Flowers are finally beginning to appear in the flower beds and the forsythia are starting to bloom. Planting the vegetable garden can’t be far behind. I know some of you have already started planting things like peas, spinach, and other cold tolerant crops, and then some are still waiting for their soil to warm and dry out enough to be able to plant. If you have questions on gardening, please ask an expert for help.

May is the month to:

• Start hardening off those seedlings you started earlier indoors and begin planting cold tolerant crops into the garden. In early May if you haven’t put in your peas already, now is a good time to get them in along with most greens (such as spinach, lettuce, Swiss chard, and more). One major factor to early planting is soil temperature and moisture in the soil. Too cold or wet soil may invite problems. To view the latest publications and videos on gardening in Maine, please visit our UMaine Extension’s gardening website.

• Need to repair dead spots in your lawn? Once your soil temperature has warmed to at least 55/60 degrees, you may go out and prepare your area by first raking out the dead grass and roughing up the soil. Then you are ready to fertilize and replant the effected area. Be sure to cover the area afterward with a thin layer of straw to protect the new seed from washing away in a heavy rain or to make it harder for the birds to find the seed. Once planted be sure that the area does not dry out. The ground should be kept moist until the grass is up through the straw. You can find more information on lawns and lawn care in Bulletin #2367, Establishing a Home Lawn in Maine, by Lois Berg Stack, UMaine Extension ornamental horticulture specialist.

• May is a great time to plant new trees and shrubs. With all the renewed interest in non-invasive plants and planting native plants in the landscape, Lois Stack, Ormantel Horticulature Specialist at the UMaine Extension, has compiled information on Gardening to Conserve Maine’s Native Landscape (Bulletin #2500).

• If you’re planning on growing your own strawberries this year and have already put in your order, May is the time you will want to start preparing the site you have chosen to locate them in. As with all first time garden areas you will want to get a soil test done by the University of Maine Soil Test Laboratory to determine what steps you need to take to get your soil suitable for growing strawberries. Check out our video on How To Grow Strawberries: Planting A Strawberry Bed or Bulletin #2067, Growing Strawberries.

Upcoming Events

The Northeast Livestock Exposition

• Will be held May, 17, 18, and 19 at Windsor Fairgrounds with many past favorites and new events for youth! For more information on this event, visit Northeast Livestock Expo. To register, click on Youth. New this year will be a market lamb sale with a jackpot show at Skowhegan Fair! Local breeders will be offering great market lambs for youth to purchase for Maine market lamb shows and sales.

Raised Bed Gardening Series

• The second session of our raised bed gardening series will be held on May 15 and we will be focusing on starting your garden. If you haven’t signed up for this session, but would like to, please call 207.474.9622 or 1.800.287.1495 (in Maine) to register.

Northern New England Home, Garden, and Flower Show

• Celebrate the arrival of spring with them at the 11th Annual Home Garden Flower Show at Fryeburg Fairgrounds, May 17, 18 & 19, 2013 with great exhibitors, garden centers, and awesome fair food! For more information, visit the Fryeburg Home Show website. 

Somerset County Soil & Water Conservation District

• 2013 TROUT SALE! The deadline for the trout sale is May 10, 2013. Prices for Brook Trout or Rainbow Trout are the same as last year. PICK UP DAY for trout will be Wednesday May 15. For more information, see Somerset County Soil & Water District.

Discover Gorgeous Gardens!

• The Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens invite you to experience their spectacular 250 acres of gardens and landscapes. Their gardens and wild spaces are uniquely beautiful and always full of surprises, including 11,000 tulips in the spring!

If you’re a Maine resident, stop by (with ID) for free admission during Maine Days at the Gardens, 9:00-5:00 throughout Memorial Day weekend, May 25-27.

Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens is open daily year-round. The Gardens Gift Shop is now open for the season, and the Kitchen Garden Cafe opens May 1.

Items of Interest

Emerald Ash Borer

• The Emerald Ash Borer has now been found in New Hampshire. Emerald Ash Borer (EAB) was found in Concord, NH, in March 2013. EAB attacks ash trees, and is responsible for the death of millions of ash trees in the mid-west. For more information, visit Protecting New Hampshire Trees and Forests. For information on the state of Maine’s’ efforts in detecting and preventing the Emerald Ash Borer, please visit Purple Traps and the Emerald Ash Borer.

Farm to School Meeting

• UMaine Extension will host a Farm to School meeting Thursday, May 9, 2013 at the UMaine Extension Penobscot County Office, Bangor, ME at 7:00 p.m. At this free event growers, school food service directors, and the general public will learn about school lunch requirements, acquire strategies for building successful local procurement relationships, and network for the 2013 season. A guest farmer, food service director, and Maine State Child Nutrition Services employee will be on hand to share their experiences with Farm to School and answer questions. For more information and to RSVP, please e-mail Food Corps Service Member Zoe Hastings at zoe.hastings@foodcorps.org

2013-2014 New England Small Fruit Management Guide

• Copies of the 2013-2014 New England Small Fruit Management Guide are now available at Highmoor Farm. The guide contains the latest information on management control options for the major small fruit pests as well as scouting information. Cost of the guide is $10.00 plus $2.53 postage for a total of $12.53. Copies of the 2012-2013 New England Vegetable Management Guide with color pictures of the important pests and diseases are also available at Highmoor Farm. Cost of the guide is $25.00 plus $3.43 postage for a total of $28.43. To order the guides, please send your check made payable to UMaine Cooperative Extension mailed to: Highmoor Farm, P.O. Box 179, Monmouth, Maine 04259, attention Pam St. Peter. For more information, contact Pam St. Peter at 933.2100 or pamela.stpeter@maine.edu.

