WINONA HORTICULTURAL SOCIETY

NEWSLETTER October 2013

Johnston's Cranberry Farm by Gerrie Loveys

Before visiting Johnston's cranberry farm in Bala in Muskoka on the Thanksgiving weekend, the only thing that I knew about cranberries, I had learned on the Ocean Spray Cranberry commercial. The setting makes a good commercial, but the details are a little misleading. The following information about growing cranberries was taken from information panels installed throughout the farm.

The first cranberry farm in Ontario was started in MacTier, by George Mollard in 1947. Orville Johnston started growing cranberries on the farm in Bala in 1950 and the current Johnstons are the third generation of Johnston farmers to farm cranberries. Today, there are only three cranberry growers in Ontario.

Early pilgrims thought the cranberry blossom looked like the head of a crane so they called them crane berries. They are native to North America and there are now over 150 varieties. Cranberries are sub-arctic and therefore will only grow in areas with cold winters so that the plants have a dormant period. Cultivated across the north-central region of the continent, climates in this region can vary from coastal to continental to maritime and specific varieties grow throughout these conditions. Hot temperatures kill flowers, and fruit will not develop if temperatures are too cool, so the growing zone lies between New Jersey to the south and Sudbury to the north.

A successful cranberry farm requires a combination of suitable climate, water and soil. Muskoka has all three. There must be acid, peat soil, conditions commonly found in marshes or bogs. A cranberry farm conserves wetlands by providing the function of a natural wetland and is a habitat for many plants and animals.

Cranberries are planted from cuttings. An established bed is pruned down to its roots and the cuttings are spread out and disked into the new bed. One acre of cuttings can plant five new acres. It is remarkable that, as long as the bed is well attended, cranberry plants

never need to be replanted. The growing season lasts 16 months with the buds starting in August before the current crop has been harvested. The active growing season runs April to October, with 150 frost free days needed for a crop to mature. The vines grow close to the dry bed with uprights growing ankle height. Cranberry vines have evergreen leaves and they turn bright red in the winter.

Harvesting the berries occurs in October. Large machines comb through the cranberry plants to remove the berries. Although there are other types of machines used to harvest, this machine (Getsinger Retracto Tooth Picker ed.) is used at the Johnston farm so that the berries and the vines are not damaged. The berries are collected in flat boats that are moved by truck to the sorting area. The healthy berries are light and bounce down the sorting ladder and the unhealthy berries drop to the bottom.

While cranberries do not grow in water, the fields are flooded three times a year: in the spring, at harvest and in the winter. Springtime flooding

helps to protect the vines from temperature extremes and reduces weeds and insect damage; In the fall harvest, flooding helps to make picking easier; and to minimize vine damage; winter flooding occurs on the first cold days, creating an ice layer to help the cranberry plants to stay dormant over the winter.

Next weekend is the cranberry festival in Bala. It is a long drive, but the colours are gorgeous and once you get onto Hwy 400, the drive is lovely. Johnston's cranberry farm will

be open until the end of October. Go to the Johnston's cranberry farm or cranberry festival websites for more information. w ww.cranberry.ca/Farm/festival.html www.discovermuskoka.ca www.balacranberryfestival.on.ca

(Don't miss the Rick Mercer report on Youtube, linked at cranberry.ca site, or at Youtube.com/watch?v=fzQ7mC5yBPc ed.)

Coming Events/Notices ROYAL BOTANICAL GARDENS

680 Plains Road, Burlington

Speakers Series: The Once and Future Great Lakes Country – November 5 6:30 – 8:30pmAn evening with John Riley, senior science advisor, Nature Conservancy of Canada. John recounts stories and research from his new book, The Once and Future Great Lakes Country, providing both a detailed ecological history and a broad panorama of this region, blending the voices of early European visitors with the hopes of today's citizens.$15 (Members 10% off) Pre-register by October 28 at 905 527-1158 X 270RBG's Living Walls – November 14 7 – 8:30pmDr. Alan Darlington discusses the environmental impact a living wall makes to indoor space and why it is part of future thinking.FREE TO MEMBERS ONLY RSVP to Ashlee aleggett@rbg.ca or 905 527-1158 X 514Holiday Traditions – November 14 to January 5, 2014 Weekends filled with seasonal activities, trains, musical entertainment, local school and adult choirs, PLUS visits from Santa. Something fun for everyone!Auxiliary of RBG Christmas Show and Sale – November 14-16 10am – 4pmNew ideas for seasonal design plus old favourites of fresh greens and blooms; and unique seasonal silks, baubles, berries and beads.

