(Mostly) Monthly News for Gardeners
News and events for gardeners from Penobscot, Piscataquis, and Somerset Counties from University of Maine Cooperative Extension, Soil and Water Conservation Districts, Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation, and Forestry, Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association, and other trusted partners
February 2020

Fellow gardeners of Central Maine,

I have been remiss in my duties to produce a monthly newsletter, and now that the statewide newsletter has gone year-round, I have no more excuses. Thanks to Kate Garland and many others, we can keep thoughts of gardening going even when the ground is frozen.

We're gaining daylight every day and I'm thinking about finding some pussy willows, or maybe even forsythia to cut and bring inside. Here's a fun video Kate made last spring: Growing Maine Gardeners: Forcing Branches
Maybe I'm rushing it?

Speaking of "rushing it," note Kate's advice below about seed starting-resist the urge to start too soon! To everything its season; patience and perseverance accomplish all things.

Be well,


-Trisha Smith
Community Education Assistant, Home Horticulture
Piscataquis County
Regular Feature:
Now Is the Time To...
By Kate Garland, Horticulturist, UMaine Extension Penobscot County

  • Purchase seeds and supplies. Seed companies are doing their best to keep up with the unprecedented demand for products, but don’t assume that your favorite carrot or beet varieties will be available closer to the growing season. Add some row cover to your order so you’ll be ready to extend the season a little earlier.
  • Make an irrigation plan. The past few years have reminded us to not take water for granted. Now is a great time to evaluate where you could benefit the most from a new drip irrigation system and start doing the research on making it happen this year. If it is too costly, or you’re intimidated by the overall process, consider adding a small section this year to see if it’s worth a larger investment in the future.
  • AVOID starting most seeds indoors. One of the most common mistakes new gardeners make is starting seeds too early. Tomatoes, peppers, broccoli, basil, cosmos, and zinnia are all examples of crops that should be sown after April 1. Unless you have a great propagation space, starting sooner can lead to lanky, overgrown plants that are more susceptible to transplant shock and nutrient management problems.
  • Start onion, leek, shallot, parsley, and pansy seeds indoors. We didn’t say you should avoid sowing all seeds indoors this time of year. Learn more about best practices for starting seeds indoors.
  • Order bare root trees or shrubs to add to the landscape. Read more for reasons why you should give bare root plants a try.
  • AVOID pruning spring flowering shrubs. Unless you’re okay with sacrificing those precious blooms, spring performers such as forsythia, rhododendron, lilac, azalea, magnolia, and quince should be pruned shortly after flowering. To be clear, pruning them this time of year is not harmful to the plant, it only impacts the cheerful show in your landscape as the days get warmer.

What's to Love About Bare Root Plants?
By Marjorie Peronto, Extension Educator, UMaine Extension Hancock County.

Photos by Liz Stanley, Extension Community Education Assistant, Horticulture, Knox & Lincoln Counties
What is a bare root plant?
A wide variety of deciduous woody plants are sold bare-root (without soil). A bare root plant is grown in the field until it is the right size to be sold (usually still relatively young), and dug up when dormant. After the soil is washed from the roots, the plant is kept in cold storage, and delivered to you before its buds break. When shipped to you, the roots are usually in a plastic bag, surrounded by insulative material to keep them moist. Bare root plants can only be safely planted when they are dormant and the ground isn’t frozen. In Maine, that is a short window, generally only during the months of April and November.

Show Your Love for Pollinators
The University of Maine Cooperative Extension is announcing a program designed to celebrate Maine landscapes that support pollinators (bees, butterflies, moths, wasps, flies, beetles, and hummingbirds). Home, school, and community gardeners, as well as farms, are encouraged to apply to have their spaces certified as Pollinator-Friendly.

A team of Master Gardener Volunteers and Extension staff are looking for applications that show evidence of key resources that pollinators require for survival and a commitment to environmental practices that protect pollinators.
Pollinators are essential to the production of fruits and vegetables, as well as for other flowering plants that bring color to each season. Unfortunately, scientists have documented a dramatic decline in pollinators in recent years. Loss of habitat, pesticide use, pollution, invasive species, and climate change have all contributed to this decline.

