Menu Close

Wylde Garden Tips

[topicList]

[topic title=”Garden Maintenance”]

[blurb]
[/blurb]

Smart Garden Maintenance

[toggle title=”Using Cardboard to Suppress Weeds (Published May 19, 2015)”]

Using paper to suppress weeds

Article Image

Right when you thought you had your spring weeds all pulled and were set for the summer, who shows up? Your summer weeds!  And boy are they growing like crazy right now.  Crabgrass(pictured to the left) …spurge …pigweed …and so many more.  Before they get too big and take over your fledgling garden, let’s put some weed stopping measures in place.

 

Suppression!  The best way to avoid hours of pulling weeds or having your garden taken over by weeds is to suppress them using cardboard or newspaper.  The thick layer of paper prevents the weeds from accessing the sun and instead of flourishing, they die and decompose back into the soil.

Weedy pathways? Use cardboard!

Article ImageDo you have a pathway full of weeds?  No problem.

Simply lay cardboard in an overlapping pattern over the weedy path.  Cover the cardboard with a 4-5 inch layer of wood chips.  Just like that, the weeds are gone.  What would’ve taken you an hour to weed, just took you 20 minutes to smother, cover, and mulch.

 

 

 

Weeds growing around your tomatoes?  Suppress them!

Article ImageUsing paper bags to suppress weeds around your plants is a great idea and a huge time saver. We like to use paper bags used to hold leaves.

1. Cut open the bag so that it lays out like a big sheet.

2. Lay over your planting area.

3. Cut holes where you want to plant your plants. For a tomato, we cut a hole that is 8″x8″ to avoid the bag coming right up to the stem of the plant.

4. Plant the transplants.

5. Cover the paper with straw or aged leaves to hide the paper.

6. Once it rains, the paper will mold itself to the surface of the soil and suppress any current or future weeds from growing.

7. What does this do? It saves you a lot of time weeding!

This method works really well for plants that are spaced apart. i.e. tomatoes are spaced 2 feet apart; peppers are spaced 15″ apart; corn is spaced 12″ apart. It is not a method we use when planting thickly from seed such as carrots or arugula.

But what if I already planted my garden?

Article ImageSimply lay down paper inbetween your plants using newspaper or smaller pieces of cardboard.  Lay down 12 layers (pages) of newspaper over the area. Cover the paper with your choice of mulch.  Next time it rains, the paper will mold itself to the ground smothering the weeds and any germinating weeds underneath.

 

For which weeds does paper suppression not work?

Article ImageCreeping Charlie (Glechoma hederacea) is one such weed that refuses to be suppressed.  It simply stretches itself under the cardboard and peeks out on the other side to continue growing. Creeping Charlie is pictured to the left.

Bermuda grass, English Ivy, plantain are also weeds that refuse to be suppressed by cardboard or newspaper.

All of these weeds will need to be removed by hand.

 

What happens to the paper?

With the exposure to the elements, the paper will slowly degrade.  Within a year, the cardboard in the pathways will be gone.  With the paper in the beds, we pull it up when planting in the fall and simply throw in the compost with the other plant material.  At that point, we apply compost to the garden bed and start all over with a fresh sheet of paper.

[/toggle]

[toggle title=”Coming soon!”]

 

[/toggle]

[toggle title=”Coming soon!”]

 

[/toggle]

[toggle title=”Coming soon!”]

[/toggle]

[toggle title=”Coming soon!”]

[/toggle]

[/topic]

[topic title=”Summer Vegetables”]
[blurb]

[/blurb]

[toggle title=”Cucumbers (Published May 12, 2015)”]

Cucumbers!

Article Image

Be sure to include cucumbers in your summer garden! Easy from seed, easy from transplants.

To maximize your harvest and to avoid pesty insects, go a head and plant cucumbers in your garden now.

Our favorite varieties? Marketmore F1, Lemon, Tasty Jade, Poona Kheera, etc, etc.

Plant after the last frost. Around May 1 is a perfect time to plant. Choose a sunny spot. Enrich the soil with compost, adding an inch across the area where you are planting. From seed, stick one seed an inch deep in the soil. Water well. Planting from transplants is easy. Dig a hole the same size as the rootball. Plant, Water.

