Troubleshooting Guide for the Dickinson College Community Garden
This Guide is meant to answer questions about organic gardening idiosyncratic to the Dickinson College Community Garden.. It begins with general instruction for people who are new to gardening and then branches off to more pointed questions.
I've been given a bed, what is the first thing I do?
The first thing is to prepare the bed. Look at your bed and define the borders. You want a nice rectangle of land in your minds eye. Next you will remove vegetation by rubbing the stirrup ho (shown below) against the ground to remove vegetation.
The point of using the stirrup hoe is to separate the vegetation from the root. It the weeds have not gone to seed (produced seeds or flowers) then it is safe to leave the vegetation on the plot. If the weed have seed already then those weeds should be remove from your plot because you do not want that those seeds on your plot. Do not put this in the compost please.
The next task is to break up the soil in your plot. You can use a gardening fork or a u bar like the one shown above to dig into the soil and loosen it up. One uses a u bar by standing on it and rocking back and forth and side to side using your body weight to dig the tines into the soil. When the tines are deep enough you pull the handles back, also using your body weight until the tines cut through the soil to the surface.Now that the soil is all broken you will notice that the plot is uneven and full of chunks. Those need to be made smooth using a
gardening hoe (above) to break up the chunks. Do not be discouraged, this is hard work especially if it has been very hot and dry because this hardens the top of the soil. Be sure to keep hydrated throughout this process.Once the chunks have been removed it is time to add compost. Compost is a nutrient rich dressing that is incorporated into the soil to help the plants grow. In the garden compost can be found on the far right when you first walk in.
Our compost stalls are named Oscar, Mary and Wilma. There is also some compost behind the wall near these stalls. With a wheelbarrow you want to collect dark, humid compost like shown in step 3 in the picture to the left. You may have to dig though hay and partially decomposed material to find this farmers gold. There may be small pieces of plastic and other material that can't decompose, just remove as you see them.
Now that there's composts on your plot it has to be mixed with the soil using a stirrup hoe. When this is done use a rake to create a smooth surface on your plot. Now your plot is ready to plant seeds.
The seed you want to plant will depend on the time of the year and your own personal preference. Seeds can be found in plant nurseries as well as places such as Lowes. Organic seeds are preferred but if these cannot be found in the variety that you desire then the regular seeds will do. Be sure to look at the back of the package for spacing directions and how much time is needed to grow them. Please write down when you planted the seeds and how many rows of it there are. You will also want to write down the type of seed on a Popsicle stick and put that next to your rows so that you know what is growing where in your plot. Be sure to water, weed and protect your plot from pests as your plants grow.
Its the fall semester and I'm not sure what to plant, I was wondering if you could help me out.
-Eric Dichter
Crops for this time of the year (late summer early fall) are usually cool weather and frost hardy crops. Cool weather crops are crops that can't take the summer heat and are grown in early spring or fall. Some of these crops are frost hardy, meaning that they can take a night of frost without dying. Some examples for fall growing are beets, green beans, spinach, onions, parsnips and leafy greens.
If I wanted to raise vegetables year round in my garden plot what are some ways for doing this?
You could start early in the season, continue planting late in the season or plant crops that will overwinter in your plot.
To start early you can put a clear plastic tarp over your plot. This creates a mini greenhouse effect because it lets the warm sun in but provides some protection from the elements. This warms up the ground which is what you need to start seeding or transplanting early.
You could also continue late into the season. This can be done by planting cold or frost resistant crop in late august/early September. Frost resistant crops are crop that can survive a light frost (October 15 and on in Carlisle). A few examples that are suitable for Carlisle weather are parsnips, turnips, and mesclum mix. Make sure to know how much time these plants will take to mature because you want this date to be before November 15 (hard frost/killing frost).
You can also plant a crop to overwinter in your plot. An example of an overwintering crop is onions. Onions can be planted late in the fall, left there all winter and harvested in the spring.
