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Hooray for June! In Michigan, it means it is time to plant your warm weather crops outdoors. The threat of frost is extremely low at this point, but temperatures can still dip at night, even into the 40s. While those temperatures won’t kill your seedlings and transplants, it can still keep them growing at a slower pace for a while. A blanket of floating row cover can keep them a few degrees warmer, and it is so lightweight that you don’t have to use any hoops or other support. Think about growing vertically. Trellises aren’t just for pole beans. Cucumbers, melons, and squash are fabulous on a trellis, and they suffer less damage from bugs and critters.
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Food preservation can be a challenge, and before refrigeration, pickling was an essential strategy for safe food storage. In this illustrated talk, we will investigate the origin of vinegar, the process of fermentation, and the anti-microbial properties of herbs and spices. We will examine modern pickling recipes and methods (and the science behind them), ranging from fresh pack dill pickles in crocks to bread and butter pickles processed in a hot water bath, along with recipes from various historic sources.
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The Michigan Seed Library Network’s 2022 “One Seed, One State” choice is ‘Boston Pickling’ Cucumber. This fast-growing cucumber variety can be sown directly into the garden up until the end of June and still bring in a crop before frost! Libraries around the state, including the Lyon Township Public Library, are offering seed for this cucumber. Please visit the LTPL Seed Library to pick up your seeds and brochure so you can participate in growing this special crop along with hundreds of other Michiganders!
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LTPL is proud to host a Seed Library! We are well-stocked with seeds that you need for planting in June! From sunflowers to zucchini, we have loads of seeds that are available at no cost to you! The mission of the seed library is to promote gardening and encourage sustainability through seed saving. Although it is not required, we hope that you will attempt to save seeds from your crops and return them to the seed library to help keep it self-sustaining. First time users of the Seed Library need to register. You may do so with this form or in-person at the seed library. Once you have registered, you log your initials and number of packets taken on the clipboard. The clipboard and instructions are on top of the Seed Library cabinet. Gardening handouts are available at the Seed Library and also on the LTPL Grows Webpage, along with plenty of informative and entertaining videos!
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This June:- Continue to prepare the garden for planting, adding compost and mulch where needed.
- Unless you are saving seed, remove cool weather crops that have begun to bolt to make room for warm weather crops.
- Now is the time to transplant tomatoes, peppers, eggplants, and other warm weather seedlings that have been started indoors.
- Basil, dill, cucumbers, squash, beans, and corn can be sown directly where they are to grow.
- Zinnia, cosmos, marigolds, nasturtiums, sunflowers, and cleome can all be planted from seed.
- Continue to succession-plant seeds for carrots, beets, and chard.
- You still have time to plant potatoes and get a good crop for fall.
Find additional resources to get started here:
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The Rhodes family YouTube channel has long been highly regarded, and there is much enthusiasm in the sustainability world for their new book. Beautifully illustrated and packed with homesteading information, it reads like a memoir.
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This book is for those who are looking to create a permaculture garden in an average-sized yard. The author hails from upstate New York, so the information is of particular importance to northern gardeners.
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Landscape architect Boswell shows us how to create a garden that is both nourishing to people and kind to the environment.
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Find more information on LTPL Grows and other resources!
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Visit and "like" for gardening news, tips and upcoming events.
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