Garden Plot Selection 2021
Request a community garden plot for the 2021 growing season by completing the online Garden Plot Application by Sunday, March 28.
Thank you for your patience in the Garden Plot Selection process. This year, due to COVID-19 we have been working to figure out the best option for our Garden Plot Selection, leading to the handful of changes described below.
CTC has 45 garden plots between five locations that residents can reserve to grow their own vegetables and flowers. To request a plot, residents will complete the online Garden Plot Application due Sunday, March 28, 2021, which will be submitted into a drawing for random selection. ONLY (1) plot per household during this time. CTC will contact the selected gardeners by April 1, 2021, placing the remaining applications (if any) on a waitlist.
Garden Usage Requirements
Due to some restrictions, garden plots will not be fully prepped by UMN Landcare as they have been in the past. In which, compost and mulch will be delivered by April 1-2 (weather accordingly) and all gardeners will prep their own plots with provided materials, no later than Sunday, April 11, 2021. A Compost/Mulch Delivery Map will be provided to gardeners of where to get compost and mulch locations. Wheelbarrows and shovels will be available in each garden area for gardener use during that time.
Garden Plot Cost will be reduced this year due to extra prep work required by gardeners. A garden plot requires a $35 deposit with $25 refundable with a clean plot at the end of the season. End of year inspections will be done by the Garden Plot Coordinator, Tatiana. You will sign an acknowledgement form (view preview) after selection process to charge your resident account.
Plan Ahead
Take time before completing your application to check out the five garden plot areas to see where you would like to be for the season. Be sure to have a first through fifth choice of garden plot locations. Remember to think about the following factors when choosing: what you will be planting, amount of sunlight/shade, water access.
View the map of garden plot locations and garden plot sizes.*
*The small plot in Garden Bed F (F-2) is unavailable this year to reserve, and instead will be a community plot with perennial flowers and herbs.
CTC Gardeners, Unite!
Interested in improving the selection process, getting the same plot year after year, or giving you input to prepping plots? Join a garden plot group or contact our Garden Plot Coordinator to see how you can help.
Selection Process Overview
| March 28 | Online applications due |
| March 29-30 | Random drawing to determine the selected gardeners |
| March 30-April 1 | Email selected gardeners with plot # and 'acknowledgment form' to sign |
| April 4 | Signed 'acknowledgment form' due for selected gardeners |
| April 5 and on | Contact waiting list if any plot openings |
| April 1 or 2 (weather permitting) |
Compost/Mulch Delivery from UMN Landcare |
| April 1-11 | Selected gardeners must prep plots with provided compost/mulch |
Please let us know if you have any questions, and happy gardening!
End of Season Clean-up
1) Clear Plots by First Frost
All purchased garden plots need to be cleared at the end of the season before first frost by the respective garden plot holder. Frost is predicted when air temperatures reach 32°F (0°C) - typically in October - yet can occur sooner or unexpectedly. As fall/frost approaches, CTC will provide gardeners with more details and a specific deadline to clear out garden plots, corresponding to the predicted first frost date. Predicted frost dates are only an estimate based on the local weather forecast and historical probability, however, and are subject to change. Thus, gardeners may need to clear their plots before CTC's deadline/notice if frost occurs sooner than anticipated; please keep an eye on the local weather forecast and plan accordingly.
Deadline Update:All garden plots must be cleared by Monday, October 25, 2021. See full directions and details emailed to all garden plot holders, and remember to send a photo of your cleared plot to the office! |
Estimating First Frost
View Final Spring/First Fall Freeze & Frost Date Probabilities (UMN St. Paul Campus)
- The freeze date table above utilizes "past temperature observations to calculate the historical probability of freezing temperatures occurring after (spring) or before (fall) certain dates" for CTC's location.
- For example: Viewing the "Fall Freeze Dates" table, along the "32" degrees row, and under the ".70" probability column, it reads"10/15". This means that for CTC's location, there is a 70% chance of the temperature falling to 32 degrees F or colder after October 15.
- For more information, visit the Minnesota DNR website.
2) Help Clean Common Mulch Areas
Additionally, we need all gardeners to assist in cleaning the common mulch areas, helping to avoid raising prices and using spray/pesticide in the garden plot areas. Please remove all weeds and personal items (plant pots, privately-owned garden tools, etc.) from the mulched paths around each individual plot and other common areas for each garden plot site (A, B, C, E, and F).