Please remember that if you're continually and/or intensely harvesting from a plot the soil of that plot will soon be depleted of nutrients and will give progressively smaller yields. You also need to let the plot rest once in a while. You can rest the soil by not harvesting for a while (letting it go fallow). You can also grow a cover crop. A cover crop is a crop not grown for harvesting but to catch nutrients that might run off and to cover the ground.
What are some innovative ways to water my garden so as to conserve water?
There are several ways to conserve water. One way to conserve water is watering in the morning. The air is not so hot so there is less evaporation. Another is to have mulch surrounding the plant, this also reduces evaporation. Irrigation tape, drip lines can be useful. You could also poke holes in the bottom of an empty gallon and place or bury it next to the plant and periodically fill with water.
Vegetables need a lot of water to grow well. Water plants every couple of days but when you water make sure that you don't just sprinkle the surface but really doused it with water to encourage deep root growth and stronger plants. Vegetables also like to be watered regularly. Also note that the leaves do not need to be watered so applying the water directly to the soil around the plant is better than wetting the whole plant.
Where do weed that have gone to seed go that I have removed from my plot?
Weeds that are not suitable to go in the compost should be disposed of behind the compost stalls outside of the fence. We do not want those weed to go into the compost because the weed seeds are very tough and will resist breakdown. Then those weed seeds are redistributed onto the soil when the compost is used. Please throw these weeds away.
What to combination to the shed?
16-22-28
What thing can I use from the shed?
Everything in the shed is thought of as communal and can be used if treated with proper care and returned to their place when finished.
What is bindweed?
Bindweed is a weed that can be seen growing in many plots. It has arrow shaped leaves that snake across the ground. It is a tenacious weed that grows via runner and buds and can compete and even smother the plants that you are trying to grow. The best way to deal with bindweed when you are first stating out is to keep a constant watch and pull out any that starts to grow on your plot. According to Pesticide.org (Northwest Coalition for Alternative to Pesticides) one may want to wait 10 day before cutting growing bindweed so to re-grow the plant will have to deplete its root reserves. They can also be smothered by covering with black plastic. This should be done for several years to smother the bindweed. One must make sure that there are no gaps that let light in. In one community garden plots bindweed has been covered in plastic and they had turned pale but continued to grow.
What the best way to deal with a poison ivy?
If you have come in contact with poison ivy shower with cool/lukewarm water and rubbing alcohol as soon as is possible. Clean contaminated clothes twice in hot water to get rid of the irritating oil. Use Calamine or hydrocortisone cream to relieve itching. Contact the doctor if the rash is severe. When handling poison Ivy use protective clothing, avoid touching yourself and clean your hand frequently.
What kind of damage will the pest insects do to my crops?
Insects can cause damage in several ways. Some insects eat the crop by piercing the leaves, make holes in the leaves, eating at the edges, eating the surface or eating the spaces between the veins of the leaves. This reduces the plants ability to photosynthesis. Some pest also tunnel and eat the stack of plants (mining) which weakens the structurally. Other insects lay their eggs on leaves and stems which stresses the plant. Some plants produce galls (abnormal growths) in response to this stress. Insects can also eat seeds.
What are some pictures of pest insects for Pennsylvania?
Below is a link of "Identifying Vegetable Insect Pest in Pennsylvania" published by Penn State
http://resources.cas.psu.edu/ipm/vegpests.pdf
Are there specific strategies for eliminating pest insects in an organically approved way?
Here is a link about pest control which is nice and concise. Please note that the last alternative suggested in this webpage (synthetic insecticides) is not allowed in the garden. Be forwarned this page takes some time to load (1.31 MB)
http://www.seattle.gov/util/stellent/groups/public/@spu/@csb/documents/webcontent/naturalpe_200311261701589.pdf
What are some pictures of beneficial insects for this region?
Beneficial insects are beneficial because some feed on insects that are pest and some can help pollination of desired crops.