Farmer Joe with second graders harvesting another crop. Joe Bergeron is a Master Gardener in Somerset County and is co-owner of thelazyway.

Forest Hills School Second Grade Receives Grant to Grow!

• Forest Hills School is pleased to announce that second grade teacher Marisa Achey was chosen by Johnny’s Selected Seeds to support their growing projects in her classroom. They will be receiving a shipment of seeds shortly.

Mrs. Achey has been active in the 5, 2, 1, 0 (five or more fresh fruits and vegetables, two hours or less of recreational screen time, one or more hour of physical activity, and zero sugary drinks) for over a year, bringing lots of healthy learning activities into her classroom. “Farmer Joe” (Joe Bergeron) has adopted the classroom and the students have enjoyed cooking lessons and lots of fresh produce grown in the library’s window.

To learn more about this project and farmer Joe, visit thelazyjway.com.

Thank you!

Mark Sheriff demonstrating grafting process

A big heart felt Thank You Goes out to Master Gardener Mark Sheriff and Wendy Sheriff, owners of Avalon Acres Farm & Orchard for hosting this years’ Apple Pruning Field Day. This event has become an annual right of spring held at their orchard in St. Albans. This year we had a great turnout for the event with 75 people attending, representing 5 counties (Somerset, Kennebec, Piscataquis, Penobscot, and Waldo). Information was shared on pruning, planting, grafting, and growing, along with a tour of the farm and fresh bake goodies and hot drinks on a very windy, cold, information-filled day. If you’re in the area, stop at Avalon Acres Farm and pick up some farm fresh fruits and vegetables.

Finally April is here! I’m hoping that the old saying, April showers bring the flowers that bloom in May, is going to apply. It would be really nice to see stable weather conditions without the extremes of unseasonable highs and lows. This is the time that gardeners are wondering when will the soil dry and become warm enough to work. Also now is the time most people are starting seeds or transplanting those that they started earlier. The University of Maine Cooperative Extension has many great gardening publications on our website, along with gardening videos, to help you with your up coming gardening adventures.

 April is the Month to…

• Start warm weather seedlings, such as peppers, tomatoes, eggplant, and herbs, which you’ve put off doing until now.
• Depending on your garden plot, you may want to direct sow an early crop of greens, such as spinach, Swiss chard or even a row or two of peas.
• Take a walk around the yard and check for winter damaged shrubs or trees. Now is a good time to prune out any dead or badly damaged limbs or branches.
• Lawn care can be started now by raking up debris, dead grass, and earth mounds left by your friendly neighborhood moles. You may also want to do some reseeding of spots in your lawn towards the end of the month.
• April is also a great month to plan a visit to a local nursery or attend a garden show to see the latest in new and exciting plant material.
• Once more, if you haven’t done a soil test, NOW is the time to get your soil test into the UMaine soil testing lab.
• For those of you who are interested in information on the delicious fiddlehead fern (Ostrich Fern) we have two bulletins on the subject: Bulletins #2540 and #4198.

 April is usually the month that gardeners and gardens start getting into full swing! Have fun and have a great gardening season!

Items of interest

While we are waiting for things to dry out, you may want to take in some of the upcoming gardening programs put on by the University of Maine Cooperative Extension or other gardening groups in the area. For more information on what’s going on from the University of Maine and others please visit the links below.

• University of Maine Cooperative Extension Calendar
• Longfellows Greenhouse Upcoming Events Calendar
• MOFGA Events Calendar
• Spring Happenings at the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens

Upcoming Events

• Apple Tree Field Day

Master Gardener Alumni, Mark Sheriff and Family in collaboration with UMaine Extension, will be hosting an Apple Tree pruning and grafting field day at their Avalon Acres Orchard & Farm in St. Albans, ME, on Saturday April 6 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Homeowners who are growing apple trees or who are planning on planting apple trees this spring are strongly encouraged to attend. The day will start with information about general planting and management practices for apple trees and then move into the orchard for a pruning and grafting demonstration. To register for this event, please call Tom Goodspeed at the UMaine Extension Somerset County office at 474.9622 or toll free in Maine at 1.800.287.1495. There is no cost to attend this event.

Mark Sheriff talks with participants about prunning fruit trees.

Directions to Avalon Acres Farm: From Newport, take Route 7 West toward Nokomis High School. Turn left on Williams Road. Go past High School, follow to end (5 miles). Turn left on Route 43 toward St. Albans. Go 3 miles, turn right onto Dexter Road. The farm is 1 1/2 miles on left.

From Skowhegan take Route 2 east to Route 23 (Hartland Road) into Hartland. Then turn right onto Route 43 east/ Corinna Road. Turn left onto Dexter Road. Farm is about 1 1/2 miles on left.

Learn more about Avalon Acres Farm & Orchards.

