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Extending Our Gardening Seasons

Extending Our Gardening Seasons Sub title Ted Lambert XX@sss.sls Isn’t six months enough? With planning and not that much more effort Harvest up to 10 or more months in MD Increase variety and flavor Philosophy to garden by

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Extending Our Gardening Seasons

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  1. Extending Our Gardening Seasons Sub title Ted Lambert XX@sss.sls

  2. Isn’t six months enough? • With planning and not that much more effort • Harvest up to 10 or more months in MD • Increase variety and flavor

  3. Philosophy to garden by • My garden must deliver the most food with the least amount of work!!! • In warm weather, focus on warm weather crops. • Never force cold weather veggies in the hot weather. • Extend the growing season by at least 5 weeks at each end by using fabrics and contraptions to produce significantly greater harvest. • Use salad boxes to grow excellent salad greens and some herbs in winter.

  4. Overcome Vegetable Bigotry • Many based on childhood trauma • Cold hardy veggies are bitter and tough(ouch) • Systematically harvested at the wrong time so we assume they’re supposed to be bitter • Tendency to overcook root veggies • Many veggies mature in summer but shouldn’t be harvested! • They become considerably sweeter after a few frosts • Others like lettuce become bitter when stressed and will never become sweet again

  5. Seed Starting Mantra • Garden centers sell plants to warm-weather gardeners • Selection is very limited; rarely any fall selection • Run all paraphernalia through dishwasher • Soil-less medium not soil from yard • Low-cost shop lights/common fluorescent bulbs • Transfer to cold frame • Harden off • Window sills rarely work well • Buy fall seeds in spring/ they may not be available

  6. Floating Row Covers • First line of defense against frost • Increase germination rates when you cover • A second layer under other contraptions • Protection for tender plants/seedlings from heat/sun • Great defense against insects • ‘Hold-ups’ (support)=pvc pipe, blocks, ladders, reinforcing wire,, and nine gauge wire are just a few; be creative!

  7. Many Uses of Cold Frames • Harden off indoor started plants • Start seedlings • Five or so week jump for summer crops • Force bulbs in winter • Grow a great salad • Early herbs • Be VERY careful if you put glass in garden Cold frames must be vented to let hot air out on sunny days!

  8. Five rules for effective use of cold frames • Wetter isn't better: allow soil to become nearly dry to encourage deep roots • Don’t be mean…lean: no footsteps inside; lean in or install stepping boards • Survive a freeze, you’ll be pleased: throw a blanket or old carpet on top to retain heat • High/low will show: place a high/low thermometer for easy monitoring • Eat in season, there's a reason: our goal is to help nature, not dominate it.

  9. Tunnel uses • Protect late summer planted hardy veggies • Overwinter late fall planted veggies for spring • Protect plants till threat of frost past • Raise soil temps in spring

  10. Warming Soils in Tunnels and Frames • Painted jugs and water bottles/dark food coloring • Black drums • Soil warming cables • Fresh manure • Hot compost • Rocks?

  11. Cloche basics • Cover individual tender plants • Give heat-loving plants head start • Warms soil area underneath • Longer harvest times • Tiny propagation plots for cold hardy plants • Soda bottle, milk jugs, commercial, lamp shades, plastic and paper bags and plastic wrapped tomato cages • Must plan for venting!

  12. Shading • Starting seeds during summer • Slows bolting • Cools soil • Shade cloth, plywood, fencing

  13. Mulch, Mulch and More Mulch • Large flat stones = 1 degree warmer • Black plastic = 1 degree warmer • IRT plastics = 9 degree warmer • Clear plastic = at least 12 degrees warmer (hot enough to kill seeds and roots! • Straw = 7 degrees cooler • My garden has mulch everywhere • At least 2 to 3 inches worth • Pull very few weeds • Need to water much less!!!

  14. Lettuces • Numerous cultivars -- look for seasonal packets • Loose-leaf easiest to grow and longest lasting in heat. Try Tango as its vigorous root system shines in the cold • Butterheads aren't heat-tolerant, do well in cold - try Buttercrunch • Mesclin mix designed to be used as baby greens; have had little luck allowing to mature! • Only negatives- short storage times and bolts in heat • Don’t forget spinach (needs to grow in cool weather)

  15. Brassica Family • Prominent hardy members Cabbage, Kale, Brussels sprouts, Broccoli, Cauliflower and Chinese Cabbage • I cant say enough about kales -- try them! • Lesser known but great-tasting: Arugula, Collards, Cress, Mustard, Rape, and Turnip greens all are easy to grow • Most taste better after frosts • Don’t forget Beets, Turnips, and other root veggies; they are all great.

  16. Perennial Veggies • Chives, asparagus, and sorrel are up early spring with little effort and many years of harvest. • Horseradish – homegrown is incomparable to bought! ( careful - it can spread) • Jerusalem artichokes – native staple that’s sweet and nutty and the sunflower like flower has a chocolate scent. (Can also spread)

  17. Salad Box • Great for growing salads and some herbs • Uses same equipment as seed starting bed • Simple design, see hand-out • Use soil-less mix • Make sure its up off bottom to allow some drainage • Pick young and re -plant often • Work/pick left to right • Either buy mix or create your own • Enjoy!

  18. My Garden May/August

  19. Possibilities of Pesto • A great way to capitalize on winter greens • One green as a base and another as a taste kick • Combination like kale and mustard greens, spinach and sorrel, spinach and beet greens and chives to any. • The Master Mix: 5 parts greens to 1 part nuts and 3 garlic cloves in processor, then add 2 parts cheese, mix well and add 2 to 3 parts oil slowly while running. • Use all types of nuts • Use pine nuts if you have nut allergies!!

  20. Oops!! Garden Mistakes • Letting weeds go to seed • Over-fertilizing • Saving seeds from hybrid plants • Planting too closely together • Buying plants already in bloom, fruiting or root bound • All work and no relaxation makes gardening a chore!

  21. Thank You! Please take a few minutes to complete a short survey for today’s class. Good luck with your garden. Equal Opportunity Employer/ Equal Access Programs

  22. Resources • Home and Garden Information Center (HGIC) • 800-342-2507 • hgic.umd.edu • Grow-It-Eat-It website • GrowIt.umd.edu • Master Gardener state website • mastergardener.umd.edu

  23. This program was brought to you by Maryland Master Garden Program Howard County University of Maryland Extension

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