1 The Mason Jar - WSU...

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March 2012 The Mason Jar

Seeds For Thought

R. Jeanne Rehwaldt

We only have 68 days left until our plant sale! Our next

meeting will be on March 15 from 5 pm until 8 pm at

Memorial Hall at 210 W. Franklin Street in Shelton. We

need everyone to come to this meeting, even if you can

only stay for a portion of it. It’s time to get updates from

all the committees about what has been accomplished to

date and what each committee’s timeline is for moving

forward. Please bring a list of plants you plan to donate to

this meeting for the labeling and pricing committee.

The greenhouse committee has been meeting regularly

and it is nearly ready to plant. This Saturday, March 3 we

will be meeting at the greenhouse to fill pots with seed

starting mix in preparation for the seed planting the next

Saturday, March 10. Both days we will be there beginning

at 10 AM.

Allie Bernhard has scheduled an orientation session for

interns for the same day, Saturday, March 10. Please let

her know if you can attend. This will be a time where you

will be familiarized with the office procedures, learn how

to report volunteer hours and get a chance to see Catalyst

Park garden and plant seeds.

Our meeting on March 12 will feature a presentation on

Green Roofs by Erika Stewart. These living roofs can be

applied to any structure that has enough strength to hold

the extra weight of soil and plants.

The Mason Jar Mason County WSU Master Gardener Newsletter

March 2012

Inside This Issue:

Contacts 2

General Mtg. Minutes 3

Donald D.Tapio Article 8

Catalyst Corner 11

Getting Involved 12

March Gardening 13

Edibles-Ornamentals 15

Calendar 17

Back8


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Extension Staff

Robert Simmons

Director

Ext.690

[email protected]

R. Jeanne Rehwaldt

Master Gardener Coordinator

Ext. 688

[email protected]

Allie Bernhard

AmeriCorps

Ext. 687

[email protected]

Anna Mangan

AmeriCorps

Ext. 690

[email protected]

Master Gardener

Ext 687

[email protected]

Office

303 N. 4th Ave

Shelton, WA 98584

360-427-9670

Ext. 680

Fax 360-427-7264

Executive Board

President

Beatrix Blackerby

[email protected]

President Elect

Pat Carpenter

[email protected]

Vice President

Lou Schmidt

[email protected]

Secretary

Evon Masteller

[email protected]

Treasurer

Margie Plebuch

[email protected]

Directors at Large

Pat Edmondson

[email protected]

Dave Shepard

[email protected]

Foundation Representative

Janet Mutter

[email protected]

Contacts

Cooperating agencies: Washington State University, US Department of Agriculture and Mason County. Extension

Programs and employment are available to all without discrimination. Evidence of noncompliance may be reported

through your local Extension Office.

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Mason County WSU Master Gardener General Meeting Minutes February 13, 2012

Meeting Called to Order 10:18 A.M.

Present: Board Members Beatrix Blackerby, Pres., Pat Carpenter, Pres. Elect, Lou Schmidt, Vice Pres., Evon Masteller, Secy., Margie Plebuch, Treas., Dave Shephard, Dir. At Large, and Janet Mutter, Foundation Representative. Also Staff Members: R. Jeanne Rehwaldt, M.G. Coord. and

Allie Bernhard, AmeriCorps.

Master Gardeners: Steve Edmondson, Bonnie Day, Puja Pecovsky, Mary Bigger, Karen Shephard, Nancy Dillon, Christy Rowe, Jill Coulson, Maryjane Robbins, Edna Rodgers, Nancy Verlinde, Erika

Stewart, Esther Novak, Karen King and Sybil Jones.

Agenda:

- January 9th, 2012 Meeting Minutes Approved

- Treasurer’s Report.: Margie

- Vice President’s Report: Lou

- Plant sale location - Kneeland Park location will cost $180 ( $9/Hr. at 10 hours each for Friday and Saturday with ability to begin set-up Thurs. evening). The logistics of water, parking access

and tables was also covered. Mark Zeigler needs a list of vendors at our sale site.

Jeanne - Fairgrounds was another possible cost-free site with John and Rachel Hansen who are managing that area with something being worked out with vendors. Rhododendron Society will

support us along with advertising the event.