There is always so much going on at the RBG, and lots of new stuff to interest gardeners, nature lovers, artists and kids of all ages. Be sure to look through the Paradise Found magazine for more on programs, then call RBG at 905 527-1158 or visit their website www.rbg.ca to register. Ask Krys to borrow the WHS members' card and parking permit.

HAMILTON FALL GARDEN & MUM SHOW – October 25 to November 3 10 am – 8 pmGage Park GreenhouseTheme this year is a journey through dramatic scenes of flowers, colours & displays inspired by “Trains”!Adults $6.25 Seniors & Children $5.25 New! Family Day on November 2nd (2 adults & 2 children) $20More to see, including live gardening demos, market place and 2013 Trillium Award Winner's photos; plus new Café & Family Zone.More information at 905 546-2489 or www.hamiltonmumshow.com

WINDSOR ORCHID SHOW – October 26 & 27 11am – 5pmTeutonia Club, Windsor, ONAOS judged show features orchid displays & exhibits, artwork and floral arrangements. Includes stunning and rare orchids on display and for sale.Admission $6 (for $1 off coupon see Joy)www.windsororchidsociety.ca

“THE CHRISTMAS TREE” - November 1 to December 18Ball's Falls Centre for ConservationExperience the story behind the Christmas tree and enjoy what local environmental groups have in mind when each decorates its own tree.

DISTRICT 6 FALL DINNER – November 2 5 pm (Social hour) 6 pm (dinner)139 Silver St., Paris Fairgrounds, ParisEntertaining evening includes guest speaker Marilyn Cornwell with a talk on “Exploring Great Public Gardens in Search of Magic & Mystery” (photography) Paris has put time and effort into this for your enjoyment – let us support them by attending. Tickets $26 Must be purchased by October 22. See Krys Moraal tonight if you're interested.

WHS NEXT MEETING – November 20 7:30 pmSt. John's Anglican Church Hall, Winona Our annual hands-on holiday workshop. Get a head start on that holiday feeling, while making a beautiful decoration for your home.

Tonight's Speaker is René Schmitz. René and his wife Eva own and operate Palatine Fruit & Roses in Niagara-on-the-Lake, where they proudly grow rose bushes and fruit trees, as well as tender fruits and wine grapes.They pride themselves on growing roses of distinction, from the newest selection of the world's top hybridizers to the time tested varieties of the past. Palatine Roses is situated on historically significant Palatine Hill, which due to its geographical location, boasts a longer growing season with higher heat units than most of Canada. This unique location, combined with attention to detail and a holistic approach to soil management, results in plants of highest quality and vigor. Although roses are Palatine's main claim to fame, they also offer sustainably grown fruit – tree ripened, fresh and local!To learn more go to www.palatineroses.com

The Fall GardenIt's sad to see the leaves falling from the trees, leaving only a bare skeleton where only weeks ago bright colours were displayed, but just because it is fall doesn't mean there isn't still lots to do in the garden. Here are some suggestions.

By continuing to weed and deadhead, you will maintain a neat appearance to your garden, and show off late bloomers like dahlias, geraniums as well as mums, ornamental cabbages and hardy grasses.

Remove the debris of summer annuals, then be honest with yourself: will you really go out in early spring to remove remaining perennials? Clean up as much as possible now, leaving strategic clumps for attractive winter display and food for birds. Sedums, hostas, astilbes and ornamental grasses are beautiful in snow.For more colour now, pop ‘Icicle' pansies into spots where summer annuals have been cleared out. They will bloom until December, then lie down for the winter. Cover them with evergreen cuttings until earliest spring, when they'll be ready to sprout new flower buds.Why not take a gamble and throw seeds of hardy annuals where you want them to bloom next year? Larkspur, poppies, cleome and cosmos will frequently take root from seeds sown in autumn and conditioned under winter snow.

