New Seeds at the White Bear Lake Seed Library

 

Hello Gardeners!

I hope you have had a chance to work in your gardens this spring. I have delayed planting my tomatoes and peppers until later this week when it warms up. Though I’m sure some of you have already done so, I find it’s better for me to wait until Memorial Day or later as sometimes the nights get a bit nippy for these tropical loving plants where I live.

 

I know the Seed Library drawers were looking quite bare, but recently some generous people have donated several packets of seeds to the Seed Library! Here is the list of new seed packets that I just put into the seed library drawers today.

Bush Bean – Purple Dove – 4 packets

Pea – Green Arrow – 7 packets

Snow Pea – Oregon Giant – 7 packets

Carrot – Nantes – 8 packets

Carrot – Dragon – 2 packets

Endive – 4 packets

Lettuce – Ruby Red – 30 packets

Basil – Sweet – 6 packets

Cilantro – 20 packets

Okra – Clemson Spineless 80 – 6 packets

Schwartzenbeeren Blackberry – 1 packet

 

Blackberry Lily – 2 packets

Morning Glory – Milky Way – 8 packets

Morning Glory – Grandpa Ott – 10 packets

Marigold – yellow and maroon – 10 packets

Tulsi Basil – 11 packets

Zinnia – Giant – 20 packets

Zinnia Cut n’Come Again – 5 packets

Annual Wildflower Mix – 2 packets

 

Note: I do have more Ruby Red Lettuce, Green Arrow and Oregon Giant Peas that I can package later. Otherwise, all the herbs, vegetables and flowers are now in the drawers.

 

                                                            Upcoming Event:

The next Seed Talk will be Tuesday July 12^th at 6:30 pm via Zoom. This gardening talk is about Gardening for Wildlife. You can register for this Seed Talk via the Ramsey County library web site at: rclreads.org.

 

Grow a Row Project

There are still both peas and beans left for this project! Don’t miss out. The WBL Seed Library needs your help!

All you need is a 6’ row of space in your garden and be willing to care for a row of peas or beans. Let the pods ripen and dry on the vine and then return the seeds at the end of the season. The seeds, directions and a row marker are all provided.

Seed packets designated as the ‘Grow a Row’ packets are in a box on the Seed Library table at the White Bear Lake library. There are only 25 packets of Extra Early Marvel peas and 31 packets of Maxibel Haricot Vert beans, so don’t delay.

Help the Seed Library stock up on these peas and beans.  As we continue to grow these varieties they will become more adapted to do well in our area.

 

Seeds Needed

The White Bear Lake Seed Library drawers are getting empty. Please donate open-pollinated seeds of peas, beans, lettuce, tomatoes or other vegetables or flowers to the seed library. There is a box on the seed library table.

 

Contact info for the Seed Library:

Email: wblseedlibrary@gmail.com

Blog site: WBL Seed Library

 

Pam

 

Seed Talk on vegetable Gardening May 10th!

 

Hello Gardeners!

Finally a few days without rain! This has been a cold, wet spring, but I tell myself the moisture is needed. After the drought last summer and fall, the soil and all the plants need the rain.

I still haven’t planted my cool weather crops, but I hope to plant some lettuce, carrots and parsnip seeds this week. I frequently don’t get these crops planted until May and they do just fine. If you haven’t planted your cool weather crops yet, don’t despair, I think you still have time to get them seeded.

Not sure what is a ‘cool weather crop’ versus a ‘warm weather crop’? Tune in to the next Seed Talk and I’ll explain. The next Seed Talk is all about how to grow vegetables, both from direct sowing seeds and planting small plants grown earlier indoors.

The average date of last frost in zone 4 (Twin Cities area) is May 10^th, but be careful. Tomatoes, peppers and eggplants don’t like it colder than 50°F both day and night.  If you have them outside after May 10^th, watch the weather and protect them from the cold as needed.

 

                                                            Upcoming Event:

The next Seed Talk will be Tuesday May 10^th at 6:30 pm via Zoom. This gardening talk is about Growing Vegetables. You can register for this Seed Talk via the Ramsey County library web site at: May Seed Talk.

 

Grow a Row Project

All you need is a 6’ row of space in your garden and be willing to care for a row of peas or beans. Let the pods ripen and dry on the vine and then return the seeds at the end of the season. The seeds, directions and a row marker are all provided.

Seed packets designated as the ‘Grow a Row’ packets are in a box on the Seed Library table at the White Bear Lake library. There are only 25 packets of Extra Early Marvel peas and 31 packets of Maxibel Haricot Vert beans, so don’t delay.

Help the Seed Library stock up on these peas and beans.  As we continue to grow these varieties they will become more adapted to do well in our area.

 

Seeds Needed

The White Bear Lake Seed Library drawers are getting empty. Please donate open-pollinated seeds of peas, beans, lettuce, tomatoes or other vegetables or flowers to the seed library. There is a box on the seed library table.

 

Plant Sales

 

Big River Big Woods Native Plant Sale

The Big River Big Woods chapter of Wild Ones Native Plant Sale is back!

You can preorder plants with a scheduled pick up. We are offering a fantastic selection of flowers, sedges, grasses, shrubs and trees, as well a selection of pre-designed garden kits, all sourced from Minnesota Native Landscapes Nursery.

How to Order: Visit bigriverbigwoods.org. All plants and kits are pictured there. You can shop online, paying with your credit card or PayPal account.

Deadline for orders is Friday, May 6th so ORDER SOON!

Pick up dates will be Friday June 3 and Saturday June 4 in White Bear Lake (Minnesota).  Pick up details will be included in your confirmation email. 

We regret that we will not have donated plants for sale this year. We are still learning the best ways to prepare donated plants for sale without spreading invasive jumping worms.  You can get more information with this handy jumping worms handout.

Friends School Plant Sale     Thousands of vegetable, herbs, annuals, perennials, trees, shrubs, bulbs, native plants and rare plants are available at the largest plant sale in the U.S. Held on the State Fair grounds on May 6-8, 2022. This is a fund-raiser for the Friends School of Minnesota. If you have shopped this sale in previous years, please read their updated shopping procedures. Visit friends-sale to get more information.   Ramsey County Master Gardeners Sale Plant Ramsey County Master Gardeners are hosting their annual plant sale in-person, May 21 from 9am – 2 pm. at Church of the Holy Childhood, 1435 Midway Pkwy, St Paul.  The sale features native plants, popular vegetables, including more than 50 varieties of tomatoes, 20 kinds of peppers, native plants, herbs, annual and perennial flowers, houseplants and excellent quality garden gloves and more. Funds raised support horticultural scholarships at the University of Minnesota and youth horticulture projects.  For more information, visit www.RamseyMasterGardeners.org/plantsale

Contact info for the Seed Library:

Email: wblseedlibrary@gmail.com

Blog site: WBL Seed Library

 

Pam