May Gardening: Adventures Await!
April Recap
In April, the Mid Shooks Run Community Garden was abuzz with activity!
Our cherry trees and gooseberries bloomed. Gardening infrastructure like hoops, trellises, cages, and irrigations systems were set up. Some of us sowed our frost tolerant crops - leaf lettuce, spinach, kale, root vegetables, broccoli, calendula, cauliflower, strawflower, sunflowers - and it was so exciting to see cotyledons peeping out from under the soil! Over one weekend, twenty-seven garden enthusiasts gathered to conduct a thorough spring cleaning of the garden grounds, preparing the space for a season of growth and abundance.
Thank you to all our community members for your ongoing dedication and hard work in keeping our shared space thriving and beautiful. May your hands be steady, your soil fertile, and your harvest bountiful.
May Preview: Upcoming Events
All events are optional to our community gardeners and open to the general public. Join us!
Announcements
Pop-Up Nursery at the Community Garden
We’re raising funds to maintain and augment the community garden through a pop-up nursery.
If you’d like to donate inventory to our pop-up nursery, please reach out.
You’ll see our pop-up nursery at the community garden the first week of May.
For a preview of inventory and prices, see our pop-up nursery’s webpage.
Plot DD: Open Access Herb Garden.
Plot DD holds several varieties of thyme, marjoram, sage, and oregano, and Nicalene has graciously offered to maintain this herb garden for all of our use.
Community gardeners can treat this plot as a perennial plot and harvest herbs from it as needed.
Take clippings only - NEVER uproot plants.
Remember that you should only harvest produce from only plot DD, the perennial beds, and your assigned plot(s). It’s still not ok to harvest produce from plots other than these.
Gentle Reminder: Be Considerate.
This year, we’ll see activity at the community garden that many of us just aren’t used to. Many more fellow gardeners, and many more folks wanting to utilize shared resources.
Let's ensure that all shared tools remain accessible for everyone in the garden. Please remember not to take any community garden equipment home with you.
Please use the tools, but don’t let them leave the garden’s footprint.
Rhubarb Harvest.
Rhubarb found in our perennial beds are ready for harvest this month. Some quick tips on Rhubarb:
Timing: Harvest rhubarb when the stalks are firm, thick, and about 12-18 inches long. Avoid picking young, thin stalks as they are not fully matured.
Method: Grasp the stalk near the base and pull it away from the plant with a gentle but firm tug. Avoid cutting the stalks as this can leave them vulnerable to rot.
Frequency: Only harvest up to one-third of the stalks at a time to allow the plant to continue growing and storing energy for future harvests. And remember to leave some behind for others!
Leaves: Rhubarb leaves are toxic and should never be consumed. Cut off and compost the leaves immediately after harvesting the stalks.
Gardening Tips for May
Soil Preparation: If you haven’t amended your soil yet, do it before planting and ensure that the soil in your raised beds is well-prepared. Mix in compost or other organic matter to improve soil structure and fertility.
Selecting Plants: Choose vegetables, herbs, or flowers that thrive in your region and have a growing season within the timeframe between the last spring frost and first fall frost.
Planting Schedule: Plan your planting schedule based on the days to maturity for each crop. Start with cool-season crops that can withstand any lingering cold snaps and gradually transition to warm-season crops.
Be Mindful of Late Frosts: According to the Old Father’s Almanac, the last spring frost date is May 8th and there are 147 days until the first fall frost on October 3rd. Other sources point to our last frost a few weeks later than this. Many gardeners don’t sow or transplant frost intolerant varieties until after Mother’s Day. Regardless of when you plant, be mindful of late season frosts / snow storms / blizzards and plan accordingly.
Protection from Frost: Keep an eye on the weather forecast and be prepared to protect young plants from unexpected late frosts by covering them with row covers, wall-o-waters, or cloches.
Watering: As the weather warms up, be diligent about watering your raised beds. Check the moisture level regularly and water deeply when needed, especially during dry periods.
Mulching: Consider applying a layer of mulch around your plants to help retain soil moisture, suppress weeds, and moderate soil temperature. The cardboard / straw combo is a popular combination at the community garden, as it adds an extra layer of biodegradable weed barrier and water conservation.
Monitoring Pests and Diseases: Stay vigilant for any signs of pests or diseases in your raised beds. Early detection can help prevent potential damage to your plants and reduce spread to other beds.
Thank you for being an essential part of our garden family. Here's to another season of camaraderie, learning, and the simple joys found in the shared love of gardening.
Happy gardening to all!
