From Amy's email:
Nitrogen deficiency:
Since early last week I have suspected that we might have a nitrogen deficiency in the garden. Many of the plants, especially the smaller ones, are yellowish. This was confusing to me because the soil analysis reported that the nitrogen at Webb was quite high but still, the plants were yellowing.

I did an experiment by spreading blood meal (organic, made by the same company as the rock phosphorus many of you used, and available at Lakewood Hardware) at the base of my yellowing plants. After it was rained in, I returned to see if there was a difference. There was - the plants are greener. Not as green as I'd like though, so tomorrow I'm going to follow up with a liquid organic nitrogen. Yes, I am just that impatient.

The small bag of blood meal will last you several seasons. I just happen to have it because for whatever reason my yard suffers from a nitrogen deficiency, which is the only reason I knew what was going on at Webb.

Now, for those of you who care, I think this is why we have the nitrogen deficiency: Because the garden is on the site of an old tennis court, the city took the sod from the gardens at Madison, Cove, and Kaufmann and put it on Webb's garden. In the long run, we're going to greatly benefit from this. Not only did this decrease the rock to dirt ratio but there are tons of good nutrients in the sod layer. In the short term, I think as the grass is breaking down in the dirt, it is temporarily depriving the soil of nitrogen.

Or I could be completely wrong.

July 2nd

Yipes! The yellowing continues. I noticed when I was over there today that some tomato plants that looked lush and green just a few days ago look yellow and stressed today. I really think this is a nitrogen problem. The liquid nitrogen claims to correct the problem within 24 hours. I put it on my plants today, so I guess we'll see. You only need 1 tablespoon per gallon of water, and that gallon of water is supposed to cover 300 square feet. I'll leave my little bottle of liquid nitrogen under the 2 by the tools. If you want to use it, please feel free. I would also add blood meal to the base of the plants, though.

Amy, I'm most impressed with your research and knowledge of healthy soil! But what if the plants have simply had too much water? It has rained quite a bit, nearly every day for a week now. I haven't been to the garden for a few days, but it has been really wet. Just a thought.

Well, like I said, I could be completely wrong. The yellow plants I treated with bone meal are greener now, though. This is why I did my experiment before I alerted everyone. In truth, we barely got 1.5 inches of rain at the garden in that week. (Using my very scientific 5 gallon bucket collection method.) Now, the lower plots did get more because it collected there but the places that are yellowing are mostly not the low places. In my plots, my squash mounds were yellowing and I'm having a very hard time keeping them wet.

FWIW

A couple of questions about the yellowing... Is this problem occurring on any plants that were grown from seed at the garden? Transplant shock can cause yellowing and can last for a month or more after planting. Also, other deficiencies can cause yellowing as well. Is the yellowing happening from the stem of the leaf and out or at the edges of the leaf working towards the stem?

Guide to nutrient deficiencies:
http://www.gardensalive.com/article.asp?ai=57&bhcd2=1215111014

Last night we went over admire our sprouts. Nothing in plots C 6 or 7 is yellowing and it was all planted from seeds, with the exception of the tomatoes, but they seem to look OK. However, for the 3rd time, or so, I did need to replace my corner stakes from the plot closest to the park. As before, the stake was laying in in the middle of the plot with the twine still attached. I just put it back into the corner hole and tried to push it deeper, no real damage done. There was a smashed bean or two, but this time, thanks to the mud, I have evdidence! There is one BIG dog bounding through my beets and beans! So, I'm not worked up or anything, but I'm wondering, no doubt on behalf of all border-plot people if; if all goes well and people stay involved and we get a water source, and the city continues to support the effort, if there is a long term plan for a border fence of some sort around the perimeter of the entire garden space. I'm envisioning something like a picket fence, around which we could plant perennials.

Lisa, your vision of the future sounds lovely. I too had BIG paw prints in my plot right next to my beloved yellow squash plant. Grrrrrrr. . .

I was at the garden a couple of weeks ago early in the morning and was visited by a big brown dog named Buckley. The dog didn't expect to see me there and kept his distance but did leave some 1&2 on and around the tennis court fence. The owners live in the house directly across the street from the back entrance path. They called it by name from the porch. He looked like he could fit on those big paw prints.

Please report any problems with your plot here so there is a record.

FYI: I found a piece of clear glass in D2 today and there was a broken bottle in the sandbox.

A few days ago Buckley's mom stopped me as I was walking up the back entrance path to tell me how wonderful she thinks the gardens are, how she really enjoys watching everything grow, how she thinks it's a great use of the space, etc. I proceeded to the garden, and she had a little struggle with the off-leash Buckley to make him stop walking toward the garden and back toward the railroad area.

