This is the power point presentation that I gave on July 28th at Red Bird Mission Beverly, KY for the GROW Appalachia program.

1. 4-Season Gardening Enjoying the garden after a summer’s harvest! By: Magan Meade

2. An Experiment Four Season is going to be a new experiment for everyone because no one can tell how a certain plant is going to react under certain conditions. For beginners: the trick is to sow your seeds every two weeks and to use a variety of the same plant throughout the growing season.

3. Review of Gardening Basics Do not work the soil when wet, causes soil to lose texture Do not plant related vegetables together (crops in the same family) Create a plan. Can refer to packet, “One Garden Plot: Three Garden Seasons” for planting dates and refer to Farmer’s Almanac for frost dates Lexington frost dates: April 15, October 25 Igrowveg.com to get free templates and information Remember to keep the soil moist and not wet. Water in the mornings(even in cold frames and plastic rows). Plant at middle or top of hill Harden off plants if transplanting outside

4. Methods to Prolong the Seasons Burlap Shade Cloth- curtain sheers Cold Frames Greenhouses Mulch (use after May 1st for spring crops) Sheets/Covers Plastic containers (milk jugs, 2-liter containers) Be inventive! Polyethylene (plastic) row covers with wires or sugar cane for support. (tomatoes, cucumbers, peppers in the summer)

5. Mulch 3 to 4 inches deep Use a light mulch when you need the soil to cool down and prevent weeds such as (straw or paper shreddings) Use a dark mulch to heat the soil Examples of mulch; grass clippings, straw, leaves, newspaper

6. Plastic Row Covers Poles 3 to 5 feet apart Bury the edges on nights when frost is predicted Ventilation through perforations or slits (5 inches long, ¾ inch apart Put a thermometer in the tunnels to monitor temperature.

10. Easy Cold Frame Video http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=v6bWeYCV53A&feature=relmfu

11. Cold Frames Boxes Construction: Can add onto to a raised bed or construct from scratch, many different models Hay bales, scrap wood, bricks, concrete blocks Find old storm windows Maintenance: It is important to provide ventilation during day and to close up at night Prop up with stick, a notched prop, or buy a frame that automatically opens on its own

16. Other methods Burlap (upper left), cloches (bottom left), and 2-liter bottle (right-side) Can also use; milk jugs, cookie jar, pots and pans, etc.

17. Spring Plants Cover crops such as wheat and snow peas (this will maintain the soil) Late winter to late spring crops Start your spring gardens in the cold frame boxes, indoors, or in a greenhouse Grown at 50 to 65 degrees Farrenheit Can drape burlap or sheets to shade spring/ fall crops during hot summer days

18. Snow Peas

19. Chinese Cabbage

20. Lettuce, radishes, and onions

21. Brocoli Cauliflower

22. Collard Greens

23. Kohlrabi

24. Kale Escarole /Endive

25. Summer Plants If starting summer plants early, can use burlap or other fabric to keep summer plants warm during cool spring nights Plants need the ground to be warm in order to begin and extend growth Can extend summer crops by successive planting and planting varieties Can grow fall/winter crops in the summer if shaded. (netting) Use caution with winter crops in summer

26. Summer Crops

27. Fall Plants Extend the growing season by sowing seeds every two weeks throughout the summer, experiment to see how long each crop lasts Should also consult seed package Take bulb plants indoors to save over the winter to pop up in the spring Can extend summer crops into the fall by covering up during frosts

28. Green Beans, Bush

29. Brussel Sprouts

30. Radishes

31. Turnips Greens Sweet Corn

32. Winter Plants Learn and love to eat greens! Mache- staple crop of the winter Dandelion, lettuce, onion, spinach Plant growth slows down or stops but can still be harvested (cuttings). Use successive planting. Use winter greens in a nutritious shake, has more vitamins than broccoli. Put on sandwich, in soups, pasta, create salads, on a pizza, etc…

33. Mache Mache

34. Carrots and Beets

35. Swiss Chard

36. Argula

37. Chicory Greens

38. Claytonia

39. Dandelion

40. Escarole/Endive

41. Mizuna

42. Parsley

43. Tatsoi

44. Fall and Winter Consumption

45. Winter and Spring Consumption

47. KY Perennial Herbs Anise-Hyssop Garlic Chives- treats infection Wormwood- digestion Purple Cone Flower Hyssop Lavender- pain relief Mint Beebalm Oregano-help digestion Rue Sage- treats menopause (tea) Thyme- ear, nose, and throat Can start or keep indoors Make into herbal teas over the cold fall, spring, and winter.

48. Resources Kentucky Cane Plastic tarp Scrap Wire Storm windows Scrap wood Sheets (to drape or tie) PVC pipe Newspaper Leaves

49. Recipes Handout Search the name of the crop in images or google, click the picture and bring up recipe.

50. Benefits to a 4 Season Garden The vitamins and nutrition contained in winter crops are well worth it. It’s self-rewarding. When economic times are hard, you have another food source. It’s fun to have a garden in the winter while no one else does. Better taste in different seasons (crisp carrots in fall planting) Saves transportation in winter months Less chemicals in your food

51. Remember…. This is an experiment Try to figure out what works and when… can start out with a one or two plants for late gardening. Sign up sheet Facebook page http://www.facebook.com/pages/Red-Bird-Mission-GROW-Appalachia/237711932907941 Blog: http://growappalachia.blogspot.com/

52. References Coleman, E. (1999). Four-season harvest. White River Junction, Vermont: Chelsea Green Publishing Company. University of Kentucky College of Agriculture , Cooperative Extension Service. (2011). Home vegetable gardening in kentucky (ID-128). Lexington, KY: http://www.ca.uky.edu/agc/pubs/id/id128/id128.pdf Damerow, Gail. (1994). 14 ways to extend your gardening season. Mother Earth News, June/July94(144), 58-63. Epler, M.B. (2008, September 16). How to grow a four-season garden- part i and ii. Retrieved from http://1greengeneration.elementsintime.com/?p=292

53. Questions?