Companion Planting Chart for Vegetables - University of Arkansas
1. The Dirt
CCMG Newsletter Volume 4 April 2012
We had a great meeting March 10, with an attendance of 30 with two guests, Maryan Pannell and Kristy
Rice’s precious daughter. Maryan will be attending the October training classes. She asked if she could work
with us until that time and we are delighted. Welcome Maryan!
Randy did an excellent job of demonstrating pruning fruit trees and berries. Thank you for giving your time
to help us be better Master Gardeners.
We were pleasantly surprised that David Bell joined us and took pictures for a future publication of “The
Current” magazine. They will feature an article on Carroll County Master Gardeners. He said that he will
stop by the square in Green Forest on Tuesday (March 13) to see what we are doing and take a few more
candid shots.
Pam DeGroot and Joan Rutz were responsible for the delicious goodies and oh my, what a spread we had!
They had a little help from some of the members, and a big thank-you to them. Suzanne brought a delicious
strawberry salad/dessert that had people wanting the recipe, and Joan’s oatmeal cookies were a real hit.
Lavonna made a mouth-watering soup that was a big hit. If you were not there, you really missed out on a
great time of fellowship and good food.
Also, a great big thank-you to the Schells for opening their home to host our meeting. Their place looked
beautiful, and they must have put in a lot of time and work preparing for us. Again, thank you for your
gracious hospitality. Will was very generous in sharing his many vegetable seeds.
The chairman of the projects gave a report on their projects. Jennifer Hudspeth and Randy reported on the
Junior Master Gardeners, and the meeting that will be at 3:00 this Monday. Sam Davis will give a soil
demonstration explaining the water table for our area. If you have filled out your papers to help with the
youth and they have not been processed by the state, you can still help at the meetings until you are cleared.
The meetings with the children are held at the Outdoor Classroom at 3:00.
Green Forest Square work day is scheduled for Tuesday at 9:30 a.m. Remember to bring pointed-end
shovels, garden rakes, leaf rakes and strong backs.
Margaret Wallace informed us that the nursery in Green Forest had a fire that destroyed their greenhouse.
You will need to check with them to see what they will have available this season.
Jean Ericksen said that work at the fairgrounds and library went really well, and the library looks better. Tina
Ross reported that the doggie thrift store is a work in progress but with a promising future when we get a
break in the weather. She will call work days soon. Linda Rogers will notify us when Little Lake Eureka will
have a work day. Marie Swenson reported that the work at the Kingston library is coming along.
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2. Richard thanked the people who had turned in their hours, but said there are 10 members who have not
reported any hours; he asked that they please record and turn in their hours.
Randy told us that the fall training session (October) will be held in Green Forest at the depot. We are doing
this with Boone and Newton counties. The sessions that the county agent hosts will be the day that we are
responsible for the refreshments. This is a great opportunity for teachers and people who cannot attend a
training session during the week to become a Master Gardener, as the classes will be in the evening and on a
Saturday. The fee is $65, and the dates are Saturday, October 6, all day; Tuesday, October 9, at 5:30 p.m.;
Thursday, October 11, at 5:30 p.m.; Tuesday, October 16, at 5:30 p.m.; Thursday, October 18, at 5:30 p.m.;
Tuesday, October 23, at 5:30 p.m.; Thursday, October 25, at 5:30 p.m.; and Saturday, October 27, all day.
If you have friends that are interested, they can go online and register, or go by the county extension and get
forms there. Please let people know about the upcoming classes.
Next month, we will meet at Little Portions. Can you believe the forecast of 79 degree temperatures for
Tuesday and Wednesday? I think we are going through spring and into summer! Mary Knight, president
Because You Are A Good Person
Expecting life to treat you well because you are a good person is like expecting an angry bull not to charge
because you are a vegetarian.
~Shari R. Barr~
JMG
We had our first Junior Master Gardener (JMG) meeting Monday, February, 27, with Sam and Sue
Davis, Randy, and me, along with a couple of teachers helping. Although the first meeting went
smoothly, we wanted to get the first meeting under our belts before sending out the schedule! I
hope everyone will want to be a part of as many meetings as possible; the kids are so much fun,
and this is a great teaching opportunity for the MG! This also qualifies as work hours. If you would
like to help, 4-H requires a brief questionnaire filled out by adult volunteers. This is not for the
school or the MG, but strictly a 4-H requirement. You can drop by the extension office to fill out the
form, or call Sheila at 423-2958, and she will send you one.
We have to follow the JMG requirements for classes, along with work in the outdoor classroom.