I think she assumes that when she lets Buckley out the door, he goes over to the railroad area. We know that he probably travels over to the gardens to check it all out. I wonder how we can gently tell her about his wrong turn. We'll have to have another siting, I think. Would a camera phone work, or would that be too accusatory? Does anyone have any ideas?

Well - on another topic...just when I thought all was lost (that the puddles taking up about 1/3 of my garden might not survive...ha!) all is well! We're under water again! Way to pick a plot, huh? Several others seem to be sharing this unfortunate circumstance.
Obviously I went to see my little garden - ours - my friend amd neighbor Kim and I are in this together. Was just out for a walk and wandered over.
BUT! What do I see? A cone where once the water fountain used to be! Could be good news!
Just thought I'd share the hope! Some of us may never need that water but...
All will be well. It's still a good experience and nice meeting those of you I've bumped into at the gardens.

I have a few follow-up questions for anyone who might be able to answer.
I have not been called on to volunteer and I wanted to be sure whoever needed to know knows that I'm ready/willing.
RE: the pumpkins - how is that supposed to work? I think my friend Kim had suggested it and we were just wondering: is it a free for all? Can we just plant a plant or two?
Please excuse me if these inquiries have previously been answered/addresed and I missed.
Thanks!
Leah

Jessica Sackett wanted me to post this on her behalf:

I thought of myself as being efficient sitting plastic jugs filled with water in the corners of my
plot. Recently, my sister forwarded an email discussing test results linking plastic bottled water and breast cancer. It has been discovered a number of female
patients participating in this study drank plastic
bottled water kept in cars reaching high temperatures. I didn't save the email. I could find it if someone
is interested. But, my point is this. I have noticed a number of other gardeners, including myself, have
been storing water in plastic jugs and letting them sit in the hot sun. Just wanted to send an FYI.
As for me, I have started bringing fresh water on my visits to the garden.
jess sackett

Okay, I didn't want to get hope up (yes, I was the one with the "keep hope alive" message just a few weeks ago), so I didn't reveal that we were PROMISED that we would have a spigot by Friday. Now that there was a cone sighting, I feel more positive.

On to other topics. Here is my opinion on the pumpkin patch: now that we will have water, let's go for it. I counted 18 empty spaces at Webb the other day, just sitting there growing weeds. We still have a few interested gardeners trickling in, so we need to keep maybe 2 plots open. All the rest are up for the taking, and for this year without an extra cost. While I don't expect any mud wrestling and conflict over who takes what and where, I'm wondering if we should plant most of the extra in a community fashion. What do you guys and gals think?

I vote that we plant all of H with pumpkins. They will cover the ground and stop the weeds from taking over, and it will be very, very fun. I went to a few garden centers and a big box yesterday looking to scrounge pumpkin (or any kind of vegetable) plants and there really is nothing besides some sick-looking, overpriced tomato plants. The reason why I did this is because I can't find the big blue bag of vegetable seeds that OSU gave us. DRATS! I had it the first day of planting. I've looked in all of my favorite hiding places and nothing. I will continue the search, and I will give a call out to the other garden leaders.

I think that the unplanted areas are so weedy, this might take more group than individual effort. I am fully supportive of anyone who wants to work on it individually but goodness, that's a lot of work. I'm not sure how to organize such an event, or even if there is anyone interested in such an event. Any input would be appreciated.

Got to go hoe!
Amy

Well I am happy to come over and help turn the soil for the pumpkins!
I am available (generally) evenings after 530/600 and Saturday late morning/early afternoon.
If I wander over soon I'll just go to! I agree that trying to coordinate a ton of people might be tough. Maybe everyone who wants to take advantage of the pumpkin patch idea can just dedicate some time to turning/planting while they're there. We could set a goal of date 'X' that the plots are ready to be planted and baby-step that too. Maybe we could each just plant two rows or four plants or something of the like and just stake out the area we've planted in once we've done so so that people know that area is done/taken. We report it back in to the page here but that way no one has to try and hunt down which places are still open and/or potentially hurt what someone else has already done...
Thoughts?

Just a quick note....Heard noises and looked out my back window...and lo and behold, excavators and big machinery down at the park!!! Looks like our water is on it's way! Although I certainly didn't have to struggle as much as many of you hauling water to the park, it will be soo nice!

Diane J.

I found the seeds!!! They were in a really good hiding place. There are two packets of pumpkin seeds but they are white pumpkins and not orange.