Autumn is also a good time for planting evergreen trees and shrubs. The evergreens' root systems pump water all winter, so be sure to water them well before the ground freezes. And don't hesitate to purchase deciduous flowering shrubs at discounted prices. Even after a summer in containers, they'll adapt and make strong root growth in cool autumn soil.

Do you think your vegetable garden is finished? Root vegetables such as carrots and parsnips are sweeter after hard frost and can be harvested all winter. Remove top foliage from the plants and cover them with a 15-cm-thick mulch of leaves or straw (available from garden centres) spread to similar thickness. Throw an old piece of carpeting on top and let it snow. Lift the coverings to dig out veggies as needed. And now's also a good time to plant a row of garlic. Set individual cloves eight cm deep and 15 cm apart, and mulch with five to eight cm of leaves. Hard-neck Rocambole garlics such as ‘Music' are the hardiest strains, and, when planted in October, can be harvested in July, just as the first cherry tomatoes turn red.

(Excerpted from Candian Gardening website, www.canadiangardening.com/)

Pink KnockoutSpeaking of roses, how about these beauties still blooming in Hélène's garden? Delany Sisters

Hands-on Christmas WorkshopSome things work so well you just have to keep

doing them! So once again we are having our November make 'n take, holiday workshop, at our next meeting, Wed., Nov. 20.

We'll pool our resources and make fabulous decorations for our holiday table or yard!

What to bring: - large outdoor pot filled with earth or - small pot fitted with wet floral foam for indoor arrangement or - swag or wreath forms and - fresh-cut evergreen branches, coloured or shapely deciduous branches (ie. dogwood, willow, etc.), rose hips, berry branches, cuttings of spent garden plants or weeds with interesting shapes, etc. Bring extra to swap and share! - ribbons or other decorations - pruners and gloves

No experience necessary – just bring your imagination! We have quite a few knowledgeable members who can help guide you through creating your own attractive decoration.

It seems that some of the men in our group aren't interested in this workshop, so we are working on other ideas that might be more to their liking. If you have an idea or suggestion you might like to try, let Jane know and we'll try to make it happen!

Members' CornerAs always, we welcome your comments and suggestions. Who would you like to have as future speakers? What kind of topics or activities interest you? Share gardening tips or pictures of your yard or garden. Please, drop us a line, send an e-mail or talk to one of the Board members. Here are some of the names:

Gerrie Loveys, Co-president 905 662-8369 loveysg@gmail.com

Jane Donaldson-Mooij, Co-president905 547-0056 bluebird@bell.blackberry.net

Greta Carpenter, 1st Vice-president905 544-8643 gretacarpenter@gmail.com

Jane Donaldson-Mooij, Secretary905 547-0056 bluebird@cogeco.ca

Krys Moraal, Treasurer905 643-4592 krysm@yahoo.com

Joy Brunel, Newsletter Editor905 643-3073 potsherds@gmail.com

Mailing address: WHSP. O. Box 10596, Hwy # 8Winona, ON L8E 5R1website: www.gardenontario.org/site.php/winona

October 16, 2013

The Halton Region Master Gardeners would like to offer to the Carolinian District members of the OHA the opportunity to hear two interesting speakers:

November 6 2013 - The fascinating Dave Naylor will speak on "Wonderful and Unusual Asclepiads". This is a mostly visual presentation of the alien-appearing succulent members of the Asclepiadaceae family-- the milkweeds.  The majority of the plants (actually flowers) illustrated are rare and almost unknown in cultivation.February 5 2014- Dr. Kari Dunfeld is the Assistant Professor of Applied Soil Ecology at the University of Guelph. She is going to talk to us about soil ecology. The diversity and abundance of soil life exceeds that of any other ecosystem. Plant establishment, competitiveness, and growth is governed largely by the ecology below-ground, so understanding this system is an essential component of plant sciences and terrestrial ecology.

Any members who are interested in attending either of these presentations please contact Patty King at a_p@cogeco.ca  to reserve a seat.

Both presentations will be held at the Royal Botanical Gardens in rooms 3-4 at the back by the Mediterranean Room at 7PM