Training the climbing vegetables

  Dear Garden lovers,

 This year at DIGS we're hoping to get more education on how to maximize our harvest of tomatoes and cucumbers! To that end, here are some quick, easy-to-understand videos showing how to remove the side shoots and train the plant upward on string supports. They are all by Charles Dowding. Enjoy!

1. Planting tomato plants; with their strings planted with them (video)

2. Side-shoot removal for tomatoes and training cucumbers/eggplant while they grow upward (video)

3. Cordon cucumbers; training them up and over in the polytunnel (video)

Hopefully these time held methods above will help us get larger yields in these popular crops. Comments and video links welcome!!

Seeding for Cool Crops for March

Dear Gardeners,

A great couple of videos showing what to do to get peas, spinach, lettuce, beets, spring onions and other cool crops seeded and started for this upcoming month's growth in a cool greenhouse.  Below is a second video showing how to move the seedlings outdoors). These videos are so educational and they really show you what you want to know!

Charles Dowding's Cool crops to sow in February & March (video)

Also, always of interest is Victoria's Linda Gilkeson's advice:

Seeding: This week is good timing to start seeds of vegetables that take the longest to grow to transplant size. This includes celery and celeriac, leeks and onions. I start them on a bottom heat mat and after they germinate move them to a separate, grow-light setup to make room for other seeds to germinate on the bottom heat.  Over the years I have found that there is just no point in trying to get an earlier start for veggies. Plants started too early have to live longer, usually in less-than ideal conditions (even the best light table set up is not as good as full sunlight). If veggie starts are set out too early in the spring, they can be chomped by climbing cutworms, which feed until late April, when they change into pupae. And then there is the perennial vernalization problem with early plantings of biennial plants, such as chard, onions, leeks. When these are started too early, you risk having them go to seed their first summer. Biennial plants should only grow leaves their first summer (and bulbs in the case of onions) and not flowers. Experiencing the cold chill of winter (‘vernalization’) is the signal for biennials to start producing flowers and seeds in the spring. If started really early in the season, a chilly week or two in April can fool biennial vegetables into reacting as if they experienced winter. Result: some or all or your chard, onions, leeks, etc. produce flower stalks in their first summer. <snip>

If you are getting antsy to plant something, you can experiment with biennials in case there is no cool weather in the spring, but a better bet is to plant hardy annuals, such as frost hardy lettuce, spinach, Chinese cabbage and other annual leafy greens.

For how to start seedlings indoors, see the slide presentation on my web site: “Grow Your Own Seedlings” 

Charles Dowding: Moving early sown crops outdoors under reemay (white polyester row cover). 

Early March outdoor planting (video)

AGM this Saturday

 

Note: The DIGS work party will not take place this coming Saturday morning as we will be having our AGM at 1:30 pm at the lighthouse instead. Come at 1:10pm if you wish to purchase a DIGS membership before the meeting.

 Here are last year's AGM minutes:

______________

DIGS ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING MINUTES : February 18, 2023

Number present: 20 plus 9 proxies

1. Kevin called the meeting to order at 1:30 pm.

2. Approval of the Agenda: moved by Lin seconded by Kathleen

3. Minutes of 2022 AGM: correction was made to f) under New

Business: Jurgen’s notice of motion that the maximum size of allotment bed per household be limited to a half bed effective March 1, 2023 was tabled so there was no seconder. Read and moved by Margaret to accept the minutes as corrected, seconded by Lin. Carried

4. Correspondence: a)Margaret read a letter from Carol M. thanking Margaret for sending her photos of the two rhodos which are planted at the front gate to the garden commemorating her husband Mike. b) Kevin read a letter from the Parks Board Manager, pertaining to noise levels that might disturb nesting eagles nearby.

