Posted: 25 Feb 2010 08:58 PM PST

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When The Gardenator plants flower or vegetable seeds, he uses a great compact system from Lee Valley Garden Supply they call the Self Watering Seed Starter kit.

It has a water reservoir on the bottom, a flat tray covered with a felt material that acts as a wick and then a container with 24 holes in it the size of seedling pots. The large openings in the seedling "pots" sit on the felt and soak up just the right amount of moisture to grow the seeds. You never have to water from above, which can be difficult to do without harming delicate seedlings.

Moisten the peat thoroughly before sowing seeds but not so it drips water when squeezed. Check it out, at leevalley.com, click the "Garden" tab, and click on "seed starting" and then the "self-watering" photo.

The growing medium, which I make myself, is made up of 3 parts, milled sphagnum peat moss, 2 parts perlite and 1 part vermiculite. This provides an inert, sterile growing medium without a lot of chemicals you find in some store-bought types. Moisten the peat thoroughly before sowing seeds but not so it drips water when squeezed.

Don't confuse sphagnum moss with sphagnum peat moss. Sphagnum moss is used in the floral industry to line wire baskets and make wreaths. It's the living moss that grows on top of a sphagnum bog. Sphagnum peat moss is used as a soil conditioner by gardeners. It's the dead vegetative material that accumulates in the lower levels of a sphagnum bog. This material could be many hundreds of years old. Harvesters of horticultural peat moss remove the top few inches of the live sphagnum moss before harvesting the peat from the lower levels of the bog. In Europe and Canada, peat is formed in bricks and burned for heating and cooking.

Misinformation

There is much misinformation about using renewable plant resources. If traced back, it sometimes leads to obscure, unreliable and unscientific sources, which keep getting quoted and re-quoted until eventually being considered indisputable truth. One of these is the use of "non-renewable" peat resources.

Managed wisely, peat is a good renewable resource. You will however, find quotes that peat moss is a "non-renewable" resource that is being "used up." A single bog can be harvested for 15 to 50 years before being left for restoration. Until recently, peat bogs were left to regenerate on their own. The industry claims it found ways to restore bogs in five to eight years.

There are more than 270 million acres of peat lands in Canada, which is 25 percent of the world's supply. Of that, less than one-acre in 6,000 is harvested.

New peat develops faster than what is harvested according to an issue paper titled "Canadian Peat Harvesting and the Environment," published by the North American Wetlands Conservation Council (Canada). I have a problem believing that. While it's growing, a peat bog performs important functions:

Acts as a filter.
Acts as a water collection basin.
Accumulates carbon.
Provides habitat for flora and fauna.

Peat moss can be used as a mulch, but since it will make the soil more acidic, its best used for High Bush Blueberry, Japanese Andromeda, Azalea, Balsam Fir, Dogwood, Holly, Gardenia, Magnolia, Oak, Spruce, Viburnum, Rhododendron and Mountain Laurel, to name a just a few. If too thick, it will form a crust that is difficult for water to penetrate.

Richard E, Palazzo, "The Gardenator," is a Certified Advanced Master Gardener. E-mail him at thegardenator@lycos.com

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Gardening column: Dig into gardening quiz, see how much you know - News Sentinel

Posted: 25 Feb 2010 09:08 PM PST

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Last night I attended a meeting that included Extension educators, Master Gardeners and other people in the know about gardening and farming. When this happens, I always find out how much I have to learn. As a "fun" exercise, the educators gave everyone at the various tables a quiz.

Quizzes and I have never been friends — I freeze and my mind goes blank, but this time I was sure I would know the answers. So much for overconfidence and bravado! Once again I was brought low and discovered a lesson in humility.

Here are a few of the simple trick questions so you'll have an idea of what happened — and let me just say in my defense, I didn't get all of them wrong:

♦True or false? Rabbits have been eating lettuce in Connie's vegetable garden. One of her neighbors told her that spreading mothballs in the garden would take care of her rabbit problem. Should Connie spread mothballs in the garden? To my credit, I answered this one correctly and drew a big confident circle around false.

I can hear you wondering, "Why not use mothballs?" Mothballs contain a hydrocarbon called naphthalene, which is a carcinogen and is harmful to mammals and humans. This historically has been used to repel insects, especially moths in wool clothing, and it should be used only in a well-ventilated area around humans and pets. By the way, it has been tried on rabbits and they don't mind it at all. Fencing is about your only solution to keeping rabbits out of the lettuce.