Other members brought up ideas about setting up a history for future plant sales, parking can be worked out and bring in more customers with the exposure in a central location. We can support

the efforts of John and Rachel at the Fair Grounds with other endeavors such as a Barn Dance.

- Motion was made by Dave Shephard to thank the Hansen‘s but, to accept the Kneeland Park location for our Plant Sale this year, and Seconded by Puja. Voting was 19/1 in favor w/Steve

Edmondson opposing.

-Evening Meetings for people that have jobs. New members have expressed the desire to attend our meetings. We could do this before the Plant Sale in April 9th 5-7 P.M. at Timberland Library however, we could check with at the Memorial Hall so we could utilize their kitchen. The Motion was made by Dave Shephard and Seconded by Steve Edmondson. Amendment Motion to check on Memorial Hall with same time frame by Dave Shephard, Seconded by Nancy Dillon carried and Lou

(Continued on page 4)

General Meeting Minutes


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will announce the location through email.

- State Representative Report - Foundation - Jan

First Meeting at Seattle with 2 main items: Getting the meaning of the Foundation information out to the Master Gardeners and covering travel expenses Spokane being the next meeting. Suggestion was made to utilize teleconferencing as another possibility. Jeanne has experienced this method

and volunteered to help her out on learning this method.

- Coordinator’s Report - Jeanne

- Fair Ground Meeting on March 5 at Fair Grounds - Nancy Dillon will attend.

- Cluster Meeting in Lewis County - Dave Shephard will attend which Jeanne will email report to

him.

- Burpee Seed Grant was declined. (Patti Kleist has volunteered to work 25 hours applying for

grants for Master Gardener Foundation). Works for Faith and Action in Belfair.

- Skokomish Garden beginning with Art Day former M.G. is now with Hood Canal Kiwanis and they need facilitation with seeds, organization and partnering learning events with Catalyst Park Food Bank Garden. Edna Rodgers said she would help them. Bonnie will get together with them on Seed

ordering.

- Allie and Jeanne will share responsibilities with the Children’s Garden. Meeting at Tues. 21st at

WSU Ext. with conflicts on the time so they will talk about it at the work party on Feb. 20th.

- Hypertufa meeting on March 19th at Pioneer Greenhouse at 12:00 P.M.

Parking Lot Item = Conversations on what would make them a better product for selling.

Old-Ongoing Business -

- Plant Sale Committee - Apron Sale - Nancy Dillon

She ordered 19 (13 came in, balance will be coming in.) Cost is $15 with tax and embroidery

covering the extra amount ($12.99). Mary Bigger is making embroidered name tags for the aprons.

Lou - Don Acheson has a list of free plants for the Plant Sale. We need to decide on which we can

(Continued from page 3)



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use. Erika and Lou will get together to determine that and report later.

Sub Committees will determine their own meeting schedules.

- Greenhouse Update - Bonnie

Thermostats are in and heating cables will be arriving soon. Need lighting fixtures have 6, need 14 ( ____________ said they can contribute 3), we have enough lights and we have timers, locks/chain on back gate in place, Jeanne has lock for main greenhouse gate and school gate; heater is hooked up. Propane is all hooked up and ready to go. End of Feb. beginning of March begin seeding. Keith is the person to contact while Rick is on vacation at Pioneer School to work out the

water problem.

- Community Beds - We will be building bigger and higher for our gardeners. Lumber from Simpson Timber Co. will donate 12 foot boards through Sara Watkins who is talking to Contact person Terry

Roberts. There will be enough boards to support the Children’s Garden as well.

- Catalyst Park Work Party on Feb. 20th - Soil will be delivered on Sat.

- Pile of chips will be arranged by Allie and Jeanne.

- Need to be there before 9 A.M. to show workers where to work.

- Potluck - bring food.

- Fairgrounds Update/Building 1 display box for May - Jeanne

- Need to find out what we need to do for April at library.

- Master Gardeners programs and education possibilities.

- Tourist attractions.

- Using grounds daily for community interests as they arise.

- Keep them in mind when coming across venues for the area.

-Approval of revised By-Laws - Dave





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No content changes. Jeanne and Edna made their comments known and changes were made.

Motion made by Lou and Seconded by Margie to accept the By-Laws and voter approved by

members.