The students will complete these requirements at the following meetings, then Kelly Swofford and
David Gilmore would like us to continue the program into the summer with warm weather
vegetables, and Baker Creek Heirloom Seed Co. has generously donated a large amount of
heirloom seeds.
We will meet every other Monday. Meetings start immediately after school (3:10) and end at 5:00.
To avoid the after school traffic jam; I suggest you arrive at 3:00. You will need to stop in the
school office to get a JMG leader name tag. Students will have at brief snack provided by Leadra
Martin and the SNAP program. This is a great healthy fruit snack; if anyone would like to
supplement with (healthy) cheese, nuts or crackers, please let me know. If you have any
questions, contact Sam and Sue Davis, Randy, or myself. Thanks, Jennifer Hudspeth.
Meeting dates:
April 9-13 – BENCHMARK TESTING WEEK
April 9 – Junior Master Gardeners meet 3:15-5:00 in cafeteria (landscape horticulture: plant
perennials, heirloom garden bed)
April 18 – Begin Intermediate Read-a-thon (see Eryn Killingsworth for more info)
April 20 – We will have school due to snow day, so PLEASE make sure to add this to your
newsletter each week
April 23-27 – ELDA Testing for ESL students
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3. April 23 – 8:30 Carroll Electric present trees to 4th graders for Arbor Day in cafeteria; Junior
Master Gardeners meet in cafeteria 3:15-5:00 (fruits and nuts: plant avocados, plant fruit trees,
grind peanuts for peanut butter)
April 25 – Fire prevention assembly in cafeteria, 8:30 3rd grade; 9:00 4th grade; 9:30 5th grade
April 30 – 4th grade field trip to Lost Valley (Brown and Spears); AG trailer
May 1 – Medieval Faire
May 2 – 3rd grade field trip to War Eagle (Logan, Morris and Estes); last day for Read-a-thon
May 3 – 4th grade field trip to Lost Valley (Tarvin and Logan); 3rd grade field trip to War Eagle
(Killingsworth, Farrar, Evans and Hill); 5th grade GT trip to PLT – A Day in the Forest in
Fayetteville
May 7 – 4th grade field trip to Lost Valley (Cooper and Lovin); Junior Master Gardeners meet in
cafeteria 3:15-5:00 (vegetables and herbs: plant veggies and herbs)
May 8 – 4th Grade GT environmental presentations for all of 4th grade in cafeteria, beginning at
9:00 a.m.; 5th grade graduation practice in arena 9:00 a.m.; 5th grade graduation in Arena, 6:00
p.m.; last day to return Read-a-thon money
May 10 – 5th grade musical: “101 Dalmations”
May 11 – Read-a-thon celebration assembly
May 15 – Possible last day of school
May 21-June 15 – K-5 summer school at Intermediate 8-3
May 21 – Junior Master Gardeners meet (life skills and career explorations: harvest any cool
weather crops for Loaves & Fishes Food Bank, JMG graduation)
2012 Master Gardener and Horticulture Events
APRIL
April 14 CCMG Meets at Little Portion – THOSE WISHING TO CARPOOL, please meet
at the Grandview Baptist Church on Hwy 143 by 9:30 a.m. Directions enclosed.
April 14 – Gardening On or In the Rocks by Marion County Master Gardeners, 8:30
a.m. to 4:00 p.m., First Presbyterian Church, 2250 Hwy 62/412 East, Yellville, Ark.
Cost is $5 for seminar and $5 for lunch (or you can bring your own lunch).
Speakers include Dr. John Hopkins, Lucinda Reynolds, Janet Carson and Dr.
Elena Garcia. Make check payable to Marion County Master Gardeners. Send
registration form (name, phone number, email and check) to Karla Axel, 20 MC
5040, Yellville, Ark. 72687. For more information, call Marion County Extension
Office at 870-449-6349 or email axel2@yellville.net.
April 14 and 15 – Orchid Show (Sponsored by the Arkansas Orchid Society, a
member of SWROGA and the American Orchid Society), Second Presbyterian
Church, I-430 and Cantrell Road, Little Rock, Ark. Saturday, April 14 – Sales: 9:00 a.m.
to 5:00 p.m.; show open: noon to 5:00 p.m.
April 16-17, 2012 ADVANCED MASTER GARDENER TRAINING
“HABITAT FOR BUTTERFLIES”
Cost: $55 per person * You must have been a Master Gardener since 2009 to be
eligible to take this class.
Location: Dardanelle State Park Visitor Center, Russellville, Ark.
Directions to center: Take Exit No. 81 (Ark 7) off I-40 at Russellville, turn south, then
immediately turn west on Arkansas 326 and follow for four miles.
