Monthly News for Gardeners
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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 | |
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January 2023
Fellow gardeners of Central Maine,
How you care for your home garden and landscape makes a difference, and the UMaine Cooperative Extension Home Horticulture team is here to support you! Check out this month's Maine Home Garden News for the full articles linked in this newsletter, plus more! Subscribe here to get Maine Home Garden News in your inbox on the first of every month!
Wishing you all a very Happy New Year!
Yours,
Donna, Kate, and Laurie
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Winter Care of Houseplants
By Kyle Fletcher Baker, Cumberland County Master Gardener and MCN Maine Zone 5
Well, here it is, winter in Maine and while all around us outside is usually covered with snow, some of us are tending the sporadic gardens inside. Whether it’s one or two plants or you have a virtual jungle of plants, the care during winter, is the same as for outdoor plants during the warmer weather.
With luck, you were able to move all your plants outdoors for the summer, starting them off in a sheltered, shaded spot and eventually moving the sun lovers to full morning sun for the warmer days. This helps build roots and foliage and in some cases, initiate flower production. Thanksgiving and Holiday cactii are two primary examples, that can be coaxed into bloom 2-3 times during the winter long months.
To the initiate houseplant owner, houseplants are often neglected and frequently end up being tossed in the compost pile come spring.
To get the most enjoyment out of your houseplants, you need to care for them the same as if they were outdoors in the garden. Light, soil, water and pest control are the four major areas of concern. If you can keep track of these four, then you can have luxurious, flowering and foliage plants to help combat the winter blues. Remember they’re living things, so take care of them the best you can.
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Shrubs & Switchels
While vinegar-based beverages may seem to be the current rage, humans have been drinking vinegar in various forms since antiquity, with records going back at least 4,000 years ago to the Babylonians. The sugar-sweetened versions we know today as shrubs can be traced to Turkey (the word shrub derives from the Arabic word sharâb, meaning “to drink”). By the time that drink made its way to colonial America by the very early 1700’s, it was in the modified form of a citrus and sugar syrup blended with either brandy or rum. Drinks known as fruit vinegar, consisting of fruit (especially raspberries), sugar and vinegar, became popular here at about the same time and by the mid-1800s also became known as shrubs. Another early vinegar drink known as switchel arose in the Caribbean sometime in the 16th or 17th centuries. Made with vinegar, ginger, water and likely molasses, switchel came to colonial New England by the late 1600’s along with the molasses trade. Once there, honey and sometimes maple syrup – sweeteners readily available in New England – replaced the molasses. It was served to farmers, especially during hay-harvesting time, and thus switchel came to be known as “hay-maker’s punch.”
Read more...
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UMaine researchers testing lobster shells to thwart potato soil pathogens
Scientists at the University of Maine are evaluating if lobster shells can cultivate beneficial microbial communities that ward off soilborne potato pathogens. The novel shell-to-spud combination may connect two cornerstones of Maine’s food system and enhance the state’s circular economy.
Potatoes are Maine’s top agricultural commodity with a value of more than $215 million in 2021, according to a National Agricultural Statistics Service report. The crop’s value is in its roots, making it especially susceptible to soilborne diseases. Early potato dying syndrome, a fungal pathogen present in Maine, can decimate as much as half of a crop in severely affected fields.
Katie Ashley, a plant science Ph.D. student in the lab of Associate Professor Jianjun Hao, is assessing how different concentrations of cooked, dried and ground lobster shells may prevent potato disease. Ross Sousa, a fourth-year botany major from Somerset, Massachusetts, has also worked on the project as a laboratory technician. In addition to disease resistance, the team is also tracking soil microbial communities, overall crop yield, and plant emergence, vigor, biomass and height.
Read more...
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Are you an avid birder? Do you want to take your citizen science efforts to the next level?
Read on for more on how you can help complete additional Maine Bird Atlas goals.
Winter Atlas Season and Goals
14 December – 15 March. Atlasing during the winter is fairly straightforward. The goal is to visit all habitats that are safely accessible within each block and document as many species as possible within the survey window. We are aiming for a minimum of 6 hours of birding in each Atlas Block, with at least 3 hours of surveying during early winter (14 December – 31 January) and 3 hours of surveying during late winter (1 February – 15 March).
Atlas Blocks, Maps, and Location Precision
The Atlas block is the basic survey unit of the Maine Bird Atlas and Maine is subdivided into approximately 4,000 Atlas blocks. Awareness of the specific location and block name where you document birds is critical for contributing records. We suggest that you download and print PDF Atlas maps of your region of interest or take along a Delorme Atlas of Maine or a GPS in the field with you to accurately record the locations of birds you observe.
