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Garden Plot Selection 2022

Request a community garden plot for the 2022 growing season by completing the online Garden Plot Application by Sunday, March 20.

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 20, 2022, 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 March 25, 2022, placing the remaining applications (if any) on a waitlist. 

Woman prepping garden bedGarden 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 early April (weather accordingly) and all gardeners will prep their own plots with provided materials within a 1-2 week deadline (announced with compost/mulch delivery date). 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. 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 20 Online applications due
March 21-24 Random drawing to determine the selected gardeners
March 25 Email selected gardeners with plot # and 'acknowledgment form' to sign
March 31 Signed 'acknowledgment form' due for selected gardeners 
April 1 and on Contact waiting list if any plot openings
April 25 Compost/Mulch Delivery from UMN Landcare
April 25 - May 2 Selected gardeners must prep plots with provided compost/mulch
October 16 End of season clean-up deadline for selected gardeners (see below)


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 Sunday, October 16, 2022. 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)

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).