A successful application will demonstrate that the applicant’s garden contains flowering plants that support and sustain pollinators, with 70% of the species present being native to Maine. The applicant must also show proof that their garden/land provides access to nesting and shelter sites, and protection from pesticides for bees, butterflies and other insects, and hummingbirds. If successful, the applicant will be able to display a sign confirming that their site is certified as pollinator-friendly.

Find more information at Pollinator-Friendly Garden Certification or contact Laurie Bowen at 207.942.7396 or laurie.bowen@maine.edu.

Don’t Miss the “Heads Up” Provided by the Detection of a Browntail Moth Web in Smyrna

By Maine Forest Service contributors: Allison Kanoti, Tom Schmeelk, Aron Bishop, Bill Phipps

The Maine Forest Service says to take this heads up literally: look up at the trees around you for signs of browntail moth winter webs. If you think you’ve found it in an area without documented high populations, let us know. If you don’t know whether where you’ve found it is of interest, please report it.
The detection of browntail moth in Smyrna is not as surprising as it might seem. Why? Among the reasons:
  • In recent years, the adults have been captured in light traps in almost every corner of the state (the northwest corner of Maine is an exception).
  • It’s not the first time it has been found there; browntail moth webs and caterpillars were found at least as far north as Houlton in the early 1900s.
  • Its population today is at a historic high.
  • A dry spring in 2020 supported continued population growth, producing a bumper crop of moths in July.
  • It is easily moved by people as mature caterpillars, pupae, and adults; other stages are readily moved on live trees and shrubs (that’s how it got here from Europe).

We still talk with Mainers familiar with browntail moth who think that it is just a coastal phenomenon. That was nearly true in the last outbreak which ended in the early 2000s, but the Maine Forest Service has been reporting inland populations in places like Augusta since 2007, and significant populations in Bangor beginning in 2018.

We encourage all Mainers to become familiar with the winter webs of browntail moth. The Maine Forest Service conducts broad scale surveys for the pest, but to understand how it might impact day-to-day life where you are, inspect the trees around you.


Organizations and Allies
Click the links to learn more, find a chapter near you, and get involved.

Bangor Land Trust is a nonprofit organization that has conserved over 800 acres of land with public access in the Bangor area. Our mission is to protect for public benefit land and water in the Bangor region that have special ecological, natural, scenic, agricultural, or recreational significance; and to increase public understanding of the value of land and water conservation.

The Garden Club Federation of Maine  National Garden Clubs, Inc. provides education, resources and national networking opportunities for its members, to promote the love of gardening, floral design, civic and environmental responsibility.
 Good Shepherd Food Bank In addition to distributing food to Mainers in need, the Food Bank is leading a statewide effort to combat the root causes of hunger by engaging in advocacy, nutrition education, and strategic partnerships. Good Shepherd welcomes you to join in this effort.
Hirundo Wildlife Refuge is a 2,400 acre nature preserve spanning Pushaw and Dead Streams, Lac d'Or, vast wetlands (including a gently raised bog), Silver Maple Floodplain Forest, mixed hardwood and evergreen forests. Accessible by canoe and trails.

Maine Audubon is a member-based organization that engages people in conservation, education and advocacy to advance wildlife and wildlife habitat conservation in Maine.

Maine Federation of Farmers' Markets' mission is to cultivate a vibrant, sustainable farmers' market community as a vital part of Maine's local food network. The Federation works with farmers, consumers, and communities to make wholesome, locally-grown foods available to all residents, to educate consumers about food resources, and to support farm viability.

Maine Gleaning Network A collaborative farm surplus rescue effort gathering crops from Maine's fields and engaging communities in resourceful and equitable food system activities. 
Maine Mycological Association is devoted to a better understanding of mushrooms and our environment. MMA is also affiliated with the North American Mycological Association (NAMA).
Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association (MOFGA) The purpose of the Association is to help farmers and gardeners: grow organic food, fiber and other crops; protect the environment; recycle natural resources; increase local food production; support rural communities; and illuminate for consumers the connection between healthful food and environmentally sound farming practices.