Spacing. Be sure to give your cucumber plant room to grow. Space your plants 12 inches apart from one another and from other vegetable plants.

Trellis. You don’t have to trellis your cucumbers, they are happy growing across the ground. However, trellising does have its benefits. First, the fruit is off the ground and less susceptible to rotting where it touches the ground and it also avoids curious insects taking a nibble from your otherwise perfect cucumber. Trellising also saves space. See below how one person uses their garden fence to trellis their cucumber plants.

Mid season (late July), your cucumber plants will most likely be on their way out. Cucumbers are not long term plants. They produce a lot of fruit and then phase out. You might be tempted to plant a second crop and you could except that someone else is about to show up in your garden.

Pests: There are two insects that we deal with when growing cucumbers. One is the cucumber beetle. Nasty little guy that likes to eat the leaves of your plant. Pick them up consistently and drop them in a bucket of soapy water. The other insect to wreck havoc with your plants is the pickle worm. The eggs of the pickle worm are laid by a moth. Once they hatch, the pickle worms drill into your plants, your mature cucumbers, and any developing baby cucumber. Once these show up, it is time to give up on the cucumber harvest. This is the main reason you want to plant your cucumbers in April and May. By the time July rolls around, the pickle worm is stronger than you.

To maximize your harvest, there are some things you can do to avoid insect damage: plant early (April, May) and keep the area weed free.

Harvesting: Harvest cucumbers at any size. The smaller they are, the more tender. Harvested too big? Just scoop out the seeds and enjoy.

Where to find cucumber plants or seeds:
Wylde Center plant sale located at 435 Oakview Road, Decatur 30030. Cucumber transplants will be available through June 15. $2 each. Plant sale is open daily from sun up to sunrise. https://wyldecenter.org/plant-sale/
Johnny’s Select Seeds: http://www.johnnyseeds.com/
Territorial Seed Company: http://www.territorialseed.com/
Or your favorite seed source.

[/toggle]

[toggle title=”Sunburst Pattypan Squash (published April 28, 2015)”]

Sunburst Squash

Article Image

Time to plant Sunburst pattypan summer squash! Easy from seed, easy from transplants.

Let’s cut to the chase…we know thatyou would like to plant yellow crookneck squash or zucchini for delicious summer squash all summer. Perhaps you already have. That’s ok. But be prepared for the squash vine borer, an insect that bores through the stem of your squash, ultimately leading it to its demise.

Instead or also, plant a Sunburst F1 patty pan squash and experience the joy of having fresh summer squash all summer long. It is a variety our Executive Director has been growing in her garden for more than 14 years when she first trialed it for the Organic Gardening magazine. According to Stephanie, “I plant my squash in May and it dies with the frost. It is the only squash I grow and I use it just like I would any summer squash when eating it.”

Choose a sunny spot. Enrich the soil with compost, adding an inch across the area where you are planting. From seed, stick one seed an inch deep in the soil. Water well. Planting from transplants is easy. Dig a hole the same size as the rootball. Plant, Water. (Wylde Center – Oakhurst Garden, has these plants available in their sale through June 15.)

Spacing. Be sure to give your squash plant room to grow. By the end of the season, it will have spread four feet wide in both directions. Make sure the next plant that you have planted in your garden from the squash plant is 4 ft away.

Mid season (late July), the squash plant will need to be some TLC so that it stays healthy through the end of the season. Stephanie likes to prune off all of the dead leaves. She reapplies compost around its base and also she gives the plant 1 gallon of diluted fish emulsion for a nice nitrogen soaked drink.

The main insect to look out for is the Squash Lady Beetle that is related to Lady Bugs, but is orange and plumper than a Lady Bug. Squish every Squash Lady Beetle you see and its mustard yellow larvae. Visiting your plant daily to squish these bugs once they appear will knock back their population. If you don’t take care of the Squash Lady Beetle, your plant will not make it to the first frost.

Harvest as baby squash when 2-3 inches in diameter for tender eating. When 5-8 inches across, prepare them in any summer squash dish. When 9-12 inches in diameter, cut them up like french fries and oven roast them or puree them into a delicious summer soup.

