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1) MARCH IS THE MONTH TO....
- PLANT THOSE SEEDS. At long last, the grueling days of watching the lack of snow outside in agony and fighting the urge to start seeds are over! Check out our bulletin on Starting Seeds to learn how to do it like a pro and then get down to business. If you need some idea for where to start your seeds, check out UMaine's video on Starting a Seeding Stand. The remainder of this newsletter was written with extreme self-discipline and under great stress, as the authors wanted to be starting seeds!
- PRUNE. Now is the time to think about doing some maintenance on any of your woody plants that you didn't get to in the Fall, before the spring flush of growth pops out. Dead or damaged branches, branches that rub against one another, old canes that should be removed to invigorate a shrub, or unruly runners cheekily exploring other areas of your garden--just be careful not to remove any stems with flower buds or you'll be disappointed later this season. Get the specifics from UMaine experts via Pruning Woody Plants, Pruning Fruit Trees, and Pruning Ornamentals.
- FORCE BRANCHES. Get a head start on spring blossoms and bring welcome color back into the home by forcing some branches from the garden to bloom. Find out how to accomplish this wonderful chore and peruse what plants will respond to your forceful ministrations in the Purdue University bulletin.
- BE OBSERVANT. Many of the plants in our beautiful Maine landscape are beginning to wake up after a long winter's nap. Get up close and take a nice long look at the buds all around us--that's a whole new cycle of growth preparing to cut loose. It may just renew your sense of wonder in the garden!
- SAMPLE SOME SYRUP. March 27th will be Maine Maple Sunday, so pack up the whole family later this month and head out to a local sugar shack for tasty tree-ts. Find out more information at the Maine Maple Producers Website.
- REMAIN PATIENT. You may feel the urge as the sun brightens to remove winter mulch from your perennials and get a head start on spring clean up. But that mulch provides crucial protection against temperature drops and we all know we aren't out of the woods just yet, so leave it on a little longer. While you're paying attention to those perennials, take a quick peek around to make sure the freeze-thaw cycle hasn't pushed any roots up out of the soil. If so, gently cover them back up.
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Photos by UMaine
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Texas peppers in December.
(
Photo by Jonathan Foster)
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Photo by U
Maine
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2) Brassica oleracea: What's in a Name?
By Jonathan Foster, University of Maine Cooperative Extension, Penobscot County
"What's in a name? That which we call a rose/
By any other name would smell as sweet." (
Romeo and Juliet
, W. Shakespeare)
The unfortunate Juliet was, of course, declaring her love for Romeo and her lack of concern over his problematic family name. But for our purposes, I'm co-opting the phrase to shed light on an important crop species that bears one major name, but arrives to our markets and table in a bizarre array of forms. While I'm sure none of us will make a compelling case that calling it any other name would make it "smell sweet," we're talking about a garden favorite in the Mustard family...
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3) Garden Snapshots
Roxburgh Fig in Florida in January.
(Photo by Kate Garland.)
Texas Holly in December.
(Photo by Jonathan Foster)
Your friendly neighborhood Penobscot County horticulturists both traveled south this winter, bringing back mysterious photos of these exotic wonders fruiting away, with a miraculous lack of snow, ice, and cold. Just remember, though, that gardening in Maine is *real* gardening. . . .
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4) Squash (or Pumpkin) Bread
Makes 12 Servings
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup oil
3/4 cup squash/pumpkin puree
2 eggs
1-1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
Optional Ingredients:
1/2 cup raisins
1/2 cup chopped nuts
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 350°
- In a large bowl, beat together the sugar...
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5) Featured Plants: Purple Loosestrife
Developed by the Maine Natural Areas Program and University of Maine Cooperative Extension
An invasion of purple loosestrife leads to a loss of plant and wildlife diversity. Infestations of purple loosestrife appear to follow a pattern of establishment, maintenance at low numbers, and then dramatic population increases when conditions are optimal. This plant flourishes in wetland habitats that have been disturbed or degraded by draining, natural water drawdown in dry years, bulldozing, siltation, shore manipulation, cattle trampling, or dredging.
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UMAINE EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS
The Rogers Farm Demonstration Garden will hold its final planning meeting for the 2016 season on Tuesday, March 8th, from 6-8pm, at 307 Maine Ave, Bangor.
Pruning Woody Landscape Plants is a 4-part course taking place on Saturdays in late March/early April in the Ellsworth area (one class held in Bangor). Fee $55. Call Hancock County UMaine Extension for details and registration information 1-800-287-1479.
umaine.edu/hancock
Support Maine 4-H Camps by voting in Bangor Savings Bank's Community Matters More campaign. Top vote-getters in each region will get $5,000! You can vote for up to three organizations online or at your local BSB branch. We have three 4-H camps in Maine, and you will need to write in the camps under the appropriate county/service area. Tanglewood is in Waldo, Blueberry Cove is in Knox, and Bryant Pond is in Oxford County.
