New Garden Coordinator

Gardeners-

I am happy to announce that Chase Zachary has been elected as the second garden coordinator. Please welcome Chase and feel free to contact either of us with questions.

czachary@princeton.edu

End of the Season

Gardeners,

Thank you all for making the 2009 season a good one. I know many people struggled with the 'off' weather we had this year - it is unusual. As for the end of the year wrap up, please clean what you can from the garden in order to prepare for any growing you are doing to prepare for the Spring. You hold this plot until January when you will get a renewal reminder. However, you are more than welcome to plant in preparation for next year if you would like to retain your plot. Keep in mind, as a renewing gardener you are able to switch plots prior to the open sign-up for the community. We will send emails after the new year.

Thanks again for all your efforts. We hope you enjoyed the season and ALWAYS welcome feedback and comments to help us improve the gardening in Butler.

Nicole Jui (& Tao Long - who we wish well in NYC)
Butler Garden Coordinators

Northeast Late Blight Warning

I was recently alerted to this article from the University of Vermont; the wet weather we've had lately has promoted early outbreaks of late blight in tomatoes and potatoes. Wholesale plant companies (selling to the common large home garden centers) have also been selling infected plants as well.

Excerpts:

"If you grow tomatoes or potatoes, take heed. This is shaping up to be one of the worst years for Late Blight, the fungal disease made famous as the cause of the Irish potato famine of the mid-1800's. Today, this disease doesn't pose the threat of famine, since we don't depend on one or two local crops for our food, but it could ruin potato and tomato crops for local farmers and gardeners unless they are alert and take appropriate action. Note that this disease poses no threat to people -- except for the loss of these crops."

"The symptoms that develop on tomato leaves, stems and fruit are quite dramatic, and are very obvious to the naked eye. The infected areas on leaves appear to be water-soaked, varying in size from a nickel up to a quarter, often beginning at leaf tips or edges. They proliferate when the foliage has been exposed to watering, rainfall, or heavy overnight dews. If these infected areas dry out quickly, they may appear lime-green or beige in color.

The edge of the water-soaked area, either on the top or bottom of the leaf surface, will be covered with white fungal growth (mycelium) that contains the spore inoculum (visible with a hand lens). Spores are easily blown to surrounding areas and infect plants and even weed species, in the plant family Solanaceae (the black nightshade family).

Brown to almost black lesions appear on infected stems, and the same lesions will develop on fruit, either directly on the infected plants, or a few days after they are sitting on your kitchen counters.

Be aware that there are several other common, but less serious, diseases of tomato and potato. If the infected area has a yellow border and is occurring on the bottom of the plant, it is likely due to either Early Blight or Septoria Leaf Spot. These two diseases are found in home gardens most every year in the Northeast, but they rarely kill the plants, and they don't spread long distances.

Please inspect your tomato and potato plants on a daily basis! If Late Blight symptoms are already appearing on plants in your garden, these plants should be removed immediately and put in a plastic bag for disposal. Don't just put the removed plants in a compost pile as spores will still spread from this debris. Your neighbors, not to mention commercial growers, will appreciate your taking this action immediately."

- Matt

PLANT AWAY!

Gardeners-

The garden has been plowed, flags have been placed, and it is ready for planting. Good luck! Let us know if you have any questions or need additional fencing, stakes, etc. Please be courteous of your fellow gardeners. Don't use what you don't need, sharing fences, don't double up, etc. Share seeds!

Have fun and we look forward to seeing everyone in the garden very soon!

The Garden has been plowed

The garden was plowed yesterday - yes, thank you University Grounds Crew. Before planting, we will restake the plots with the flags. We will let you know when they are ready for move in! Thanks

nicole & tao

PLOWING - almost time to plant, almost

We have informed the university grounds crew that the garden is ready to be plowed. They will now inform us on a date (most likely Monday 4/20 if the weekend weather cooperates). They will plow based on the condition of the soil (too wet, and they wait). When we have a firm date from them, we will be letting you all know so that, if anyone has plants to remove, you will have enough time to do so. After they plowing, PLANTING can begin!

I know everyone is anxious, so hope for dry weather this weekend!

nicole & tao
coordinators

images from last year's garden

a green tomato

a tall sunflower

harvest