Check out what is happening in the garden!
Free plants from CCCG
The Camden County Certified Gardeners (CCCG) has come through yet again with providing ~55 free plants for the NPCG!
Below are the free plants the NPCG received from the CCCG:
- Tomato – Amish Paste
- Tomato – Garden State
- Tomato – KC 146 (Rutgers)
- Tomato – Black Krim
- Tomato – Tommy Toe
- Tomato – Cloudy Day Hybrid
- Tomato – Mortgage Lifter
- Tomato – Super Sweet 100
- Tomato – Grape Golden Sweet (F1)
- Tomato – Roma
- Tomatillo – Toma Verde
- Pepper – Cherry Stuffer Sweet
- Pepper – Golden California Wonder
- Pepper – Goddess Banana
- Pepper – Anaheim Chile
- Pepper – Hungarian ‘Hot Wax’
- Pepper – Aji Habanero
- Pepper – Ghost
- Brussel Sprouts
- Basil
- Cilantro
- Kale
- Parsley
Camden County Certified Gardeners
CCCG is an all volunteer non-profit with the mission to provide the residents of Camden County with fact-based information on sustainable landscape practices, pest management, and home horticulture while fostering relationships to empower Certified Gardeners to increase their abilities and knowledge.
Thank you again to the CCCG for supporting the NPCG!
CCCG Annual Plant Sale & NCCG Farmer’s Market
It’s growing season in New Jersey and there are tons of plant sales! The NPCG purchased the following plants from the Camden County Certified Gardeners (CCCG) Annual Plant Sale:
- Sage
- Oregano
- Cilantro
- Thyme orange
- Parsley
- Chamomile
- Dill
- Chives
- Lemon balm
- Calendula
- Basil
- Kale
- Tomato
- Cabbage
- Sweet peppers
- Fennel
- Eggplant
And the following plants from the Neighborhood Collaborative Community Gardens (NCCG) Farmer’s Market:
- Alyssum
- Marigolds
- Rosemary
- Peppermint
A new fruit tree!
For Earth Day this year, the NJ Tree Foundation was giving out free fruit trees and the NPCG was able to acquire a nectarine tree! It is an Arctic Glo variety.
Thank you NJ Tree Foundation!
The first seeds have been planted!
The first section of the garden has been setup and the following seeds have been planted:
- Moonwalker sunflowers (Helianthus annuus)
- Chocolate sunflowers (Helianthus annuus)
- Blue Hopi corn (Zea mays)
- Glass gems corn (Zea mays)
- Ambrosia corn (Zea mays)
- Early prolific squash (Cucurbita pepo)
- Autumn blue pumpkins (Cucurbita maxima aka winter squash)
- Blue lake stringless FM1K pole beans (Phaseolus vulgaris)
- French marigolds (Tagetes patula)
- Nasturtiums (Tropaeolum majus)
The Prepare Action Phase is complete.
Plant Hardiness Zones
Plant hardiness zones are climate zones mapped across geographical locations that inform gardeners about the temperatures in their areas and the length of their growing seasons. The zones are numerically divided by 10 degree differences in minimum winter temperatures, and then further divided into 5 degree increments that are represented by letters. See the map below of the plant hardiness zones across the United States and the legend for the zones to the right of it.
Currently, New Jersey (NJ) contains three 10 degree hardiness zones: 6, 7, and 8. Including the subdivisions of the zones, NJ has four 5 degree hardiness zones: 6b, 7a, 7b, and 8a. Historically, NJ was only zones 6a, 6b, 7a, and 7b, but with climate change there has been a shift towards warmer temperatures which has affected the hardiness zones. NJ lost zone 6a and gained zone 8a. Overtime, NJ will probably lose zone 6 all together and perhaps part of zone 7.
Free seeds from CCCG
Camden County Certified Gardener’s (CCCG) Seed Saving Library
The mission of the Seed Saving Library is to preserve and strengthen local biodiversity, encourage gardening and local food production, promote health, and educate the public about seed saving.
Below are the free seeds the NPCG acquired from the CCCG’s Seed Saving Library:
- Basil, Genovese
- Bean, Garden Blue Lake 274
- Bean, Garden Gold Rush
- Beet, Early Wonder Tall Top
- Cantaloupe, Hale’s Best Jumbo
- Carrot, Rainbow colors blend
- Chamomile, German
- Chard, Ruby Red
- Chives, Variety Heirloom
- Cucumber, Painted Serpent
- Cumin
- Dandelion, Italiko Rosso
- Eggplant, Black Beauty
- Kale, Heirloom Red Russian
- Lettuce, Black Seed Simpson
- Onion, Walla Walla
- Pak Choi, Pechay
- Parsley, Dark Moss Curled
- Pepper, Pinata Blend (hot)
- Pumpkin, Autumn Blue
- Radish, Sparkler
- Salvia, Butterfly Scarlet Sage
- Spinach, Correta Hybrid
- Squash, Early Prolific Straightneck
- Squash, Winter Grn Strp Cushaw
- Sunflower, Moonwalker
- Swiss Chard, Rainbow
- Tomato, Garden State
- Turnip, Purple Top
- Watermelon, Jubilee
Camden County Certified Gardeners
CCCG is an all volunteer non-profit with the mission to provide the residents of Camden County with fact-based information on sustainable landscape practices, pest management, and home horticulture while fostering relationships to empower Certified Gardeners to increase their abilities and knowledge.
Thank you to the CCCG for supporting the NPCG even though we are in a neighboring county!
Free seeds from NP Residents
The NPCG acquired some free seeds from local residents:
- Blue Hopi corn (Zea mays)
- Ambrosia corn (Zea mays)
- Glass gems corn (Zea mays)
- Mexican mint (Tagetes lucida)
- Utah Yellow Onion (Allium cepa)
- Chioggia beets (Beta vulgaris)
- Wild red strawberry (Fragaria vesca)
- Lemon thyme (Thymus pulegioides)
- French marigolds (Tagetes patula)
- Nasturtiums (Tropaeolum majus)
- Wild arugula (Diplotaxis tenuifolia)
- Blue lake stringless FM1K pole beans (Phaseolus vulgaris)
- N. highbush blueberry (Vaccinium corymbosum)
- Rainbow bell pepper (Capsicum annuum)
- English lavender (Lavandula angustifolia)
- Chocolate sunflowers (Helianthus annuus)
- American black elderberry (Sambucus canadensis)
Thank you to Denise and Mike for supporting the NPCG!
The Garden has been winterized
The landscaping fabric has been applied and secured. The landscaping fabric will deprive sunlight to the plants below while still allowing air and water to reach the soil. As the plants beneath perish, their nutrients will return to the soil making it more fertile for future plants. This technique also preserves the insects that help to keep the soil healthy and keeps maintenance low.
The Clear Action Phase is complete.
NPCG 