M A R C H G R O W A P P A L A C H I A M E E T I N G
March 12, 2013
Our meeting started with us passing out binders to all our participants that contained a wealth of information. The binders will be a great resource for our gardeners to use and to keep track of the handouts we provide. The binders included these handouts.
- Introductory letter briefly describing our Program and Founder John Paul Dejoria’s story.
- Class schedule for 2013.
- USDA Plant Hardiness Zone Map. http://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/PHZMWeb/
- Tennessee Hardiness Zone Map. http://planthardiness.ars.usda.gov/PHZMWeb/
- Sample UT Soil Test Report that describes how to understand your soil test report.
- Frost/Freeze occurrence chart for our area from NOAA. http://cdo.ncdc.noaa.gov/climatenormals/clim20supp1/states/TN.pdf
- UT publication SP 291-0, Guide to Spring Planted Cool Season Vegetables. https://utextension.tennessee.edu/publications/Documents/SP291-O.pdf
- SP291-P A Guide to Warm Season Planted Vegetables https://utextension.tennessee.edu/publications/Documents/SP291-P.pdf
- ID-128 Home Vegetable Gardening in Kentucky from the University of Kentucky. http://www.ca.uky.edu/agc/pubs/id/id128/id128.pdf
S E E D D IS T R I B U T I O N
Cool season vegetable seeds were distributed to participants. Some of the seeds handed out were:
- Radish
- Onion
- Lettuce
- Carrots
- Peas ( English and sugar snap)
- Spinach
- Beets
- Kale
S O I L S A M P L E R E S U L T S
Earlier this year our participants submitted soil samples that were sent to the University of Tennessee soil lab in Nashville. At this class, they received their results . Jeremy West, our University of Tennessee Extension Agent, gave a power point presentation of how to understand the soil reports with the proper soil amendments and fertilizer recommendations.
Our participants reviewed the contents of the binder with Cathy Lackey. Also, she gave a short overview about the difference in heirloom seeds, hybrid seeds, and GMO seeds. We talked briefly about growing organically, using compost in our gardens, and the use of rain barrels.
Sam Krahn shared with the class a method of growing a Salad Bowl Garden. This is a type of container gardening for one who does not have a lot of space or any property at all to do much gardening. Several different types of lettuce can be grown in one container and continuously harvested during the season.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0wGexjSUQzc
Also he spoke about a method of seeds starting using eggs cartons. You will need to save your egg shells for placing soil and seed into them. Also, you can cut the top of the egg carton off, and replace it with plastic wrap to create a mini-greenhouse. The purpose of the egg shell is to crush it into the soil you plant your seed. Especially, tomatoes since they need lots of calcium rich soil.
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