♦Q: Julie found caterpillars on her broccoli. What environmentally friendly product can she use to take care of them? There were four items mentioned and I chose the wrong one. The really safe one to use is Dipel (Bt), which you can purchase from most garden centers.

♦True or false? Captain Jack's Bug Brew contains an active ingredient that allows one to control insects on fruit crops and will allow one to eat the product the next day without worrying about pesticide residues.

I missed this one big time and said false. I wrongly thought something with a name like that was a concoction that wouldn't do anyone any good. So — what is the main ingredient in Captain Jack's Dead Bug Brew that works magic on fruit loving insects and other pests? It's Spinosad.

Explanation: Captain Jack's Dead Bug Brew contains Spinosad (spin-OH-sid), a naturally occurring soil-dwelling bacterium collected on a Caribbean island from an abandoned rum distillery in 1982.

The product kills bagworms, borers, beetles, caterpillars, codling moth, gypsy moth, loopers, leaf miners, spider mites, tent caterpillars, thrips and more. It is made for organic gardening and safe for indoor gardening. You can purchase it online at: www.greennationgardens.com for $20 for a 16-ounce supply.

♦Q: The most pounds of active ingredient per acre are applied by: a. Farmers, b. Golf courses, c. Landscape/turf professionals, and d. Homeowners.

I circled b. Golf courses and then found out it was d. Homeowners. What does this say about homeowners overusing fertilizers and weedkillers on the lawn and landscape?

I know many of us think that if a little will do the job, a whole lot more will do it better. Unfortunately, that isn't how it works — so we waste money and product when a much lesser amount would have taken care of the problem. I guess "read the label" and "follow directions" are good advice after all.

Jane Ford is an Advanced Master Gardener. E-mail questions to features@news-sentinel.com.

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RI County Extension horticulture programs - Quad-Cities Online

Posted: 24 Feb 2010 01:52 PM PST

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Press release submitted by University of Illinois Extension, Rock Island County

Rock Island County Extension Horticulture Classes & Events for March 2010

University of Illinois Extension, Rock Island County has many programs that will get area gardeners and enthusiasts ready for the spring planting season! From the Homegrown Challenge Vegetable Bootcamp on March 14 to a telenet on morel mushrooms, there is something for all interest areas! Unless noted, the classes will take place at Rock Island County Extension, 321 West 2nd Ave., Milan, IL. University of Illinois Extension provides equal opportunities in programming and employment. For more information, call (309) 756-9978.

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Home Grown Challenge Vegetable Gardening Boot Camp, Sun, March 14, Noon - 5:00 p.m., Milan Community Center

University of Illinois Extension, Rock Island County wants to help you to take your food production gardening to the next level. There are many common problems producers face in growing popular vegetable and fruit crops. Local experts will give sound advice on how you can maximize your vegetable crops for the spring, summer and fall gardens along with fruits of all kind.

The program begins with a keynote address by Dr. Michael Woods entitled "Extending Your Possibilities" with the focus on garden layout and square foot gardening. Following his keynote address, participants will rotate between three 45 minute interactive presentations on Spring Gardens, Summer Gardens, and Fall Gardens with each session covering the various products of that season, planting, harvesting, varieties, and common struggles. The final session participants will choose from presentations on the topics of: Herbs, Preservation, or Fruit & Fruit Trees. Gardening vendors will also be present. The fee is $15 per person. Register online at www.yourextension.org or call (309) 756-9978. Support for this program is provided in part by a grant from The Mel McKay Charitable Trust and Radish Magazine.

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Horticulture Brown Bag Lunch Series, February 4 - March 25

Get a touch of gardening spirit this winter during the Horticulture Brown Bag luncheon weekly series at Rock Island Extension, 321 West 2nd Ave., Milan.. Bring a lunch to enjoy as you hear programs covering an array of gardening topics. February 25: Spring Wild Flowers; March 3: Indoor Air Quality; March 11: Good Guys Bad Guys; March 18: Edible Flowers; March 25: African Violets. Come for a 20 minute lecture, Q & A and fellowship. Programs are led by Rock Island County Master Gardeners. The fee is $5 per person, $3 for Rock Island County Master Gardeners. Register online at www.yourextension.org or call (309) 756-9978.

