Tuesday, Feb. 12th, Work day

We need assistance in the garden on Tues., Feb 12th. There is a leak in the water feature and need to repair it. Please let me know if you can help. If so, be sure and wear work clothes and bring your gloves.

FIRST GARDEN VEGETABLES SHOULD BE PLANTED SOON

Although it's still too early to plant popular garden vegetables such as tomatoes, beans and corn, it's just the right time for "Coastal Carolina" gardeners to plant cool season vegetables. Plant them early in the growing season because they stop producing when hot weather comes. Among the first planted in the garden are cabbage, carrots, head lettuce, onions, Irish potatoes, radishes, rutabagas, spinach, turnips, edible pod peas and garden peas (English peas). Soon after they are in the ground, it'll be time to plant broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, Chinese cabbage, kale, kohlrabi, leaf lettuce, mustard and Swiss chard.

Planting times vary among the different types of vegetables and in different parts of the state. For instance, if you live in the upper Coastal Plain or lower Piedmont regions, you should plant carrot seeds between Feb. 15 and March 1. In western North Carolina, delay planting for 10 to 20 days. And in eastern North Carolina, plant 7 to 12 days earlier.

Those interested in planting cool season crops may request a copy of the Home Vegetable Gardening Manual.

Changes?

Address, phone number, or e-mail addresses need to be updated. Call the extension office or bring them to the membership meeting.

Ash Needs help!

He is at the greenhouse from 7:00 to 11:00 a.m. everyday to show people what needs to be done. Help is needed anytime in moving plants, weeding, and deadheading. We have more plants for the spring sale than ever, but they won’t be their best without help.

Lynn Schwartzskopf

Coffee grounds are a readily available source of organic material. Starbucks has a national program of packaging 5 lb. bags and offering them free to the public. Port City Java also said that if you provide a bucket, they will save them for the public.
The Grounds contain about 1.45% Nitrogen, are slightly acidic, and hold water in the soil. They can be used to top-dress acid loving plants like blueberries or as a slow release nitrogen source in your compost. The proper amount to be used depends on the condition of the soil and, more specifically, what you are growing in your garden. Mixing coffee grounds in your compost acts as a green material with a carbon-nitrogen (C-N) ratio of 20-1. They make an excellent addition to your compost. Combined with at least 75% browns such as leaves and straw, coffee grounds generate heat and will speed up the composting process. Anecdotal evidence suggests that worms are very attracted to them so you can feel free to use them in vermiposting (worm bin) situations if you desire. For more information about composting:compost.org (Composting Council of Canada) compostingcouncil.org (US Composting Council) mastercomposter.com

From the President's desk...

Thanks to all who attended the January meeting. We have a great speaker for February check page one! Cathie Rod has agreed to serve as the President's appointment to the Nominating Committee. We are all busy with the ‘08 conference. We will have sent out over 200 letters to potential vendors, sponsors, etc. Later we will need to contact individuals personally. Tours, speakers, workshops, conference tote bags and shirts are being arranged. A conference flow chart is in the works. We mail conference announcements to all Master Gardeners by the end of June. Registration deadline without a late fee is September 1st. Join the state assoc. (NCMGVA) and receive a discount for the conference. You may pay NCMGVA dues with your conference registration and receive the discount.

Wanted:

Herbarium to make a collection of dried plants mounted and labeled for use in scientific examination. See Shirley.

Dr. Bruce Williams

leads a tour to Lewis Ginter, Longwood, & Winterthur Gardens, Philadelphia Flower Show, & Monticello March 1-4. Contact Liz Coughlin 392-1930.

58th Tidewater Camellia Club Show

on Saturday, Feb. 16, 2008 12:00 – 5:00 at the Walter L. Parsley Elementary School, 3518 Masonboro Loop Road.

Wanted! Name our Newsletter

Send Me your suggestions jloughlin@ec,rr.com

Upcoming Events

Feb 5th First Tue MG Class
Feb 16th Tidewater Camellia Fest.
Feb 19th Work Day in Garden & Greenhouse
Feb 20th First Wed MG Class
Feb 27th Pro Day Seminar Cape Fear Community College
Feb 28th Regular Meeting
Feb 29th-30th Brunswick Home & Garden Show
Feb 29th Master Gardener Day at Southern Spring Home & Garden Show - Charlotte
March 1-4 Philadelphia Flower Show Trip
March 1 Hobby Greenhouse Tour
March 3 Work Day in the Garden or Greenhouse
April 10,11,&12 Spring Plant Sale
Oct 5-8 2008 MG Conference in Brunswick County
Dec 10th Christmas Party

Upcoming Speakers
Feb 28th Chris Moorman is an Associate Professor and Extension Wildlife Specialist at NC State University. As for his responsibilities, Chris works with professionals and private landowners interested in the effects of land management practices on wildlife. His presentation topic for our meeting will be “Landscaping for Wildlife with Native Plants.”
March 27th Ken Fager NCSU Growing Organic
April 24th Peter Hertyl - NCSU - Ground Pearls
May 22nd Bryce Lane NCSU Gardening Ideas
June 28th Frank Galloway - Plants for local use
July 24th Dr. Frank Blazich - NCSU - Summer Propagation
Aug 28th Charlotte Glen - Plants for difficult situations
Sept. 25th Ronda Sherman - Vermicomposting
Oct 23rd Toby Bost
Nov. 20th updates by horticulture staff