GRAHAM. Gardening Presentation December 6, 7:00 p.m. Genetically Modified Organisms and Biotechnology

Transcription

1 Gardening Presentation December 6, 7:00 p.m. Genetically Modified Organisms and Biotechnology Don t know what to make about all this talk about biotechnology and genetically modified plants? Come learn what it s all about. Our speaker will be Randy Norton, Agriculture and Natural Resources Agent for the University of Arizona Cooperative Extension. Randy was raised in the Duncan area and attended E.A.C. for 2 years before transferring to the U of A in He earned his Bachelor of Science degree in 1993 in the department of Plant Sciences with an emphasis on crop sciences. In 1996, Randy earned a Masters of Science degree in the department of Soil, Water, and Environmental Sciences with an emphasis in soil chemistry and fertility. Randy went on to earn his Doctorate degree in the department of Soil, Water, and Environmental Sciences with an emphasis in soil chemistry and fertility in December of He moved to the Gila Valley in December, 2000, and has been doing a bang up job as our Agriculture Agent ever since. Persons with a disability may request a reasonable accommodation, such as a sign language interpreter, by contacting U of A Graham County Cooperative Extension at Requests should be made as early as possible to allow time to arrange the accommodation. Cooperative Extension The University of Arizona College of Agriculture & Life Sciences GRAHAM

2 COUNTY GARDENING Graham County 2100 South Bowie Ave P.O. Box 127 Solomon, AZ (520) Fax December 2001 Ashes for Home Gardens As the temperatures drop more and more, people begin to burn wood or wood products in their fireplaces or woodstoves. There are always questions which arise as to how to dispose of the ashes that are produced by these wood fires. People who have moved here from the eastern states remember using fireplace ashes on their gardens. However, it is recommended that you do not put ashes in gardens and flower beds in Arizona. Ashes supply potash and help correct acid soils. Our desert soils are not acidic, but are at the opposite end of the ph scale and are alkaline. Putting ashes on garden areas can make things worse, not better. So find another way of disposing of your ashes, even if it seems to be wasteful. From the files of Ron Cluff, former Extension Agent Upcoming Events Nov. 30 Dec. 1 Las Noches de las Luminarias, 5:30 p.m. 9:30 p.m., Desert Botanical Garden Nov. 30 Dec. 2 Luminarias Noches, 5:30 p.m. 8:30 p.m., Tucson Botanical Gar Dec. 6 Master Gardener

3 Meeting, Biotechnology, 7:00 p.m., Master Gardener Business Meeting, 5:30 p.m., Safford City/Graham County Public Library, PD Room Jan. 3 Master Gardener Meeting, TBA, 7:00 p.m., Master Gardener Business Meeting, 5:30 p.m., Safford City/Graham County Public Library, PD Room Jan. 12 Vegetable Gardening Through the Seasons, 8:00 a.m. 11:30 a.m., Desert Botanical Garden, Phoenix Jan.15 Gardening and Landscaping Class begins, Course #1816, 6:00 p.m. 9:00 p.m.,eac Jan. 19 Pruning Demonstration, Safford Agricultural Center Jan. 26 Hummingbird Gardens for the Desert, 9:00 a.m. 11:30 a.m., Desert Botanical Garden, Phoenix, (480) Jan. 26 Tree Smarts, 10:00 a.m. noon, Tucson Botanical Gardens, (520)

4 In the December Garden: C Save heavy pruning until plants are fully dormant. Prune now only to remove dead or diseased limbs. Plan to attend the Pruning Demonstration on January 19, C Add compost and manure to garden beds as they become vacant. C Remove all old fruit (mummies) from trees and all debris from the ground below. Sprinkle granular insecticide to reduce existing insects. This will significantly reduce the codling moth problem next year. C Direct seed alyssum, sweet peas, and spring wild flowers in the garden. C Set out perennials and cool season annuals, such as, calendula, chrysanthemums, dianthus, daisies, larkspur, pansies, snapdragons, stocks, and violas. Plant of the Month Silverberry Elaeagnus ebbingei (e lee AG nus e BING gee ei) Silverberry is an upright evergreen shrub. It will grow to feet high and as wide. Because it is tough and dense it makes a good screen or hedge plant. The leaves are dark green and have silvery dots that reflect sunlight and give the plant a silvery appearance. In the fall small insignificant silvery flowers with a sweet fragrance appear. The small red fruits ripen in the spring. The fruits also have a silvery shimmer to them. Although small, the fruits are edible and make good jelly. The fruits are a rich source of vitamins, minerals, and flavinoids. Birds also find them delicious. This is a tough plant. It prefers full sun to part shade and will tolerate a variety of soils, as long as they are not waterlogged. It can withstand heat, wind, and our salty soils. Once it is established it tolerates drought. It requires little or no maintenance but can be pruned to any size or shape desired. It doesn t seem to be bothered by insects, diseases, or deer.

