Master gardeners offer spring workshops in vermiculture
Red crawlers (not earthworms) live and eat well in a large bin filled with pine shavings. Kathy Morrison
Let's talk worms, shall we? Specifically, composting with worms.
This type of composting is easier, I believe, than starting and maintaining a classic compost bin. The worms and their kitchen-waste food are contained, as is the compost (castings) they produce. And those castings are so rich, so wonderful for the garden soil! It's sustainability at its finest. As a plus, it's a great activity for kids.
This spring, several UCCE master gardener groups in the region have scheduled classes in worm composting. Three types of classes are being offered, but the signup for the first and most detailed class -- one which comes with worms and supplies -- closes Monday, March 11, so move fast if you are interested.
The classes are:
-- Saturday, March 23, 10 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., UCCE office auditorium, 4145 Branch Center Road (off Bradshaw), Sacramento. The Sacramento County master gardeners will offer presentations on the care and feeding of worms, options for harvesting castings, and a question-and-answer period. Each participant will receive education materials, a worm bin with bedding, red wiggler worms and adoption papers. Cost is $30; ages 13 and up only. Register here by March 11. No drop-ins; no refunds. Information: https://sacmg.ucanr.edu/?calitem=574965
-- Thursday, March 14, and Thursday, March 28, 3 to 4 p.m., online via Zoom. These paired classes from the Yolo County master gardeners are part of their semi-monthly gardening workshops. Both classes are free and do not require registration; gardeners can take either or both. The March 14 workshop with master gardener Jennifer Gilbert will be on "backyard composting," including worm composting. The Zoom link for this class is https://yolocounty.zoom.us/j/89236348462. In the March 28 class, master gardener Janet Gaard plans to lead a lively discussion about worm castings, compost and fertilizers -- and when plants don't need fertilizing. The Zoom link is https://yolocounty.zoom.us/j/87053297221 For more information on Yolo master gardeners events, go to https://yolomg.ucanr.edu/Public_Education/
-- Thursday, June 20, 6 to 7 p.m., Vacaville Library, 1020 Ulatis Drive, Vacaville. This is a free, in-person class offered by the Solano County master gardeners, taught by Jennifer Baumbach. The master gardeners note: "Bring a shoebox and take home your starter worm composting bin. You must RSVP that you'll participate in the shoebox activity to rehabnurse@sbcglobal.net so she'll have enough worms for everyone." For all the spring events planned by the Solano master gardeners, go to https://solanomg.ucanr.edu/?calendar=yes&g=101656
A personal comment on the shoebox, from a worm "mom" of four years: The worms won't be staying in a shoebox. My worm colony started with two dozen wigglers that eventually grew to fill a large, heavy-duty tote. I've moved some worms into the garden, both accidentally and intentionally, but the main group still hangs out in the bin. They are terrific garden "pets."
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Garden Checklist for week of July 21
Your garden needs you!
* Keep your vegetable garden watered, mulched and weeded. Water before 8 a.m. to reduce the chance of fungal infection and to conserve moisture.
* Feed vegetable plants bone meal, rock phosphate or other fertilizers high in phosphate to stimulate more blooms and fruiting. (But wait until daily high temperatures drop out of the 100s.)
* Don’t let tomatoes wilt or dry out completely. Give tomatoes a deep watering two to three times a week.
* Harvest vegetables promptly to encourage plants to produce more. Squash especially tends to grow rapidly in hot weather. Keep an eye on zucchini.
* Pinch back chrysanthemums for bushy plants and more flowers in September.
* Remove spent flowers from roses, daylilies and other bloomers as they finish flowering.
* Pinch off blooms from basil so the plant will grow more leaves.
* Cut back lavender after flowering to promote a second bloom.
* It's not too late to add a splash of color. Plant petunias, snapdragons, zinnias and marigolds.
* From seed, plant corn, pumpkins, radishes, winter squash and sunflowers.
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