• Spring happenings at the Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens

We invite you to experience Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens’ spectacular 250-acre landscape. The gardens and wild spaces are uniquely beautiful and always full of surprises, including 11,000 tulips in the spring!

If you’re a Maine resident, stop by (with ID) for free admission during Maine Days at the Gardens, 9:00-5:00 throughout Memorial Day weekend, May 25-27. Check out their calendar for more information and a look at their “GROW” Program.

The mission of Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens is to protect, preserve, and enhance the botanical heritage and natural landscapes of coastal Maine for people of all ages through horticulture, education, and research.

• The Somerset County Soil & Water District

The Somerset County Soil & Water District is now taking orders for their annual Trout Sale! The updated order form for 2013 is available on the Trout Sale section of their website or call 474-8324 x 3 with questions or for more information. Deadline for orders is May 10. Pickup day is Wednesday May 14. See order form for prices and more details.

• The Bangor Garden Show

A traditional rite of spring returns with a new name and a new look this year. Scheduled to take place from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., April 5-6 and from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., April 7, the garden show will be held at the Bangor Auditorium and Civic Center. Admission is $5; children under 12 are admitted free. Now known as the BDN Maine Bangor Garden Show and Spring Fling, the show will be presented by New England Home Health. Organizers promise there will be something for everyone. For more information visit Bangor Daily News website.     

• 20^th Maine Garden Day

A day-long extravaganza of gardening workshops, food, along with a trade show. Over 30 workshops on topics ranging from permaculture, growing great tomatoes, and managing soil organic matter to increasing curb appeal with native plants. Pre-registration is required by visiting the website or calling the UMaine Extension Oxford County office at 743.6329 to request a paper registration brochure.

• Fruit Tree Workshop

This half-day workshop on growing fruit trees in Maine will focus on pruning and dealing with diseases and insect pests. It’s open to the general public — anyone who would like to learn more about the cultural requirements of fruit trees. The class will be taught by Renae Moran, UMaine Extension tree fruit specialist. The class will begin in the meeting room behind the barn. If weather permits, we will have a pruning demonstration in the orchard and a tour of the fruit tree research orchard. The workshop is free of charge, but please pre-register by calling Renae Moran at 207.933.2100 or e-mail rmoran@maine.edu. For more information on fruit trees, visit Cooperative Extension’s Tree Fruits website.

Marching into spring! Well, here we go! March 20^th is, by the calendar, the official start of spring. We’ll have to wait to see what Mother Nature has to say about that! Mother Nature always seems to be the deciding factor when it comes to what and when we gardeners do. Hopefully, we will have one of those rare springs where the weather is ideal and we can get into the garden to implement all our long awaited plans.

• March is also a time when most gardeners begin starting their seedlings inside. Be sure to check the seed package if you’re unsure of the timing of when to start a particular variety. There’s nothing worse then winding up with a leggy, spindly plant. For more information, see Bulletin #2751, Starting Seeds at Home (includes plans for building a seed stand) or watch our video How to Build a Seedling Stand to Extend the Gardening Season.

• This month is also a time when home gardeners begin to prune their fruit trees and check their trunks for insects and borers. You also may want to do some early spring pruning on some flowering shrubs that are in your landscape. Just be sure you know when they set their flower buds so that you don’t prune off this years spring flower buds. For more information, see Bulletin #2169, Pruning Woody Landscape Plants.

• It’s also time to prune and clean up raspberries, blackberries, and blueberries if you didn’t get to it in the fall. You can find more information in UMaine Extension’s gardening videos and publications.

Items of Interest

• Kennebec County Tree & Shrub Sale! The Kennebec County Soil & Water District is now accepting orders for their annual Tree & Shrub Sale. Orders can be placed online or mailed in. For more information on this and a list of the plant materials available, please visit their website at www.kcswcd.org and follow the link to the sale.

Upcoming Events

• So You Want to Farm in Maine? Free Webinar

So You Want to Farm in Maine is a farm business course for people who want to start a profitable farm or expand their farm hobby to a profitable business. This course will be offered in a series of eight webinars, from 7:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., starting Thursday, March 7. Classes will be held on the Internet live and with an archived version that will be available shortly after the live session.

Topics will include selecting and evaluating a farm enterprise, writing a business plan, record keeping, market research, and much more. Cost of the webinar is free. Course texts can be purchased through the UMaine Extension publications online store:

• Starting & Running Your Own Small Farm Business by Sarah Beth Aubrey
• Farming Alternatives from NRAES

More about the webinar series.  To pre-register.

For more information or to request a disability accommodation, call 564.3301 or 1.800.287.1491 (in Maine), or contact:

Donna Coffin, Extension Educator
165 East Main St.
Dover-Foxcroft,ME04426
207.564.3301 or 1.800.287.1491 (in Maine)
donna.coffin@maine.edu

• Apple Tree Workshop. Save the Date!

Mark answer questions on pruning fruit tree.

Master Gardener Alumni Mark Sheriff and family, in collaboration with UMaine Extension, will be hosting an apple tree pruning and grafting field day at Avalon Acres in St. Albans (234 Dexter Road) on Saturday, April 6 from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.  Homeowners who are growing apple trees or who are planning on planting apple trees this spring are encouraged to attend. Please wear appropriate clothing and footwear, as we will be walking on uneven terrain. Registration is not required but would be appreciated so that we will have enough handouts. There is no charge for this program.