5. Business arising from the minutes. – None

6. Treasurer’s Annual Report: read by Veronica who moved to have her report accepted as read. Lin seconded. Carried

7. Allotment Coordinator’s Report: presented by Jurgen 1) He mentioned the sad passing of Linda Irvine, a long time member of DIGS, last year. At her husband, Jim’s request, everyone of the allotment bed waiting list were given the opportunity to grow something in the Irvine’s allotment bed. 2) One bed was overgrown with invasive plants.  This was dealt with. 3) Some beds are opening up to accommodate some on the waiting list. 4) Currently there are 23 gardeners with a bed.

8. President’s Report: read by Jim 

1) We are back into our regular routine after 2 years of covid. 

2) Little Diggers will be starting in April on Sundays.

3) Events taking place this year: May 13 – Plant Sale; June 17-Dessert Auction; September 8 th and 9 th – Fall Fair; Dec. – Garlic Braid Raffle. 

4) The adult work party will still meet on Saturday  

5) The Parks Board have set aside $10K for a greenhouse and $5000 to restore the rotting wood on the raised beds. Jim will be speaking on DIGS behalf at a City Finance Meeting in April to formerly request funding for these two issues.

6) DIGS is still waiting for approval from the Parks Board of new boundaries for the garden.

9. Directors for 2023-24: President: Jim H. Secretary: Margaret H. Treasurer: Veronica Z. Directors: Jane F., Mike G., David E., Jurgen G.

10 New Business: 1) Veronica moves that the asparagus be dug up this spring and sold at the Plant Sale to free up the beds for other uses. Seconded by Jurgen. Carried. 2) Jurgen moved to increase the allotment bed for allotment beds from $10 to $15 for a 1/3 bed, from $15 to $25 fir a ½ bed and from $30 to $50 for a full bed beginning at the start of the 2023 season. Seconded by Corinne

Discussion: a) Marla supports raising fees to allow more movement from leased beds b) Lin supports fees being raised but wonders why fees are only raised slightly. c) Barry proposed an amendment to the motion to allow low income residents not being prevented from getting a bed because of the increased fees. Kathleen seconded this amendment. Carried. d) Jim suggested that potentially 3 more beds could be added to the garden but built with another material other than wood to cut done on costs e) Veronica opposed the fee increase. She proposes to put the fee money for allotment beds in a reserve fund for bed replacements and repairs. This and the City’s input of $500 will be enough to cover the costs of refurbishing 2 beds a year. A vote was taken on Jurgen’s amended motion. Carried.

3) Jurgen moved that the maximum allotment bed per household be limited to a ½ bed effective March 1, 2023. Kathleen seconded. Discussion: a) Kevin said that we have to honour previous commitments. Beds have been grandfathered by the constitution and it would take a 2/3 majority to change the wording of the constitution. b) Jim pointed out that the wording in the DIGS constitution states that the only reasons an allotment bed holder would have to give up their bed is if they did not pay their fees on time or they did not clear weeds from their plot. He also said that there would always be a waiting list and that you cannot remove existing bed leasers so that those on the waiting list be given a bed. The motion failed.

 4) Veronica moved that all allotment bed fees be held in a reserve fund for future bed replacement and repairs and, further, that this takes place retroactive to 2021 with funds totalling $720.00 transferred from General Revenue. Seconded by Lin. Motion carried. 

5) Jane moved that in order to be placed on the waiting list for an allotment bed it is expected that the applicant has worked in the community garden on a regular basis for a least a year. Veronica seconded. Discussion: Ann opposed this saying allotment bed holders water and mow the lawn which is a contribution to the communal garden. Kevin opposed the motion saying that he sees the allotment beds and the communal beds as 2 separate entities. Motion failed. 

6)Corinne moved that a space in the garden be provide for the propagation of native plants. Barry – seconded. Discussion: Jim mentioned that he has a plan to provide a space behind the garden fence. Motion carried. 

7) Kevin moved the DIGS directors complete an annual review of DIGS finances and, based on that review, bring to the membership at the AGM in the form of two separate motions their recommendations for the membership dues and allotment bed fees for the upcoming year. Marla seconded. Motion carried.

________________end minutes

Allotment Guidelines & Rules

DIGS Allotment Guidelines & Rules

MISSION STATEMENT: Our purpose is to create a self - regulating community garden on Protection Island that will promote organic gardening, contribute to community development, foster positive social interaction and increase environmental awareness.