5 Bug of the Month Green Lacewings Description: Lacewings are pale green with transparent wings and golden eyes. The wings have a network of veins that gives them the appearance of lace. The adult length is almost an inch long. The larvae, called aphid lions, grow to about 1/4 3/8 inch long and resemble tiny alligators. Damage/Benefits: Lacewings are considered beneficial insects. Most of them are strictly pollen and nectar feeders as adults but the larvae are voracious predators. Among their favorite foods are aphids, thrips, spider mites, whitefly larvae, mealybugs, leafhopper and the eggs and caterpillars of most pest moths. Life cycle: Female lacewings lay several hundred eggs near a food source for the larvae. The small eggs are suspended from the top of hairlike stalks and may be laid singly or in groups. The larvae emerge in 3 6 days and immediately start eating. The larval stage lasts only 2 3 weeks after which they spin a cocoon. In 2 3 weeks the adult emerges. The entire life cycle takes only days so several generations are produced in a year. Control: No control is needed. Lacewings are beneficial. To encourage lacewings to remain in your yard, provide them a source of water and nectar (flowers). Use insecticides sparingly if at all. Salt Tolerant Plants Nature has blessed us with a climate that allows us to grow a Larva Adult

6 great variety of plants. Unfortunately we have to deal with the problem of alkalinity and salt in our soil and water. Some of us have moderately salty soil and some have extremely salty soil. Many plants will not tolerate the amount of salt that our soil contains. Nothing is more frustrating than to plant something that matches our climate zone only to have it dry up and die. Often it is a lack of salt tolerance that does in plants. We can help the situation temporarily by every month or so running the water longer to leach the salt from the root zone of our plants. But it is only a temporary solution; Salt Tolerant Trees for the Gila Valley Acacia spp. Acacias Acer negundo Box Elder Ailanthus altissima Tree of Heaven Albizia julibrissin Silk Tree, Mimosa Butia capitata Pindo Palm Catalpa speciosa Western Catalpa the salt will begin building again as soon as you are done. As a rule of thumb, a plant that is native to dry areas of the western United States has learned to tolerate the drier, saltier soil and as long as it is recommended for our climate zone it should do well here. Following is a list of some trees that are known to be salt tolerant. Future articles will feature other plants. Celtis spp. Hackberries Cercidium spp. Palo Verdes Cercis occidentalis Western Redbud Chamaerops humilis Mediterranean Fan Palm Chilopsis linearis Desert Willow Chitalpa tashkentensis Chitalpa Cinnamomum camphora Camphor Tree

7 Cupressus arizonica Arizona Cypress Eriobotrya japonica Loquat Fraxinus velutina Arizona Ash Gingko biloba Gingko, Maidenhair Tree Gleditsia triacanthos Honey Locust Grevillea robusta Silk Oak Gymnocladus dioica Kentucky Coffee Tree Hibiscus syriacus Rose of Sharon Hydrangea spp. Hydrangeas Koelreuteria paniculata Goldenrain Tree Ligustrum lucidum Glossy Privet Magnolia spp. Magnolias Malus spp. Apples and Crabapples Olneya tesota Desert Ironwood Parkinsonia aculeata Mexican Palo Verde Philadelphus spp. Mock Oranges Phoenix dactylifera Date Palm Pinus spp. Pines Pithecellobium flexicaule Texas Ebony Platanus wrightii Arizona Sycamore Populus spp. Poplars and Cottonwoods Prosopis spp. Mesquites Quercus spp. Oaks Robinia pseudoacacia Black Locust Sabal palmetto Palmetto Salix spp. Willows Sophora japonica Japanese Pagoda Tree Sophora secundiflora Mescal Bean, Texas Mountain Laurel Tilia spp. Lindens Trachycarpus fortunei Windmill Palm Ulmus americana American Elm Vitex agnus castus Chaste Tree Washingtonia filifera California Fan Palm Washingtonia robusta Mexican Fan Palm All of these trees exhibit at least some degree of salt tolerance and should perform well here.