Livestock 101 Field Day. Saturday, April 2
nd
, 11:45am-3:15pm at the Witter Farm, Univer
sity of Maine, Orono.
Learn basic beginner techniques such as measuring livestock vital signs, body condition assessment, injection techniques, animal restraint, grain & feed quality assessment, sheep hoof trimming, growth curves, poultry handling, DIY poultry equipment, worming schedules and bio-security for the small farm.
Speakers include Dr. Gary Anderson, Dr. Anne Lichtenwalner, Dr. Dave Marcinkowski & Donna Coffin from the University of Maine Cooperative Extension, Dr. Jim Weber from UMaine School of Food and Agri-culture, Cindy Kilgore & Dr. Justin Bergeron from the Maine Department of Agriculture. Spon-sored
by the University of Maine Cooperative Extension, University of Maine J. Franklin Witter Center, Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, and Maine Organic Farmers and Gardeners Association. Pre-registration is required for this free program here. Or contact Melissa Libby at 581-2788 or melissa.libby1
@maine.edu. UMaine Extension programs are open and accessible to all in accordance with program goals. Please contact Melissa Libby for disability accommodations at least 14 days in advance.
Maine Vegetable & Fruit Schools
will be held on Tuesday, March 15,
at Seasons Event & Conference Center in Portland and on Wednesday, March 16 at the Bangor Motor Inn Conference Center. More information on our website. Please register as soon as possible. The cost is $45.00 and includes lunch.
The Maine Home Garden News, a statewide newsletter by the University of Maine, is published during the gardening season. Interested Maine gardeners may access the most current issue here.
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OTHER EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS
Community Food Security Forum, Sat March 5, 9am-4pm, at the Center for Environmental Education at Chewonki, 485 Chewonki Neck Road, Wiscasset. E
ngage community members in a constructive dialogue on securing healthy food for all residents. All counties welcome.
Topics include
Food Councils, food insecurity and nutrition incentives, educational approaches, fighting childhood hunger, resource development.
Registration is $25.00 with scholarships available. Snacks and lunch provided.
The
Maine School Garden Network newsletter, from an local organization dedicated to school gardens, healthy eating, and environmental stewardship, can be accessed
here. Learn about Maine School Garden Day, the Northeast Farm to School Institute, and more! They are also hiring a new coordinator--see the job posting
Peony Society of Maine Dinner and presentation by Steven Johnson, self described peony enthusiast, compulsive gardner and landscape designer, part-time nursery owner and collector of herbaceous peonies. March 15th. A broad selection of peonies will be raffled at this event. RSVP and event details
Maine Science Festival
Online courses for aspiring, new, and experienced farmers.
Giant pumpkin seeds for sale to benefit the Bangor Community Garden.
Each $5 packet (available at Tiller and Rye) will contain two 'Atlantic Giant' seeds and a tip sheet for growing a big beauty.
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CLUBS AND ORGANIZATIONS
Maine Herb Society Monthly meetings in Bangor through most of the year. Visit their website or call Theresa for more information 942-7396.
Penobscot Beekeepers Association Monthly meetings through most of the year. Visit their Facebook page or contact Peter Cowin petercowin@tds.net for more details.
Maine Organic Famers and Gardeners Association Penobscot Chapter Potluck meetings the last Sunday of every month. Contact Galen Young of Argyle Acres, 745-4797 or galen.the.beekeeper@gmail.com.
Brewer Garden & Bird Club
Orrington Garden Club
10am, 1st Wed. of the month Sept-June. Meetings are held at member homes. Contact Barbara 989-3746 or barenaj@gmail.com.
Hampden Garden Club
Monthly meetings Feb.-Dec., fourth Tuesday. Call Pat 862-3909 or Ellen 234-2945 for more information.
Veazie Garden Club
Meetings second Tues. Sept-June, 7pm Veazie Grade School. Call 866-4564.
Penquis Beekeepers
Meetings 7pm on second Tues. of the month at the Dexter VFW.
Sebasticook Garden Club meets at 1:30 on the 4th Thursday in March-October. Most meetings are held at the Newport Cultural Center located at 154 Main Street in Newport. For information call Ann at 416-4807
Milo Garden Club-Second Tuesdays September-June. Locations and programs vary. Contact Gini Goodhind at 943-7772 or Pauline Mullins at 343-2612 FMI.
Dexter Dover Area Towns in Transition (DDATT) is a group "helping to develop local food, energy, and economic systems that support a community moving from dependence on fossil fuels." More information can be found on DDATT's Facebook page.
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Mission
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.
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Contributors
Jonathan Foster, Home Horticulture Coordinator
Donna Coffin, Extension Educator
Kate Garland, Horticulturist
Theresa Tilton, Administrative Support Supervisor
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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.
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Surface mail recipients can contact their county Extension office for further information when web links are included in an article.
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