Central Maine Gardening Newsletter

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

September 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!

Yours,

Laurie and Kate

The Garden Mum

From Purdue University

Dendranthema x grandiflora (formerly known as Chrysanthemum x morifolium) has long been known as the “Queen of Autumn”. It provides flowers of various sizes and shapes and in many shades of yellow, orange, red, purple, bronze, pink, and white. The chrysanthemum was cultivated in China more than 2,000 years ago. It has been the national flower of Japan for several hundred years. In America, the chrysanthemum has been hybridized extensively. The result has been the popular and reliable cultivars of garden types and florists forcing mums of today.

Types Chrysanthemums are classified according to shape and arrangement of petals. The following are the major types and their characteristics:

Single - Daisy-like flowers with one to five rows of long petals radiating from a flat, central “eye”; nearly all cultivars are hardy.

Pompon - Small, stiff, almost globular flowers; some hardy cultivars.

Cushion - Often called “azalea” mums; early flowering; grow on low, bushy plants; most cultivars are hardy.

Anemone - Flowers like single mums, but with a rounded crest of deeper colored petals; most cultivars hardy.

Decorative - Flowers “incurved” (close, regular petals curving toward flower center), “incurving” (loose, irregular petals curving toward flower center) or “reflexed” (all petals curving away from flower center); many hardy cultivars.

Spoon - Petals spoon-shaped; some hardy cultivars.

Spider - Petals long and tubular with hooked ends; few hardy cultivars.

Quill - Petals straight, long, and tubular; few hardy cultivars. Single, pompon, cushion, and anemone types normally are small flowered garden mums; usually, they are cultivars selected to bloom before killing frost.

Mums with blossoms over 3 inches in diameter are large flowered. Often referred as florist’s mums, these are grown under greenhouse conditions and they may be single, anemone, decorative, spoon, spider, or quill types. Florist’s mums may be planted outdoors for rebloom in autumn, but are not likely to survive Indiana winters.

Propagation: What to Plant You can start mums from new plants, divisions from old ones, rooted cuttings, or seed. All of these methods will provide big, blooming masses of vivid color by autumn and years of pleasure.

Is fall a good time to plant trees and shrubs?

From University of New Hampshire

Many people assume that the best time to plant trees and shrubs is in the spring because they have the entire growing season to become established. However, spring weather isn’t always cooperative when it comes to getting plants in the ground. Late snow or excessive rainfall can make the soil too wet and unstable to properly plant. If an extended rainy period is immediately followed by hot, dry summer weather, new trees and shrubs can suffer. This stress manifests as scorched leaves and limited growth. Thus, fall planting becomes an attractive alternative.

Benefits of Planting in the Fall

Planting in the fall has some of the same benefits as planting in the spring. Temperatures are typically cool, causing plants to lose less water through their leaves due to transpiration than they would in hot weather. This makes it less likely for plants to experience stress, and more energy can be directed to root production. When the air temperature drops below that of the soil, shoot growth ceases and roots continue to develop until the soil dips below 40℉. Additionally, the fall tends to see significant precipitation, which also helps woody plants become established. A healthy, well-established root system goes a long way towards ensuring vigorous growth in the spring.

Risks of Planting in the Fall

Planting in the fall is not without risks, and the chance of plant failure increases the later in the season you wait. Aim to give plants at least six weeks of mild weather for root growth before freezing temperatures arrive. While the exact timing of this is impossible to know, early October is a good deadline.

Stuffed Squash

UMaine Cooperative Extension

Serves: 4

Ingredients

1 medium squash, any type, halved lengthwise and seeds removed

1/2 cup onion, chopped

1 clove garlic, minced

1/2 teaspoon sage

1/2 teaspoon thyme

1/2 cup celery, diced

3 tablespoons oil

1 cup whole wheat or plain bread crumbs

1/2 cup cheese, shredded

Directions

To easily cut winter squash, follow these steps:

Poke multiple holes/slits in the squash with a fork or tip of a knife (this helps the air release as the squash heats up)
Microwave on high for about 3 minutes
After the squash has cooled down enough to touch, cut the squash in half lengthwise avoiding the stem
Clean out the squash by removing the seeds

Cook onions, garlic, sage, thyme, and celery in oil. Cook over low heat until onions are soft.
Add bread crumbs. Continue to cook over low heat for 5 -10 minutes.
Remove from heat and mix in the cheese.
Pack stuffing into the cleaned out squash. Bake, covered, at 350°F for 40 – 50 minutes.

Find a video of this recipe here

Harvest and store winter squash with care

Richard Jauron, Extension Horticulturist, Iowa State University

Winter squash can be enjoyed for months when the fruit are properly harvested, cured and stored. Horticulture experts with Iowa State University Extension and Outreach provide answers to frequent questions on all aspects of horticulture, including questions on winter crops.

When should I harvest winter squash?

