By Bev Johnson

Master Gardener

Petunia is definitely not a gardener. Bunkey is the gardener in the family. That doesn’t stop Petunia from bragging about the fantastic vegetables in ‘our’ garden at work. At lunch one day, the mention of Lake Region Community Garden came up from one of the women who volunteer there every summer. She told the group that the garden had a small greenhouse where they grew lettuce hydroponically but were hoping to build a larger one (30 by 72) next year. 

This one will be devoted to hydroponics. Jason Bergstrand, who is in charge of the gardens, says “we have hydroponics down pat. We help two food shelves; Fergus Falls and Battle Lake and donate food to the Salvation army so they can feed people in need of a healthy meal. Even with the small greenhouse, last year they grew 1200 pounds of vegetables to donate. With the new greenhouse, we can grow that much more.”  

Growing that much food takes many hands and they are always looking for more help. It’s perfect for people who love to garden but aren’t able to have one of their own. They always need more volunteers. If you want to get your hands dirty but don’t want to be bothered with your own garden, this is the place for you. If you would like to volunteer or donate money toward the new greenhouse, contact Jason at Jason.Bergstrand@claycountymn.gov. The address of the garden is 712 South Cascade, right behind the walk-in clinic. 

The bigger greenhouse will be built next year if they get enough donations. Working here is a great way for Master Gardeners to get hours. They can also do some teaching and even learn from some of the other gardeners. There are always different ways of doing anything and that includes gardening.   

Jason, who is in charge of the garden, more properly called Lake Region Takes Root, says they grow the common vegetables that people recognize and know how to use; carrots, spuds, tomatoes, peppers, celery, squash and so forth and few odds and ends that not everyone would ordinarily grow – like Swiss chard for instance. Did you know that spinach and beets are cousins? If spinach is too strong tasting for you, substitute beet greens. Even Popeye likes a bit of change now and then. 

If you like to start your own vegetables, get with it. Our poor earth is warming up. The last frost used to be around May 15th in Ottertail county. Now it is closer to April 15th.  One thing to remember is the time to harvest a vegetable is not the time you put the seed in a pot but when you put the plant in the garden. Even though our growing season is getting longer, a plant that takes 120 days may be pushing it. 

We have had snow every month but July in some years. If you have had problems with cut worms in your garden, a neat way to deter the little stinkers is to shove a 3 gallon can, with both ends cut out, over the plant and at least 2 to 3 inches into the soil. Coffee used to come in that size can. Metal cans are easiest to poke down in the soil, but a plastic one might work. This also keeps the wind from drying out the tender leaves or even in some of our strong spring winds, pushing it over or out of the ground breaking it off. 

Pull the can off after about 2 weeks. Some people leave the can on until they pull the plant out in the fall. This trick makes it easy to get water right to the roots of the plant as the can keeps it contained. 

Dirty hands season is soon upon us.