JUNE WORKSHOPS

Workshops To Be Held at the Smyrna Outreach and Research Center (SORC)

Propagating Cuttings –

 Pat Renfrow – Tuesday, June 4 from 1:30-3 p.m. at SORC.

 

Create a Lavender Basket: Learn a combination of basket making and lavender sachets  to      create a miniature lavender basket –

 Sherry and Art Tucker – Saturday, June 29 from 1:30-3 p.m. at SORC.

Directions to SORC 

Route 13 N towards Smyrna, past Food Lion Shopping Center. At the light (Clarkie's Garage on  the  right), turn right towards Leipsic onto Smyrna-Leipsic Rd. Go over Rt1 overpass, past Bombay Woods development, and the SORC farm will be on the right Turn into 2nd driveway on right .

Kent Co. Master Gardeners’ Annual Scholarship Plant Sale

Kent Co. Master Gardeners will sponsor their Annual Scholarship Plant Sale at the Delaware State University greenhouse on  Saturday, April 27 for the public. Hours will be 8 a.m. to 12 noon.

 “The plant sale is advertised as a ‘plant-a-holic’s dream sale’ with annuals, perennials, herbs, shrubs, vegetables and native plants. We try to have the more unusual varieties and because the public wants flowers, we try to get early bloomers. This year we are hoping to have some tomatoes and peppers that have been started by Kent Co. Master Gardeners along with the usual and, hopefully, unusual perennials from their gardens.”

APRIL GARDENING CALENDER

First half of April:

§         Feed shrubs and roses—read label directions for special instructions.

§         Take a soil sample to determine exact amount of nutrients the soil needs to grow and produce flowers or fruit

§         Mow lawn if grass is more than 2 ½ in. tall. The ideal mowing height is 2 in.

§         Prune and shape spring flowering shrubs after blossoms fade.

§         Begin regular scouting program for fruit trees. Pesticides should be used only when pest populations are high enough to cause damage to plants and damage reaches the economic injury level.

Second half of April:

§         Finish transplanting trees and shrubs.

§         Plant ground covers to those terrible spots where nothing but weeds seems to grow. There are many to choose from—some with flowers and others with beautiful foliage.

§         Start vegetable, herb and flower seeds now. Read the back of the seed packet for specific instructions.

§         If weather is favorable, plant carrot, celery, lettuce, radish, spinach, sweet corn, turnip, snap bean and parsnip seeds; and transplant broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower and tomatoes.

Seven Easy Ways To Help the Honeybees

From an email from the Rodale Institute: Meme Thomas, instructor for the Honeybee Conservancy classes at the Rodale Institute and founder of Baltimore Honey, says there are seven simple ways to help both the honeybee and native pollinator populations.

1. Include nectar- and pollen-rich plantings in landscapes. Focus on plants that bloom during the important feeding windows of late winter, pre-spring (February – April) and during the high summer when there is usually a dearth of nectar (June – November).

2. Choose bloom colors that will attract honeybees. Honeybees cannot see the color red, so selecting blooms that are white, yellow, violet, orange, blue and ultraviolet is a good idea. Also, plant in clumps or cluster patches of same-color blossoms. Single plants/blooms are much less attractive.

3. Ditch the chemicals (even the organic ones). Herbicides, fungicides, insecticides, pesticides and synthetic fertilizers are detrimental to honeybees. Even organic Neem-based products are a no-no.  Instead, implement beneficial companion plantings and other no-spray practices in your yard, garden and farm.

4. Welcome the weeds. White clover and dandelions are honeybees’ early- and late-season food sources for nectar (carbohydrates) and pollen (protein). Nutritional deficit may very well be a contributor in honeybee Colony Collapse Disorder, so the more natural food sources you can provide, the better.

5. Provide fresh, safe water. Placing layers of large pebbles just above the water line in your birdbaths or even a shallow dish will give honeybees a safe place to rehydrate and rest before returning to their hives. Birdbaths, otherwise, may drown honeybees.

6. Spread the word. Encourage your friends, family and neighbors to follow these simple steps to support foraging honeybees across your local community.

7. Buy local and sustainable. Purchase not just honey, but as many of your groceries as possible from local producers who are using all natural methods and practices. Sustainable honeybee stewards ensure their bees are treated well, and local, organic farmers provide the right environment for both native and cultivated pollinators.

MARCH GARDENING CALENDER

First half of March:

v     Finish pruning shrubs and ornamental trees, except spring flowering shrubs, before growth starts. Prune spring flowering shrubs (lilac, forsythia, etc.,) as soon as they finish flowering.

v     Finish pruning home fruit trees. Do not leave stubs; they usually die and become great entryways for fungus.

v     To prevent the infection of fungal spores and bacteria into the plant as a result of fresh cuts, do not prune in damp or wet weather.

v     If soil is dry enough, begin primary soil tillage.

v     Add soil nutrients based on results of soil test.

v     To support newly transplanted trees from spring winds, use flexible ties between rigid stakes.

v     If weeds are beginning to grow in flower bulb beds, pull them by hand to prevent disturbing the bulbs and roots.

v     Spray home fruit trees (apples and pears) with dormant oil before buds swell and when temperatures are not likely to drop below 40 deg. for 24 hours.

v     Fertilize trees, roses, shrubs and evergreens.