Harvest winter squash when the fruit are fully mature. Mature winter squash have very hard skins that are difficult to puncture with the thumbnail. There is a perceptible color change when some winter squash are mature. For example, butternut squash should be harvested when the fruit are uniformly tan in color. Harvest green acorn squash cultivars when the spot facing the ground changes from yellow to orange. Harvest spaghetti squash when the fruit color changes from ivory white to golden yellow.

When harvesting winter squash, handle the fruit carefully to avoid cuts and bruises. These injuries provide entrances for various rot-producing organisms. Cut off the fruit with pruning shears. Leave a one-inch stem on each fruit.

How do I cure winter squash?

After harvesting, cure winter squash (except for the acorn types) at a temperature of 80 to 85 degrees Fahrenheit and a relative humidity of 80 to 85 percent. Curing helps to harden the squash skins and heal any cuts and scratches. Do not cure acorn squash. The high temperature and relative humidity during the curing process actually reduce the quality and storage life of acorn squash.

What is the proper way to store winter squash?

After curing, store winter squash in a cool, dry, well-ventilated location. Storage temperatures should be 50 to 55 F. Do not store winter squash near apples, pears or other ripening fruit. Ripening fruit produce ethylene gas, which shortens the storage life of winter squash.

When properly cured and stored, the storage lives of acorn, butternut and hubbard squash are approximately five to eight weeks, two to three months and five to six months, respectively.

The Basics Of Bird Migration: How, Why, And Where

allaboutbirds.org

Geese winging their way south in wrinkled V-shaped flocks is perhaps the classic picture of migration—the annual, large-scale movement of birds between their breeding (summer) homes and their nonbreeding (winter) grounds. But geese are far from our only migratory birds. Of the more than 650 species of North American breeding birds, more than half are migratory.

Why Do Birds Migrate?

Birds migrate to move from areas of low or decreasing resources to areas of high or increasing resources. The two primary resources being sought are food and nesting locations. Here’s more about how migration evolved.

Birds that nest in the Northern Hemisphere tend to migrate northward in the spring to take advantage of burgeoning insect populations, budding plants and an abundance of nesting locations. As winter approaches and the availability of insects and other food drops, the birds move south again. Escaping the cold is a motivating factor but many species, including hummingbirds, can withstand freezing temperatures as long as an adequate supply of food is available.

Types Of Migration

The term migration describes periodic, large-scale movements of populations of animals. One way to look at migration is to consider the distances traveled.

Drain Flies and Fruit Flies

Drain flies (Family Psychodidae) and fruit flies (Drosophila spp) are often present in schools and other settings where food is stored, prepared or consumed. Drain flies are also called filter, moth or sewage flies and may be confused with fruit flies or other small flies. Fruit flies may also be called small fruit, pomace or vinegar flies, and are sometimes confused with other small flies including humpbacked flies (Family Phoridae), drain flies or fungus gnats (Family Fungivoridae).

Adult female drain flies deposit egg masses in the gelatinous film associated with decaying organic matter in drains, garbage disposals, grease traps, sewers, bird feeders and bird baths, gutters and other locations. Larvae feed on decayed organic matter and can survive extremely wet conditions. Most infestations are generated from within the school including food service areas and custodial closets. Drain flies can carry bacteria and other microorganisms from egg-laying sites to food and surfaces that come in contact with food, and should not be tolerated.

Fruit flies are small-bodied (<1/8 inch long) and can pass through standard fly-screens to enter a structure. Adults, eggs or larvae may also be present on or in fruits or vegetables brought into kitchens, cafeterias or break rooms. Fruit flies, like drain flies, are strongly attracted to drains or any location where fermenting liquids are found. Large numbers of fruit flies may indicate unsanitary conditions including poorly managed garbage, and/or inadequate cleaning of drains and floors and hard-to-reach areas under and behind equipment.

Fungus gnats are also small flies which can be distinguished from drain and fruit flies by their long legs and long segmented antennae. Larvae feed on decaying matter including organic matter in plant pots if the soil is sufficiently wet. Fungus gnats typically do not harm healthy plants but their presence can indicate overwatering and insufficient soil aeration for healthy root growth. High populations may feed on plant roots and adversely affect plant growth, especially young plants, if preferred food, including microorganisms, is not available. Fungus gnats may also carry plant disease organisms from one plant to another.

Mark Your Calendars and Join Us for this Amazing Documentary Screening!

On September 23rd at 4PM, the Piscataquis County Soil & Water Conservation District (PCSWCD) will be hosting the only screening in Maine of the documentary Clear Day Thunder: Rescuing the American Chestnut at the Center Theatre in Dover-Foxcroft, ME. The showing is by donation, with a Q&A following the film with Thomas Klak from The American Chestnut Foundation, Maine Chapter.

