HOW-TO
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VICTORY GARDENS
COMPOSTING
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DIY PROJECTS
FOR THE BIRDS

VICTORY GARDENS

This HOW-TO presentation was prepared by two members of the GGC who presented it to the club via Zoom in April 2020, during the COVID pandemic, to help us stay connected when we couldn’t meet in person. Our many thanks to Elise and Kristina for all their efforts!

Gardening at home can take many forms, varying from growing one plant in a container on your deck to turning large portions of your yard into garden beds. The key is to know what works best for you in terms of time, space, sun conditions, and the level of commitment you want to make. These resources are intended to help you decide what might work best for you so you can get growing!
SUN/SHADE CONDITIONS (these are the most agreed upon definitions)

  • FULL SUN: 6 or more hours of direct, full sun per day, doesn’t need to be continuous.
  • PART or PARTIAL SUN: between 4 to 6 hours of sun per day.
  • PART or PARTIAL SHADE: 2 to 4 hours of sun per day.
  • SHADE: less than 2 hours of sun per day.
  • LIGHT/DAPPLED/INTERMITTENT SHADE: receives partially filtered shade, such as under canopied trees (example: birch).
  • MODERATE SHADE: mostly reflected light, as found on the floor of a hardwood forest.
  • HEAVY or DENSE SHADE: no direct sunlight, as found below dense evergreens or at the base of a north-facing structure.
  • NOTE: If a plant tag gives a range X to Y, it means the plant prefers X but will tolerate up to Y.
SOWING SEEDS vs. TRANSPLANTING SEEDLINGS

Gardeners typically plant a combination of seeds and seedling transplants (aka, “STARTS”) based on what works best in their area and garden for various plants. While this often comes down to personal preference, there are some basic guidelines to consider.

Buying seeds is generally less expensive and offers a wider selection, and plants that are quick to germinate are fairly easy to start from seeds.
  • But, the conditions needed for seed germination vary from plant to plant (think about soil temperature, ambient temperature, light/dark periods, moisture levels).
  • And, newly emerging seedlings are more prone to damage from weather fluctuations and predation by pests.

STARTS accelerate the growing process, increasing the likelihood that you will get vegetable/fruit production before the growing season ends, which is especially important in cooler climates or with plants that need a long time to maturity.
  • But, you are limited in selection to STARTS available in your area (unless you start seeds indoors yourself).
  • And, some plants just do not like being transplanted, largely because they have tender roots and root hairs that can be damaged during transplanting (examples are spinach, beets, carrots, peas, nasturtiums, snapdragons).
GENERAL GUIDANCE FOR THE UPPER VALLEY
This table shows a couple of typical ways to start some common garden vegetables in our region, but these aren’t rules, there are always exceptions!

For example, you may succeed in transplanting plants that generally don’t like to be transplanted by using STARTS in degradable pots that allow you to plant without ever disturbing the roots.
  • Items in bold italics are quick to germinate.
  • Asterisks * lets you know the roots are sensitive or fragile, but you can transplant if you don’t disturb the roots.
DIRECT SOW SEEDS
TRANSPLANT or
START IN TRAYS
Beans
Broccoli
Beets
Celery
Carrots
Collards
* Cucumbers
Eggplant
* Melons
Kale
Peas
Kohlrabi
Radishes
Leeks
Spinach
Onions
* Squash
Peppers
Turnips
Scallions
* Zucchini
Tomatoes
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COMPOSTING

The following website was shared with us by a Girl Scout as a way of thanking the GGC for providing information in our RESOURCES section that she found helpful in obtaining her Gardening Badge. Thank you Alyssa!
Grillio’s Guide to Food Waste and Composting
http://grillio.com/blog/grillios-guide-to-food-waste-and-composting/
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DIY PROJECTS

The following website was shared with us by a student volunteering in Maine who found useful information in our RESOURCES section and wanted to pass on another very helpful link she'd come across. Thank you Michelle!
DIY Gardening Projects and Landscaping Ideas to Save Money
https://couponfollow.com/research/diy-gardening-and-landscaping-ideas
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FOR THE BIRDS

Maintaining and Improving Habitat for Hummingbirds in the Eastern United States
https://www.fs.usda.gov/wildflowers/pollinators/documents/HummingbirdBrochures/HummingbirdGuideEast.pdf
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