Where to find Sunburst F1 Squash:
Wylde Center plant sale located at 435 Oakview Road, Decatur 30030. Transplants will be available through June 15. $2 each. Plant sale is open daily from sun up to sunrise.

Johnny’s Select Seeds: http://www.johnnyseeds.com/
Territorial Seed Company: http://www.territorialseed.com/

[/toggle]

[toggle title=”Coming soon!”]

[/toggle]

[toggle title=”Coming soon!”]

[/toggle]

[/topic]

 

[toggle title=”Fall Vegetables”]

We can meet your field trip needs in may different ways and places, whether at one of our four flourishing gardens and greenspaces or at your school. You can choose from one of the following locations:

[/toggle]

[toggle title=”Who can participate in a field trip? “]We offer field trips year-round for school groups, summer camps, afterschool groups, homeschool groups, and more.[/toggle]

[toggle title=”How many students can I bring for a field trip? “]Because we value hands-on experiential learning, we try to keep our classes small.  For groups larger than 30 students, we may ask you to divide into smaller groups to maintain small class size, and may ask groups to attend at separate times.  Our outdoor learning spaces can accommodate no more than 60 students total at a time. [/toggle]

[toggle title=”When can we visit? “]Field trips are offered Monday through Friday, 8am-5pm.  The Wylde Center’s greenspaces arealso open 7 days per week, sunup to sundown, if you would like to explore the gardens on your own.   [/toggle]

[toggle title=”How do I book a field trip? “]Please visit our “Book Your Field Trip Today!” link to the left for more information on booking your field trip. [/toggle]

[toggle title=”How much does a field trip cost? “]Please visit our “Field Trip Pricing” link to the left for more information on field trip costs. [/toggle]

[toggle title=”How do I pay for my field trip? “] You will receive an invoice as soon as your field trip is confirmed.  Payment is expected before or at the time of your field trip.  We accept cash, check, and major credit cards. If you bring more students than projected on your invoice, you will receive an updated invoice at the time of your field trip.  [/toggle]

[toggle title=”What if I need to cancel my field trip?”]If a teacher or group leader cancels a field trip for reasons other than severe weather (see “What if there is bad weather?”), they must do so at least two weeks prior to their scheduled field trip.  For cancellations with less than two weeks notice, payment of 50% of the field trip cost is required.  For less than seven days notice, the cost of the field trip must be paid in full. To cancel, please contact the Education Program Manager (melanie@wyldecenter.org)[/toggle]

[toggle title=”What if I just want to bring my students for a self-guided field trip?”]You are welcome to visit the garden for a self-guided field trip at any time.  Even though you will not be using Wylde Center educator time during your visit, please contact the Education Program Manager (melanie@wyldecenter.org) to schedule your self-guided field trip so as not to overlap with other groups or events. [/toggle]

[toggle title=”Can we eat lunch and/or explore the garden after the field trip? “]Yes!  We welcome groups to eat and explore the garden after their field trip.  We have ample outdoor space for groups who wish to bring and eat lunch in the garden.  Indoor space is limited, and typically only used during inclement weather.  There are no vending machines or food sale facilities on site, though we do have drinking fountains.  Please check with the Education Manager before planning to use the space for eating in order to ensure another group is not using the space.  If you would like to guarantee the garden’s availability and exclusive use before or after your field trip, contact the Education Program Manager to rent the space. [/toggle]

[toggle title=”Are there bathrooms at your site? “]Yes and no.  At this time, Sugar Creek, Hawk Hollow, and the Edgewood Community Learning Garden do not yet have bathroom, handwashing, or drinking water facilities.  Oakhurst Garden has ample handwashing stations, but only a single bathroom for students (i.e., if you plan to have students use it, allocate ample time).  Please encourage students to use the bathroom before leaving school or at the end of the field trip, not during teaching time.[/toggle]

[toggle title=”What should I wear for a field trip? “]Because we will be actively learning in an outdoor setting, participants and chaperones should wear sturdy shoes and clothes that can get a little bit dirty (and wet, if coming for a stream experience).  Visitors to Hawk Hollow must wear long pants and close-toed shoes.  While we have indoor classrooms available at Oakhurst Garden in the event of inclement weather, we try to be outdoors for the duration of the field trip.  Students and chaperones should arrive prepared for the weather: long pants, warm jackets, and hats/gloves during cold weather; sunscreen, hats, and water bottles if it is warm and sunny.[/toggle]

