Kingston Garden Club

White Flower Farm’s Tips for Growing Vegetables

Growing your own vegetables is not hard! You don't even need a lot of space, and you can grow vegetables in containers, too. Get more great suggestions from White Flower Farm (www.whiteflowerfarm.com).

• Choose a sunny location. Most vegetables need at least 6 hours of strong sunlight each day. They will not produce well in partial shade or shade.

• Start small. If you are a first-time grower, begin with just a few types of vegetables. You won’t become overwhelmed. Learn the basics and expand on your success the following year.

• Try containers first. For an easy start, grow tomatoes in a pot on a sunny deck or patio. You will have an ample harvest and can learn the basics of watering.

• Plant in well-drained soil. If you plant in the ground, choose a well-drained site – one where water doesn’t pool after rain or watering with a hose. Don’t plant until the ground has thawed and is no longer muddy.

• Add organic material. Work in dried aged manure or shrimp and seaweed compost to your soil or potting mix. Organic material supplies nutrients for your plants and helps retain moisture around their roots. You’ll fertilize and water less frequently.

• Fence your garden. Use a wire fence to keep out small animals and pets. Avoid fencing or other barriers that will shade your plants.

• Limit the size. In your first year, grow vegetables, such as peppers and tomatoes, that won’t take over your yard. Pumpkins, watermelons, and corn need lots of growing area!

• Follow the sun. Plant your garden in east-west rows, and position tall plants, such as pole beans, on the north side. This keeps each row from shading its neighbors.

• Make it easy. Save time and weeks of care by purchasing tomatoes and peppers as young plants, rather than starting them from seed indoors. The seeds of other crops, such as beans, carrots, peas, radishes, and lettuce, can be sown directly in the garden.

• More water is not better. Water is a basic need of all plants, but check the soil or potting mix first. Don’t just water on a schedule. Supply water when the weather is dry and don’t overwater during wet periods!

Wendy T., Miss Snippy, presented 10 Top Tips for Tip Top Crops or Fun with Vegetables. Bobbi has posted Wendy’s information on our website under the January 2010 minutes. The three main January “To Do” items Wendy suggested were:

Vegetable crops that do well in containers are lettuce, tomatoes (Wendy does not stake her tomatoes), peppers, herbs, carrots, radishes, beets, gourds, and melons. Also, deer fences should be 10 feet tall – 8 feet is not tall enough!

· Hollace V. volunteered to serve as our hostess substitute in case a hostess is unable to attend for some reason.

· Thanks to Dan and Nancy M. for sharing their home with us for our annual Christmas party.

· We received thank you notes from the Kingston Food Bank and Sharenet for our food and toy donations.

The Kingston Friends of the Library is having a book sale Saturday, January 23, at 10am in the Kingston Community Center.

Noel L. announced she earned $400 from the sale of the bulbs she rescued from Home Depot. 75 additional daffodil bulbs were planted around the Kingston Community Center and the Kingston Visitor Center. The remaining bulbs were donated to Gordon Elementary School, Wolfle Elementary School, and the Suquamish Tribe’s Head Start program.

Bobbi W. gave an update on the status of our raffle quilt. She has it on her frame to be quilted. The sample she shared with us was beautiful!

Debbie McKeever from Wolfle Elementary school asked for volunteers to assist the school in maintaining their garden. She also sold raffle tickets for a fairy quilt, the proceeds from which will be used to purchase a composting bin for their garden. Please contact the school to volunteer or purchase raffle tickets.

Ann W. informed us the Kingston Boys and Girls Club will be holding a fundraiser on Valentine’s Day, February 14, at the Oak Table restaurant in Kingston from 5:30 to 7pm. The event is black-tie optional and tickets are $30 per person or $50 per couple.

Ann W. and Kay P. recruited members to sign the petition to start a Park Tax District to support the Village Green Community Center. 1200 signatures are needed, so please go to the Port of Kingston, the Visitor Center, or the Cup and Muffin to sign if you haven’t already.

· Maxine H. suggested we bring in forsythia and flowering quince branches to force in their houses for beautiful January bouquets.

· Karen A. encouraged us to read ‘Animal, Vegetable Miracle’ by Barbara Kingsolver, which is available at the Kingston Library. The book gives a lot of information on gardening and eating locally and includes recipes.