- Master Gardener’s Journal updates - Pat Carpenter

It’s coming along with most of content completed, most of the months except December finished. Asking for content pages on edible plants and grasses (supplied by Jan) items to be added Jeanne doing canning and Dave Shephard can do an item on tools. We are planning for a total of 160 pages. Now up to laying out next. Nancy Dillon took paper white narcissus. Photos can still be sent in please. 200 copies of Journals to sell with 20 already sold Selling for $25 and with discounts $20 if purchased before March 15th. The next Journal Meeting will be Feb. 26th 1 P.M. at Pat

Carpenter’s house.

- Country Living - Steve Edmondson

- Need to publicize the upcoming workshops with flyers distributed throughout the community.

Master Gardener of the Month for January is Lou Schmidt.

Opportunity after meeting to purchase Discount Card was offered by Margie

Dave gave a synopsis of Lewis County Master Gardeners Classes, “Drip Irrigation, Integrating Fruits and Nuts, Pruning Fruit Trees, Vertical Gardening,Greenhouses and Hoop Houses, Master Gardener Panel” notes can be reviewed per request by email to Dave Shephard. Lots of information for you

to explore.

Allie announced Catalyst Park Work Party on President’s Day’ February 20th 10 A.M. - 2 P.M.

Margie announced Olmstead in the Pacific Northwest: Parks, Gardens, and Campus Designs event

on Harstine Island, March 25 starts at 2:00 P.M.

Important Dates:

February 23rd through 25th - Mason Conservation District Plant Sale

February 25th Country Living Workshop - Frugal Gardening

February 27th, Executive Committee meeting, 10:00 A.M. Extension Office




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March 12, 2012, Master Gardener General Meeting

Meeting Adjourned at 11:30 A.M.

Handouts: Plant Sale Information/back side of Agenda

- “WSU Lewis County Ext. ‘WSU Master Food Preserver & Safety Advisors Food Safety/Food

Preservation Programs for February through June 2012’” flyer Contact Dave Shephard.

- “Harstine Island Community Club Presents Inquiring Minds” flyer. Contact Margie Plebuch

- “Gardening @Home - Seed Catalog & Ideas Exchange” flyer.

Respectfully submitted by Evon Masteller, Secretary



For as we know, not withstanding their eccentricities, gardeners are with rare exceptions the most pleasant of persons! ~The Passionate Gardener by Des Kennedy There is more to life than gardening, When you find out what it is, let me know. ~Unknown. Life is made of choices. Take off your muddy boots or scrub the floor! ~Unknown.


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Donald D. Tapio Article Pruning Berries Now Will Add More Fruit at Harvest Time Just like fruit trees, the vines and bushes on which most berries and grapes grow need to be pruned to provide maximum production. Whether you’re talking about raspberries, blackberries, grapes, or gooseberries, pruning them will help put more fruit on the table at harvest time. The techniques of pruning, however, differ. For example, black and purple raspberries require both dormant and summer pruning. During the dormant season, four to six of last year’s canes should be left on each hill, and all lateral branches from the previous year’s growth should be cut back to about 10 to 12 inches. Then, in the summer, growers should pinch off the growing tips of the new canes as they reach two feet for black and three feet for purple raspberries. This causes side branches to grow. Summer bearing red raspberries are commonly grown in a hedgerow system. The row should be kept 14 to 18 inches wide. The tips are not pinched back since they do not branch in response to the practice. Weak and dead canes should be removed in the spring, leaving four or five vigorous ones per foot of row. Thorny blackberries should be pruned similarly to black raspberries. However, canes may be allowed to become a little higher before summer pinching. Semi-erect, thornless blackberries should be trained on a trellis. Vigorous ones can be pinched when they get above the top trellis wire to help keep them in bounds. Then in the early spring, before buds begin to swell, reduce the total cane number by about one-third, leaving the thickest, most vigorous ones. Grapes should be pruned in early spring after severe cold weather is past. Don’t prune them while the wood is frozen, because frozen canes are brittle and the vines could be damaged. Pruning in late spring causes bleeding (sap flow) to occur, but there is no evidence such bleeding is harmful. When planting a new grape plant, cut the vine back to two buds and train one trunk up to the top of the trellis by pinching off the lateral growth during the growing season. The top one-third of the blueberry plant should be removed at the initial planting. For the next two years, little pruning is needed except to remove broken or damaged branches. After the third growing season, prune the bush to open up the center early in the spring. Currants and gooseberries are pruned in late winter before growth begins. Both have similar growth patterns. After the first season, retain six to eight of the most vigorous shoots on a plant and cut the others off at ground level. After the second season leave four or five vigorous one-year old shoots and three or four two-year old canes. After the third year, retain three or four each from the one, two and three year canes. Since canes that are four years old or older produce very little fruit, those older canes should be removed. Question: We would like to plant a row of raspberries in the garden. As a child, I remember we had the Willamette variety. Are there any newer varieties we can plant that might have