Unlike for the breeding component of this project, we have not identified specific priority blocks for surveying or established a separate sign up for adopting blocks in the winter. Because slight mishaps or inadequate preparation can result in life threatening scenarios in winter, we do not have specific coverage goals for the winter atlas component. We only strive to adequately survey as many blocks as can be safely attempted given time and effort over the five-year duration of the project. We encourage volunteers to focus their winter survey efforts on any and all Atlas Blocks that can be safely accessed.
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Bulletin #2500, Gardening to Conserve Maine’s Native Landscape: Plants to Use and Plants to Avoid
Maine’s Native Landscape
Maine’s landscape offers spectacular variety, with ocean beaches, lakes, rivers, mountains, fields, and forests. Maine is locally influenced by both coastal and inland weather patterns. This creates relatively mild areas, and areas that are almost arctic, all within the state’s 300-mile length and 200-mile width. Maine rises from sea level to over 5,000 feet in elevation at the top of Mount Katahdin. This wide range of elevation results in a diversity of habitats including flat sandy plains, rolling hills, rounded summits, and craggy mountains with sheer cliffs. Maine’s forests vary from spruce and fir near the coast to hardwoods in the western hills, and mixed hardwood/softwood forests in the North. More than 100 types of habitats have been identified with about 1,500 native plant species spread across the state’s varied landscape.
What Are Native Versus Non-native Plant Species, and Why Should I Care?
Native plants are those species that either originated here or arrived in Maine without human intervention, perhaps thousands of years ago. Non-native species were brought intentionally for horticultural or other uses or came accidentally in ships’ ballasts, crop seed, or in soil. Some non-native plants continue to escape from cultivation and become naturalized in wetlands, lakes, woods, fields or roadsides.
Natural predators and diseases are often left behind when non-native plants are moved to new places. Therefore, their spread is uncontrolled and such non-native species as purple loosestrife, Japanese barberry, and Asian honeysuckles can become serious pests.
One long-term effect of invasive non-native species is to degrade habitat for native plants and animals. Some non-native plants choke out native vegetation, diminish the availability of food and habitat for wildlife, and alter the behavior of native animals such as pollinators, plant-eating insects, and fruit-eating birds. Unchecked, invasion by non-natives could drive some species to extinction. This is why non-native plants are a major concern to people who want to protect native species and natural areas.
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Common Buttonbush - Ornamental Features and Ecological Values
Buttonbush is one of the last native American shrubs to leaf-out in the spring when its oval to elliptical glossy green leaves emerge and unfold. These leaves provide food for the larval stage of, most notably, the showy hydrangea sphinx and titan sphinx moths. They are also a food source for many pollinating insects and hummingbirds.
Buttonbush tends to go unnoticed until it starts flowering in June through August. Each gumball- to golf ball-sized floral sphere (1- to 1½-inch diameter) is comprised of many scented, creamy-white tubular flowers packed closely together. The long styles that extend above the four anthers make it look like an artificial satellite or pincushion. (The style is a long slender stalk that joins the stigma at its tip, which receives pollen produced by anthers, with the ovary at the bottom which produces the seed.) Each flower lasts up to 4 days. These spherical blooms are attached like ornaments to the ends of branches and occasionally along the length of shoots by 1- to 2½-inch long stalks called peduncles.
After the flowers are fertilized by pollinators, a hard-ball of reddish-brown nutlets develops and matures from August to November. These nutlets (or “buttons”) persist into winter and provide seasonal interest. They are also consumed by a variety of waterfowl.
The fall color of buttonbush leaves ranges from insignificant to mottled brown and yellow.
Read more...
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Before you go out on the ice make sure you know how thick it is and the related weight it can carry. Thick ice in one area of a pond or lake does not guarantee the same thickness in another location of the waterbody. Ice thickness is impacted by many factors, including the nearness to shore, presence of vegetation, underwater currents and springs, the daytime and nighttime temperatures, the impact of precipitation, and whether the ice is newly formed hard ice, or old ice that has been sublimating (evaporating into the air), which can make it rotten in spots and more easily fractured.
Venturing onto ice is always at your own risk, but when you measure the ice and inspect the condition you'll be much safer. Stay Safe - If you don't know, don't go!
General Guidelines for Clear, Hard Ice are:
- Less than 4-inches = Stay Off!
- 4-inches = one person with light gear; no groups!
- 5-inches = small group, but spread out!
- 6-inches = single snowmobile
- 9-inches = multiple snowmobiles, but spread out!
Learn how to inspect ice at the Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife's Winter Ice Safety Tips page.
~ Jocelyn Hubbell, Interpretive Specialist
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Camping Reservations Opening Day Includes Lily Bay State Park
Camping reservations for Lily Bay State Park will now be accepted and processed on the first business day of February along with Sebago Lake State Park beginning this year, 2/1/2023 at 9:00 AM, EST. We have heard your feedback and have made this change to improve our campground reservation system during the opening days.
Remember, prime sites and locations fill up fast so plan to make your reservation as early as possible to secure a site. Here are campground maps and reservation information, that includes a demonstration of the system, to help you plan ahead for making your reservation in February.