The best ways to promote beneficial insect is to provide habitat/ food for them and to be able to identify them at different life cycles so that they are not accidently destroyed as a pest.The Ladybug is a common beneficial insect that feeds on aphids during most life stages
The green lacewing adult subsist on nectar and is a predator of soft bodies pest/eggs during it immature phases.
www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/NE/green_lacewing.htmlSyrphid or Hover flies look like bees but do not sting. The adults feed on nectar and the larva eats soft-bodies pests.
http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/NE/syrphid_flies.htmlBig eyed bugs are generalist feeders meaning it can feed on other insects as well as eggs and mites.
http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/NE/bigeyed_bugs.htmlDragonflies start life in aquatic systems and feed on flying insects as adults
Damselflies are generalist feeders
http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/NE/damsel_bug.htmlGround beetles can have several colors on their shiny wing coverings. In the garden I usually see dark brown or black coloring but they could also have an iridescent green sheen.
http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/NE/predaceous_ground_beetle.htmlDaddy long leg spiders and many other spiders’ species are important insect predators.
Minute pirate bug are among the first beneficial insects to come in the spring and are generalist eaters.
http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/NE/minute_pirate_bug.htmlPraying mantises eat flying insects that feed on flower nectar. They are indiscriminate eaters and can eat both beneficial insects and pests
http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/NE/mantids.html
How can I attract beneficial insects to my garden?
Beneficial insects need shelter to overwinter. This means not removing all the vegetation when preparing for winter.
Many beneficial insects feed on nectar as adults. Below is a list from the Audubon society of flowers that are native to Pennsylvania which would provide food attracting these beneficial insects.
White wood Aster (Eurybia divaricata)
Eastern Purple Coneflower (Echinacea purpurea)
Tall Tickseed (Coreopsis tripteris)
Goldenrod Species (Solidago Species)
New York Ironweed (Vernomia Moveboracensis)
Spotted Joe-Pye Weed (Eupotorium Maculatum)
Black-eyed Susans (Rudbeckia Species)
http://www.audubon.org/bird/at_home/pdf/AAHPA-73-80-Resources.pdfIf I wanted to learn more about seed saving where can I locate helpful information?
One book with more information on seed saving methods is Seed to Seed by Suzanne Ashworth. You can also find more information from the International Seed Saving Institute; http://www.seedsave.org/issi/issi_904.html
What crops would be great to start saving seeds from? Easiest to save from?
Crops that would be good to save from are heirloom variety, meaning that they are not hybridized. When you are purchasing seeds for crops you want to save seeds from be sure it says heirloom on the package. According to the International Seed Saving Institute beans, lettuce, peas, peppers and tomatoes are the easiest to save from. When saving seeds be sure they are completly dry and stored in a waterproof container in a place that does not get too hot.
What are some good seed companies to purchase seed?
Below are three suppliers of seeds recommended in Seed to Seed by Suzanne Ashworth
http://www.southernexposure.com/index.html
http://www.abundantlifeseeds.com/Other websites with useful information
The “Good Bugs” and how to use them. Published by Penn State
http://resources.cas.psu.edu/ipm/POP/goodbugs.pdfBeneficial insect fact sheet from Utah state university
http://extension.usu.edu/files/publications/factsheet/beneficial-insects-beetles07.pdfAttracting wildlife in Pennsylvania