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Winter Gardening Teleconference Series

The Four Seasons Gardening, a 12-session program presented by University of Illinois Extension, includes a wide array of gardening and landscaping topics. The cost to attend the teleconferences is $5 for the general public and $1 for Rock Island County Master Gardeners. The seminar features a color slide presentation accompanied by the voice of the instructor as people from all over the state participate. Pre-registration is required. Register online at www.yourextension.org or call (309) 756-9978. Upcoming programs include:

· The Elusive Morel March 9 at 1 p.m. or March 11 at 7 p.m.

This program will cover the basics of mushroom classification and identification, with an emphasis on the various species of morels and the non-morel look-alikes. Tips for hunting the morel mushroom will be discussed, as well as safety in the woods and hunting etiquette–making this program especially useful to the novice morel hunter.

· A Gardener's Guide to Plant Propagation March 23 at 1 p.m. or March 25 at 7 p.m.

Propagation simply means to reproduce or make new plants. There are many ways to "make more plants." This session will focus on a variety of propagation techniques and try to take away some of the mystery so that you succeed. Soon, you may have more plants than you thought possible.

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Master Composting Program begins March 25 at Quad City Botanical Center

Become a Rock Island County Master Composter! The Master Composter Program is designed to extend composting information to the public through volunteers who have successfully completed a comprehensive training program. This educational program is made available through the University of Illinois Extension – Rock Island County. Participants will learn about backyard composting, structures; ingredients for successful composting; the biology & physiology of compost; composting methods, aerobic & anaerobic composting; composting with worms; composting bin constructing, and much more.

There will be seven classes which will take place on Thursday, March 25, 5:30 - 7 pm; Saturday March 27, 10 am - Noon; Thursday April 8, 5:30 - 7 pm; Saturday April 10, 10 am - Noon; Thursday May 6, 5:30 - 7:00 pm; (Compost Demo Site Construction TBD); Thursday, May 20, 5:30 - 7:00 p.m. The classes will be held at the Quad City Botanical Center, 2525 4th Ave., Rock Island, IL.

Registration fee includes a compost starting kit and manual for all participants. Fee Options $75 +10 hrs service ($50 will be refunded upon completion of service hours). or $125 No service hours. Master Composters volunteer service will be in the form of approved educational outreach through the Rock Island County Extension Unit. This can be done in a variety of ways such as giving workshops at schools, community centers, staffing a booth a community fair, maintaining a compost demonstration site or writing a news release for a paper. Pre-registration is required. Register online at www.yourextension.org or call (309) 756-9978.

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Horticulture Spring Series Begins March 23rd

Beginning March 23 – April 27, the Rock Island County Master Gardener's annual Spring Series Gardening Lectures for home horticulture will take place for six consecutive Tuesday evenings, 7:00 - 9:00 pm. at the Extension office in Milan. The cost is $5 per program, $3 for RICO Master Gardeners or for six weeks:$25 public/ $15 RICO Master Gardeners. Preregistration is strongly encouraged.

· March 23rd – Attracting Butterflies and Hummingbirds.

Learn how proper site selection and plant choices, including lots of native plants, are important to insure the success of the garden, both in terms of plant performance and attracting our winged friends. Ray Wolfe, Scott County Master Gardener will describe butterflies and hummingbirds found in northwest Illinois and the plants they love.

· March 30th – Green Gardening

Cathy LaFrenz, a.k.a. the effervescent Miss Effie, will share her ideas on green gardening...from decorating your garden with salvaged items to rain water conservation, composting and green insect control. You are guaranteed to learn a few things about sprucing up your garden, saving the environment and battling pests as well as having a laugh or two along the way.

· April 6th – Seed Starting

Have you ever wanted to start some of your garden plants from seed but never knew where to start? This class will introduce you to the basics of seed starting to help give you a jump-start on the new gardening season. Kari Houle, Unit Educator Horticulture for the University of Illinois Extension in Knox County will show you how fun and easy starting seeds can be.

· April 13th – Protecting Our Rivers

Tammy Becker, Programs Manager for Living Lands & Waters will talk about the Mississippi River and the changes it has seen in the last 150 years. She'll cover how what started as a one man project has developed into paid staff of several dedicated people and thousands of volunteers each year with highlights on what you can do to take responsibility for a cleaner river environment.