The Grange provides opportunities for individuals and families to develop to their highest potential in order to build stronger communities and states, as well as a stronger nation.To inquire about finding a nearby Grange, contact Walter Boomsma at grange@boomsmaonline.com 

Transition Towns The Transition Movement is comprised of vibrant, grassroots community initiatives that seek to build community resilience in the face of such challenges as peak oil, climate change and the economic crisis. Transition Initiatives differentiate themselves from other sustainability and "environmental" groups by seeking to mitigate these converging global crises by engaging their communities in home-grown, citizen-led education, action, and multi-stakeholder planning to increase local self reliance and resilience. 
Transition Skowhegan meets every 1st Thursday at 6 pm, Skowhegan Public Library.
Contact Iver Lofving 474-7370 or Jason Tessier 474-4380
Dexter Dover Area Towns in Transition (DDATT): email info@ddatt.org 

Wild Seed Project works to increase the use of [Maine] native plants in all landscape settings in order to conserve biodiversity, encourage plant adaption in the face of climate change, safeguard wildlife habitat, and create pollination and migration corridors for insects and birds. Check out their Native Plant Blog.

Maine Agriculture in the Classroom promotes the understanding of agriculture and natural resources among students, educators, and the general public. Curricula and resources for educators and others working with young people. Check out newsletters and/or subscribe here.

Maine Farm to School Network supports the rapidly spreading farm to school movement in Maine. This network knits together a wide diversity of students, teachers, school nutritionists, parents, farmers and groups who support child nutrition and Maine agriculture. Search their resource database, join the network. 
University of Maine Cooperative Extension buildings are open, at least part-time, and some projects have begun to allow in-person volunteering. The health and safety of the community and the spread of the Coronavirus are still of concern, and offices are implementing strategies to maintain CDC-approved conditions. We have developed a number of new online resources for those who have reliable internet connections. Here are a few ways we’re available:
New Resources to Meet New Needs
You may have missed the live Zoom presentations, but we've rounded up fact sheets for each week's discussion for your reference
  • Victory Garden for ME series: videos for first time vegetable gardeners
  • Growing Maine Gardeners: An initiative led by UMaine Extension’s Home Horticulture team to address the increased demand for gardening education throughout the state of Maine and to provide additional support for beginner gardeners.
  • Garden Mentorship Program: direct technical assistance and encouragement via phone or email throughout the season from trained Master Gardener Volunteers

  • Maine Farm Products and Pick-Up Directory: The directory provides information on available local farm products and alternative pick-up options developed by farmers statewide to accommodate the recommended social distancing in light of COVID-19.
  • Learn at Home: Educational Resources to Use During School Closures: With novel coronavirus closing schools across Maine for several weeks, UMaine Extension has assembled a collection of helpful educational resources for parents and caregivers. From science to financial literacy, whether for toddlers or teenagers, we encourage you to take advantage of these activity books, guides, and other resources to help children remain engaged in educational experiences throughout their school closure.
  • Learn at Home with 4-H Friday Fun! Each Friday, watch for a new hands-on activity that you can try out with simple materials you have at home. Watch a short video clip to see how it’s done or download our 4-H Learn from Home activity sheets. Each activity outlines materials needed, easy-to-follow instructions, reflection questions for discussion and activity extensions.
  • Social Media: Many of our staff are stepping up efforts to communicate to audiences via social media. For example, see Rogers Farm Demonstration Garden’s short educational Facebook videos (also on Instagram).
New resources are being developed daily. Please check, UMaine Extension: Connecting with Maine Communities During COVID-19 for new updates on our outreach efforts. Your feedback and questions are welcome anytime.
Traditional Services Being Offered in New Ways
  • Identifying insect pests: Clay Kirby, Associate Scientist/Insect Diagnostician, will identify pest samples via images. See instructions for submitting an insect specimen.
  • Identifying plant diseases: Dr. Alicyn Smart will identify plant disease samples via images. See instructions for submitting a sample.
  • Tick testing: Ticks are being tested on a limited basis. See instructions for submitting a tick sample.
  • Publication orders: We are still processing orders from our publication catalog, including pesticide application training materials.
  • Soil testing: The Analytical Lab and Maine Soil Testing Service remains open and is taking samples with a priority on commercial samples. If you need to drop off a sample, you can place it in the box outside of Deering Hall; do NOT enter the building.
  • General gardening questions: Contact your county office. Emails are preferred. If it’s necessary to leave a voicemail, please leave your email address (if available) or a mailing address in addition to your phone number.
Master Gardener Volunteers
Rogers Farm Master Gardener Demonstration Garden sign
COVID-19 MGV Policy
Restart of MGV Volunteer Opportunities

The University of Maine System is continuing our state-wide gradual reopening process with new COVID-19 protocols and modifications in place. UMaine Extension Master Gardener Volunteers are also continuing a gradual restart process. All in-person Master Gardener Volunteer related activities must be approved by your MGV Coordinator.