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Start planning your winter ice fishing adventures
We're all awaiting the first FLAG of the season! To help you start planning your ice fishing destinations, Maine's fisheries biologists from each corner of the state have put together a list of waters to try that typically freeze earlier than others. You may even learn their favorite ice fishing tip.
Mother Nature doesn't always cooperate, and we still need the right conditions to set in before ice will begin to form in most of the state. Be patient, start planning, get your traps ready, and do your ice dance! Hopefully we will be chasing flags soon. Always check the ice for yourself and use extreme caution.
For more information on where to fish and tips from Maine's fisheries biologists, read the December and January fishing reports at mefishwildlife.com/fishingreport.
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Winter Black Bean Soup
Serves: 4 | Serving Size: 1 1/4 cups
Ingredients
2 teaspoons olive or canola oil
1⁄2 cup onion, chopped (about 1⁄2 medium onion)
1 tablespoon chili powder
1 teaspoon ground cumin (optional)
2 cups diced tomatoes canned or diced frozen tomatoes, not drained
2 cans low sodium black beans, drained and rinsed
1 cup water
1 tablespoon lime or lemon juice (optional)
Nonfat yogurt or low fat sour cream and cilantro for garnish (optional)
Directions
- Heat oil in a large saucepan over medium heat. Add onion and cook. Stir until the onion begins to soften (about 2 to 3 minutes). Add chili powder. Add cumin, if desired. Cook and stir for 1 minute.
- Add tomatoes, beans, and water. Bring to a boil. Reduce heat and simmer for 10 minutes covered).
- Remove from heat and stir in lime or lemon juice, if desired.
- Garnish with sour cream and cilantro before serving.
Tips
- Soup can be cooked in a slow cooker on low for 3-4 hours. Thin the soup by adding water. Thicken soup by cooking longer without the cover.
Watch the video
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Call for Visual Artists - AWW Visiting Artist Application Opens on January 5
The Allagash Wilderness Waterway (AWW) has fueled the imagination of native Americans, rusticators, artisans, and the general public for centuries. Many visitors have attempted to capture the Allagash headwater lakes and lower river's beauty and solitude through stories, drawings, photography, and music. Henry David Thoreau's journey to Pillsbury Island on Eagle Lake in the mid-1800s inspired him to write about his adventure in The Maine Woods.
To honor this history, the Bureau of Parks and Lands AWW is continuing its Visiting Artist Program. The Program's goal is to immerse artists in the exceptional AWW wilderness to interpret and share their experiences through their art.
Read more...
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To our Fans and Friends:
Due to a conflict with scheduling our venue, there will be no 2023 Maine Flower Show. We are hopeful for a return in March of 2024.
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Garden & Home Resources
Timely UMaine Extension Publications
- Webinars & Videos
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Garden Chats: Growing Resilience From the Ground Up- You may have missed the live Zoom presentations, but we've rounded up fact sheets for each week's discussion for your reference
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Victory Garden for ME series: videos for first time vegetable gardeners
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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.
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Free Distance Nutrition Education Classes through UMaine Extension Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program is free to income eligible adults with children or your adults and if you are eligible for programs such as SNAP, WIC, or Head Start.
- Other
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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.
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Learn at Home: Educational Resources to Use During School Closures: 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.
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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.
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Social Media: Many of our staff are stepping up efforts to communicate to audiences via social media.
Traditional Services Being Offered in New Ways
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Identifying insect pests: Charley Armstrong, will identify pest samples via images. See instructions for submitting an insect specimen.
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Identifying plant diseases: Dr. Alicyn Smart will identify plant disease samples via images. See instructions for submitting a sample.
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Tick testing: Ticks are being tested on a limited basis. See instructions for submitting a tick sample.
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Publication orders: We are still processing orders from our publication catalog, including pesticide application training materials.
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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.
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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.
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Extension Programs in other states:
If you find a great program when you're poking around online, let me know so I can share with your fellow gardeners: donna.coffin@maine.edu
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Garden Organizations and Allies
Click the links to learn more, find a chapter near you, and get involved.
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Master Gardener Volunteers
Reminder for MGV
to report their time and activities in the on the Master Gardener Volunteer Reporting Volunteer Hours website.
Did you forget the password? Contact laurie.bowen@maine.edu
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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.
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The goal of the Central Maine Gardening Newsletter is to connect gardeners with resources and events that encourage and inform.
Quick Links
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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?
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
Photos: Edwin Remsberg, Donna Coffin, or Laurie Bowen unless other listed.
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Contributors
Donna Coffin, Extension Professor
Kate Garland, Extension Horticulturist
Laurie Bowen, Food Systems Program 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.
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Piscataquis County Office | |
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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
7 County Drive Skowhegan, Maine 04976-4209
Tel: 207.474.9622 or 1.800.287.1495 (in Maine)
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