have garlic and shallots.  Outside, they had mustard greens and several other Fall crops.  Big V. Garden has an good email flyer that you can sign up for at the store or check their web http://bigvaluegardencenter.com/.

If you are planning on planting for the Fall/Winter, a few good crops are: brocccoli, cabbage, kale, collards, celery, onions (will bulb later in the winter).  I had cow peas until frost, but getting a bit late for planting if we have an early frost.  I think we are going to have a wet November, even though it is supposed to be the dry time.

If you are not going to plant, you might consider laying down a "weed control" cover for the Fall/Winter.  Of course, those on the Gardens of Shame list, need to weed first.:)))

   

Lettuce going to seed

Most of the romaine and bib lettuce everyone planted is either going to seed or is ready to be harvested. Don't despair, you can plant more seeds and in a few weeks you will have more lettuce varieties! The lettuce will grow alright into June. While it can grow over the summer, it is not very happy with the heat, and may not grow very well unless it is under the canopy of some other plant's leaf shade. Beans and eggplant seem to produce better in the summer.  

With the recent rain, the tomato stems are sagging under the weight of the expanding fruit. If you have not tied up your stems, you might want to do so. Or carefully weave the stems through the bamboo.

Cross Pollination between Squash and Cucumber

Several gardens have some funky, round little cucumbers and we discussed the issue of cross pollination between the squash and cucumbers.  According to a few experts, while both are in same specie, cross pollination is unlikely.  Cross pollination can occur quite easily between squash varieties.  You might find this article from Purdue University intersting: http://www.ag.purdue.edu/counties/allen/Documents/Hort%20ACH31%20Cross%20Pollination%20in%20Cucurbits.pdf
and this link on ehow.com helpful:
http://www.ehow.com/info_8427323_can-cross-pollinate-squash-cucumber.html

Squash, Squash

Several gardens now have GIGANTIC yellow squash and they need to get picked.  If you cannot get to your garden, maybe ask a friend to pick for you.  The squash are rapid growers. 
I also noticed my cabbage is barely beginning to head...YAY!  I am hoping it stays cooler so we all get cabbage and broccoli.

Garden Maintenance Today

The aisles were weed-wacked today along with ant killer applied to the them.  If your plants are growing out in the aisles, instead of climbing the bamboo, they might get weed wacked.  You can carefully wrap the cucumber tendrills around the bamboo to get them started going up instead of spreading.  The cucumbers are much easier to harvest if grown vertically and it keeps the little green worms out of them.  The worms also get into the squash.  If you notice a pin-sized hole in the squash, the worms are in and feasting.

Squash Overnight!

Just from the time I posted last night until about 10 am today, those mentioned squash are now atleast 6 inches, maybe more...ready to go!  Gardens #2 & 12 for sure.  Romain too...on many.

Weed Block on sale at Ace Hardware

Ace Hardware has a $5.00 rebate on the 3' x 50' 18mil black weed block this week - final price is $4.99.  If you use your ACE card, you can get the rebate online, it is very easy.  If you don't have an ACE card, the store in S. Daytona on US1 is VERY helpful in giving extra receipts, AND the rebate form. There is a limit of 2 per person.  I got 2, so this coming fall if I do not plant, I will cover my garden to keep the weeds OUT!

Tomato Yellow Spot is BACK...yuck!

As of today, I noticed the yellow spots on some of the tomato leaves.   Last year we had a terrible problem with this fungus/blight (read the archives).  The best thing to do is pick the infected leaves off.  You can try taking a sample to one of the garden stores and see if they can diagnose better, or offer some "chemical" help.  The stuff spreads wickedly and fast.  It appears as a brownish spot, usually on the bottom leaves first, then starts yellowing.  Soon all the leaves start turning brown and wilting.

I am sorry to say, the wind seems to blow it, so there is not much escape.  Just try to pick off the infected leaves, and the sooner the better.  It only takes a couple of days to spread like wildfire.

Crops will be ready SOON!

This photo was taken on Monday evening, April 2.  This squash is about ready to be harvested.  I think most everyone has some tomatoes and some might start harvesting in two weeks.  The outer leaves of the romaine/lettuce are ready NOW.  The romaine/lettuce goes to seed very fast, especially with our unusually hot temps for April.  You will notice a tall stalk growing from the center of your romaine, which will flower.  Once it 'goes to seed' (flowers), the leaves become bitter and rather inedible.  Also, I noticed some of the variegated zucchini are getting close to harvest on couple of the east side gardens.  It only takes a day or so, particularly when it rains a bit, for crops to just grow like crazy.  So, picking is necessary much sooner than most anticipate...or the crop rots.

Generally, if you let your squash get too large, more than 6 - 8 inches, the seeds get large and tough, the fleshy part becomes stringy and dried out.  While you can use them (some got to be a foot+ long last year), you also risk worm infestation. 

As for the cabbage and broccoli.  The early heat is not their friend.  If the heat continues, I am not so hopeful for these crops, or a very productive harvest.  Previously, the gardens have been great for both crops, but, it was not this hot so early.

Another reminder, due to the heat.  If you bring additional plants and do not put them in the ground when you bring them, you are risking loosing them.  One 8 hour period in the sun with the dry wind, the soil parches in the small pots. Your tender plants will wilt and die rapidly.  In the very least, put the pots under the shade of your squash plant leaves.