For more information and/or to let us know that you plan to attend, please contact Tom Goodspeed at the UMaine Extension Somerset County office at 474.9622 or toll free in Maine at 1.800.287.1945.

Directions to Avalon Acres Farm: From Newport, takes Rt. 7 West toward Nokomis High School. Turn left on Williams Road. Go past the high school, follow to end (5 miles). Turn left on Rt. 43 toward St. Albans. Go 3 miles, turn right onto Dexter Road. The farm is 1 ½ miles on left. Form Skowhegan, take Rt. 2 east to Rt. 150 (Hartland Road) into Hartland. Take right onto Rt. 23 to Dexter Road. Turn left onto Dexter Road. Farm is about 1 ½ miles on left.

• Upcoming MOFGA Events: Our Living Earth, Living Soule Series

Avena Botanicals herbalist and owner Deb Soule is hosting four talks about herbs to honor and raise funds in memory of Russell Libby. The speakers are donating their time, and all proceeds go directly to the Russell Libby Memorial Fund. Classes are by donation only, with suggested donations of $5 to $500. Pre-registration is encouraged but not required. For information and registration, call Avena Botanicals at 207.594.0694. For more information on upcoming events, see Maine Organic Farmers & Gardeners Association.

• The 20^th Annual Maine Garden Day

The date for the 20^th Annual Maine Garden Day is April 6 at Lewiston High School. This event is a day filled with gardening workshops, educational displays, and a trade show. To register for this event, visit 20^th Annual Maine Garden Day.

• Maine Maple Sunday

Join Maine’s maple producers to celebrate Maine Maple Sunday on March 24.  This is the day when sugar makers around the state open the doors of their sugar-houses for the public to join them in their rites of spring: making maple syrup.

Most sugar-houses offer free tasting and live demonstrations of how syrup is produced from tap to table. Many offer a variety of other treats and activities, including syrup on pancakes or ice cream, sugar bush tours, sleigh or wagon rides, live music, and lots more. For more information and a map of sugar-house locations, please visit Maine Maple Producers.

Volunteer Opportunity

• Jamie Doiron of Cedar Ridge Nursing Home would like a Master Gardener volunteer to assist with two raised bed vegetable gardens that they will be building at Cedar Ridge. They would like to be able to raise vegetables for the residents, and for the residents to be able to work in the garden and learn about gardening. If you are interested in this project, please contact Jamie Doiron at 207.474.9686 as soon as possible, or call Tom at 207.474.9622.

February is the time when gardeners will be finalizing plans for their 2013 gardens and ordering seeds if they haven’t already done so. If you’re planning on starting onions or leeks from seed, you should be starting them soon. For other seedlings, follow the packet directions on when to start each variety indoors. Here at the UMaine Extension Somerset County office, things are picking up with gardening questions already coming in. We are also  getting ready for the Master Gardener Class of 2013 that will be starting on March 4th and it looks like we are going to have a good group.

Items of Interest

• Organic Seed Finder Website

The Association of Official Seed Certifying Agencies (AOSCA) has put an organic seed finder on their website. The purpose is to bring together organic seed vendors and persons looking for organic seeds. They have a very diverse listing of field crop, fruits, and vegetable seeds, along with other organic seeds. To view the seed finder, go to the AOSCA website.

• 2013 Master Gardener Volunteers Project Grant Application

If you are working with a group or organization for your Master Gardener project, the following may be of interest to you. This year, projects may apply for up to $500 towards their Master Gardener Volunteer project. Applications are due March 1, 2013. The MGDB will review applications shortly after March 1 to make their decisions, so please be aware of the deadline. For an application, please contact Tom Goodspeed or Kathy Hopkins at the UMaine Extension Somerset County office. Phone: 207-474-9622 or 1-800-287-1495.

• Blueberry and Asparagus Plant Sale to Benefit Master Gardener Program

The public can support Master Gardener Volunteer projects by ordering a set of highbush blueberry plants, consisting of three young plants, two varieties per pack, for $35.95, and/or a pack of 10 asparagus crowns ready for planting in the spring for $15. Plants must be ordered by April 30 and will be available for pick up at UMaine Extension offices and at Highmoor Farm in Monmouth on Saturday, May 18th.

Purchasers will receive expert advice on growing blueberries and asparagus. “This is more than a plant sale. It is an educational experience with positive results,” says Richard Brzozowski, UMaine Extension educator in Cumberland County.

For more information, or to place an order, go to the Master Gardeners “Grow It Right! Benefit Plant Sale website.

Upcoming Events:

• Apple Tree Workshop — Save the Date!

Master Gardener Alumni Mark Sheriff and family, in collaboration with UMaine Extension, will be hosting an apple tree pruning and grafting field day at Avalon Acres in St. Albans (234 Dexter Rd.) on Saturday April 6^th from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. Homeowners who are growing apple trees or who are planning on planting apple trees this spring are encouraged to attend. Please wear appropriate footwear as we will be walking on uneven terrain. Registration is not required, but would be appreciated so that we will have enough handouts. There is no charge for this program.

For more information and/or to let us know you plan on attending, please contact Tom Goodspeed at the UMaine Extension Somerset County office at 474-9622 or toll free in Maine at 1-800-287-1945.