Hi all. Any ideas about the yellowing? I added organic garden feed with good levels of nitrogen and such before the rain but my tomatoes are not doing well. Any other thoguts on how to fix this?
Thanks!

I wrote above that we should put bone meal on the nitrogen deprived plants, when I meant BLOOD MEAL (and yes, it really is dried blood.) I don't know if your tomato plants are over-watered or if they need nitrogen but it's cheap and it's worth a try. Half of my plot was yellow and I put blood meal on (all nitrogen, nothing else) and then I followed up with a liquid nitrogen spritzer. The difference is amazing. I absolutely had a nitrogen deficiency. I said I would leave my liquid nitrogen out under the 2 and then I did not. Sorry. How about I put the bottle in a 5 gallon bucket in C2. If you'd like to use it, feel free. I ordered it on-line a couple of years ago. You only need 1 Tbsp for a gallon of water and that is supposed to feed something like 500 sq. feet. It corrects the problem in the plant within 24 hours. It will not correct the soil, though, so you still need to apply the blood meal.

Also, (and if I'm wrong, someone chime in) I've noticed that some gardeners aren't pinching off the dead and diseased portions of their plants. I know it's painful to make the plant smaller but if you leave the bad parts, the plant is sending energy there to fix its problem, which it never will. As a result, the plant doesn't have the energy it needs to grow, flower, and produce fruit.

p.s. I will leave the white pumpkin seeds in a plastic container in the bucket too. Please take if you want.

Oh - and someone told me at LEAF night that Petitti's has pumpkin plants!

There is a new hose procedure. I don't know how but someone managed to take our 6 foot cable that locked the hose and sprinkler to the fence. They didn't take or destroy the hoses, the lock (fully functional), or the sprinkler. Until someone comes up with a better idea, I think we should put the hoses very close to the fence along the train tracks. Please string it between 1 and 5, back and forth. It took me 15 minutes to untangle the hoses today and I think wrapping it up is not going to work. Perhaps if the kiddos can't see the hoses along the fence, they won't fuss with it. The sprinkler is in my bucket in C2, if you want to use it.

Does anyone have another idea?

I asked one of the kids who was playing basketball on the tennis court (check out the set up - it's hilarious) if he'd seen the cable lying around the park and he spurted out, "The skaters did it. I saw them." He then proceeded to tell me about how he was going to beat them up and get it back. (God bless his heart!) I informed him that we wanted no beatings, I was just wondering if he saw it.

Adolescents - you just have to love them.

A few people have been catching me at the garden asking for advice on their plots. I do not know how to fix a lot of problems but I can share what is working for me. It helps tremendously that we're not getting flooded every time it rains. I have been religiously doing these four things:

1. We hoe the entire plots once a week to aerate the soil and get out the weeds. Someone thought we added soil to our beds to make them raised. We didn't, they're fluffy from hoeing. (Hoe is under the 2)

2. I put down TomatoTone and PlantTone (same company as Blood Meal and Rock Phospherous @ Lkwd Hardware) along side my rows every other week. I followed the directions on the package.

3. I sprinkle the leaves of the plants with a Sea Kelp/Fish Emulsion mixed with water every 2 weeks. This is in my bucket in C2 if you want to try it before you buy (9.99 @ Gales.) You just need one teaspoon per gallon of water. Be prepared for a stinky fish smell.

4. I'm trying to keep the plots consistently wet. (Once again we're not a plot that gets flooded, so this is easy for me to say.) I don't mean that they are wet all of the time, I mean I try to not let them go from really wet to really dry and back again.

What are your tricks? Please share what's working for you.

Finally, if you have the chance, drive by Madison's garden (just south of the ball field at Madison Park) it is GORGEOUS.

I moved the hose from over by the spigot to under the fence by the tracks. As I untangled it to water and dragged it along, and then dragged it along some more to water, and then dragged it along some more to coil it up neatly, and then dragged it along some more to move it to the other side of the park the words, "Hose Reel Cartl" came to mind. Lowe's has a version that stores 225 feet of hose on a cart with big wheels for moving easily, it's like $80. I don't know if others like the idea, but maybe we could bake zuccini bread to sell at leaf night as a hose cart fund raiser for Edwards.

Other issues: What might eat my beets? I planted 4 rows. 2 of them have sparse looking plants and one of them still looks pretty good, though they were all thirsty. I noticed lots of little red nubs where plants had surely been. Any ideas?

And Amy, congratulations on that lovely Zuchinni that looks ready to pick. Do let us all know how you prepare it!

Of course I meant a hose cart fund raiser for Webb. I couldn't figure out how to edit my commnents.