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Donald D. Tapio Article

sweeter fruit? ANSWER: There are a number of newer varieties that provide outstanding flavor and are much sweeter than the older varieties like Willamette which gave raspberries their reputation for tartness. Although most of the berries grown for commercial production in Washington are the Meeker variety, there are many other varieties that are ideal for home garden production.

A favorite among home gardeners is Tulameen, which was introduced in 1989. The fruit is very large, long, conic, medium red, glossy and firm. It has the longest fruiting season of all summer varieties (50 days). It is noted for both its flavor and size. Although it is moderately susceptible to root rot, it is resistant to the common strain of raspberry mosaic virus and to powdery mildew.

Cascade Delight was released as a new raspberry variety in 2003. It is productive, with long fruiting laterals producing large, firm fruit. The fruiting season and productivity is very similar to Tulameen, though fruit size and firmness is greater. In research plots at WSU Mount Vernon and Puyallup it was very vigorous and withstood root rot where Tulameen did not.

Cascade Bounty was released as a new raspberry cultivar in 2005. It is a medium, very productive, late season variety that is extremely rot tolerant. The harvest season is similar to Meeker. The fruit is bright colored, glossy and rounded in shape. The fruit has a tart acidic flavor and removes easily from the receptacle.

Sannich is a early variety which produces high yields with fruit size that is slightly larger than Meeker. It is very productive, and produces some of the highest yields. The glossy, firm, excellent quality fruit have fine druplets and a very pleasant flavor that is comparable to Tulameen. The canes are spineless with laterals that are short and bend easily without breaking, and so are able to carry the high yield.

Although all of these varieties are excellent choices, many gardeners continue to grow Meeker which was developed by Washington State University and released as a new cultivar in 1967. Meeker is a sweet raspberry with the delicious flavor one expects. Meeker continues to be the most widely planted variety in Washington and the Pacific Northwest, representing 70 percent of the plants sold in Washington between 2007 and 2008. Meeker is a late season, very productive summer fruiting raspberry with excellent traditional raspberry flavor. It is particularly sensitive to root rot as a new plant, but has more tolerance after it has become well established. Gardeners wishing to extend their raspberry season have several fall bearing varieties to choose from.

Heritage is the traditional standard for fall fruiting raspberries. It can be very productive, but in most years in the Pacific Northwest, much of the fruit cannot be used because it is produced




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too late in the season.

Autumn Bliss is an early season, fall fruiting variety. The fruit is larger and firmer than Heritage and is produced two to three weeks earlier. The canes are short and sturdy needing minimal support.

Summit is a fall fruiting variety that begins to produce fruit at the same time as Autumn Bliss. Summit is very productive and highly tolerant of root rot. Both fruit size and quality decline later in the season.

Fall Gold is a yellow fruited variety with mild, sweet flavored fruit. The bushes are only moderately vigorous, producing an average yield.

Raspberries are the most demanding of all small fruits in their preference for well-drained, sandy loam soil at least 24 inches deep. Check the future planting site after a heavy rain for the presence of standing water. On sites slow to drain, install drain tile 24 inches deep, or plant the raspberries on mounds of soil 1 foot high. Excessive soil moisture during late winter when new shoots are growing leads to root rot development.


Donald D. Tapio Article

Staying informed is easier than ever!