• 2013 Master Gardener Class to begin!

The University of Maine Cooperative in  Somerset County is pleased to again offer its popular Master Gardener program in the Spring and Fall of 2013. This year the course will be run in a split session format with the first session starting on March 4 through May 6. The second session will begin on September 9 and continue until October 7.  The course will feature an online manual that requires a reliable internet connection. Please contact the extension office if you do not have reliable internet access. Participants in the Master Gardener program will receive fifteen 3-hour training sessions on gardening. The 2013 program will focus on ornamental horticulture, ecological landscaping, and volunteerism. The program will be held on Monday mornings from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., beginning March 4 at the UMaine Extension Somerset County office on Norridgewock Avenue in Skowhegan. For more information or to request an application, please call the UMaine Extension Somerset County office at 474-9622 or 1-800-287-1495 (toll free in Maine). Applications are due on February 15, 2013.

• The 2013 Maine Vegetable & Fruit School

The school will be held on Tuesday, March 12 at Seasons Conference Center in Portland and on Wednesday, March 13 at the Bangor Motor Inn.

Topics include:

• Storage Crops and Post Harvest Considerations
• Determining Your Storage Needs and Designing a Solution
• Produce Cooling and Storage by Design at Laughingstock Farm
• Storing Vegetables at Checkerberry Farm
• Marketing Winter Crops at Six River Farm
• Spotted Wing Drosophila Quiz
• A Virtual Visit to Jordan’s Farm
• Marketing to Your Community at Jordan’s Farm
• Should Strawberries be on Your Menu?
• Using Compost: The Good, Bad and Ugly
• New Pest Update: Spotted Wing Drosophila, Stink Bugs, Cutworms, Borers, and Moths

More information is posted on the Highmoor Farm website.

Please, register by February 25. The cost is $35.00 and includes lunch. Participants may receive 1 Pesticide Applicator recertification credit, and Certified Crop Advisors may earn 5 recertification credits.

• The Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens

Looking for garden-related activities to attend this time of year? The Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens in Boothbay has something to interest gardeners of all ages. A schedule of planned events for 2013 is now listed on Coastal Maine Botanical Gardens website. This year’s theme of “Trees, Timbers and Traditions” encompasses the many facets of trees and their multitude of uses. Look for the simple tree icon that will mark theme-related programs, events, exhibits, and activities. Learn more.

Thank you!

Kathy and I wish to say thank you to all of you who attended the Master Gardener potluck dinner held on January the 28. We are in hopes of making this an annual event. We had approximately 16 people in attendance with some great homemade dishes for dinner. We gave out 1-year pins to all those in attendance who had reached their 20 hours of volunteer time, need for re-certification as Master Gardeners, and new name tags for those who were in the 2012 class that had completed their 40 hours of volunteering. A presentation on pollinators was given by Master Gardener & Somerset County Bee Keeper President Samantha Burns. A good time was had by all!

Below are seven of our Master Gardeners who earned their re-certification and were in attendance to receive pins for volunteer efforts in 2012. Thank you all!

Hi, Everyone, and Happy New Year! The year 2013 holds tons of promise for those of us who are to thumbing through the stacks of new seed catalogs that have found their way into our mailboxes. At this time of year my garden always looks the best with the least amount of effort, as I look at the pictures in the seed catalog and decide where on my garden plan I can put my new selections for my 2013 garden. It is only after having my better half check out the plan that I am brought back to reality and the fact that we don’t really have the space to grow an extra 20 tomato plants or another 30 feet for the latest onions. Oh! Where am I going to put another variety of sweet corn? It’s fun to dream. But after the dreaming is done, the real planning begins. If this is going to be your first garden, you may be wondering where to start. The following items may hold some answers to your questions.

Items of Interest

• What do I want to plant and will it grow here? 

Choosing the right varieties of vegetables to grow is an important part of successful gardening. Decide on vegetables that you enjoy eating and then on how much space you can devote to each. For information on which vegetables grow in Maine, check out Vegetable Varieties for Maine Gardens.

• What did that soil test say I needed to do? (You did get your soil tested, didn’t you?)

If you’re having trouble understanding the soil test you received back from your sample you sent in, then visit the Maine Soil Testing Service website and check out “Interpreting Soil Test Results for Gardens & Grounds.”

If you haven’t done a soil test yet, Bulletin #2286 Testing Your Soil will explain the benefits of testing your soil. Now through March 31, 2013 you can have your soil tested at a reduced price of $12.00 for the basic test!

• When can I start my seeds to have them ready to go when the soil in my garden is ready?

Learn what to do in Bulletin #2751, Starting Seeds at Home.

• Raised bed, square foot garden — what are those? Would raised beds make it easier to maintain, harvest, and take care of my soil and plants?

If you recently decided to scale back your garden or just want to try something new, raised beds may be an option you should look into. You may also want to try making a square foot garden. In combination, both methods have many advantages and more information can be found in Bulletin #2761, Gardening in Small Spaces.