· April 20th – Go Wild, Go Native!

Marilyn Andress, Education Coordinator for the Rock Island County Soil and Water Conservation District will present information on using native plants to create "Wild Places" around your home and community. Topics to be covered include: Local ecology, site assessment for your garden, plant selections and ideas for types of gardens. Marilyn's passion for the environment is evident in her family acreage, by Illinois City, where she and her family are restoring their 76 acres to native prairie, wetlands & forest.

· April 27th – Learning Community Class

Jason Peters and Charles Mahaffey, both Augustana College Professors, will examine local environmental topics from different points of view. Learn about the cooperation between Jim Johansen of Wesley Acres and the college and how these two awesome teachers are inspiring students to think of the food supply and other environmental issues in new ways. Hear updates on Augie Acres, a student-run garden project at Augustana College as wells as other hands-on projects.

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Rock Island County Master Gardeners Host May 6th Bus Trip to the Pella Tulip Festival

Join the Rock Island County Master Gardeners on a fabulous bus trip to the historic Pella, Iowa on Thursday, May 6, 2010 to enjoy the Tulip Festival. The day-trip includes a seat on the motorcoach, reserved seating ticket to the afternoon grandstand show and parade, admission to the historical village and the Vermeer Windmill Tour, the Scholte House Tour, the Pella City tour and a one-day pass on the golf car shuttles. The cost is $65. Reservations must be in by April 16th. The motorcoach will depart at 6:00 a.m. and return home at 8:00 p.m. Meeting location is the southeast corner of the SouthPark Mall parking lot in Moline, IL.

In the city of Pella, there are lots of shops including the Dutch Bakery, Lace Shop, The Klokkenspel, Pella Garden Club's 48th Annual Flower Show at the Scholte Church (Historical Village) and you can order tulip bulbs at the church. There are plenty of places to eat as both lunch and dinner are on your own. Of course there are also hundreds of beautiful tulips in bloom all around the city and many other places and exhibits to see and enjoy. Register online at www.yourextension.org or call (309) 756-9978.

Sowing seed for safety - The News Journal

Posted: 25 Feb 2010 12:58 AM PST

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When it comes to edible gardening, nothing spells success like a rough economy.

Last year saw 7 million new gardeners take to their backyards as a source of food, and the trend doesn't show signs of slowing. Seed companies have known this for a long time, watching their sales rise and fall as the economy dictates.

Lately, however, another significant factor has boosted seed sales, particularly among new gardeners.

"Our business has doubled the last two years in a row, and so far this year, it's up 25 to 30 percent over last year," says Jerry Orton, a consultant for Baker Creek Heirloom Seeds in Missouri. "We attribute some of this not just to the economy, but to people becoming more aware of food safety."

Baker Creek, whose 29-year-old boss, Jere Gettle, started the company at age 17, is one of several seed companies to concentrate on heirloom, organic, open-pollinated, and/or non-genetically modified seed.

Like Seeds of Change, a certified organic seed company, and Seed Savers Exchange, a membership-based heirloom seed company that also offers a retail catalog, Baker Creek seeks to preserve bio-diversity and offer a safe food source for home gardeners and small farmers.

All three contract with suppliers around the world and are doing a booming business specializing in rare, unusual and incredibly diverse varieties.

Such diversity, while good for consumers, can also cause confusion.

What does it mean to be an heirloom tomato? An organic pea? A non-genetically modified ear of corn?

John Torgrimson, of Seed Savers Exchange, whose members exchange some 13,000 varieties of heirloom seeds each year, says, "Think of something handed down within a family from generation to generation. Heirloom seeds have been in circulation more than 50 years. [They're] open pollinated and nothing has been done to alter [their] genetics."

Open pollinated -- or wind- and insect-pollinated -- plants are hallmarks of heirlooms, unlike the many hybrid varieties available whose pollination has been manipulated to create desired traits in a new plant. Another characteristic of heirlooms is that their seed can be saved and planted from year to year. By preserving heirloom varieties, genetic diversity is encouraged, as is a link to the past.

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Home and Garden Tips

Friday, February 26, 2010

“In the garden: Peat moss can act as a renewable growing medium - Norwich Bulletin” plus 3 more

“In the garden: Peat moss can act as a renewable growing medium - Norwich Bulletin” plus 3 more

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