http://www.audubon.org/bird/at_home/pdf/AAHPA-73-80-Resources.pdfCommon vegetable Pest of Pennsylvania published by Penn State
http://resources.cas.psu.edu/ipm/vegpests.pdfList of beneficial insects from the University of California (nice pictures of insect’s life cycle)http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/NE/index.html
Penn State Intergrated Pest Managment Program
http://paipm.cas.psu.edu/default.htmDockstader, Sue. 2005. Coping with field bindweed without using herbicides. Journal of Pesticide Reform 25(1): 6-7 Accessed on Oct 15. 2008 http://www.pesticide.org/bindweed.html
Pete Haws. Alternatives: Poison Oak and Ivy Management. Journal of Pesticide Reform. Winter 2000. Vol 20 No. 4. Accessed Oct 15. 2008. http://www.pesticide.org/PoisonOak.pdf
The International Seed Saving Institute
http://www.seedsave.org/Citation of some of the images/information not credited elsewhere:
Pictures of stirrup hoe, accessed September 25, 2008
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.allsun.com.au/OscH oeHeadsL.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.allsun.com.au/Longhandlehoes.html &h=178&w=250&sz=5&hl=en&start=4&um=1&usg=__169KcdT0_qBm wG7fpck3Uivo51g=&tbnid=wKE9GUKYqBC8M:&tbnh=79&tbnw=111& prev=/images%3Fq%3Dstirrup%2Bhoe%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26rlz%3D1T4ADBF_enUS257US257%26sa%3
Picture of gardening fork, accessed September 25, 2008 http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://bp3.blogger.com/_8mi4ozBC XrA/R1zaqstTHvI/AAAAAAAAAN4/xFKYtxA-8pA/s400/GardenFork.jpg &imgrefurl=http://gardening-tips-and-guide.blogspot.com/2008/05/garden-fo rksnotfordining.html&h=280&w=280&sz=5&hl=en&start=1&um=1&usg=__ ogPC0IiIIcBLjPm5aVWdOGXeGLg=&tbnid=k8o7VuOHzMKG2M:&tbnh=1 14&tbnw=114&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dgardening%2Bfork%26um%3D1%26 hl%3Den%26rlz%3D1T4ADBF_enUS257US257%26sa%3DN
U bar picture. Accessed September 25, 2008
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.rd.com/images/tfhimport/ 2002/May02_Yard_and_Garden/20020501_Yard_and_Garden_page004img003 _size2.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.rd.com/familyhandyman/content/17796/&h= 750&w=516&sz=22&hl=en&start=2&um=1&usg=__62NG15xd_NZDdD6nJ7f 3CavpvMM=&tbnid=UPgTIJGQWaeK7M:&tbnh=141&tbnw=97&prev=/image s%3Fq%3Du%2Bbar%2Bgardening%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26rlz%3D1T4 ADBF_enUS257US257
Gardening hoe picture. Accessed September 25, 2008
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.southernobserver.com/imag es/hoe.jpg&imgrefurl=http://www.southernobserver.com/Sampling.htm&h=407& w=400&sz=7&hl=en&start=1&um=1&usg=__aWVMrgy2euupTAtSxJix2u6XCE k=&tbnid=LqTs0az28led1M:&tbnh=125&tbnw=123&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dho e%2Bgardening%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26rlz%3D1T4ADBF_enUS257US25 7%26sa%3DN
Compost stalls picture. Accessed September 25, 2008
http://images.google.com/imgres?imgurl=http://www.rd.com/images/tfhimport/2002 /May02_Yard_and_Garden/20020501_Yard_and_Garden_page004img003_size2.jpg &imgrefurl=http://www.rd.com/familyhandyman/content/17796/&h=750&w=516&s z=22&hl=en&start=2&um=1&usg=__62NG15xd_NZDdD6nJ7f3CavpvMM=&tbnid= UPgTIJGQWaeK7M:&tbnh=141&tbnw=97&prev=/images%3Fq%3Du%2Bbar%2B gardening%26um%3D1%26hl%3Den%26rlz%3D1T4ADBF_enUS257US257
Lady Bug life cycle
www.freewebs.com/lifecycleswebquest/resources.htmGreen lace fly life cycle;
www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/NE/green_lacewing.htmlsyrphid fly picture
http://www.ipm.ucdavis.edu/PMG/NE/syrphid_flies.htmlDragonfly picture
www.amonline.net.au/factsheets/dragonflies.htmGround beetle picture
www.friendsofwarnhamlnr.org.uk/insects.htmlDaddy long legs picture
www.scientificameriken.com/yr4/daddy.asp
