| |
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
1) OCTOBER IS THE MONTH TO...
- Step away from the pruners. While it's tempting to trim back certain woody plants during fall cleanup, it's usually best to wait until late winter or early spring to prune most ornamental and edible trees and shrubs. Find more details: Pruning Woody Landscape Plants, How Do I Prune Raspberries?, How to Prune a Blueberry Bush, Pruning Apple Trees.
- Take in a country fair and revel in the beauty autumn in Maine has to offer. Check out Facts About Leaf Color in Maine before you head out on the road so you can impress your fellow leaf peepers.
- Plant garlic and ornamental bulbs after the soil has cooled (typically mid- to late-October). See Growing Hardneck Garlic in Your Maine Garden.
- Conversely, dig tender bulbs or bulblike structures after the foliage is hit by the frost (ex: dahlias, gladiolas and canna lilies). For excellent tips on how to cure and store a wide variety of these plants, check out this excellent resource from University of Minnesota.
- Start a compost pile while leaves are abundant. Leaves make an excellent substrate for a compost pile - especially when first shredded with a mower. Collect excess leaves in a separate pile to add when depositing food scraps and other high nitrogen inputs.
- Make some tasty and safe apple cider. For more information, see Safe Home Cider Making.
- Score some great deals at a local nursery. It's not too late to plant trees, shrubs, and perennials. If you don't have a perfect spot for those terrific half-price impulse purchases, remove them from the pot and temporarily sink them into the ground in a holding area for the winter. Water and mulch well before the ground freezes solid.
- Save seed. Be sure to know whether the seeds being saved are going to produce plants with the same traits as the "parent plant" - any plant you may have purchased with "F1" in its name is a hybrid and will not produce the same characteristics. See An Introduction to Seed Saving for the Home Gardener for more information.
- Test your soil. Soil testing can be done anytime, but it's especially helpful to find out what needs to be added to the soil and incorporate it when there are typically fewer other garden chores to be done.
- Stretch the growing season a few more weeks, or even longer, by constructing a simple low tunnel over cold tolerant crops such as spinach and kale. If using plastic to cover the low tunnel, vent on warm sunny days to prevent overheating.
- Dry those beautiful herbs or make your own herbal vinegar. Don't miss the opportunity to gather mint, oregano, thyme, and other items that will be much appreciated in teas and soups this winter.
- Prepare for live Christmas trees. If you're thinking ahead to the holidays and are considering having a potted living Christmas tree, now is the time to dig the hole where you plan to plant it outside. Store the soil in containers where it won't freeze solid. Living trees should only be inside for a short amount of time in order to minimize stress. Learn more here.
- Find the best place to store fresh produce to ensure longer shelf life. Not all produce should be treated the same.
|
Master Gardener John Hackney with his pumpkins
(Photo by Art Shaw)
|
Rogers Farm Field Day
Color Wheel Plot
(
Photos by Art Shaw)
|
Photo by Jonathan Foster
|
2) Rogers Farm Demonstration Garden 2016 Field Day Recap
By Jonathan Foster, UMaine Cooperative Extension, Penobscot County
"I want to compliment you, and all involved for a wonderful presentation. It was the first time attending for us!"
(From a satisfied visitor!)
Building on 2015's hugely successful Field Day at the Demonstration Garden, the University of Maine Cooperative Extension and the Penobscot County Master Gardeners expanded their efforts at marketing and content for this annual event. The results were spectacular!
|
3) RF Field Day Snapshots
Young visitors enjoyed amusing and impressive face painting.
The Peony Society of Maine demonstrates proper techniques for division.
|
4) Basic Roasted Beets
(Courtesy of Penn State University Cooperative Extension)
Were you turned off of canned beets as a child? Have you wondered why so many people love them? Try them the simplest and best way possible!
Ingredients:
- 3 medium beets
- 1 tablespoon olive oil
Heat the oven to 375°F and arrange a rack in the middle. Rinse the beets and trim off any leafy tops. Wrap in aluminum foil and place in the oven...
|
|
|
 5) Featured Plant: Black Swallowwort (Cynanchum louiseae)
Developed by the Maine Natural Areas Program and University of Maine Cooperative Extension
Black swallowwort is particularly troublesome in open areas and along edges and banks where it grows over other vegetation, blocking light and creating tangled thickets. It alters and degrades natural habitat by crowding out native plants and is a threat to rare species in some locations in New England.
|
|
|
|
|
|
EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS
The Maine Cheese Festival
, Oct 16th, Savage Oaks Vineyard and Winery, Union. 11-5. FMI click
HERE
, for tickets ($10), click
HERE
.
Great Maine Apple Day, Oct 16th, Common Ground Educational Center, Unity. 12-4. MOFGA members $2, non-members $4, kids free. Workshops and talks, taste tests and activities. Learn more HERE.
Piscataquis County Extension Association Annual Meeting. Oct 28th, 6 pm, Dover-Foxcroft Congregational Church. Free program and dessert. The program presentation is "Wild Pollinators and Honeybees: Their Importance to Garden and Farm Crops" by Matt Scott, co-founder of the Maine State Beekeepers Association (MSBA). RSVP to Amanda via amanda.miles@maine.edu or by phone (564-3301)
The Maine Home Garden News, a statewide newsletter by the University of Maine, is published during the gardening season. I
nterested Maine gardeners may access the most current issue
here
.
The Beatrix Farrand Society has announced its 2016 program schedule. Details on the talks being offered at Garland Farm this season, as well as information about the Society, can be found here.
|
EVENTS & ANNOUNCEMENTS
Maine Composts! Week. Travis Blackmer, UMaine School of Economics, is looking for composting sites willing to open their facilities for students to learn about composting. To find out more with no commitment, email travis.blackmer@umaine.edu.
The Maine School Garden Network newsletter, from an local organization dedicated to school gardens, healthy eating, and environmental stewardship, can be accessed
here.
Online courses and resources
:
For aspiring, new, and experienced farmers.
Support Maine farmers and eat food grown and produced in Maine. Outdoor markets will be opening soon, and many communities have year-round farmers' markets.
Find a Farmers' Market near you
|
CLUBS & ORGANIZATIONS
Penobscot Beekeepers Association
Monthly meetings through most of the year. Visit their Facebook page or contact Peter Corwin (petercowin@tds.et) for more details.
Maine Herb
Society Monthly meetings in Bangor through most of the year. Visit their website or call Theresa for more information 942-7396.
Hampden Garden Club
Monthly meetings Feb.-Dec., fourth Tuesday. Call Pat 862-3909 or Ellen 234-2945 for more information.
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
Dexter Dover Area Towns in Transition (DDATT). Folks interested in seed saving have formed an interest group. More information can be found on DDATT's Facebook page.
|
|
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.
|
|
|
|
|
Contributors
Jonathan Foster, Home Horticulture Coordinator
Donna Coffin, Extension Educator
Kate Garland, Horticulturist
Theresa Tilton, Administrative Support Supervisor
|
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.
|
|
|
|
Surface mail recipients can contact their county Extension office for further information when web links are included in an article.
|
|
|
|
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
