Kathleen Cue, Nebraska Extension Educator in Dodge County
Vegetable Gardening 101
The Nebraska Extension Horticulture, Landscape, and Environmental Systems team has put together and launched a new webpage. “Vegetable Gardening 101”is for new gardeners desiring to learn more about the challenges and rewards of gardening in Nebraska.
Housed on the Backyard Farmer website, this web page focuses on:
Kathleen Cue, Nebraska Extension Horticulture Educator in Dodge County
A recent brief rain burst, depositing just .2 of an inch in my rain gauge, put 12 gallons of water in my rain barrel. That’s the beauty of collecting rainwater from a roof—a small amount adds up quickly.
By Kathleen Cue, Nebraska Extension Horticulture Educator in Dodge County
Woodland phlox, Phlox divaricata, also known as wild sweet William, is a shade-loving perennial that produces lavender blue five-petalled flowers in spring. It has a wonderfully long bloom season. In my garden, it has been sending out flowers for a solid month now.
Woodland phlox does best under trees in soils rich in humus. The plant naturalizes, gradually spreading into empty spaces when stems touching the ground root. At just 12 inches in height, the spread is not aggressive, knitting in around other shade lovers like hosta and Solomon’s seal. Mulch plants with a 2-4 inch layer of wood chips to keep soil evenly moist and water during extended periods of dryness.
By Kathleen Cue, Nebraska Extension Horticulture Educator in Dodge County
The first Earth Day was celebrated in 1970 to celebrate all things plant, water, and air. What’s not celebrated is that unsung hero—earth—not in reference to our planet, but earth, the stuff we plant in. Otherwise known as soil, dirt, land, and loam, earth supports most plant life on planet Earth. Yet earth is little appreciated and vastly underrated. David R. Montgomery, author of Dirt: The Erosion of Civilization, tells us “Societies that don’t take care of their land don’t last.” In his book, Montgomery documents time and again civilizations no longer able to feed themselves because of loss of soil fertility and erosion.
Working cooperatively with Three Rivers Public Health Department and United Way, Dodge County 4-H has accepted the challenge to assist in obtaining much needed Face Masks, Isolation Gowns and Surgical Caps. These supplies will be distributed to individuals in Dodge, Saunders and Washington County who need them. Saunders and Washington County 4-Hers are also contributing to this effort.
New patterns have been posted. PLEASE consider being a part of this extremely important community service project.
By Kathleen Cue, Nebraska Extension Horticulture Educator in Dodge County
Of all the herbs in my herb garden, chives are the earliest to send out their slender stems in spring. So even when the vegetable garden isn’t producing yet, I can add something fresh to the food I’m preparing by heading outside to snip some chives. They add a nice mildly onion-y taste to salads and they look great on baked potatoes. This perennial plant is not only easy to grow but its frost resistance makes it a colorful contribution to the table from early spring until late in the fall.
