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1) FEBRUARY IS THE MONTH TO....
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GIVE SOME LOVE TO YOUR HOUSEPLANTS. Vigorous regrowth will start in the next couple of months after some much needed winter down time. It's a great chance to repot any of your plants that have become root bound! Remember only to go up one size on the pot (something like a 1-2 inch increase in diameter of the container), or you can divide many plants and repot them in two containers. Asexual propagation of the plants you already have is the least expensive way to grow your home collection. :-)
- MAKE SURE YOUR BIRD FEEDERS ARE FULL. Even though we've had unseasonably warm weather this year (boo!), a nice steady supply of food for our colorful friends can really help them make it through the winter.
- BRIGHTEN YOUR DAY WITH A LITTLE MEDDLING. This is a great time to force shrub branches indoors for winter color in the dreary days of February, and it's fun for the whole family. Learn more about it here.
- OK, IT'S FINALLY HERE. . . SORT OF. At the end of the month, you can try sowing some onions and leeks for later planting out. It's normally best to wait just a little into March, but with the winter we've had thus far, maybe we'll have an early spring! Don't get carried away, though--keep holding on to those other seeds and fight the temptation to plant them all.
- GEAR UP FOR SYRUP. Maple sap season is upon us, so read up on when, how, and how much to tap from those delicious natural factories in your backyard. Please exercise caution when tapping--icy patches below and snowy branches above can really ruin your day.
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Photo by Trisha Smith
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Happy plants in the Asa Adams Elementary School Greenhouse
(
Photos by Jonathan Foster)
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Photo by U
Maine
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2) Worm Composting
By Trisha Smith, University of Maine Cooperative Extension, Piscataquis County
How do you manage your household compost during the winter? Are you harnessing the power of Einsenia foetida? So-called "red wigglers" can eat up to half their weight in food every day! They are a little particular about their housing conditions and food options, but the reward is the castings. Yup, worm poop. It's miraculous stuff: improves the texture and CEC of soil, among other things. Mix it in with your seed or transplanting mix, stir a little in to the soil of your houseplants...
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3) Garden Snapshots
This greenhouse right in the front atrium gives students and staff a refreshing burst of green even in the dead of winter.
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4) Carrot Fries, Baked with Cumin
Makes 10 Servings
1 1/2 pounds of carrots (fun to use rainbow carrots in shades of yellow, white, orange and red)
2 tsp olive oil
1 tsp ground cumin
1/8 tsp sea salt
Directions:
- Preheat oven to 400° F
- Line baking sheet with parchment paper.
- Wash carrots well to remove dirt. . .
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5) Featured Plants: Black Cherry
Developed by Marjorie Peronto, associate Extension professor, University of Maine Cooperative Extension; and Reeser C. Manley, assistant professor of horticulture, University of Maine.
Black cherry needs full sun and a moist but well-drained soil to flourish. Use it as a single specimen tree, placing it in the landscape where you can appreciate its spring flowers, ruggedly handsome bark, and autumn foliage, but where its small black cherries will not stain your driveway or patio when they fall from the tree in late summer.
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UMAINE EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS
University of Maine Cooperative Extension Master Gardener Volunteers Training
The training will cover various gardening topics including: botany, plant propagation, soils, composting, landscape design, vegetables, pesticide safety, tree fruits, insects and plant diseases, ecology, plant selection, and more.
Weekly training sessions will be held 10am-1:30pm on Tuesdays beginning in mid-February through May and will resume for two weeks in September.
Application deadline is February 8th. Full schedule and a link to the online application can be found at the following website:
umaine.edu/penobscot/programs/gardening/master-gardeners/
Home Composting workshop at Northern Penobscot Tech Region III in Lincoln on February 11th 3-5pm. Learn how to turn kitchen scraps and yard debris into a great soil amendment for your landscape. Fee $10.
Please register by Monday, February 8th by calling 794-3004 x 211 between 8am and 3pm M-F or email pmurray@msln.net
The Rogers Farm Demonstration Garden will hold its second planning meeting for the 2016 season on Tuesday, Feb. 9, 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.
Annual 4-H Silent Auction is scheduled at the Bangor Mall on Saturday, February 13, 2016, from 10:00 AM to 5:30 PM.
UMaine announces contract for dining operations to Sodexo which pledges to surpass 20% local food commitment and invest $14M in campus facilities. Read more
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LOCAL EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS
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." A seed-saving group has been formed, and will meet Feb. 6 at Abbott Memorial Library in Dexter at 9 am. 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 Aide
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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