• Winter Moth Alert

The Maine Forest Service has posted their latest conditions report. They have issued an alert on the invasive geometrid winter moth (Operophtera brumata), which has been found in the two coastal Maine communities of Harpswell and Vinalhaven. In addition, reports have come in of moths in flight in Cape Elizabeth on December 2-3. Please send reports of moths flying: in unusual numbers, in other communities, in December or January. If you can also catch some of the moths, put them in a zip-lock bag and mail them to:

Charlene Donahue Forest Entomologist
Insect & Disease Laboratory
168 State House Station -50 Hospital St.
Augusta,Maine04333
(207)287-3244
FAX (207)287-2432
charlene.donahue@maine.gov

• Spotted Wing Drosophila 2012 Season Summary

David T. Handley, UMaine Extension Vegetable and Small Fruit Specialist, and the folks at Highmoor Farm have released the Spotted Wing Drosophila 2012 Season Summary for Maine Berry Growers. This pest should be of concern to all who grow soft fruits in Maine.

• Kitchen Gardeners International

From Maine to Mumbai, Kitchen Gardeners International (KGI) works with a wide variety of partner groups that share an interest in and commitment to helping more people grow more of their own healthy food. These groups include school gardens, community gardens, garden clubs, organic farming associations, food pantries, churches, and other groups interested in achieving greater levels of health and food security in their communities via kitchen gardens. A message from KGI:

Thanks to a windfall of generosity on the part of garden companies, we find ourselves up to our ears in seeds and supplies looking for a good home. We are currently accepting grant applications via a new program called “Sow it forward!” to insure that they fall into worthy hands. As part of this program, we’re offering grants of seeds, supplies, online garden planners, books, small grants, and solidarity to nonprofit causes launching new garden projects or scaling up existing programs. At KGI, we see seeds and kitchen gardens as the gifts that keep giving and as part of the partnership; grantees will be asked to “sow forward” their grants within their communities so that others might share the benefits of healthy, homegrown foods. For more information or to apply, please go to the Kitchen Gardeners International.

• Living with Wildlife

If you’re handy, like watching wildlife, and would like something relaxing to do this winter while at the same time providing a home for wildlife, then the Washington Department of Fish & Wildlife website has some very easy plans for the homeowner to build items to entice birds and such to their yards. For the plans, visit Living with Wildlife.

Upcoming Events

• 2013 Poultry Coop Contest

UMaine Extension and the Maine Poultry Growers Association are inviting Maine poultry keepers to submit photos and descriptions of their poultry coops for consideration in the contest. For details on the contest, see Statewide Photo Contest Will Highlight the Finest Poultry Coops.

• The 72nd Annual Agricultural Trades Show

 The 72nd Agricultural Trade Show will be held at the Augusta Civic Center on January 8-10, 2013.  Admission is FREE! This show provides an atmosphere to walk through, observe, and educate the public about different areas of agriculture.

Show hours:

Tuesday, January 8, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Wednesday, January 9, 9:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Thursday, January 10, 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

For more information, visit the 2013 Maine Agricultural Trade Show website.

• The USDA Peoples Garden Webinar Series

If you’re always interested in learning about gardening, but can’t get out to take a class or course, this webinar series may be just what you’re looking for. The USDA promotes growing healthy food, people, and communities. It encourages USDA employees and communities to plant gardens because the simple act of planting a garden can make a neighborhood a healthier place to live, work, and play, while addressing issues such as hunger and the environment. USDA is excited to offer their Fall Webinar Series for a second time. This year’s sessions will provide practical gardening advice on such topics as seed saving, gardening with native plants, composting, volunteers, and school gardens. For more information, please visit The Peoples Garden Initiative.

•  Somerset Beekeepers 2013 Basic Beekeeping for Beginners

If you’ve thought about how much fun it would be to raise your own bees for their honey or to pollinate your flower garden, fruit trees, and vegetable gardens, but just didn’t know how to get started, then this event is for you!

Tuesday evenings from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. (registration will take place between 6:00 and 6:30 on February 19), starting February 19 to March 19 with a (snow date of March 26).

Where: Somerset County Extension Office, 7 County Drive, Skowhegan, ME 04976

Cost: The course fee is $40 per person/couple and includes a 1 year membership with the Somerset Beekeepers, as well as the course manual, Beekeeping Basics.

Preregistration is preferred so that adequate course materials may be provided. A postponement notice will be announced by 3:00 p.m. on the day of the session if needed.

Instructor: Samantha Burns

Contact: Questions about the course may be addressed to Samantha Burns, runamukacres@gmail.com or 207-696-4906.

Let me first Thank Master Gardener Mel Croft for his time and effort in taking the pictures and compiling the information on the trees. I would also like to apologize for the lateness of the information being posted.

As we enter year 3 of our fruit tree trial we are beginning to see some of the answers to the questions of growing different types of fruits in our area. We are seeing successes on most fronts with only slight disappointment in a couple of plantings. Let’s start with the disappointments in our trial. After having very poor results with the two plantings of Goji Berries we have decided to forgo any further plantings of this fruit. The plants that we received were very small and did not survive the winter in our area. Perhaps if we had started with a larger stock, the success rate might have been better. The Paw Paw that we have planted is still growing, but is very slow to attain any size. It could be that our growing season is just too short in this area for them to develop properly. They get a very late start in the spring and seem to only regain the growth of the previous season. The Elderberries, Cherries, and Native Plums are all doing great! As you can see by the following pictures, their progress is very encouraging for the upcoming fall and winter. The Elderberries are both producing fruit in good quantity and quality this season.