WSU Mason County Extension Master Gardener Face Book Page

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mason-County-WSU-Master-Gardeners/191488234215347

WSU Mason County Extension Master Gardener blog at the Mason County Daily News

http://masoncountydailynews.com/mason-county-master-gardeners

WSU Mason County Extension Master Gardener Website

http://county.wsu.edu/mason/gardening/Pages/default.aspx

Tune in to “The Garden Gate” with Master Gardener Steve Edmondson weekdays at 12:15

KOOL FM 104.1 / AM 1030 KMAS

Check out Jeanne Rehwaldt’s gardening and nutrition articles! You can find them every other

week in the Shelton—Mason County Journal, located under Non Profit News in the Master

Gardener Column, and during the odd weeks in the new Mason County Daily News’ weekly paper!

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Mason-County-WSU-Master-Gardeners/191488234215347

http://masoncountydailynews.com/mason-county-master-gardeners

http://county.wsu.edu/mason/gardening/Pages/default.aspx

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Catalyst Corner

and around the food bank garden beds, pulling scotch broom from around the nature trail, and

beginning to level the ground for the children’s garden space.

There is much still to be done, and your help at upcoming work parties is needed! Upcoming work

party tasks include clearing blackberry bushes, clearing and leveling more land for the children’s

garden, fill-dirt delivery and distribution, staking out the fence line for the children’s garden,

digging holes for the new garden sign, tilling food bank garden beds and adding more soil.

Needed items to be purchased or donated include roofing materials for the deck, more high

quality soil for the garden beds, an irrigation system, organic fertilizer, compost, and garden

seeds.

Other upcoming projects include implementing a planting / harvest tracking system, expanding

the number and size of community garden plots, and obtaining the new garden sign.

Applications for the 2012 Community Garden are available on the MG website, and have been

distributed to several social service agencies in Mason County. Applications are due by March

1st, with community gardener orientations scheduled for March 17th and 31st, beginning at

10AM. (Orientation meetings will be moved to the extension office in case of inclement weather).

The steering committee has decided to combine all upcoming children’s garden meetings with the

regular steering committee meetings. Mark your calendar now for the following meeting dates, all

starting at 5pm and held at the extension office.

The President’s Day work party

at Catalyst Community and Food

Bank Garden was a great

success, with 18 volunteers

showing up despite the weather!

Much was accomplished,

including creating an alternate

route from the North West side

of the garden, pulling the deck

out, starting to clear land

between the food bank and

children’s garden areas,

gravelling between the sheds,

weeding in front of the garden

March 14th and 28th

April 4th and 18th

May 2nd, 16th, and 30th

June 13th and 27th

July 11th and 25th

August: T.B.A.

Photo by Pat Carpenter


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Getting Involved

Volunteer Opportunities:

Office clinic

March 5 – Erika Stewart, Jinx Cromwell

March 12 – Lou Schmidt, Christy Row

March 19 & 26 – volunteers needed

March 3 – 10 am – 1 pm Soil mixing and pot filling at Pioneer greenhouse. Prepping to plant. Bring

shop light fixtures for installation.

March 7 - 10 am Work party at Extension office gardens (this is ongoing, every other Wednesday

at 10 am)

March 7 – 9:45 am – 10:45 am Oakland Bay Jr. High – work with high school FFA students in their

greenhouse. (on-going every other Wednesday)

March 10 – 10 am - ? Seed planting at Pioneer greenhouse.

March 15 – Plant sale meeting – Memorial Hall 5 pm – 8 pm – Bring list of plants you have to donate. All committees be prepared to give a report of progress to date and timeline of work to

be accomplished.

March 19 – noon – 3 pm Hypertufa class/work party at Pioneer greenhouse. (check in at office

before walking back to greenhouse.)

Continuing Education Opportunities:

March 12th– Immediately following the General Meeting, Erika Stewart will be offering a

presentation on Green Roofs.

Note: WSU Master Gardener Trainees are required to complete 60 hours of Basic Training classes

plus on line training, and as Interns fulfill 60 hours of volunteer time in their first year, including

15 hours of Clinic time.

Certified Master Gardeners are required to complete 25 hours volunteer time and 10 hours of

Continuing Education per year in order to remain Certified.

