SitemapEric Barrett wants to plant correct information in the minds of gardeners and weed out the myths.
He is an Ohio State University Extension educator, assistant professor and director of Mahoning County Extension. Barrett recently led a tour of Fairgreen Neighborhood Garden, 230 Fairgreen Ave. The garden on the corner is one of nine on the Growing Local Foods: Urban Farmers and Gardens Summer Tour Series sponsored by the extension office.
The goal of the summer garden tour is to dig into correct growing practices, soils, plants, helpful tips, moisture requirements, sun and shade needs, diseases and insects. The series began June 13 and continues Mondays through Aug. 15.
“The program focuses on touring gardens to see what other gardeners are growing and how they are doing,” Barrett said. “Gardening gives you a sense of accomplishment. It opens up a new world.”
“Building up soil is the most important thing,” he said, noting that is needed because of clay soil in Ohio. Clay is hard and doesn’t provide a good growing medium.
Fairgreen Neighborhood Garden has a compost pile that gardeners use to improve the soil. Barrett said the compost pile must reach 170 degrees inside to kill weed seeds, and it must be turned over regularly to produce the proper compost.
Barrett started the tour by pruning an apple tree in the garden. He showed participants what branches to trim in order to nurture a healthier and stronger tree.
“I am seeing some issues with plants and moisture,” Barrett said. That gave him the opportunity to discuss methods of watering gardens. Most important, he said, is to make sure the roots are watered.
The garden has a corn plot that is doing well. Barrett said the square planting design promotes pollination.
He noticed an ashtray with cigarette butts in it and pointed out if gardeners don’t thoroughly wash their hands or wear gloves before they handle plants, the plants may get tobacco mosaic virus. If there’s mottling on plant leaves, it’s a sign of the disease.
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