Second half of March:

v     Plant cool-season crops (peas, lettuce, cabbage, onions, kale, broccoli, radishes and turnips), if weather conditions permit.

v     If a pre-emergent weed control is going to be used on the lawn, apply it now. Read and follow all label directions.

v     Leave mulch over strawberries until the plants begin to grow. At that time, the mulch must be removed to allow leaves to develop in the light.

v     Prune hedges before new growth begins.

v     Fertilize azaleas and rhododendrons with acid-type fertilizer.

PRECIPITATION OBSERVERS NEEDED

  March is obviously a very busy time for gardening.  It's also the month where we're working on a membership drive for precipitation observers.  I'm the Delaware state coordinator for an NSF supported citizen science program called CoCoRAHS (Community Collaborative Rain, Hail, and Snow).  I'm also the Delaware Associate State Climatologist.  CoCoRAHS has tens of thousands of volunteer observers all across the country who take daily precipitation measurements.  I'm sure gardeners are doing this type of activity all the time already, so gardeners are perfect candidates to join CoCoRAHs.    

Here's a link to the CoCoRAHs website where you can find out more information about the program:

http://www.cocorahs.org

Kevin Brinson
DEOS Systems Manager
Associate State Climatologist
State Coordinator of CoCoRAHS Delaware
University of Delaware

Mail:
214 Pearson Hall
Department of Geography
Newark, DE 19716

Phone: (302) 831-6906
E-mail:  kbrinson@udel.edu
URL:  http://www.deos.udel.edu

KENT COUNTY SPRING WORKSHOPS

TIPS FOR SUCCESSFUL SEED STARTING

Tuesday, March 5, 2013, Time: 6:00 pm

 Have you ever been to your local garden center to purchase transplants and come away frustrated because you could not find the variety you really wanted to grow? Have you ever wanted to start your own vegetable, herb and flower seeds for transplants? Have you started seeds and been unsuccessful? This class will cover the basics of starting seeds and offer some tips to help ensure seed starting success. Bring your seed pack and start some seeds with Master Gardener Pat Renfrew!

BUILDING A RAISED BED FOR GROWING YOUR VEGETABLE GARDEN

Monday, March 11, 2013, Time: 1:00 pm

Have you been unsuccessful with a garden in your backyard because your site is too low and

the soil stays wet most of the time? Why not construct a raised bed? It can be built with all kinds of materials. Raised bed gardening allows you to start your garden earlier and continue to harvest later

 in the fall growing more in less space. The secret is planning! Allow Master Gardener Ralph Sena to share his construction tips and raised bed growing knowledge with you to ensure success!

ASK THE MASTER GARDENER GARDENING PANEL

Friday, March 22, 2013,  Time: 6:00 p.m.

 Come join moderators Maggie Moor-Orth and Beth Gemmill along with the gardening panel of: Mike Radebach (vegetable gardening and tools), John Tullis (perennial shrubs), Terry Dupuis (herbs), 

Janis Greene (raised beds and container grown vegetables), Charles Overmiller (vegetables and small fruits) and Art McQueen (starting plants from seeds). Bring your vegetable, flower and herb gardening and shrub

questions to this workshop and get tips and advice from a panel of experienced Kent County

Master Gardeners!

CRAFTS AND GIFTS FROM THE GARDEN

Tuesday, April 2, 2013, Time: 6:00 pm

Join us for a presentation that will introduce plants you can add to your garden or landscape to spark your imagination. There are annuals and perennials that are easy to grow and how you, too, can turn them into decorative and useful items to decorate your home or to give as gifts.

GROWING SWEET, ZESTY AND ORNAMENTAL PEPPERS

Wednesday, April 17, 2013,  Time: 6:00 pm

Sweet? Zesty? or Beautiful? You decide which type of pepper plant is right for your garden or flower beds this year. Peppers will prove to be the topic of choice of friends visiting your yard or garden. Come learn about soil preparation, plant care, and cooking your harvested peppers

BEYOND HYPERTUFA: CREATING A CONCRETE POT

Saturday, April 20, 20I3   Time: 9:00 a.m.

Hypertufa is still a good product, but so yesterday! Learn basic techniques of construction and unique recipes of concrete by creating a basic concrete pot. These techniques and recipes can later be applied to create more elaborate garden art. Participants should wear old clothing/shoes and must bring two sets of gloves (a pair of long, heavy vinyl or rubber dishwashing type gloves and a pair of thin garden gloves) along with an apron and a cardboard box (minimum 2' wide for transporting pot). Respirators and goggles would also be desirable (but not mandatory). Drinks and small snacks will be provided. Parking is limited - so car pooling is strongly suggested. Class will be held in Camden. Exact location will be shared once payment is received and class is established.

Unless otherwise indicated, all workshops will be held free of charge at:

University of Delaware,

Paradee Center

69 Transportation Circle,

Dover, DE

If you have any questions or

need directions, please call: 730-4000

For free classes, you may call 730-4000 to register, or mail your request to address below (include name, address, phone, email)

Please check or circle the workshops you wish to attend:

     March 5          Seed Starting

     March 11        Raised Beds

    March 22         Ask the Master Gardener

    April 2             Crafts and Gifts

    April 17           Growing Peppers

    April 20           Beyond Hypertufa  $15.00 fee    

                             Location will be disclosed once payment is received.

  

To make payment, make check payable to: "Kent County Master Gardeners"

Mail registration form to:

Kent County Master Gardeners

University of Delaware Extension Office

69 Transportation Circle

Dover, OE 19901