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June 25, 2003 |
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Off To A Great
Start...
As I type this editorial the temperature outside is a mere 68°.
Sounds almost chilly compared to
what we have experienced over the last couple of days.
On Tuesday when the heat index
hit 100°
my thoughts were of Mother Nature pulling out her big bag of
summer tricks - combining hot and humid
temperatures and lots of wind, all in one day! Leaving
us nothing to wait for.
A bonus from the hot, humid
weather have been some really great thunderstorms!
The lightening storm on Monday
was grand! Don't forget that we
here in the Marsh house are a little crazy when it comes to
storms. The more threatening the
better! I am glad to say the
larger storms did not hit our area but we sure did enjoy what
little came our way. Isn't it
nice to have a couple of nice hot days, rain one day and then a
cooler day with less humidity? Not
a bad start to summer.
We actually
got a chance to enjoy some fresh basil from the garden tonight!
What a special treat!
I had an opportunity to venture
over to the Overland Park Farmer's Market today to take advantage
of some home-grown tomatoes.
We also picked up some Georgia
peaches that were ripe and ready to eat. Along
with some fresh blueberries that Jake picked with a friend last
week, we are really enjoying all of the fruits and vegetables of
summer. Eating is such a great
pleasure this time of the year!
By the way,
pictures are back!
Check them out!
~
Shelly
Look
Who's Hopped Into Town...
Readers have been asking about recent damage
to their potatoes. Just in time, our buddies at
K-State Research & Extension issued an alert on the aptly
named Potato Leafhopper. This
is a small, elongated insect that feeds on potato plants and can
cause a lot of damage to the vines. The potato leafhopper is
aptly named because it hops when the plant is disturbed.
For that reason, many gardeners
are unaware that an insect may be causing the damage they see.
Here's the problem... As
leafhoppers feed, they inject a toxin into the plant so the edges
of the leaves dry up, turn brown and often die in sections.
It appears the edges of the
leaves might have been singed or burnt
- hence the name for the damage is called hopperburn.
A
small amount of damage to potatoes that
are near harvest is not a cause for worry; however, plants that
are still growing and filling out tubers can be damaged so that
yields are significantly reduced. Damage
to potato foliage at this critical time should be treated with
insecticide controls. Most
general use insecticides will control potato leafhopper; however,
complete coverage is necessary to make sure leafhoppers don't
hide from you!
Source
When Good Mulch Goes Bad...
Hardwood mulch can become a liability if left too long in a
damp pile. Not only does it smell bad once it "sours" it can
adversely affect plants that it comes in contact with. Symptoms
look like fertilizer or pesticide burn or water stress. Damage
can be severe enough to actually kill plants - yikes!
Sour mulch
results from anaerobic decomposition of hardwood mulches that
have been stored in large piles. The pH of such mulches are
extremely acidic; reportedly 1.8 to 3.6. Normal mulch by
contrast is closer to a neutral pH of 7.0. Sour mulch smells
like vinegar, sulfur, or silage. The compounds that cause the
acidity are capable of injuring plants quickly; usually within
one day and often within hours of application.
Depending
on the extent of the injury, plants are often able to recover.
Savvygardeners should water affected plants during hot, dry
periods to prevent further stress.
Mulch that
has soured can still be used if it is "mellowed" before
application. Simply spread the mulch in shallow layers and allow
it to air out for several days until it no longer smells. It may
also be helpful to water the mulch before application to wash
away any toxic substances.
Source
Plan for Halloween By Planting
Pumpkins Now...
Want to grow a perfect pumpkin for your very own jack-o-lantern
this year? It may sound like a long way off but depending on the
variety you want to grow you need to get your pumpkins planted
now for carving on Halloween. Typically pumpkins mature in 90 -
120 days. Check your seed pack to determine your pumpkin's
specific days to maturity and work backwards from October 31st.
Remember
that these things get big. Allow 8 to 10 feet between rows and
place seeds every 2 feet in the row. When fruit begins to appear
it's time to start protecting the pumpkin from rot. Try placing
a barrier under ripening pumpkins to lift them off the soil. A
material that doesn't trap water will be best.
A Pinch In Time...
Chrysanthemum growers use chemical sprays to increase
branching and to dwarf the plants, so the plants are short in the
garden center but will be taller the next year in our gardens.
To have shorter, well-branched plants, remove the growing points
once or twice during early growth. Pinch them back when the
plants are about 6 inches tall to induce branching. When the
branches are 6-8 inches long (about mid-July), remove their tips
to induce more branching. This procedure may seem drastic, but
the results will be bushy, well-shaped plants that flower
abundantly.
Many old
garden sayings have a grain of truth to them. The axiom "Pinch
mums until the Fourth of July" may help you remember how to care
for your mums.
Source
Timely Tomato Tips...
Tomatoes are growing vigorously now. However, the end of
spring and the onset of hot, dry weather can lead to several
problems in tomatoes. Tomatoes that experience early vigorous
growth often drop some blossoms during the transition to summer
weather. Don't worry. New blooms should develop rapidly to
replace the fallen ones.
Also,
tomato plants may be subject to leaf curl where the leaves roll
up from the edges. This is a short-term condition that develops
as the tomato is trying to reduce it's leaf surface to allow the
roots to develop.
Source
What's Hot On The Hotline...
Summer began in earnest last weekend.
This week reminded us of what's in store for the next few months.
Our hotline staffers have tackled the topic of summer this week -
from the roots and meaning of the word to the do's and don't of
planting. You'll find it all in this
week's
What's Hot On the Hotline...
A Cut Above...
The next few months will likely be very taxing for your
fescue or bluegrass lawn. Long, hot and humid days, with little
rainfall can make even the greenest lawns wilt. While it's
probably not possible to keep your turf looking perfectly lush
and green all summer you can prepare it for the heat by raising
the cutting height of your mower. Fescues and bluegrass should
be cut at a height of 3 to 3½ inches. Determine your
mowing frequency by cutting no more than one-third of the blade
height with each cutting. This means cutting when it reaches 4½
inches or so.
Finally... "The serene
philosophy of the pink rose is steadying. Its fragrant, delicate
petals open fully and are ready to fall, without regret or
disillusion, after only a day in the sun. I
t is so every summer. One
can almost hear their pink, fragrant murmur as they settle down
upon the grass:
'Summer, summer, it will always be summer'." ~
Rachel Peden, Author |