Lisa, thank you for moving the hose back over to the fence by the tracks. I really think the hose should stay there so the kids are less likely to mess with it again. I wonder if some people aren't getting this info and don't know to do this. How about everyone who knows shares it with others when they're out in the garden.

Also, please make sure to jumble the word when you lock up the hose and sprinkler again.

Regarding the hose reel, I'd like to see some others give their opinions. I had considered a hose reel and then thought it would actually make stealing the whole set up a heck of a lot easier. I kind of like that the hose is unwieldy. Maybe what we should do instead is organize quadrant watering so each gardener sets up the sprinkler for several gardens for a while and then we each have to battle with the hose less frequently. Am I making any sense?

Please share your thoughts. We have the funds to get a cart, so if that's what you guys want, that's what we'll do.

I just returned from visiting the garden. After all of the rain there is a lot of standing water in many of the plots and in the walkways this morning. Our plots are definately in the "flood plain." Here's the good news; I had spent the last couple of days hoeing, and catching up on weeding, and even though I had watered in the last few days too, there was no standing water in our plots! Turning the soil seems to make it more likely to absorb the rain when we have so much. So, even though I have blistered hands, the effort seems to have been worth while. You too can can likely remedy your water problems. Buy a box of band aids first. Happy hoeing!

Also, a couple of days ago I added plant tone to my plots and it did make everything greener, and I took you up Amy on your offer to try the liquid nitrogen. And, again to refresh, is the nitrogen the reason for the blood meal? There must be some in the plant tone too, because there was some improvement after that alone.

I LOVE that I turned someone on to hoeing! My husband educated me on this subject last year at Plover. I, too, was amazed by all of the benefits. I think what it does regarding the water is that it allows the water to go into the soil, instead of sitting on top and smooshing the soil down more.

Yes, the blood meal is to correct the nitrogen in the soil. The liquid nitrogen corrects the nitrogen in the plant. This is why you need both. If you don't put the blood meal down, you'll be in the same boat in 2 weeks.

Ohhh - and if you hoe once a week, it gets much, much easier.

Hi Amy!Where is the liquid nitrogen located now? I got the blood meal down last week and saw some positive response. Now I want to make sure I get the plants too and I'll be down there tonight.
Thanks!!

The liquid nitrogen should be in my bucket in C2. There are two bottles. One is liquid nitrogen. One is the sea kelp/fish emulsion. The directions are a bit cryptic. I think you just put one teaspoon in a gallon of water and it covers 500 sq. feet. Sprinkle it on the leaves - don't worry about it going into the soil. It feeds the plant through its leaves.

I received this email from Chris Mahon today. Thanks, Chris!!!

HI Amy,



I haven't posted a comment yet, haven't figured out how, but wanted to at least let you know that we had a hose cart in our back yard that we are not using so I took it over to the garden and rolled up both hoses on it. The catch is you cannot attach the water spigot hose directly to the cart itself - it does not work through the cart. The good news is you can more easily transport to the water and attach one of the hoses directly to the spigot and then roll it out as needed.



Much easier...especially with the hose that likes to twist up!!



Have a good day!

Chris Mahon

OK
I went to garden weasel, weed, fertilize, water what's left of our poor baby garden (some things have survived!).
After I unraveled the hoses (which took some doing but it was SO nice to have the cart - thanks Chris! I can't even imagine how hard it was to work with the hoses without that!) another gardener showed me that she's just been using the short, black hose to fill up her buckets/watering can and THAT is a really simple answer for those who don't want to mess with the hose at all (thanks to the gardener with the double plot that looks great running the length near the rr tracks!!). I took a lot of time/care to really roll the hoses up nicely for the next gardener - hopefully everyone will follow suit!
I also wanted to put out there that while my garden has been a victim of flooding and looks not so wonderful I am close and can water peoples' plots if they can't make it over: ask and I will water for you!

Wood chips are here. I left our wheelbarrow (thanks for the use of the pick'em up, Peter and Jessica) - feel free to use it but, like always - please make sure the lock is secure when you're finished. I'll take it back sometime next week.

Cheers -
Joe

It's official - we have a garden pet. There is a very bold little bunny that was enjoying the shade of our plants. It startled me because I was practically standing right next to it before it bolted the first time. I tried to shoosh him/her away but it just ran to another plot. After a couple of tries, I realized that it was a losing battle. It isn't eating any of my stuff but I remember Lisa said something about radishes . . . If it's any consolation, it was up in McKinley's cabbage. And I don't know any elementary school kid who is fond of cabbage anyway.

Should we plan for rabbit stew at the harvest party?