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4. April 16, 2012 time: noon to 5:00 p.m. April 17, 2012; Time: 8:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
Registration Deadline: April 2, 2012
April 21 – Wicked Plants, by Amy Stewart, a program of the Flower, Garden and
Nature Society of Northwest Arkansas. Fayetteville Public Library. 1:30 p.m. There is
a fee for the program. Open to the public. Contact: Lynn Rogers, 479-521-9090.
April 28 – “WHEN IRIS EYES ARE SMILING”, Central Arkansas Iris Society 47th Annual
Iris Show, Hillcrest Street off Kavanaugh, Grace Lutheran Church Family
Life Center, FREE ADMISSION, www.centrelarkansasiris.org, rain or shine.
April 28 – Botanical Garden of the Ozarks Spring Plant Sale, 4703 N. Crossover Road,
Fayetteville plants and plant products from the botanical garden and local
vendors. April 27 for BGO members. April 28 for public 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Happy April Birthday to:
2nd Jerry Swenson
11th Richard Knight
30th Terry Dean
Junior Master Gardeners at Work
Monday afternoon, March 12th, These children are such a delight
Shirley Clark, Anita Engert, and so eager to learn. The little
Suzanne Koblyski and Mary girl (holding the plants) in the
Knight joined the team of Jennifer picture with me is a gardener! She
Hudspeth, Sam and Sue Davis and knew how to plant and told me
Randy Forst for such a rewarding about her garden at home. She is
and delightful time with the Junior planting beets and would bring
Master Gardeners. some to share with us!
We planted broccoli, cabbage and
lettuce. The children will water
and care for the plants and then at
harvest time they will learn how to
prepare them to eat.
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5. Sam Davis presented a demonstration of the Kings River water table. It was awesome, and the children were
so attentive and asked and answered many questions. Sam did an outstanding job, and I hope that in the
future he can do this for Master Gardeners. Of course he had a great assistant, Sue.
Jennifer and Randy are so good with the children, and they make this learning experience FUN for the kids.
In fact, we all had fun! I am really looking forward to the next class, and I encourage you to join us. It will
really brighten your day! Again, a big thank-you to Sam and Sue, Jennifer and Randy, Shirley, Anita and
Suzanne.
Tuesday, March 13th
You would have thought it was St. Patrick’s
Day with all the green at Green Forest
Square! Green shirts were everywhere,
working...working...working! There was a
lot of digging and weeding. Randy even got
a blister with his gloves on...come on,
everybody say “aaaaah”!
It was a great turnout, and Margaret and
Michael want to say a big thank-you to
Pat and Terry Dean, Karen Welch, Sue
Davis, Maryan Pannell, Richard and Mary
Knight, Karen Reeves, Merrily and Dan
Ward, Jennifer Hudspeth, Anita Engert,
Lavonna and Will Schell and Randy Forst
for their help. There we several city
employees that also worked with us.
It was a beautiful day, and the work that was required was done. We are now waiting
for the compost, which the city is supplying, and for the sidewalk to be moved. We
are under the impression that it will be done this week or the first of next. The plants
have been ordered from Bear Creek Nursery and should be in next week. They gave
an unbelievable discount, which brought it way under the projected cost. When the
mulch is down and the sidewalk finished, we will be able to plant. Mary Knight, President
http://www.arhomeandgarden.org/GardeningCalendars/april.htm
Keep in mind, the USDA hardiness zone map only gives you one piece of the puzzle—the average
low winter temperature. It does not tell you how hot we are in the summer or how much rainfall or
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6. humidity, so don’t use it as your Bible; simply a guideline. We all know our winters have been
getting milder, and more plants are overwintering and becoming perennials for us, thus the
change.
We didn’t have much of a winter at all this year, with simply a few freak days of freezing
temperatures. Some gardens did get zapped by a late freeze, but for the most part we moved
through the winter pretty easily. It was one of the best years for winter annuals, including pansies,
violas, kale and cabbage. They didn’t stop blooming all winter. Fertilize them one last time and
enjoy them until you have to pull them for summer annuals. Violas will last well into summer, but
start interspersing summer color with them.
By now, most of our landscape plants should be growing. We can begin to assess how much
damage last summer really took. If you have plants that are half-dead or totally dead, start
removing and replanting. When you choose new plants, be creative. You don’t have to replace 10
dead hollies with 10 more hollies. Try some new plants
April is always a favorite month for gardeners. By now, we hopefully have seen the last of spring
freezes, the days warm up and the nights stay cool. We can garden comfortably and not be overly
concerned with insects and diseases, but the heat and humidity and insects and diseases are on
the horizon, so keep a close vigil on your garden, and let’s all hope for a better growing season this
year!