1. Registration Fees and Allotment Reservation

A. Each island resident is entitled to lease a plot if space is available. As of February 28, 2017 allotment lease holders must be a current DIGS member.

B. Annual allotment fees are full $30 per plot or $15 per half lot or $10 for a third of a plot. These fees are non refundable.

C. The fee includes frugal use of water and soil amendments (fertilizers). Compost including seaweed and leaves from the community garden supply is for the communal beds only.

D. Allotment leases are good for one year (March 1 to February 28). DIGS reserves the right to change location and availability of allotments in future years. DIGS  reserves the right to refuse to rent allotments if there is just cause.

E. Allotments leases are to be renewed and signed annually by March 1. Reminders will be emailed to current gardeners at the beginning of each calendar year. Plots  will become available to those on the wait list if any lease holders have not signed  and paid the fee by March 1

F. Allotments must be cleared of weeds by April 1. Failure to do so will result in the plot being reassigned to another gardener.

G. If, for any reason, a renter finds that they cannot care for their garden, they are require  to notify the allotment coordinator and make arrangements for the care of their garden during their absence. The care giver needs to be made aware of all the guidelines concerning the allotment beds including mowing and watering duties. If the lease holder’s absence extends beyond one year his/her case will be reviewed by the allotment coordinator. If the lease holder is unable to complete watering and/or mowing duties he/she must discuss this with the allotment coordinator.

2. Wait List 

Any Protection Island resident can be on the wait list for an allotment bed as long as they are a member of DIGS. As a full bed becomes available it will be divided in half and the gardeners in the overflow bed will get first option to take a lease on ½ of the bed.

3. Watering:

The rental fee includes the frugal use of water. A gardener must remain in the community garden while his/her garden is being watered. Gardeners must monitor  their water to avoid flooding of or her plot and neighbouring beds.

4. Planting Restrictions

A. Only organic methods of growing are permitted - no manufactured chemicals, fertilizers, pesticides or herbicides. Gardeners using these items will lose their gardening privileges.

B. No trees are allowed because of shade and root problems.

C. No invasive species (eg. bamboo, scotch broom, purple loose-strife)

D. Care must be taken with hard to eradicate plants such as bindweed and berry vines. If not kept in check they may be treated as weeds.

E. Tall plants can only be planted where they will not shade neighbouring plots.

5. Smoking

Smoking is not permitted in the garden area. This is a safety issue and a means of preventing the spread of the tobacco mosaic virus.

6. Weeds and Trash

It is the gardener's responsibility to control the weeds and trash in their own plots and adjacent pathways and to clear their plot of trellis and staking material, plastic mulching, and plant debris when not in use.

7. Rebar

Exposed rebar is not allowed for staking or trellising for safety reasons.

8. Pets

Pets are not allowed in the garden.

9. Storage

Storage on site for gardener's tools or supplies will not be provided. Gardeners must pack what they need in and out.

10. Gates 

Gardeners are asked to close and latch all gates when leaving to keep the deer out.

11. Compost and Garbage

A refuse bin (for non organic garbage), a closed or sealed compostbin (for fruits and other organic foodstuffs) and an open compost bin (for leaves, stem and root material) will be available on site. Gardeners are encouraged to recycle their garden wastes in those compost bins.

12. Harvesting

No one may pick another gardener's crop unless he/she has been given permission by that plot user.

13. Cooperation and Community

A. In addition to the annual fee gardeners are requires to make a contribution of their time by participating in the following communal tasks:

i) grass cutting – each allotment lease holder will be required to cut the grass and trim edges of the whole garden (inside and out) for an assigned one week period;

ii) watering – each allotment lease holder will be required to water the communal beds as needed during an assigned one week period;

iii) construction tasks and maintenance tasks;

iv) Lease holders are encouraged to attend weekly work party meetings to contribute in discussing issues pertaining to the garden.

