Newsletter for Urban Gardeners
Spring 2004

Thank You!

Thanks to the Urban Master Gardeners who have been growing vegetables from seed since March. The first plants were available at the April 3 Plant and Seed Pick-up. They are currently growing plants that will be offered at the May 15 Pickup Please note that the time for the May pickup is 9 a.m. until noon. Vegetable plants and seeds will be available. We will also offer flowers at this pickup They will be sold at the wholesale price.

Composting Workshop Offered

Penn State Master Gardeners will present a Composting Workshop at Wolffs Apple House, Rt. 452- 81 S. Pennell Road, Lima on Saturday May 22 at 10:00 a.m. The $5.00 registration fee provides instructional materials. A free composting bin will be given to each registrant who attends the workshop. Call 610-690-7669 for further information.

Celebrate Arbor Day

Sunday, April 24, 2:00 p.m.
Smedley Park
20 Paper Mill Rd., Springfield
(Turn in at the war memorial right below the Springfield Mall)

Free activities for the entire family.
Demonstration of proper tree planting
Educational activities for children
Informative handouts
For more information call Penn State
Cooperative Extension, 610-690-2655.

Garden Plots Available

There are unclaimed raised bed plots in the Intergenerational Garden at 6 and Morton Avenue. If you are interested in adopting one of these plots, call Linda Barry at the Cooperative Extension Office 610-690-7669.

Consider Raised Bed Gardening

Most gardeners find their plants grow better and that garden maintenance is easier with raised garden beds. With a raised bed, you can plant, weed and harvest without ever walking on the soil. Soil is damaged by walking on it, making it more difficult for roots to get air and water. It is easier to dig in compost, and less of a strain on your back when you work in a raised bed. The soil also warms faster, making earlier planting possible.

If you would like to know more about raised bed gardening, join us at the Nurturing the Home..... .Inside and Out workshop on May 1. The one day program costs $15.00 and includes lunch and a breakfast snack. For more information call the Cooperative Extension at (610) 690-2655.

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Beautiful Flower Gardens Begin With The Soil

Preparing the soil is the most important step in gardening. Have your garden soil tested to find out which nutrients you should add. (You can get a soil test kit at the Delaware Cooperative Extension office for $6 if you come to the office in Smedley Park, Springfield, to pick it up. It is $6.75 if you send a check to the office and ask for the kit to be mailed to you. ).

Penn State labs will test your soil and will send you a report telling you what fertilizers you should add, if any.

Work in several inches of organic matter - decayed leaves, composted kitchen scraps, lawn clippings and decayed plant material are all good forms of organic matter. They help the soil keep water, and supply some nutrients to the soil. Add 2-3 inches of organic mulch on top of the soil around your plants. Mulch helps keep soil moist, prevents erosion, discourages weeds and builds up the soil's organic matter. Mulch also tends to be more attractive than bare soil in flower gardens. It keeps mud from splashing on your flowers and gives the ground a nicer appearance. Several kinds of mulch are available at the garden centers.

When your plants begin to flower, use a high-nitrogen fertilizer on the soil about 6 inches away from the base of each plant. This will give plants a boost for the rest of the summer. Wait until the first flowers open, however, or you will delay the plants' maturity and decrease the number of flowers.

Growing Sweet Potatoes

Sweet Potatoes can grow to harvest whenever there are 150 frost-free days. In our area, planting near the middle of May will provide enough growing days for this crop. Once planted,sweet potatoes produce their nutritious flavorful roots with little care.

Sweet potatoes grow best in loose sandy soil. Before planting them, dig in fertilizer (5-10-5). Plant them 6 inches deep and 15 inches apart, leaving at least 2 leaves above ground. Don't forget to water them well. Keep weeded, and watch them grow!

Harvest after the first frost has blackened the leaves. Dig them carefully as they bruise easily. Let the tubers dry out of the direct sun.

This Newsletter prepared by Linda Barry, Urban Gardening Coordinator.

If you would like information on Beautification Projects or Neighborhood Gardens, please call at (610) 690-7669.

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Posted May 2004