A CONTRADICTION IN PREDICTIONS
On Sunday afternoon, March 18, I received two weather alerts – one from Weatherbug, the other
from The Weather Channel; however, no alert from the weather radio! The flash flood watch has
turned into a flood watch. The interesting thing is – on Saturday I had read an article on page 8B of
the Harrison Daily Times, which stated “U.S. Forecasters: No spring flooding this year”. “No place
in the contiguous United States is forecast to be wetter than normal this spring. The seemingly
snowless winter – the third LEAST amount of snow in the U.S. in 46 years – means there is less
snow melting and flooding rivers.” Hmmmm – seems that they forgot to consult Mother Nature –
this could be an interesting last two weeks of March – it may go out like a lion!
“Spring has started so early that weather forecasters are working with the Centers for Disease
Control and Prevention in Atlanta to see if there is a way to monitor diseases that come from pests
that would arrive earlier and stay longer because of warmer weather.”
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7. Curled Dock (Rumex crispus)
You can find curled dock in Europe, North America, South America and
Australia. It’s distinguished by a long, bright-red stalk that can reach
heights of three feet. You can eat the stalk raw or boiled. Just peel off the
outer layers first. It’s recommend that you boil the leaves with several
changes of water in order to remove its naturally bitter taste.
(The early spring leaves from this plant are also great in a “mess of
greens” – my definition of this delightful dish is: tender leaves of polk,
dandelion, curly dock and lambs quarter. Rinse leaves well – I usually
soak in salt water to help get rid of insects – then cover with water and
cook. Some say to pour off liquid and add fresh water and cook more. The
Arkie way is to add bacon grease – however, butter or margarine works
just as well – and salt to taste. Serve with cornbread and onion, and enjoy!
Companion planting means putting plants together in the garden that
like each other, or help each other out. Companion planting can have a
real impact on the health and yield of your plants.
Organic gardeners strive to achieve a balance in their gardens so that
they don’t require chemicals for pest or disease control.
Companion planting can play a significant role in assisting with pest control. Some combinations work
because of scents they use to repel insects, others work because they attract good bugs.
Companion Planting Chart for Vegetables
Vegetable Really likes to be with… Really dislikes to be with…
Asparagus Basil, Tomato, Nasturtium, Parsley Onion, Garlic, Potato
Beans Carrot, Cabbage, Cauliflower, Cucumber, Chives, Leek, Garlic
Marigold
Broad Beans Brassicas, Carrot, Celery, Corn, Lettuce, Fennel
Potato
Beets Brassicas, Lettuce, Onion, Sage Bean (pole)
Broccoli Celery, Chamomile, Dill, Rosemary Oregano, Strawberry
Brussel Sprouts Potato, Thyme Strawberry
Cabbage Beetroot, Potato, Oregano, Sage Strawberry, Tomato
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9. Directions to Little Portion From Eureka Springs and Berryville:
Travel route 62 to 143 (across from the Outpost Citgo gas station). Go about 4 miles, over the
Kings River Bridge and into Grandview. Make a left onto CR 219. The road jogs right, left, right
then make a left uphill onto CR 246 (turns into dirt road) two miles on left is our sign, “The Brothers
and Sisters of Charity”, at Little Portion.
The Grandview
Baptist Church is
approximately 1 mile
north of the Hwy
62/AR 143
intersection – you
can’t possibly miss it
(or rather hopefully
you will, since it is
on a curve and if you
don’t turn left and
stay on the Hwy 143,
you will run into it!)
This map is from the
LP website and starts
after you have
crossed Kings River.
As requested from Joan Rutz at the March 10 CCMG meeting: Joan told me that she received the following
recipe from Marie Swenson.
Oatmeal Coconut Cookies
Cream 6 TBSP butter Mix well and add:
Add ¼ C sugar ¾ C flour
¾ C brown sugar ½ tsp. baking powder
Mix well and add: 1 tsp. baking soda
1 egg ½ tsp. salt
½ tsp. vanilla 1 ¼ C old-fashioned oatmeal
THEN → → ½ C coconut
Mix well and drop by spoonful on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 375 degrees for 6-7 minutes (depends on
size of spoonful) Watch carefully – cookies burn easily. Neta Stamps, Editor
University of Arkansas, United States Department of Agriculture and County Governments Cooperating. The Arkansas Cooperative Extension
Service offers its programs to all eligible persons regardless of race, color, national origin, religion, gender, age, disability, marital or veteran
status, or any other legally protected status, and is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.
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