B. Conflicts or concerns with other gardeners over gardening matters should be resolved as follows: Step 1. Discuss resolution of the conflict by directly contacting the other party. A resolution must be within the existing rules. If that is not successful..... Step 2. Contact the allotment coordinator for mediation. If that is not successful… Step 3. The mediator and/or the complainant will bring the issue to the weekly work party and request their help in finding a resolution. If that is not successful … Step 4. A binding decision will be made by the executive. If either party is not satisfied with the decision… Step 5. the matter can be brought to the AGM for the membership to make a final decision.

14. Privacy of Personal Information

All information collected on registration forms will be compiled in a database accessible only to the executive and will be kept confidential. This information will not be lent, rented or sold.

15. Subletting:

The leased bed is to be used as a garden by the lease holder and may not be loaned or sublet except as decided in section 1. G

_________________

These rules will be reviewed annually and may be improved.

Lettuce all year round

 

click on this chart to enlarge it.

Dear Garden-lovers,

According to the WestCoast Seed planting guides (links are in the right side bar if you scroll down) you can plant lettuce all year round and keep it going right through the winter too. The trick is to sow seed every two weeks, and to harvest mostly by taking the outer leaves, leaving the crown to keep growing. This is less work than trying to produce heads of lettuce. 

 I've made a graphic just showing lettuce-through-the-year above. Click on it to enlarge the calendar. Since it thrives in the 10-15 C degree range, it's best not to try and grow it in full sun or anywhere but a cool corner in the hot months.

We have found that the front right of the garden is cool and shady and gives the best results. We might try soil boxes, lettuce pots or trays this year, leaving them all in the shade.

Also as a note on harvesting,  since we don't have refrigeration at DIGS, the harvested lettuce gets too wilty waiting for customers, so it's easier if gardeners simply choose a loose-leaf method of picking the lettuce.

Here are some Charles Dowding films all set to start at the right exact moment to learn how he handles lettuce in the same Zone 8 Coastal zone that we are in.

Growing salad in winter in poly-tunnel: (video)

Growing lettuce in summer: (video)

Picking the outer leaves to keep the lettuce going: (video)

_____________________

Another crop that loves cool weather (springtime 10C) is Spinach:

Spinach all year round; see article.

As you can see from this simplified westcoast planting chart, both crops can be planted every month of the year except Dec-Jan; and you can be harvesting leaves in 40-60 days from starting.

Click on this chart to enlarge it.

How our garden works

Dear gardeners,

Here's some basic information for newcomers who want to learn more about our community garden.

- The DIGS gardens are 100% organic. No pesticides, fungicides, herbicides etc.

- Allotment beds for families take up the back half the garden, the remaining front half is shared by all members.

- We work and harvest together the shared half of the garden, meeting each week at 10 am on a Saturday. Harvest for that day is shared among whomever has worked, with any extra going onto the harvest table on the boulevard for the public to help themselves. 

- After many years we've figured out that crops fare better if a "carrot queen" or "lettuce hobbit" or "onion expert" look after specific crops. It creates less confusion and more expertise in the long run, plus a bigger harvest. If you are good at a certain fruit or veg, or would like to become a "Queen of Turnip", do volunteer.

- Some people prefer to work in the public part of the garden alone, and of course, they can do their gardening anytime. The Saturday meeting will tell you what needs to be done with the important jobs all listed and discussed. You can then choose jobs.

- Allotment bed folk need to tend and amend their own soil, keeping it fertile, by top dressing with manure, seaweed, leaf mold, purchased soil from town. We do ask they don't shade other beds, and avoid using dangerous fencing/trellis materials (sharp metal etc.) Allotment folk each are responsible for one week of lawn mowing per year and the watering of specific beds (all beds are numbered).

- If you join the community garden ($10 per year) you can vote at the annual AGM and receive discounts at various gardening centers by showing your DIGS card. 

- We have a DIGS Plant Sale every year in May selling flowers, veggies, perennials, and deer-proof and native plants. The money raised (along with some of our other fundraisers) goes towards purchasing our garden supplies. We also have a Dessert Auction, Garlic Raffle and a very fun Fall Fair every year.

