19 hours Ago By Jon Andreassi
Kurtis Lowe is a bit “green” when it comes to having a green thumb, but he’s trying his hand at gardening for the first time this year. Lowe, of Dunlevy, and his wife attended their second Seed to Supper class in Charleroi this past week with a goal of starting a home garden. Lowe said he hopes to take a step toward being self-sustaining and having a healthier lifestyle.
“To me, in my opinion, it’s more of a healthier option than getting produce and groceries from the store,” Lowe said. He added that saving money was “absolutely” a factor in the decision to start growing his own produce. “Once you get some seeds from the fruits and vegetables you’ve already grown, the only thing you have to put into it is some time and effort,” Lowe said.
“To better my health, that’s priceless.” According to Lowe, Seed to Supper has been helpful with learning how to get started. “The women that are running the classes – they are very knowledgeable.
I have zucchini going, some cucumbers (and) basil. I’m hoping to have tomatoes and some kind of squash.” Laura Delach is a master coordinator with the Washington County branch of Penn State Extension, which runs the Seed to Supper program.
Delach said if you want to grow crops this year, the time to start planting is now. “What you need to know is what cool crops you want to grow and what hot weather plants,” Delach said. “Cool weather” crops include lettuce, arugula, spinach, beets, kale, green onions, peas and carrots.
“You can really start after St. Patrick’s Day. The cold weather doesn’t really bother them .
.. All those will germinate in cold soil,” Delach said.
Because of fluctuating temperatures in April, there are several crops that are not ready to be planted outside. Those “warm weather” crops include tomatoes, peppers, eggplant, corn, beans and melons. “With green beans, you need the temperature of the soil to be above 55 degrees to germinate,” Delach said.
“Most of those get planted after the last frost. It used to be the end of May. It’s probably mid-May in this area.
” However, those plants can be started inside. According to Delach, you will likely want to grow them inside for about two months before moving them outdoors. Delach will be at the next Charleroi Seed to Supper class to discuss how to get the most out of your seeds.
Margaret Sams, a master gardener and chair of the Seed to Supper program, said she thinks there has been more interest in the classes this year, being held in Charleroi through April 19 and in Washington through May 8. “Especially in targeted communities like Charleroi, we have people that are just so interested in gardening and soaking up the information,” Sams said. Sams said multiple local businesses have donated to Seed to Supper.
Miller’s Ace Hardware provided 45 gallon buckets for planting, while PittMoss and Eighty Four Agway donated potting mix. They also received 200 vegetable seed packets from Trax Farms. Due to metals like lead and chromium in the soil, Sams said they are recommending container gardening to the Charleroi class participants.
“We’re encouraging them to use any kind of container, and garden that way,” Sams said. That works for Lowe, who wants to avoid pollutants left behind by manufacturing in the region. “We don’t want to grow in the ground because of all the steel mills that were around and went out of business,” Lowe said.
“I’ll just stick to buckets for the moment.” With a 1-year-old son and another child on the way, Lowe feels it’s important to establish a self-sufficient, healthy lifestyle. He credits Seed to Supper with giving him the tools to start down that path.
“Seed to Supper has just been a blessing in my opinion to gain some knowledge and get started,” Lowe said..
