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Can't Stand The Heat...
I feel as if I am singing the same song only the second
verse. It is hot, humid and oppressive outside. So much so that I
am not one bit interested in doing anything
related to gardening. We desperately need some rain. I
have seen so many lawns forced into
dormancy. Trees, shrubs and flowers
have all taken on the "beyond dry"
thirsty look
(photos).
Supposedly cooler temperatures are to arrive tomorrow
along with a bit of rain. Wouldn't that be nice. Anxiously
anticipating a change soon - I have had enough of this heat.
If you have
not registered for the Savvygardener.com Tastiest Tomato contest
now is the time. Join Gard'n Wise-Guys
Jan Olson and John Bruntzel along with
Kevin and I at
Family Tree Nursery Sunday August 21st @ 10:00 AM. Prizes,
fun and a whole lot more. A guaranteed good time!
Register now!
~
Shelly
Beat The Heat...
This is supposed to be the last of the
really hot weather for a few days anyway. Still it's good
to remember that exposure to too much hot weather can be
dangerous. Here are some tips to help you beat the heat:
- Tasks
that occur outdoors in sunny areas should be done in early
morning or late afternoon whenever possible, not during the
midday heat. Most watering, pruning, dead heading, etc., is
better for plants when done in early morning. Many chemicals,
especially insecticides, are better applied late in the day
when the wind is down and beneficial insects are not present.
- Allow
yourself to acclimate to the heat slowly. Over a period of a
week or two, gradually increase the amount of time spent in
hot, still areas or in direct sun.
- Be sure
to stay hydrated, drinking as many liquids as possible. Don't
wait until you are thirsty to have a drink, as thirst is an
indicator that your body is already dehydrated. Water is
preferred, except when heat cramps occur (then drink a lightly
salted beverage like a sports drink). The water's temperature
should be cool, not cold.
- Though
tempting, do not work in the yard in a tank top or without a
shirt due to the potential for sunburn and skin cancer. Wear
loose fitting, light colored clothes. Keep the fabric content
high in cotton to aid sweat evaporation. Neckbands, headbands,
wristbands, visors, and hats can increase evaporation to keep
the body cool.
- Lastly,
take frequent breaks to reduce the amount of time spent in the
sun or heat. After working for an hour, take a break to cool
down and have a drink in the shade to reduce the build up of
heat stress on your body.
Source
Stink Bugs On Tomatoes...
When tomatoes on the vine develop white, pink or yellow-gold
spots, the likely cause is stinkbugs, according to a Kansas State
University horticulturist. Stinkbugs are the skunks of the insect
world. Like skunks, these shield-shaped insects emit a foul odor
when disturbed, said Ward Upham, who coordinates K-State Research
and Extension's Master Gardener program. "A stinkbug injures
fruit when it uses its mouthparts to probe for food. That not
only affects the tomato's color development but also causes a
whitish ‘callous' to develop under the skin at the wound site,"
Upham said. Typically, the exterior result is an off-color,
cloudy spot. If stinkbugs are feeding heavily, however, the
entire tomato may develop a gold hue, with pinprick-size puncture
wounds in the middle of each of the overlapping spots, he said.
"Unfortunately, stinkbug control is basically impossible. By the
time you notice the spots, the stinkbugs usually are gone," Upham
added. "Fortunately, though, the affected tomatoes are safe to
eat."
Source
Growin' Garlic...
Garlic is a cook's best friend. Home-grown garlic is
an extra special treat. Making sure your garlic is harvested
correctly is simple but important:
Garlic
should be harvested when the foliage begins to dry. Using a
garden fork or shovel, carefully dig the bulbs with the foliage
still attached. Dry the garlic on an elevated wire screen or
slotted tray in a warm, well-ventilated location for 3 to 4
weeks. When properly cured, cut off the dry foliage ½ to
1 inch above the bulbs, trim off the roots and brush off any
loose soil. Place the bulbs in a mesh bag and store in a cool
(32 to 40°F), dry (60 to 70% relative humidity) location.
Properly cured and stored garlic should keep for 6 to 7 months.
Source
Pesticide Problem
Prevention...
During summer it is especially
important to take care when applying pesticides.
If rain has been scarce, make sure you
take the time to water your plants several hours before applying
pesticides. You see, drought-stressed plants have less water in
their plant tissues and the chemicals that enter the leaves will
consequently be more concentrated. This in turn can lead to an
unwanted burn-like condition on the leaves.
A Perfect Pear...
Unlike some crops, pears are usually best when ripened off
the tree. You don't want to wait for the fruit to turn yellowish
before picking. Instead, harvest pears when the color of the
fruit changes from dark green to lighter green and when it is
easily twisted and removed from the spur.
Support Your
Fruits...
When fruit on fruit trees starts getting
bigger the stress on tree limbs can be substantial. So much so
that your trees may need some extra support to prevent limbs from
breaking. Here are some support suggestions from K-State
Extension:
- Wooden Props
- Use one-inch thick boards to prop up limbs. Cut a ‘V’ on the
top edge of the board on which the limb will rest so that it
doesn’t slip off. Long, heavy limbs may need a prop in the
center and another near the outer part of the limb.
- Belt Webbing
- A 2-inch, plastic, belt-like material can be tied to a
heavily loaded limb, then to a large diameter limb above for
support. Where a large limb is used for support, it is good to
have it supporting limbs on opposite sides so the weight is
balanced.
- Taping -
Other solutions include wrapping a tape or belt material around
the tree in a spiral to prevent limbs from bending until they
break. Heavy twine may be used, but
it should be removed when the fruit is picked or soon after so
it does not cut into the bark on the limb.
Source
Ozone, Mow Zone...
Small gasoline
engines like those found on
lawnmowers, weed whackers and leaf blowers lack pollution
controls. According to the
Mid-America
Regional Council the average lawnmower produces as
much pollution in one hour as forty
late-model cars! Do yourself, and your
fellow gardeners, a favor by not mowing on
ozone alert
days. If you have to mow, try to do it after 7 PM.
Source
Finally... "The whole of life
lies in the verb seeing." ~
Teilhard De Chardin, French Philosopher |
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