PLANT IT FORWARD Community Garden Initiative

Do you participate in a community garden?  Perhaps you've started one, or would like to.  We want to hear from you!

We are calling for people who participate in community gardens, both large and small, to tell us a little about how the garden has made a positive impact on their community.  We would like to feature you in the community garden section of our website.

Send us a picture of the community garden you're involved in, along with the following information: the garden dimensions, when it was created, and number of members. 

We will be choosing one community garden as the winner based on a short essay (500 words or less) about how the community garden has helped to positively affect change in the community.  The winning community garden will win $$$ in plants for the following year's garden.

If you haven't started a community garden yet but would like to, there is still time!  This link shows you how.  We will be taking submissions between now and June 15, 2014, so there is plenty of time to get one started before next year's growing season.  Here are some additional tips. 

We look forward to hearing from you!

DISCLAIMER:  THIS IS NOT A REAL CONTEST.  THIS BLOG IS IN NO WAY AFFILIATED WITH BONNIE PLANTS AT THIS TIME.

I put Sevin on the fire ants in my raised bed and there is still some dust on the soil. Is it okay to plant my tomatoes there?

There is no "waiting time" for planting vegetables after you have applied Sevin, only for harvesting vegetables.  However, you may want to double check your label and/or check with your local county extension office, as Sevin is no longer cleared for homeowner use on fire ants in many states.  For more information on controlling fire ants, click here.  - Gardening Gal

Why is my cucumber fat on one end and skinny on the other?

This could be caused by a few things:  improper pollination, hot temperatures, or too much fertilizer. 

The female flowers need to be completely pollinated in order to form a fully developed cucumber.  The lack of complete pollination leads to only one end of the cucumber becoming fully developed.  The end of your cucumber that looks normal received enough pollen, while the end that looks deformed did not.  If you have low pollinator activity around your cucumber plants, and you are getting a bunch of deformed cucumbers, you may need to resort to hand pollinating the female flower. 

Very warm temperatures can kill pollen, leaving it practically sterile.  Also, a lack of water during hot, dry conditions can cause the fruit to form in a peculiar shape.  Too much nitrogen-based fertilizers can also result in deformed cucumbers. 

You can read more about the causes of misshapen cucumbers here.  If you are still stumped, you may want to check with your local extension office.  Hope this is helpful!  - Gardening Gal

My basil has started flowering. Is there a way to stop it so I can keep harvesting?

Yes - by being "picky!"  Pick off the flowers; otherwise it will go to seed and stop growing.  You can read more by clicking here.  - Gardening Gal

When should I pick my cucumbers?

You can pick cucumbers whenever they’re big enough to use. When the fruit starts to appear, check the vines daily, as the fruit enlarges quickly.  The more you pick, the more the vines will produce.  Don't let the cucumbers get oversized or they will become bitter, and don't leave overripe fruit on the vine (their production will slow down).  If they are yellow on the blossom end of the fruit, they have become overripe. 
To remove the fruit, cut the stem above the fruit using a knife or clippers.  Don't pull them off or you  may damage the vine.  You can read up more on this topic by clicking here.  Enjoy your harvest!  - Gardening Gal