What: official opening day of the Virginia A. Cory Community Garden.
When: 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. tree planting and remarks from Dean Mama.
Come to the Garden to help us initiate the beginning of the 2022 growing season.
April 23, Earth Day Festival (12 p.m. to 3 p.m.)
Presented by the Virginia A. Cory Community Garden
Join us in the Garden in honor of Earth Day and the beginning of the 2022 season. We’re hosting a spring festival featuring community-based vendors, activities, and live music! For registration questions or concerns regarding this event, please contact Marie Weimer at 732-907- 0712.
The basic answer to this question is to encourage each of us to recall how the earth provides life and sustenance.
We understand the impacts that humans have on the earth but sometimes we miss the large and small scale impacts the earth has on us.
As we work in our gardens this season let’s give thanks for all the earth continues to loan.
Updates
April 22, Earth Day: Official Opening Day of the Virginia A. Cory Community Garden. 5 p.m. to 6 p.m. Tree Planting
April 23: Spring Festival, 12 p.m. to 3 p.m.
Join us in the Garden in honor of Earth Day and the beginning of the 2022 season. We’re hosting a spring festival featuring community-based vendors, activities, and live music! Admission for all interested guests is free. If you’re interested in being a part of our community showcase for this event, please contact us! Building community starts with bringing inspiring ventures together. For registration questions or concerns regarding this event, please contact Marie Weimer at 732-907- 0712.
What: learn about the origins and significance of plants that are used during the holidays and make inexpensive crafts these plants and others.
When: December 18
Time: 10:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m.
Where: 115 Atkins Ave, Asbury Park, NJ 07712
Cost: free but register online!
Updates
Continue rest and recovery practices.
We will be taking sign-ups for our winter volunteer groups. These groups will begin in January as soon as we agree on a few dates. Please keep in mind that these groups will meet to install soil into all of the donation beds. Thank you in advance for all of your hard work. Please contact marie.j.weimer@gmail.com.
What: First Annual Wall First Aid and Rescue Squad Fill the Ambulance Holiday Food Drive
When: December 11 + 12
Time: 10 a.m.-2 p.m.
Where: 1900 Monmouth Boulevard, Wall, NJ 07719
Updates
December and January are a time for solstice and rest. We hope you receive the rest you deserve and the gift of fulfillment for what you have all done over the course of 2021. Please remember to not only give this time of year but also have the willingness to receive whether it be monetary donations, spending time with others, volunteering at a local pantry, and above all things kindness. Our ability to receive these acts of kindness will create a community that knows no bounds. Keep up the passion for growing vegetables and inward selves. Have a lovely December and a happy New Year.
What: celebrate the original artwork of the Thompson Park Creative Arts Center’s students and instructors during this show.
When: December 4- 11
Time: 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
Where: Thompson Park, 805 Newman Springs Road, Lincroft NJ
Cost: Free
Updates
This soil is for the Virginia A. Cory Community Garden only. Please use in both personal community garden beds and the donation-based garden beds. See below for recommendations.
Keep in mind that some folks will not be installing this soil until spring 2022. Use what you can and please remember to share.
If you have a cover crop down, this would be a great time to cut it back to three inches or pull it completely out. Leave the discarded material in your bed and then proceed to cover it with three inches of mushroom soil.
For our donation-based garden beds we will be filling in with three inches of soil over the drip line and then covering that with burlap. Two beds are complete. Marie will be putting together a group for this ongoing project so please sign up through her.
The soil is currently covered in two yellow tarps. Please carefully and tightly reapply the tarp after use.
Rutgers Cooperative Extension: New Jersey Agricultural Experiment Station
Ru Ready 2 Garden Holiday Horticulture
What: Discussion On Locally Grown Trees, Available Selections, Indoor Winter Plants.
When: Tuesday, November 30th
Time: 6:30- 8 Pm
Where: Online @ Https://tinyurl.com/ruready4xmas
Cost: Free
Updates
Please let us know if you will be returning for the 2022 growing season!
Shed: continue to stay careful around the old and new shed area. We are still waiting on the township to provide a permit.
Soil: mushroom compost is scheduled to be delivered today, November 22nd. Tbd due to the weather.
2022 garden events: all interests are welcome. We are asking you to let us know about education, activities, and supplementary events that would be of direct interest to you.
