Sunshine Weekly Weeder

08.19.10
 www.sunshinecommunitygardens.org

PURSLANE - WEED OR VOLUNTEER VEGETABLE?

In the heat of summer when most of your vegetable plants and even some of the weeds are struggling, purslane proliferates. This is probably because purslane seeds germinate best when soil temperatures are in the 90s.

To control purslane don't let it go to seed. Flowers and seeds will appear about 3 weeks after you notice seedlings.

Plants must be uprooted and removed. Otherwise, uprooted plants and any remaining plant pieces can root back into the soil. Using a tiller will just spread the purslane all over your garden.

As a food, purslane is high in beta-carotene, magnesium, and potassium. Connoisseurs prefer to eat fresh young plants, young leaves and tender stem tips. The taste is similar to watercress or spinach. I am told that the chickens love it.

For purslane recipes and nutritional information, see: http://www.prairielandcsa.org/recipes/purslane.html.

VEGETABLES TO PLANT IN LATE AUGUST

Snap Beans ~ Carrots
Cucumbers ~ Potato
Summer Squash ~ Winter Squash

Flower Seeds to Plant in Late August

Alyssum ~ Amaranthus ~ Balsam
Calendula ~ Cornflower ~ Hollyhock
Linaria ~ Moonflower ~ Portulaca
Sunflower ~ Tithonia ~ Zinnia
SEMINAR: How to Manage Garden Insects

Sponsored by Travis County Master Gardeners
Saturday, August 21, 10am - Noon
LCRA Redbud Center, Rm 108N, 3601 Lake Austin Blvd

Learn how to deal with pests effectively without spraying insecticides all over your plants. Integrated Pest Management (IPM) shows how to protect your garden without harming the environment or your plants. Learn to distinguish beneficial insects in your backyard from harmful insects. Free and open to the public.

CALENDAR OF EVENTS
  • Board Meeting - August 21, 9:30 am
  • All Gardener Meeting - August 28, 10 am

    Contact Information

    Janet Adams, President - president@sunshinecommunitygarden.org
    Mary Gifford, Vice President - vice-pres@sunshinecommunitygarden.org
    Carol Limaye, Treasurer - caroline.limaye@sbcglobal.net
    Sue Brownlee, Secretary - scgsecretary@gmail.com
    Linda Booker, Director - lindaruthbooker@gmail.com
    Ila Falvey, Director - ila.falvey@gmail.com
    Nancy Seibert, Director - nancyrseibert@yahoo.com

    Coordinators & Chairs

    Zone 1, Patsy Painter - patsy_painter@yahoo.com
    Zone 2, Katy Davis - katydavis@austin.rr.com
    Zone 3, Daniel Moise - daniel.b.moise@gmail.com
    Zone 4, Alan Marburger - alanmarburger@gmail.com
    Zone 5, Mary Gifford - mgifford@austin.rr.com

    Zone 6, Sharon Flournoy - saflournoy@att.net
    Zone 7, Diana Dworaczyk - dianadworaczyk@aol.com
    Zone 8, Nancy Seibert - nancyrseibert@yahoo.com
    Zone 9, Cheryl Hazeltine - cph@austin.rr.com
    Zone 10, Sue Mennicke - sue_scg@fastmail.fm

    Plant Sale - Nancy Seibert - nancyrseibert@yahoo.com
    Carpentry & Repairs - Robert Jarry - r.jarry@sbcglobal.net
    Compost - Steve Uecker - steven_uecker@hotmail.com
    Tools & Wheelbarrows - Bob Easter - beaster1@austin.rr.com
    Maintenance Coordinator - Ila Falvey - ila.falvey@gmail.com
    Website Coordinators - Kathleen Neville and Larry Olsen - lolsen@suddenlink.net

    Record Service Hours Online - the Virtual Green Binder

    To unsubcribe send a message to:scgsecretary@gmail.com

     Sunshine Community Gardens
    http://www.sunshinecommunitygardens.org