I think everyone will agree that the gardens are looking quite nice!  Many people are keeping up with the weeds, and, again, don't forget to weed in the aisle around your plot.  It is a community garden, so let's try to keep it looking nice all year!

Weed Guides



Castor beans, just sprouted - pull now before second leaves grow.  Although they look like a watermelon or cucumber sprout, they are a REAL problem if you let them grow. 

Castor Bean seedlings with second leaves.  If left to grow, they will become a tree and need to be removed with a truck and chain.  Their root system spreads rapidly, and if you wait too long to pull them up, when you do, you will disturb your vegetable plant roots.



This is 'baby" ragweed.  It looks like parsley or young carrot.  There are alot of these, and they need to be removed from your garden.

THE WORST!  After another rain, the roots on these weed grasses will be so hard to pull you will be sorry you did not get rid of them when you could pull them with your finger tips or just use the edge of a hoe or weed tool to scrape the surface of the dirt to pull them out.  This bunch is in the path.  Don't forget to weed in the path around your garden BEFORE the weeds take over.  If they grow in the path, trust me, they will spread to your garden and your neighbors' garden.  If you use the hoe around your path, it takes about 5 minutes when these weeds are teeny. 

Harvesting Lettuce/Romaine

Plethora of Weeders Today

Goodness what a great group of gardeners this year!  With the good weather and constant supply of water, the weeds ARE growing in every garden.  Yesterday and today, quite a few gardeners stopped by to weed their plot.  Miss Judy, I want to know who won the Slurpie???  Kids did a good job.
What fun sharing garden chatter and some of the gardens are looking totally impressive!  Several have tomatoes with flowers, and some have fabulous broccoli coming up.
If you have not weeded your garden since it was planted...(uuuhmmm...there are several) you need to take an hour or so to weed BEFORE the weeds take over.  Gardening is a bit of work...but the bonus is a delicious, healthy payoff!
Several have been picking the outside leaves of their romaine/lettuce.  If you are new to gardening, you can start picking your outside leaves, which will give you a nice salad!   And your plant will grow better.

Water Off

The garden water had to be shut off this morning due to some excess water coming out of the pump.  Pat has been notified, and it should be fixed pretty soon.  The ground is fairly damp under the surface dirt, so your plants should be fine

Getting Blog Invitation

Several people have been re-sent their invitation to be part of the blog.  Once you accept your invitation, you can go to the blog and sign in, then add comments, change your settings, etc.  If you talk to anyone that wants to be added, please let me know!

Blog Sign Up

Whew...last post for tonight!  If you have not received your invitation to join the blog, PLEASE let me know and I will re-add your email address.  Check your spam/junk mail, too.  Sometimes these blog requests go into the wrong mail bin in your mail program.  I may have to confirm your address and make sure I read it correctly!  If you talk to any of the gardeners that are not signed up and wish to receive an invitation, again, please let me know.

Port Orange Library Square Foot Gardening Program

Thought some of our gardeners might be interested in this program at the Port Orange Library.

Square Foot GardeningTuesday, March 20 at 2pm
Kevin Bagwell of Full Moon Natives Nursery presents a seminar about Square Foot Gardening: 100% harvest in 20% of the space. Grow your own vegetables on a patio, deck, balcony or yard.

Weeding Reminder

One of our returning gardeners reminded me that we should mention to everyone about helping keep the gardens looking trim and kempt by weeding in the aisles.  Pat is working on getting the mulch leaves, which helps tremendously.  But, please, please help out by pulling or hoeing a few weeds in the aisles around your plot.  For the new gardeners, after the first rain, you will find a horde of new weeds coming up.  It is easy to gently hoe/hand spade in the squares/aisles when the weeds are teeny tiny!  If you keep up with the weeding, you will not have half the work as your will if you wait 2 or 3 weeks.

The Unplanted

For any of our gardeners that have unplanted seedlings sitting in their garden space...WAITING to be planted...you need to stop by your garden and either water the potted seedlings OR plant them...they are wilting under the sun and dry wind. 

Planting Day Photos

Here are some photos from planting day...

New Members

New to the Blog?  If you signed up to be a member of the Garden Blog, you should receive an email asking if you want to be part of the blog.  Once you accept, you can sign on and add to blog, or just receive posts.  If you have problems, send me an email via the blog and I will try and help you get signed in.  Happy gardening to all.

4th Annual Port Orange Community Gardens Planting Day

Welcome to everyone for the 4th Annual Port Orange Community Gardens planting day!  We had a great turn out and all the gardens have been assigned.  A huge thanks to Pat Gill for an incredible job in readying the gardens, growing the seedlings, bringing fertilizer, fixing the irrigation systems and a hundred and one other tasks to make this day a success.  Also, a big thanks to Pat's better half, Pearl for all her hardwork digging up gardens for the last three weeks and everything else she has done to support the gardens.

2012 GARDEN NEWS

Woohoo...Google has changed everything AGAIN!  So, took me awhile to even log into our POCG blog.
BIG NEWS!  This Saturday, February 18, 2012, we will be digging up the gardens in preparation for the March 10 planting. 
IF YOU HAVE A GARDEN and you WANT TO KEEP IT for 2012, YOU MUST either call Pat or come by the garden on Saturday, Feb. 18 and let him know your plans.   Besides your own plot, if you can help out a bit to dig up some of the other forlorn gardens, we could use your help!
Hope to see all of you on Saturday.