Planting for fall crops! [YES, you can!!]

"Mary, Mary, How does your garden grow? With silver bells and cockle shells and little maids all in a row."

So, our garden is terrific! So many crops are providing great vegetables, others have done their thing, been harvested and now space is beginning to show that might be planted for further harvest .... yes? Wouldn't you like to extend your gardening experience, have more fresh pesticide-free veggies for eating? Well, you can!

First, clean the spent crops from your planting bed, and, unless the foliage seems diseased, toss into the spacious compost we've set up. There's still lots of RT compost at Emlen Tunnell Park - bring several buckets, top dress the open spaces in your planting bed and then carefully dig in to enrich and lighten the soil. You might also want to add some more fertilizer, both Urea nitrogen and the soil acidifier. The packets [one bag of each for a 4 x 6' planting bed] are stored in the storage box at the garden. Lightly turn the soil again and then let it sit for about a week.
Secondly, decide what you want to plant for fall: Beets (8-9), Broccoli (8-9), Carrots (9-11), Swiss Chard (7-8), Collards (12), Garlic (17-26 - harvest next spring), Kale (8-9), leaf Lettuce (6), Parsnips (15), Radish (3-5), Snow Peas [so they say - 8)], Spinach (7-8, but plan to mulch after frost and it will be first to grow next spring!), Turnips (5-10) - quite an array, many of which can be 'stored' in the soil for harvest later in the fall and after first frost.
The Third step and probably the most iffy to pin down is, "when do I begin this re-planting?" Two factors are (1) current temperatures, and, (2) number of WEEKS needed 'til I can begin to harvest. With each of the suggested crops above is included the number of weeks from seed to the beginning of harvest. So, when?
Being the enthusiastic type, I'll begin to plant the first week in August. But/and, I'll be sure to keep the soil wet to aid germination and consider making a tent out of paper or 'floating row cover' to protect the small seedlings as they appear, to protect them from scorching sun and/or high temperatures.
Using these methods, and depending on our local weather [and who can guess what that is! and will be!] one can have harvestable crops until well into November and perhaps December. What do you have to lose except a few seeds. See you in the garden.

Veggies in the garden, but the Fruits and Nuts were at the Parade!

Happy Independence Day to all!! We thoroughly enjoyed walking in the 4th of July parade today in Garrett Hill - representing all the Common Grounders who seem to be scattered all over the country. Hoping everyone is enjoying their freedom and can take a few moments today to reflect on what that really means.

How to get more veggies out of your garden ... using a 'shoehorn'

Succession planting,

or "Holy Moly" my first veggies have all been harvested; NOW what do I plant [in the small space that's left!]?

Probably the hardest gardening concept to understand, let alone carry out successfully is what and how to plant a succession of vegetable types in the same space. In our enthusiasm to get started in spring, we've over-planted one type of veggie, and/or, planted something that takes LOTS of space and/or has a long growing season. What to do?

In general, those veggies suitable for planting in early spring can be re-planted in August/September [weather dependent] for early fall/winter harvesting. Some examples are:

• Peas - plant in March/April and then again in late August. At that time, plant only 'snowpeas' - the type where one eats the pod itself.
• Carrots and Beets - plant a fall crop from seed in late August. With a light mulching they'll last well into fall and maybe even early winter.
• Radishes - plant every 10 days til too hot; begin again in September
• Spinach - Plant in late September; let grow rather than harvesting. After frost, mulch with either straw or finely mulched leaves. You'll be rewarded with fabulous and long growing spinach in early spring.
• Yellow Squash - plant a second crop in mid-July
• Swiss chard - re-plant in August, as the days stay warm but/and the nights are cooler.
• Collards and Kale - plant by seed in late August. You'll be harvesting in late November.
• Turnips and Parsnips - plant fall crop in early September.

If you have planted BUSH Snap Beans [we used to call them 'string beans; the strings have been bred out of them], plant a small crop every ten days.

Bottom line, be sure to buy sufficient seed NOW for fall planting; get out your gardening shoehorn; think fall crops and let's see how late into the fall we can garden successfully.

Jean watering on a lovely Saturday morning

COMMON GROUND IS LIKE A POT LUCK

It was a beautiful, though slightly chilly evening for our first of hopefully many meals together at Common Ground. With the construction of the garden almost completely finished, and with many of the raised beds already spouting vegetables, the members and friends of Common Ground gathered to enjoy a potluck dinner together.

I think a potluck was a fitting way to kick off this shared endeavor. The idea of a potluck is that with little or no pre-planning of the menu, everyone brings whatever they want to the table, and the combination of it all will result in a tasty and filling feast. A smorgasbord of smells, tastes and textures that somehow always seem to compliment each other and cover all the basic components of a healthy meal. Our first potluck was no exception. There were lots of vegetables, salads, fruits, stews and even some meat. Some prepared in advance and some cooked on the grill right there in the garden. One of the fun elements of a potluck is that you get to know a little bit about each other based on the food each person brings. Carrie with her wonderful salads, Sara and her healthy stew, John with his slab of beef!

Common Ground is like a potluck. Without knowing who was going to jump into the pot, neighbors have come together from different backgrounds, blocks, faiths, generations and perspectives. A veritable smorgasbord of people who seem to compliment each other and cover all the components of healthy community.

Thanks to all that contributed to our first feast together, but more importantly, thanks for bringing your own unique flavor to Common Ground and thanks for being courageous enough to jump into the pot!

Celebrate New Life at the Planting Feast!

Saturday, April 16
It has been amazing to witness the transformation that has taken place over the past two weeks. Starting with a vacant piece of grass in the church graveyard, the Common Grounders have come together to build a wonderful garden with multiple raised beds for vegetables, flower beds, herb garden, a bird house, watering system, fencing and some lovely wooden chairs to relax on.

Even as the finishing touches, including decorative flower pots, a gate, and rain water platforms are completed, some of the gardeners have already begun planting. What was once a grave yard, has become a place that represents new life.

Flowers will begin blooming, healthy organic vegetables will begin to grow, and best of all, new friendships have already started to germinate. It's been rewarding to hear people's stories. Neighbors that have lived near each other for years, starting to really get to know one another. I had to laugh today, as some of the male gardeners shared their common "fear" of their wives getting them to eat more vegetables - and less meat.

I am gratified by the shared energy and effort it has taken to get this far, this fast. We've built 13 raised beds, moved nearly 30,000 pounds of soil; laid 150' of fencing; and will begin planting enough food to feed not only ourselves, but hopefully many of our friends and neighbors. Thanks to everyone who has done so much to make this possible.

Let's celebrate together at our Planting Feast on Saturday, April 30. In the spirit of sharing, this will be a POT LUCK meal. Please bring a food dish and a drink. Plates, cups and cutlery will be provided. We'll be meeting in the church fellowship hall at 6:30pm. See you there.

Companion Planting

Companion Planting is the practice of planting certain vegetables, herbs and flowers near each other for improved growth. There are also certain plants that should not be planted together.

Cabbage family [cabbages, broccoli, kale] likes to be planted with beets, chard, cucumber; Garlic improves growth and flavor; sage and thyme deter the cabbage moth (that's a good thing).

Carrots do well with beans, tomato family, radish; Dill retards growth; sage deters carrot fly.

Onions grow with anything BUT, onions grown near beans and peas stunts the growth of beans and peas

Tomatoes do not grow close to potatoes, as they are attacked by same blight!

Chives deters aphids; nasturtiums will draw them; dill and parsley will draw tomato hornworm AWAY formt omato plants.