- We are about to purchase a larger "cool/poly" greenhouse to replace the slightly too-small one we currently use. Update:  As of February we've been informed that the city will limit any new indoor growing space to 10x10' or 8x12' only, in order to avoid the need for foundations/geotech survey etc. So we will now be seeking an 8x12' cool greenhouse made of rigid polycarbonate as well as several take-down cold frames made of aluminum instead. We will maintain our older small poly-tunnel as it exists and will be replacing the poly this year (quick/easy).

- Although in peak season it's great to have a "tasting garden" and pick a raspberry or blueberry, or taste a frond of dill, we ask that people not wander in and pick any ripe vegetables and fruit without express permission. Let's all share instead.

- Also some crops like asparagus require specific harvest techniques such as to be cut below the soil line instead of broken off mid-stem which actually kills off that part of the plant. So harvesting together and knowledgably is best for all. Methods of distributing food will evolve as we produce bigger harvests.

- You are welcome to post photos, ideas, tips and links on our gardening blog (yes, right here) as multiple authors are welcome on the blog.

Please leave questions in the comments below if you have some.

Allotment Bed Rules and Guidelines are here.

Best, Jen

Composting by Dowding

 Dear Garden lovers,

The new video series by Charles Dowding is very current, and is fascinating to follow. Here's a collection of his work on composting for the vegetable garden. Fabulous information.

Charles Dowding on Composting:

1.  4 Compost heaps in 3 bays ready in 6 months: (video)

2.  Composting from start to finish: (video)

And two more of interest:

3. Making compost in different sizes: (video)

4. Removing the lower leaves of plants to keep ground clear of slugs (video) and to increase air circulation around plant in humid climates with alot of rain.

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At the DIGS garden we are re-arranging the composting set up behind the back fence to fit everything in among the blackberry. Even the blackberry plants themselves are becoming compost, through being mowed mechanically into shredded blackberry cane each week.

The frosty cold nights dipping below zero have led to a bit of frozen lettuce under the Remay floating-row-cover cloth. One hoop had collapsed and the touching of the cloth on plants caused leaf loss through freezing. We'll have to get the plastic out to cover them.

Enjoy the Dowding info.

Best, Jen

Winners of Our Garlic Raffles

 

Dear Garlic and Garden lovers,

Two more delicious garlic braids have been won. Here's all the news:

Update: Round two of the raffle was held at the Beacon House on December 3rd 2023. Congratulations To Sara G. and Valerie T. who were the winners of this delicious (and beautiful) organic garlic grown at DIGS this year. For those who didn't win, the new crop is in the ground for next year's raffle.

Previously:

Round one of the community garden’s garlic braid draws was held today (Saturday) at the 10am garden meet-up. Winners of the first two braids were Jim K. of Cpt. Morg. and Tom B. (friend from Ontario to the Harris's we hear).  

Both braids are made from the garden’s prized Red Russian stock garlic. This variety of garlic is now the world’s most popular, a purple stripe cherished by gourmets for its succulence and long-lasting traits. 

 Tickets for the next draw — for a similar pair of Red-Russian braids — will be available in early November with the draw for those to be held Sunday, Dec. 3 at the Christmas craft sale at Beacon House. Ticket prices remain the same — $2 each or three for $5. Notice of ticket availability will be posted soon. Proceeds go to support the Community Garden!

From Mike G. of DIGS.

September interest

 A few topics this month to figure out:

1. We needed to figure out our crop rotation plans for the spring to come, so that we know which beds are free for overwintering crops.

Saturday morning we planted two kinds of spinach; one very fast one called Yukon that is a 45 day harvest timeline, and the old Savoy (crinkly kind) variety called Bloomsdale, which is 50 days to harvest. Both spinach varieties will stay pretty stunted as the light fades in the late fall, then burst back to life in early March. They may or may not get poly-tunnels in December-February as the consensus was, from last year, that spinach does fine here in this microclimate/zone without needing physical protection from winter weather.

