joene's garden: joene's garden

By joenesgarden, 2 years and 5 months ago

Watering in the heat of August

We're at mid-August and summer heat and humidity has finally hit Connecticut. Now's a good time to discuss a few watering and water conserving techniques.  Soil dries quickly in 90+ degree heat so it is really important water container plants daily.  If you must water at night, make sure you only water the soil – not the plant.  The same goes for any plants sunk in the ground.  Spraying plants – and grass for that matter – at night only creates an environment for fungal diseases which like it hot and wet.  The current humidity level in CT is more than enough to encourage such plant diseases – don't add to this by watering plant foliage late in the day. It is really best to water plants in the morning, and might be worth the effort – especially if you want healthy looking plants throughout August – to get up a little earlier so you have time to water.

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By joenesgarden, 2 years and 5 months ago

Late blight marches on

August 11, 2009.  Late blight continues to rear its ugly head in Connecticut farms and gardens, according to a recent report in the Norwich Bulletin.  Because of the high risk of this windborne fungus spreading from location to location, I check my tomato plants daily. The Connecticut Agricultural Experiment Station's Department of Plant Pathology and Ecology posted images of CT grown tomatoes with late blight.  For images of all types of tomato disease, visit Cornell University's Vegetable MD Online.

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By joenesgarden, 2 years and 6 months ago

The People's Garden Initiative

August 4, 2009. The People's Garden project continues to grow. Earlier this year, the grounds surrounding the USDA Whitten Building in Washington, D.C. began the transformation from grassy and parking areas to a sustainable landscape dubbed The People's Garden – see my previous post for more background information. The project's progress is evident in photos taken on July 17.

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By joenesgarden, 2 years and 6 months ago

Gardening Oops – GOOPs - Day

August 1, 2009 - On the first of each month I confess, if you will, one of the many mistakes I've made in my three decades or so of gardening.  I've dubbed this Gardening Oops – GOOPs – Day.  I firmly believe that if you don't make mistakes, you're simply not gardening, and I'm happy to see that other gardeners feel the same.  Those who read Steve Aitken's 'editor's letter' in the most recent issue of Fine Gardening (October 2009 – by the way, why is the October issue arriving in mailboxes in July?) saw this comment … A gardener – of any skill level – who can't admit to making mistakes is either a fool or a liar … included in Steve's list of hard truths of gardening.  Steve, if you read this, here's my virtual - clap, clap, clap - applause.  My friend Debbie, at A Garden of Possibilities, also got a kick out of Steve's list (see her post here).

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By joenesgarden, 2 years and 6 months ago

Late blight hits CT tomatoes, potatoes

The July 24, 2009 Hartford Courant report confirms late blight in 6 of 8 counties in Connecticut – New London and Middlesex have, so far, been spared.  According to Joan Allen, pathologist at the University of Connecticut Plant Diagnostic Lab, here are the key points for home gardeners to remember:

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  • Misjudged collaboration causes an NWF GOOPs:
    • joenesgarden: Jean, I'm glad I could bring you updated news regarding NWF's GOOPs. I agree that the NWF has some credibility rebuilding to accomplish.
    • Jean: Joene, I had seen all the posts about the Scott's-NWF "partnership" but had missed the turnaround news; thanks for bringing me up to date. In these times when ordinary people often feel powerless, it's good to know that popular outrage made a real difference. (I think it's going to take more, though, for NWF to...
    • joenesgarden: Debbie, NWF's GOOPs certainly seemed to be an eye opener for many NWF collaborators. Only time will tell whether NWF's reputation is sullied.
    • Debbie/GardenofPossibilities: Joene, What a good example of a major GOOPs. As Laurrie noted, it's unbelievable that NWF never mentioned the groundswell of outrage as a factor in the decision to end the partnership. I guess regadless of how/why it happened, most people are pleased it's over. BTW, thanks for the shout-out.
    • joenesgarden: Laurrie, The NWF's GOOPs may direct more followers to local wildlife-protecting and environmental organizations. This would be a good thing.
    • Laurrie: Talk about a gardening oops, this was a monster one. Absolute debacle. It's interesting that when they rescinded the partnership they blamed it on the lawsuits and gave no credit to the groundswell of public outrage. Never mentioned that at all. Unbelievable. My OOPS is on my blog today and...
  • Connecticut’s new planting zones:
    • joenesgarden: Jean, I think all seasoned gardeners understand zone map recommendations are no substitute for knowing your property, as your experience with temperature extremes in your Maine garden illustrates. I'm honored you named me as one of your Versatile Bloggers. I would participate if not for the sharing rules ... thanks anyway. I hope...
    • Jean: Joene, I was just looking at the new hardiness zones for Maine, and it brought home your point about knowing your own garden conditions. On the new map, my town has been moved from the boundary of zones 4b and 5a firmly into 5b. But the low temperature for zone 5b is -15F, and I...

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