#1 Native Plum

(Prunus Americana)

Both Native Plums are doing very well; after a spring pruning they have gained in height. One is now 77” tall and is very healthy with only slight Japanese Beetle damage. Earlier in the season both plum trees had a small infestation of leaf rollers that we were able to take  care of through hand picking of affected foliage.

#2 Native Plum

(Prunus Americana)

Native Plum#2 is also doing great, gaining in height and vigor this season. It has now reached 86” in height with only minor insect damage. Both plum trees had slight flowering this season, but have not set any fruit.

#3 Elderberry Nova

(Sambucus Canadensis)

Once again both of the Elderberries are doing great and both produced fruit this year, which the birds promptly took care of. Nova has grown to a height of 82” and shows very little insect or disease damage.

#4 Elderberry York

(Sambucus Canadensis)

Elderberry York is producing fruit again this year; along with its counterpart, Nova it seems to be producing a larger crop and, yes, the birds also took care of the fruit before we could. York has now reach a height of 86” and also shows no signs of adverse effects from any insect or disease issues. 

#5 Paw Paw

(Asimina Spp.)

 The Paw Paw seems to be struggling to get established. This year neither plant had a good start. Paw Paw #5 is doing better then its counterpart, attaining a height of 25” since April. It does look very healthy with excellent leaf color and development.

#6 Paw Paw

(Aimina Spp.)

Like its larger counterpart, #6 struggled getting started this spring and remains very small, attaining a height of only 8”. This plant, however small in stature, is showing off good foliage color and seems to have established itself for the winter.

Spaces #7 & #8

No Pictures

The places where the Goji Berries were located will be replaced with other trial plants. After two tries, we have decided that the Goji Berries just are not hardy enough in this location. We will try again in the spring of 2013 with June Berries.

#9 Native Plum

(Prunus Americana)

All our Native Plums are doing well. Number 9 has grown to 96” in height and has few problems. The Japanese Beetles did like this plant better then the others, however, it is doing very well after weathering the storm of beetles. It also has no fruit and flowered very little.

#10 Nanking Cherry

(Punus Tomentosa)

The Nanking Cherries all seem to have one thing in common in our trial: they all have yellowing leaves to some extent late in the season. All are growing in height. Number 10 is now 58” tall. We will have a soil test done to try and rule out a nutrient problem.

#11 Nanking Cherry

(Prunus Tomentosa)

 Note the leaves here are also yellowing and it has reached a height of 67″.

#12 Nanking Cherry

(Prunus Tomentosa)

  Is now 55” tall and is also showing leaf discoloration like the others.

#13  Native Plum

(Prunus Americana)

 Our last Native Plum is doing well and has started to gain on the other two, which are on the other side of the building. After struggling in its location the first years, it has now taken hold and is acclimated to this spot, which is not as protected as the others. The shrub  is now 60” tall and doing well, with very little insect or disease damage.

Comparison between May measurement & September 2012 

Happy Holidays everyone! Well, the year 2012 is coming to a close and here in Somerset County things are slowing down for a long winter season. The gardens have all been tucked in for the winter and are waiting the spring planting season. The seed companies are all looking forward to flooding our mailboxes with their new catalogs at the earliest possible time and we are looking online to get a jump on the newest garden items or seeds we can find for that special person on our holiday shopping list. Our best wishes to you all and we hope you have a very Happy Holiday! We look forward to seeing you in 2013.

Upcoming Events!

• Somerset Beekeepers Basic Beekeeping for Beginners 2013

If you’ve thought about how much fun it would be to raise your own bees for their honey or to pollinate your flower garden, fruit trees, and vegetable gardens, but just didn’t know how to get started then this event is for you!

When: Starting February 19 to March 19, with a snow date of March 26; Tuesday evenings from 6:30 to 8:30 PM (registration will take place between 6:00 and 6:30 on February 19).
Where: Somerset County Extension Office, 7 County Drive, Skowhegan, ME 04976
Cost: The course fee is $40 per person/couple and includes a 1 year membership with the Somerset Beekeepers, as well as the course manual “Bee Keeping Basics.”
Preregistration is preferred so that adequate course materials may be provided. A postponement notice will be announced by 3:00 p.m. on the day of the session as necessary.
Instructor: Samantha Burns
Contact: Questions about the course may be addressed to Samantha Burns, runamukacres@gmail.com or Phone 207-696-4906.

• 23rd Annual Maine Beef Conference

The Maine Beef Producers Association (MBPA) will hold its 23rd Annual Beef Conference, titled “Becoming a More Successful Marketer,” Saturday, December 1, 2012 at the Hilton Garden Inn, Bangor, ME, with registration open at 8:00 a.m.

This year, MBPA has joined forces with the Maine Grass Farmers Network (MGFN) to host the conference with sponsors University of  Maine Cooperative Extension and Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry. Industry sponsors include Cargill Animal Nutrition, makers of Nutrena & Agway Feeds, Cold Spring Ranch, Pineland Farms, and the Maine Beef Industry Council.

Keynote speaker is Dr. Jim Ochterski, Cornell Extension marketing specialist. Other speakers include Walter Whitcomb, Commissioner of the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, Dr. Henrettia Beaufait, Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, Regulations Division, and Gabe Clark, beef producer, Cold Spring Ranch.