But we will need to cover the lettuce (Barilla) which is also ready to transplant; perhaps by next week. We will need re-bar supports purchased as 12" pegs, and plastic piping to be used as the frame. Alternatively, this cattle fencing idea (video) is also good. You cover lettuce with a hoop frame and poly when temperatures are expected to drop to 4 degrees Celsius.

See diagram below. Currently edible crops are in medium-green text.

click on the jpg above to enlarge.

2. Winter Veg!! This farmer is using the same Eliot Coleman method as we have been researching at DIGS (double covered crops for warmth). This farmer is in Kentucky in Zone 6b and to compare, we're much warmer in Zone 8 here ourselves, which is a minimum temperature that falls within the -12 to -7 degrees Celsius range in winter. This video quickly goes through food to eat during winter harvests:

Easy winter crops to grow for eating with no heat required (video)

3. Also: Why didn't the beets thrive in Bed 1 this past (hot/dry) summer? About 50% were undersized and fibrous. Most folk agree that since it was SO hot and dry and the soil was very parched, that the beets were likely needing shading and moisture. Here's a good video that gives the gist of this crop's life cycle demands (video):

We do have beetgreens being grown in bed 17 (left side front of DIGS) that are being grown just for greens, by the way, if anybody needs a few beetgreens (use like spinach.) Just to mention it. We could be planting beets to overwinter if we had some seed, that's something to plan ahead for maybe.

4. The cucumber frame in bed 9 is going to wait til next June when cucumbers will be planted in that bed again. It was complicated to set up. But it looks a little forlorn, and may not withstand any giant snow storms, so I went hunting for good frames for cucumbers online and found this interesting A-frame made of agricultural fencing (video is set to begin at a good spot for short viewing time):

As mentioned above, you can also use these panels of cattle fencing to make strong hoops to hold netting, row cover cloth or poly in the winter. (video)

5. Finally harvestable leaf lettuce is available to Saturday work party participants all over the garden, if you take the outer leaves from mature heads and leave the center of the lettuce to grow on. There is also pak choi in bed 17 that you can take outer leaves with a long stem on each one for stir fry. Enjoy!

Jen

Pac Choi try out

 Dear Gardeners,

 Just with the idea of trying it out we have just planted some Pac Choi, in small amounts, to learn more about it as a possible vegetable for us to grow at DIGS. The West Coast Seed Planning Guide says that Pac Choi can be started from seed and then covered over winter all through this month. I checked out a few informative videos and will see if "cut and come again" is a good method for us this winter. Here are the videos I found most helpful.

Pak choi 

Bok choi and pak choi; how to grow (video)

How to utilize "Cut and come again" to get three heads from one (video):

The first video also covers how to avoid bolting in this sensitive-to-heat plant.

Enjoy watching them grow in square bed 17a with more to come, as they are sprouting on the baby lettuce table.

Best, Jen

Garlic Braid How-To Demo

 Dear Gardeners,

Mike G. will be giving a "How to make Garlic Braids" demonstration at the DIGS garden Labour Day weekend, on Saturday Sept. 2nd at 10:30 am. It would be a quick, 15-minute demo covering cleaning the garlic bulbs for tying, and then wrapping them with twine into a fantastic hanger.  Just as last year, the magnificent braids (there are four this year) that Mike and Andria made will be raffled off so you can win one!

We will be holding two separate garlic braid draws this year, doubling your chances to win with two braids in each draw. The garlic is the Community Garden’s finest — jumbo-sized European Purple Stripe, which will last all winter when hung in your kitchen. Each braid has 16 bulbs. 

Ticket prices are the same as last year — $2 for one raffle ticket, or three tickets for $5.

Garlic Braid Raffle Tickets will be available every Saturday morning at the Community Garden (between 10 and 11:30 A.M.), at the DIGS  Fall Fair on Sept. 9 at Beacon House, or by contacting Veronica Z. or Mike G.

 Draws to be held Thanksgiving Weekend, Saturday, Oct. 7, and for Christmas, during the Art Walk at Beacon House Dec. 3. The funds raised go toward DIGS garden.