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Your plants are ready to start growing, so help them out by giving them a shot of fertilizer. Roses need to be pruned first. Don’t worry about the fact that they are already growing. Cut out any dead, weak and crossing branches. Look for the big, healthy basal canes that formed last year and remove any old wood that is interfering with them. Then prune what is left down to 12-18 inches. Climbers bloom on year-old wood, so wait to prune them until after bloom. Clean up dead leaves and debris in your flowerbed. Summer-blooming perennials can be divided. If you don’t need them, pot them up and give them to friends and neighbors. While you are working, be on the lookout for slugs and slug eggs. If you get rid of that cluster of pearly white eggs now, you will have fewer chewed leaves later. Start cool-season transplants (broccoli, cabbage, cauliflower and lettuce) under lights, if you haven’t already. Inexpensive shop lights suspended over seed trays work well. You don’t need expensive full-spectrum bulbs; plain cool white fluorescent bulbs are fine. In about three weeks you can move them to a protected place outside during the day, bringing them in at night. After a week of this treatment, leave them out in a protected spot and then plant them when you get the soil prepared. Growing transplants in the house decreases the seed-to-harvest time on most crops in the early part of the season. By the time your first crops are getting hardened off, you can use the lights to start tomatoes, peppers and other warm-season crops. When your garden soil dries enough, dig it deeply and add compost and fertilizer. If you planted a cover crop in the fall, turn it under and let it decompose for a couple of weeks before planting. You can sow peas, onions, lettuce, spinach, beets, chard, turnips and radishes directly into the garden. Houseplants that are getting root-bound can be repotted to a slightly larger pot with fresh soil. By the middle of the month trim and repot any geraniums and fuchsias that you have been holding over from last year. Put them somewhere that they will get lots of light, but be protected from late frosts. Water and fertilize them to get them growing again. I have just been potting up the geranium cutting that I took back in January. They all have a few roots and will be big, beautiful plants by time to put them into the garden. Geraniums are not usually planted out until May, so, if you want to do some propagation, there is still time. Take a 3-4 inch terminal cutting, dip the base in rooting hormone and then put it into a wet peat pellet or a mix of peat and sand or perlite. Keep it somewhere humid or suspend a plastic bag around the pot, keeping the plastic away from the leaves. In a few weeks you will have brand new plants.


March Gardening


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If you want a good-looking lawn this summer, it is time to get busy. First mow what has grown since you stopped for the winter. Then evaluate your turf. Cut out a 3-inch square with a sharp knife and look at the thatch layer. If there is more than a ½ inch of old roots and stems, this is your year to thatch. My lawn has some moss spots, so I will demoss and then rake out the dead patches. Aeration can also be done now and is probably needed, at least on high-traffic areas. After either thatching or moss treatment, turf usually benefits from top-dressing with a thin layer of light soil mix and then over-seeding. Use a seed mix of fine-leafed fescue and turf-type perennial ryegrass. Wait for another month before fertilizing your lawn. Think about adding fruit to your landscape. Bare-root plants are available now for considerably less than potted ones will cost later in the season.

~Holly Kennell, Community Horticulture Agent for Snohomish County


March Gardening

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Landscaping books suggest that vegetables be grown in the far back or side of the garden, preferably shielded from view by a fence or hedge. The vegetable garden has been equated with

the garbage cans, compost bin and laundry line – functional, but ugly.

This may be because Americans usually grow vegetables in long rows. Their gardens mimic a farm field cultivated by a plow and that’s pretty boring. The more traditional way, world-wide, is to

grow whatever you need together.

Historically, none but the very wealthy could afford big gardens of “useless” ornamentals. Most people had cottage gardens combining plants for food, flavoring, medicine, fiber, dyes, scent,

etc. These gardens were useful as well as ornamental.

It is possible to make a totally edible ornamental garden. However, harvesting usually spoils the picture and the garden is not attractive in winter. Combining edibles with inedible ornamentals to

give the beds structure works best.

Plant small vegetables and herbs in bays between shrubs or in front mixed with flowers. Tall vegetables (corn, sunflowers) or vines (squash, beans, tomatoes) trained on trellis can provide temporary privacy or shade. Fruit bushes often make nice shrubs for foundation plantings or mixed

beds. Fruit and nut trees work as shade trees or some can be espaliered as a hedge.

You will need to take special care in selecting ornamentals. Don’t use those needing pesticides not labeled for edibles. Hopefully, the garden’s diversity will confuse the bugs and slow disease spread and it will attract birds and beneficial insects. Avoid ornamentals with toxic berries, since

you will be growing edibles nearby.

