Wildwood community garden

http://www.calhort.org/garden-show.aspx

Some changes to the event schedule.  Click on link above to check out the new program!

Good day, below are some of the notes from the recent “Plot your Success in a Community Garden” workshop hosted by Janet Melrose on March 28th.  Enjoy!

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PLOT YOUR SUCCESS IN A COMMUNITY GARDEN – JANET MELROSE – March 28/13

We now have 115 frost free days in Calgary (this has changed in recent years) but is still the most variable climate in the world!

Raised Beds have a micro climate – warmer soil sooner but depends on the height of the beds. Temps can vary from 4 – 20 degrees from bottom to the top.

Beans and cukes – sensitive and wait to plant them until June 20th!
Kale, carrots, swiss chard like frost will do okay planting earlier.

Get a soil thermometer.

Top dress the soil 2 – 4 inches

Call 311 for leaf and pumpkin mulch

Soil Fertility in a Raised Bed (it’s all about the compost!)
– compost sometimes helps the nutrients move through the soil
– straw uses Nitrogen to break down (give it time in the composter)
– scratch coffee grounds (good for N) into the soil every couple of weeks. Don’t just empty a bag onto the top of the garden.
– Too much nitrogen causes plants to be leggy and grow too fast. Need a balance.
– Regarding animal manures – know your source. Many animals are treated with antibiotics and things so be wary.
– Leaves are the best thing to put all over the garden and can be used as spring and fall mulch.
– Grass clippings are also good for nitrogen
– Newspaper adds carbon
– fish fertilizer, kelp meal
– epsom salts (1 c. Epsom salts to 4 litres of water for magnesium and calcium)
– gypsom for calcium and sulfur to decrease alkalinity
– put a TUMS in the planting hole
– egg shells for calcium
– powdered milk
– rock phosphate
– yellow leaves on tomatoes – could be a lack of nitrogen; purple leaves – lack of phosphorous
– ADD DIFFERENT THINGS TO THE COMPOST ALL THE TIME – LAYER GREENS AND BROWNS

WATER REQUIREMENTS:
- Great crops require consistent water nt he right amounts, when they need it and where it can get to the roots of the plants.
Eg. Carrots need water when the root is forming, lettuce needs water when the leaf is forming, tomatoes and potatoes need water all the time.
– use organic mulch
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Good afternoon, just a quick reminder that the Calgary Horticultural Society’s spring garden show is set for April 13th and 14th and is coming up fast!  More details are available via their website at;

http://www.calhort.org/garden-show.aspx

The Wildwood  Garden Group is excited to welcome new gardeners. Experienced or new to gardening – everyone is welcome!

Please join us:

Thursday, February 28th

7:30pm – 8:30pm

Small hall  in  the Wildwood Community Association Building – 4411 Spruce Drive SW.

• Sign up for a garden bed – new size beds this season
• Information on Legacy Trees

Please Note :

• Cash or cheque payment is due upon vegetable bed registration.
• You must show your current Wildwood community association membership card to rent a bed.
• WCA membership cards will be available to purchase  for $25 ( new annual membership price) Cash or cheque* is accepted.
  

* A separate cheque is required for a WCA membership purchase.

Questions? Please contact Marni at 669-4588 or Carolyn at 242-3053 or email us at:  garden@mywildwood.ca

Check out CBC Radio One’s interview with Carolyn and Marni on October 24th.

The Wildwood Community was recently chosen as the recipient of a Calgary 2012 Grassroots Inspired Grant (GIG). Congratulations to everyone who contributed to the garden this year!

This project was supported by Calgary 2012 and the Cultural Capital of Canada program