The new documentary film, Clear Day Thunder: Rescuing the American Chestnut, tells the story of passionate citizen scientists and researchers working to restore this ecologically and economically important species, during this pivotal moment. The tree that forged a connection with humankind has been embraced in turn by humans who, invigorated by hope, are working tirelessly to revive this magnificent tree — so that it can once again help shape the future. The movie features President Jimmy Carter, Dolly Parton, Chuck Leavell from the Allman Brothers and Rolling Stones, Michael Twitty Culinary Historian and Author, Barbara Kinsolver best selling author, E.O. Wilson Biologist, writer, “Father of Biodiversity” and Rex Mann retired forester and Chestnut Evangelist. This documentary is underwritten by The American Chestnut Foundation and sponsored by the James G. K. McClure Educational and Development Fund and New Leaf Paper. The mission of The American Chestnut Foundation (TACF) is to return the iconic American chestnut tree (Castanea dentata) to its native range.

Prior to the screening, there will be exciting raffle items such as Chestnut trees, gardening and tree care supplies, books, gift certificates to local businesses and 50/50 raffle tickets along with refreshments including snacks and beverages at Center Theatres concession stand. All proceeds and support of the film will go towards Piscataquis County Soil & Water Conservation District’s conservation educational outreach programming and operational support which helps aid our American Chestnut germplasm plot located at the Law Farm Nature Trails in Dover-Foxcroft. Stick around after the screening to have a chance to talk directly with Thomas Klak, from the American Chestnut Foundation, Maine Chapter where folks can have the opportunity to ask questions regarding the restoration efforts and current updates. PCSWCD looks forward to seeing you at this event and thanks Center Theatre, The American Chestnut Foundation and all the partners and businesses that contributed to this effort.

PCSWCD is a quasi-governmental agency that is county and state funded that operates with a 501(c)3 fiscal sponsor. PCSWCD’s mission is to build resilient, sustainable farms and forests through education, technical services, demonstration and stewardship.

Spoonful: Bite-Sized Food & Nutrition Information

Welcome to Spoonful! Our blog focuses on feeding you bite-sized food and nutrition information that is science-based and applicable to your life. We hope you enjoy the variety of blog posts including recipes, food preservation, grocery shopping on a budget, food safety, health tips, and more!

The Spoonful bloggers are University of Maine Cooperative Extension staff members with knowledge of food and nutrition. We hope you enjoy learning more about food and nutrition as much as we do—thank you so much for visiting!

https://extension.umaine.edu/food-health/spoonful/

Maine Agriculture in the Classroom is hiring for a Program Assistant.

This position is part time, flexible, and multi-faceted. The Program Assistant is an essential member of the MAITC team and will work closely with the Executive Director and Education & Outreach Coordinator to facilitate programs and opportunities for Maine educators & students. Our office is based in Augusta, ME. A portion of the work can be done remotely. Workshops, presentations, trainings, and some meetings will be in person and onsite at different locations throughout Maine.

Please send a cover letter, resume, and three references to: maitc@maine.gov with “MAITC Program Assistant Application” in the subject line by September 29th. Desired start date: October 16, 2023.

View the full job announcement here:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1vLZUkt4d8q5-hPZmBpAbSakrQ1RaLsLi/view?usp=sharing

Events of Interest

Sept 7 - 10 Fly-In, Greenville, ME
Sept 12 Webinar - Garden Tool Maintenance
Sept 24 - 30 Cumberland County Fair
Sept 27 Webinar - Getting to Know Garden Herbs
Sept 30 & Oct 1 Chainsaw Safety for ALL! - Piscataquis Soil & Water
Oct 1 - 8 Fryeburg Fair
October 29th Fall Care for Young Fruit Trees - Law Farm

Extension Resources

Timely UMaine Extension Publications

Webinars & Videos
Victory Garden for M E S er ies: Episode 10: Preparing your garden for winter
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
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.
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
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: 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).

Traditional Services Being Offered in New Ways

Identifying insect pests: Charley Armstrong, 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.

Other Garden Resources

Extension Programs in other states:

Many states across the US have programs of interest to folks in Maine. Try exploring Extension websites in states with similar climates to ours: Michigan State University, Cornell Cooperative Extension, UVM Extension, UNH Extension, University of Minnesota Extension, UMass Extension

Enter "Cooperative Extension" in your search engine, and see what pops up! Gardening, food, youth activities, and more!

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

Garden Organizations and Allies

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

Master Gardener Volunteers

COVID-19 MGV Policy

Guidelines for Master Gardener Volunteers (Updated 6/8/21):

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

Check out Kate Garland's information about the "Take Five" Winter Walk Series for Master Gardeners starting in January that was sent to MGVs in a separate email.

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.

Find the online videos & tests.

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

"Ways to Get Involved"page.

Photos: Edwin Remsberg, Donna Coffin, or Laurie Bowen unless other listed.

Contributors

Laurie Bowen, Food Systems Program Assistant

laurie.bowen@maine.edu

Kate Garland, Extension Horticulturist

katherine.garland@maine.edu

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