 

 

 

 

[toggle title=”What if there is bad weather?”]The Wylde Center may need to reschedule a field trip due to extreme weather conditions.  As soon as a cancellation is decided, the Environmental Educator will contact the primary trip contact to let them know.  In the event of such a cancellation, we will do our best to reschedule your trip for a day and time that works for you.  Field trips will continue, rain or shine, provided weather is not severe.[/toggle]

 

[toggle title=”Will my child’s photo be taken? “]We often take photos to document field trips to the garden.  If teachers or parents do not want their students to be photographed, please inform the Education Program Manager and/or Environmental Educator[/toggle]

[toggle title=”What do teachers and chaperones have to do during the trip? “]Teachers and chaperones are encouraged to participate throughout the field trip and enjoy the visit.  While at the Wylde Center, we ask that you

  • Maintain a headcount of the students in your group
  • Be alert to the potential hazards of the space and help students avoid them
  • Notify us in advance if students have any allergies that may impact their experience (insects, plants, foods, latex, etc.)
  • Facilitate the proper behavior of students
  • Allow students to make discoveries on their own
  • Have fun!

[/toggle]

 

[/topic]

[topic title=”Fall Vegetables”]
[blurb]

[/blurb]

[toggle title=”Komatsuna or Japanese Mustard Spinach”]

komatsunaKomatsuna!

Try something new in your fall garden – plant Komatsuna (Brassica rapa var. perviridis), a fun Japanese leaf vegetable than may be grown in both your fall and spring garden.  Easy from seed, easy from transplants.

Description of the vegetable from the Kitazawa Seed Company : Komatsuna has dark green leaves that are rich in calcium and often quite glossy. They can be harvested at any stage and prepared like spinach in the early stages and more like cabbage as they mature. The flavor grows stronger and hotter the longer the leaves mature. This versatile green can be stir-fried, pickled, boiled and added to soups or used fresh in salads.

Our favorite varieties? Green Boy (F1), Komatsuna, Summerfest (F1).

Plant in the spring and fall. Between Septmeber 1-30 and March 1-30 of each year is the perfect time to plant either from seed or from a transplant. Choose a sunny spot. Enrich the soil with compost, adding an inch across the area where you are planting. From seed, stick one seed just below the surface of the soil every 6-8 inches. Water well. Planting from transplants is easy. Dig a hole the same size as the rootball. Plant, Water.

Spacing. Be sure to give your plants room to grow. Space your plants 6-8 inches apart from one another and from other vegetable plants.

Pests: Komatsuna is in the Brassica family and is vulnerable to the Cabbage Looper, especially when the seedlings are small.  Best control is to look over your plants and pick off the caterpillars.  Feed them to your chickens and smash them.

Harvesting: Komatsuna is a “cut and grow again” vegetable.  Simply pick off the outer leaves and allow the crown to keep growing. That way you have delicious leafy greens all fall and into the winter.  If the winter is mild, the Komatsuna will overwinter.

Where to find Komatsuna plants or seeds:
Wylde Center plant sale located at 435 Oakview Road, Decatur 30030. Komatsuna transplants will be available through September 1-30, March 1-30. $2.50 per 4/pack. Plant sale is open daily from sun up to sunrise. https://wyldecenter.org/plant-sale/
Johnny’s Select Seeds: http://www.johnnyseeds.com/

Kitazawa Seed Company: http://www.kitazawaseed.com/index.html

Or your favorite seed source.

 

[/toggle]

[toggle title=”Coming soon!”]

 

[/toggle]

[toggle title=”Coming soon!”]

[/toggle]

[toggle title=”Coming soon!”]

[/toggle]

[/topic]

[topic title=”Garden Resources”]

[blurb]

[/blurb]

[toggle title=”Coming soon!”]

 

[/toggle]

[toggle title=”Coming soon!”]

 

[/toggle]

[toggle title=”Coming soon!”]

[/toggle]

[toggle title=”Coming soon!”]

[/toggle]

[/topic]

[/topicList]