Non-member registration, including lunch, is $60 for the first person from the farm and $40 for all others from that farm. Discounts for MGFN and MBPA association members are available, as well as a student rate. For registration details, contact Melissa Libby at 1-800-287-7170 in Maine or 207-581-2788. Registration details will be available on the UMaine Extension beef website .

• 72nd Annual Agricultural Trades Show, Augusta Civic Center, January 8-10, 2013

Admission is FREE! This show provides an atmosphere to walk through, observe, and educate the public about different areas of agriculture. Show hours:

• Tuesday, January 8, 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
• Wednesday, January 9, 9:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m.
• Thursday, January 10, 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.

• 2013 Somerset County Master Gardener Course:

The University of  Maine Cooperative Extension in Somerset County is pleased to again offer its popular Master Gardener program in the Spring and Fall of 2013. This year the course will be run in a split session format with the first session starting March 4 through May 6. The second session will begin on September 9 and continue until October 7. The course will feature an online manual that requires a reliable internet connection. Please contact the extension office if you do not have reliable internet access. Participants in the Master Gardener program will receive fifteen 3-hour training sessions on gardening starting March 4. The 2013 program will focus on ornamental horticulture, ecological landscaping, and volunteerism, therefore we expect each participant to attend all of the training sessions and work actively on volunteer projects during and following the course. The fee is on a sliding scale determined by household income. Scholarships are available. The program will be held on Monday mornings from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. beginning March 4 at the UMaine Extension Somerset County office on Norridgewock Avenue in Skowhegan. For more information or to request an application, please call the UMaine Extension Somerset County office at 207-474-9622 or 1-800-287-1495 (in Maine). Applications are due on February 2, 2013.

Items of Interest

• Would you like to know how Christmas tree farms affect the environment or how to select and care for your tree? The Maine Christmas Tree Associations website has some timely information on the effects of Christmas tree farms in Maine, along with more interesting information. Visit the Maine Christmas Tree Association website for more information.

• Ever wonder what the temperature really is or how thick the ice is on your favorite fishing hole? The Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife has a very useful chart to help you determine the wind chill, along with a handy reference chart of how much weight the ice will hold, published by The American Pulpwood Association. See Watch That Ice & Wind Chill on their fishing website (scroll down to the bottom of the page).

• “How’s My Waterway” Training on November 28. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) is holding a free Watershed Academy webinar entitled “How’s My Waterway? And Other Water Quality Apps” on November 28 from 1:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Webinars are archived on the website. The EPA recently launched a new app and website to help people find information on the condition of thousands of lakes, rivers, and streams across the United States from their smart phone, tablet or desktop computer. The How’s My Waterway app and website uses mobile device location or a user-entered zip code or city name to provide information about the quality of local water bodies. The webcast will also highlight the Swim Guide app, which helps you find your closest beach and provides beach status information. Finally, the webcast will showcase the Riverview app, which lets you share pictures of your favorite river and share information on its condition. To register for this webinar, please visit the How’s My Waterway website at www.epa.gov/watershedwebcasts.

• The People’s Garden Fall Webinar Series is back! The USDA People’s Garden Initiative is happy to announce once again a series of online trainings so you can learn about processing and storing seeds, engaging volunteers, growing native plants, composting, and school garden best practices without leaving your desk. These online trainings begin Thursday, November 29 at noon. Experts from across the country will teach the trainings. The sessions are part of the course work for the Executive Master  Gardener Program at Headquarters. There is no charge for registration and all sessions are open to USDA employees and the public. Please follow your agency’s protocol for training approval. You may register for one or all of the sessions depending on your interests. Registration is open now at People’s Garden Fall Webinar Series.

Thank you!

Somerset County Master Gardeners!

As the gardening season comes to an end, we would like to take time to thank you for your participation in the Master Gardener program and congratulate you on your success with your volunteer projects. As a group, we have accomplished some great things.

Some of the highlights of the volunteer projects:

• You helped start community gardens in the towns of Starks and Mercer.
• You worked on and maintained raised beds here at the UMaine Extension office, to grow food for the Senior Companion Program and the food pantry in Skowhegan.
• You helped educate the public about raised bed and container gardening through programs in the county and at the Extension office.
• You went out into the schools and clinics to help children and adults learn the benefits of growing their own food along with the proper ways to garden.
• You gave talks and presentations throughout the county and your communities on gardening topics, along with answering numerous gardening questions from friends, neighbors, and family.
• You donated a combined total of 634 pounds of food for the Senior Companion Program and the food cupboards in Somerset County, valued at $1,585.00.
• Your volunteer efforts generated a total of 1,407 hours worth of time in assorted projects around the area, worth approximately $22,512.00.

The list goes on and we haven’t stopped recording your hours as you turn them in. Please take home this message: You and your accomplishments are truly appreciated. The Master Gardener Volunteers Newsletter will continue to include upcoming events and new volunteer opportunities. One of the opportunities coming up would be to join our “Mentor Program.” You could help the new Master Gardener Volunteers with their project planning and execution. Please call or e-mail us if you are interested in the opportunity. We look forward to working with you in the future. Congratulations and thank you for your participation.

Have a Great & Happy Holiday Season!

Kathy Hopkins & Tom Goodspeed