What to plant now?
According to the Cooperative Extension from Virginia Tech (https://www.pubs.ext.vt.edu/content/dam/pubs_ext_vt_edu/426/426-331/SPES-170.pdf) here are recommendations for planting at this time:
From seed: Beets, carrots, swiss chard, collards, kohlrabi, mustard, rutabaga, summer squash, and turnips.
From transplants: Broccoli, brussels Sprouts, cabbage, chinese cabbage, cauliflower, leeks, and head lettuce.
We all miss having Jamestown Feed and Seed just up the road as a source for fall plantings. It seems the Big Box stores (like Lowes and Home Depot) have gotten some fall veggie plants in, but they are quite expensive. Some CG’ers have reported finding better and less expensive plants at Dean & Dons in Newport News and Green Planters Garden Center in Gloucester. Andersons in Newport News is supposed to be setting out their plants soon, but no reports on the cost.
Work Parties Ahead:
It was reported in the last newsletter that there would be a work party on September 3. As that is Labor Day weekend, the work party will be moved to September 10. Sorry for any confusion.
The last work party of the season will be October 1.
Garden Notes:
The purchased compost located near the compost bins is now available for anyone to use in their garden plots.
There is a new pile of compost that has been brought up from the field where the leaves were decomposing. There is quite a bit of large material in this but there is a sieve that fits on top of a wheelbarrow that can be used to sift out the big chunks, if you wish.
There is a pile of last fall's leaves that have been brought into the garden for your use as mulch.
Thank you for helping to return the wheelbarrows back to their original location inside the fence.
As you remove crops that have finished, it is a good idea to cover your soil in some way to avoid weed infestation. Options include covering with leaves or other compostable material like straw or planting a cover crop such as buckwheat.
Please make a point of removing your rotting vegetables and your piles of weeds to the compost bins.
Garden etiquette: It is OK to leave your pulled weeds on your own plot to decompose, but not on your neighbor’s plot or in the pathways. Please be considerate. Also, if your tall plants, like sunflowers or corn, are dead and they are shading a neighbor’s plot, please remove them to the compost area.
It has been discovered that some members of the public incorrectly believe that produce in our Garden is available for them to pick for free. We have posted a handmade sign at the gate to disavow this notion and a permanent sign is being produced. It is OK to approach individuals that you are not familiar with and gently ascertain that they are indeed dues-paying members. Especially if they have an arm-load of vegetables. You might say something like "excuse me, these are actually plots rented by gardeners and not for public picking. We love it when folks come into the garden to look but the produce belongs to the person working the plot." You may also remind them that vegetables are available at our Farm Stand on Saturday mornings.
Returning next year? If you know that you will not be returning to garden with us next season, it would be helpful if you could drop me a line at Barbara@growwilliamsburg.org. Thanks.
Tomato Wilt Diseases in the Garden:
Susceptible tomato on the left, resistant variety on the right
Some of you have experienced tomato wilt diseases this season. Here is an explanation of wilt diseases from a land grant college:
Fungal Wilt Diseases. Verticillium and Fusarium wilt are two common diseases affecting tomatoes and plants in the tomato family such as pepper, eggplant and potato. Both diseases overwinter as fungal spores in garden soil or on infected plant debris that was not discarded at the end of the previous growing season. Verticillium or Fusarium wilt spores enter the tomato plant through the roots. The fungus then grows up into the main plant and throughout the plant’s vascular system, blocking the movement of water and nutrients. As water movement to the leaves stops, they begin to turn yellow and wilt.
Plants can be infected at any stage of growth. Young plants may completely wilt and die soon after planting. The first symptoms on older plants appear when leaves, either at the top or bottom of the plant, wilt during the day, and then recover at night. Eventually, infected plants no longer recover at night, but remain permanently wilted and finally die. Stems of infected plants show brown streaking within the vascular tissues just under the green outer tissue. Infected leaves turn yellow, wilt and die. Unfortunately there is no cure for fungal wilt diseases, so infected plants should be removed and discarded, but do not place diseased plants in the compost pile.
The best defense is to grow or purchase resistant varieties. If you suspect a fusarium problem, select only varieties with resistance to races 1, 2, and 3 of this disease. However, under severe disease pressure, even plants with resistance to both strains may exhibit symptoms. Rotate tomato plants to another part of the garden or grow plants in containers (keeping infected soil out). Pull up and discard infected plants immediately. If you grow your own plants be sure to sterilize all plant growing equipment and supplies with a 10% chlorine bleach solution and use sterile soil-less growing media.
These wilts do not spread from plant to plant above ground, but only through the soil. The bio fungicides discussed in the last newsletter are not listed as helpful in controlling wilt diseases.
New Pergola over the Partners Patio
Thanks to Eagle Scout Candidate Ryan King, we now have a very attractive cedar pergola. The Garden Committee is currently researching what kind of vines to plant at the corners to add shade for those hot summer days. Wander over, have a seat, and enjoy the sounds of the bog-- now populated with fish and frogs!
How has your Garden grown?
What has prospered for you this year in your garden? What has been a disappointment? Have you learned any helpful tricks that other gardeners would benefit from? How has your experience been?
We would love it if you could share in a few lines how your 2022 garden went. We will share some or all comments in the next newsletter.
Sunflowers for Ukraine
Stealth zucchini