As we head through our colder months, we will try to highlight some events that you may be interested in attending
We would love to bring more community into this garden next season. To accomplish this task we are asking you to let us know about education, activities, and supplementary events that would be of direct interest to you. Examples of this would be master gardener hosted workshops, weekly yoga sessions, and eco-friendly dyeing lessons. All interests are welcome.
Updates
1. If you haven’t already, please make us aware of your status for next season as soon as possible. Whether you are waiting until spring 2022 or planning to not return, clear out your garden bed entirely. Please cover your bed in burlap or tarp to limit erosion.
2. Shed: the existing shed has been temporarily moved and will still be accessible. As always, please be careful as it is still jam-packed. The gravel will be delivered this coming Monday, November 15th between 9 a.m. and 12 p.m. by NJ Gravel and Stone.
3. We have heard your plea and have ordered 20 yards of mushroom compost for the garden. This load will be delivered November 22nd.
As the garden beds are less active after November 2nd there’s still much happening to prepare for the upcoming season. Anyone interested in lending a helping hand or sharing your experiences from this past year please email me at s0874232@gmail.com. All shared stories and efforts will help support the garden’s mission and vision!
Updates
If you plan to grow throughout the autumn and winter please make us aware as we are officially closed as a community garden.
Please make us aware of your status for next season as soon as possible. Whether you are waiting until spring 2022 or planning to not return, clear out your garden bed entirely. Please cover your bed in burlap or tarp to limit erosion.
Shed: the existing shed will be moved November 8th and will still be accessible. The gravel will be delivered November 15th for new shed. The new shed will be built tbd permit pending. Thanks for a great season
The phone calls that i have been making reflect our workday scheduling. Along with the steering committee, i believe the Virginia A. Cory Community Garden would benefit to having more members at our workdays for not only efficient growth but also for comradery. Please get back to me soon. Thank you.
This Week
Due to the heat advisory, seasons in the soil with Rich Mohr will been postponed. The rescheduled date is to be determined. Please stay tuned!
Friday crew: (9 a.m. to 12 p.m.) (Heat advisory) Prune yellowing leaves off of tomatoes, turn compost, crew cut Penn State beds back to 3 inches.
Next Week
Monday priorities: 4 p.m. to 7 p.m.
Harvest, if needed.
Pull collards, replace with swiss chard.
Swiss chard replacements in bed 27
Clean up fence from morning glories.
Friday priorities: 9 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Harvest available vegetables.
Crew cut penn state beds back to 3 inches.
Vegetable Growing Guide
Beets Gr
Soil Temp for Germ
Days to Emergence
Seed Depth
Thin Plants To
Seed Spacing
Row Spacing
Min. Germ.
Seed Life
Seeds per Gram
Fertilizer Needs
50-75°F
5-17
1/2″
3-4″
1″
12-16″
75%
2 years
≈ 30-75
Medium
Beta Vulgaris: This wholesome vegetable is doubly heart-healthy. The sweet, delicious roots contain high levels of glycine betaine. This phytochemical compound fights platelet clots and plaque formation in the arteries. Along with a wealth of potassium, calcium and vitamin A, hearty beet greens are rich in fiber, which may reduce the risk of coronary heart disease.
Days to maturity: 60
Culture
Beets perform best in fertile, evenly moist soil with a pH of 6.0-7.0
Uniform soil moisture is essential
Sudden changes in temperature or soil moisture will increase zoning (ring formation in the root) and lead to premature bolting
Transplanting not recommended as it can damage the tap root
Direct Sowing
At the bottom of the furrow band 1 cup of fertilizer per 10 row feet
Cover seeds with sifted compost, loose soil, or vermiculite and water evenly
Use row cover when soil temperatures are cool and to protect from pests
Sow June—August for a fall crop
Insects & Diseases
Common insects: Leaf miners, flea beetles, and leaf hoppers
Insect control: Pick off affected leaves and check for eggs
Common pests: Mice, voles, and gophers
Harvest & Storage
Harvest when roots reach desired size; small roots are tender, large roots may become woody if left in the ground too long
Leaves can be used as pot greens or in salads
Trim tops and store at 36°F and 95% relative humidity
Fall & Winter Harvest
Beets should be harvested before temperatures drop to the 15-20°F range
If you are in a temperate climate, and your soil is well drained, your best location for root storage is in the garden under a protective layer of straw