Trees should have an open canopy for light penetration and deep roots that won’t mind soil disturbance or competition. The trees must be able to handle water and fertilizer (even in late summer, which may delay dormancy and thus reduce hardiness). Also they should not have shallow or aggressive roots (poplars, elms, big maples) or roots that sucker when disturbed (tree

of-heaven, sassafras, sumac).

When placing plants, consider the compatibility of the plants’ needs. Most vegetables and herbs need sun. If you have semi-shade, try leafy greens and maybe root crops. Likewise, all vegetables, particularly shallow-rooted and young ones, need regular watering. Mediterranean herbs (sage,

thyme, rosemary), figs, salal and Oregon grape are drought-tolerant edibles.

The soil should be fertile and have a neutral pH. Heath family ornamentals (Rhodies, azaleas, mountain laurel, Pieris, heather) require too acid a soil for most vegetables and have shallow,

fibrous root system. They could work well with blueberries, lingonberry and salal.

To create a pleasing design, consider leaf size and texture; leaf and flower color; and plant size. Don’t plant in rows. Random plantings allow harvesting without spoiling your design, whereas


Combining Edibles and Ornamentals


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picking from a row makes it look like a smile with a tooth missing.

Good trees for your mixed beds might include Amur maple, filbert, honey locust, Japanese snowbell, katsura and silk tree. Shrubs to consider include Juneberry, witch hazel, euonymous,

Nandina, dwarf pines, rosemary and sage.

Akebia, grapes, honeysuckle, climbing roses, clematis and beans are vines that might be useful. Ajuga, dwarf phlox, dwarf Potentilla, Corsican mint, violets, strawberries, lingonberry and thyme

are nice ground covers.

Choose perennial flowers with a long flower season such as beebalm, black-eyed Susan, campanula and coreopsis. Many annuals bloom all summer including alyssum, calendula, cosmos, larkspur, marigold, pansies, Scabiosa, snapdragons and zinnias. Mix in some bulbs like snowdrops,

crocus, daffodils, grape hyacinths and iris.

Among the most useful edibles for the ornamental garden are vegetables with nice leaves like amaranth, cabbage, celery, edible chrysanthemum (shungiku), endive, escarole, kale, leeks, lettuce, mustard, bunching onion, parsley, rhubarb and Swiss chard. On the other hand, beets,

broccoli, cauliflower and bulbing onions will be hard to use.

If you want to pursue this more deeply, Kate Rogers Gessert did trials at Oregon State. Her book,

The Beautiful Food Garden, will tell you such things as which cultivar of carrot has the nicest

foliage and which beans are the most ornamental.

~Holly Kennell, Community Horticulture Agent for Snohomish County


Combining Edibles and Ornamentals

Wanted for the Mason Jar:

Committee and Sub-Committee Chairs, please submit dates and times of upcoming meetings so

they can be included in the Mason Jar calendar

Your favorite recipe utilizing local, seasonal produce

Your “free”, “trade”, or “wanted” classified ad

Information about upcoming non-M.G. events of interest

Your favorite garden related story, tip, trivia, or quote

Your photos of anything garden or nature related Photos are needed on an ongoing basis.

Please email your submissions to [email protected] by the 2nd Monday of the month!

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March 2012

Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat

1 2 3 Pioneer

Greenhouse

Work Party

10AM

4 5 CLINIC

12-3

E. Stewart/

J. Cromwell

6 7 Ext. Ofc.

Work

Party &

OBJH

work day

9 10 Pioneer

Greenhouse

Work Party

10AM

11 12 General

Meeting /

CLINIC 12-3

L. Schmitt/C.

Rowe

13 14 Catalyst

Steering

Committee

Mtg 5PM

15 Plant

Sale

Meeting 5-

8PM

16 17 Catalyst

Community

Gardener

Orientation

18 19

CLINIC

12-3 /

Hypertufa

20 21

Oakland

Bay Jr.

High work

22 23 Silent

Movie “The

General”

Choice HS

6:30 pm

24

25 26

CLINIC

12-3 /

Board

Meeting

27 28 Catalyst

Steering

Committee

Mtg 5PM

29 30 31 Country

Living

Workshop /

Catalyst

Orientation


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