As we restart in-person programs and projects, all Master Gardener Volunteers who wish to become involved, must complete all Covid-19 Volunteering Requirements as Outlined with this Link, and follow all CDC guidelines and protocols. 
Master Gardener Volunteers who have not met the criteria outlined, or do not wish to volunteer in person may continue to perform volunteer work from their own home or property on projects that have been approved by their MGV Coordinator.

Master Gardener Volunteer trainees from 2020 who are currently working towards their certification will continue to receive additional time to complete their initial 40 hours of volunteer service. Currently active certified Master Gardener Volunteers will still not be required to complete their annual 20 hours of volunteer service in order to maintain their certification. However, individuals may, with approval, continue to volunteer as they are able. Please report those hours in a timely way so we can track our impact within our communities.
Please check back regularly as this policy is subject to change, as we continue to assess the situation with the Covid-19. Updates will be provided to all active Master Gardener Volunteers and partner organizations as they develop. We ALL must do our best to ensure the utmost safety among our staff, volunteers and the communities we serve. 
Note: If things do worsen with Covid-19, we may need to refreeze volunteering outside the home programs and projects. We appreciate your cooperation and patience. If you have any questions and/or concerns, please don’t hesitate to reach out to your local county MGV Coordinator. 

Updated: 02/05/2021



Mission
The University of Maine Cooperative Extension is the major educational outreach program of the University of Maine with offices statewide. UMaine Extension provides Maine people with research-based educational programs to help them live fuller, more productive lives.

Mention or display of a trademark, proprietary product, or firm in text or figures does not constitute an endorsement and does not imply approval to the exclusion of other suitable products or firms.

The goal of the Central Maine Gardening Newsletter is to connect gardeners with resources and events that encourage and inform.

Quick Links

Local Weather Anytime
 
Most outdoor activities are driven by the weather. Our local National Weather Service in Caribou has meteorologists on staff 24 hours a day. They are willing to talk with you about predictions for your town. Give them a call at 492-0180. Or check out their online detailed maps at http://www.weather.gov/car/.

Need Pesticide Credits?

Need Pesticide credits?  Check out the Maine Board of Pesticide credit calendar.  Many approved pesticide applicator re-certification programs are listed. 


Interested in Volunteering with UMaine Extension?

Nearly 8,000 volunteers devoted more than 150,000 hours to their communities last year through the University of Maine Cooperative Extension! Look around our





Contributors 

Donna Coffin, Extension Educator

Kate Garland, Horticulturist

Kathy Hopkins, Extension Educator

Trisha Smith, Community Education Assistant

The goal of the Central Maine Gardening Newsletter is to connect gardeners with resources and events that encourage and inform.


The University of Maine does not discriminate on the grounds of race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, including transgender status and gender expression, national origin, citizenship status, age, disability, genetic information or veteran status in employment, education, and all other programs and activities. The following person has been designated to handle inquiries regarding non-discrimination policies: Director, Office of Equal Opportunity, 101 North Stevens Hall, 207.581.1226.
 
Penobscot County Office
Piscataquis County Office
Somerset County Office
Penobscot County Office - website 
Open Monday - Friday 8 am to 4:30 pm
307 Maine Ave Bangor, ME 04401 207.942.7396 or 800.287.1485

Piscataquis County Office - website 
Open Monday, Thursday, Friday 8 am to 4:30 pm
165 East Main St Dover-Foxcroft, ME 04426 207.564.3301 or 800.287.1491 

Somerset County Office- website
7 County Drive Skowhegan, Maine 04976-4209
Tel: 207.474.9622 or 1.800.287.1495 (in Maine)