Scott County Cooperative Extension Horticulture Program

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1 JUNE JULY 2018 GETTING NEEDED ANSWERS ISSUE Cooperative Extension Service Scott County 1130 Cincinnati Road Georgetown, KY (502) Fax: (502) scott.ca.uky.edu Scott County Cooperative Extension Horticulture Program Call for information Sharon P. Flynt, Agent for Horticulture SCOTT COUNTY COOP- WEBSITE: ERATIVE EXTENSION HORTICUTLURE PROGRAM IS: Master Gardener Extension Volunteer Master Gardener Program every two years Master Gardener Certification Classes are offered. Next round, FALL, 2018 Georgetown/Scott County Community Garden oversee leasing of garden plots for the summer. Open to all Scott County Residents Growing Gardeners Series - With topics in gardening, lawn care, garden crafts and more, the Growing Garden Series classes have something for everyone, experienced gardener, or beginning enthusiast Scott County Farmers Market - May 12 through September 15, 2018, Saturdays from 9 am to 1 pm, at Georgetown City Parking lot, corner of North Broadway and Washington Street. Serve as contact name and address for the Market. Conduct certification for the KDA WIC and SrFMNP Food Voucher Program for farmer s market vendors, and Kentucky Proud contact. An Evening with... Horticulture Speakers - A quarterly session of horticultural speakers who are extremely knowledgeable in their field. July 24 at 6:00 p.m., Scott Co. Extension office A History of Gardens with Ron Bryant The Garden Gate monthly newsletter articles on up to date insect and disease problems you may find in your landscape, as well as upcoming events and class listing. Can be mailed or ed. Please request to be put on the newsletter mailing list, if you are not already. Ed Davis Youth Farm Camp June 12-14, 2018, FULL KIWANIS SCOTT CO. FAIR HORTICULTURAL EXHIBITS June 25 through 30, 2018 Diagnostics Soil Testing, Plant, Insect and Disease Identification all free services Plus - answering questions on gardening, composting, landscape ornamentals, fruits, vegetables, specialty crops, soils, and pest management AND MUCH MORE Inside this issue: What s wrong with my tree, shrub, plant? How to take a plant sample How to take a soil sample Horticulture Fair Classes 1

2 SOMETHING IS WRONG WITH MY... TREE, SHRUB, PLANT: Spring and summer are extremely busy times here at the Scott County Cooperative Extension office and for the Scott County Cooperative Extension Horticulture program an increase in calls and questions is expected, especially in the areas of tree, shrubs, vegetable plants and soils. Diagnosis of plant diseases seems to be particularly in demand and is one of the many ways that Scott County Extension Horticulture program serves the citizens of Scott County. To aid gardeners and homeowners in receiving the most accurate information as quickly as possible, this article is designed to help them collect and submit the best plant information and samples to the office for an accurate and timely diagnosis. Seeking help: Usually the first step in seeking help for a plant dilemma is a call to the Extension office at and ask for Sharon Flynt, Horticulture Agent. If asked if you would like to leave a detailed voice mail, or to sflynt@uky.edu. However, before you do either of those options, spend a little time before contacting to gather information for which I will ask. If you prefer, I have added a Plant Disease form that you can use to record information and bring in. Please write clearly. Gathering information: Information about the plant, planting site and symptoms can be as important as the physical plant material collected. Key questions to ask and record include: What kind of plant is it? Indicate the variety, cultivar or whether the plant is a hybrid. If plant s identity is unknown, send a picture of the plant for comparison may be helpful. Just make sure that the picture(s) taken are well focused. Take one with the whole plant captured in the photo and a 2 nd picture close-up of the damage or disease the plant is showing that is causing you concern. Again, make sure the object of the problem is well focused. What is the age of the plant or the planting date? Be as specific as possible with annual crops. A general time frame (e.g., month and year) is often sufficient for trees and shrubs, but do indicate whether the plant has been recently transplanted or is well established. What has been done to care for the crop/plant? Include information on tillage, irrigation, fertilizer and pesticides, mulches and other cultural practices. What is the weather history (e.g., frost, drought, flood, hail, lightning)? Also, note any site disturbances, such as nearby construction, utility work, etc., major changes to lawn and landscape. What are the symptoms? Describe the problem. Take time to examine the entire plant and determine the specific location of symptoms on the plant. Note anything unusual that may not be visible on the physical sample or in the pictures. For example, check tree trunks for wounds or for mechanical injuries. Are there any mushrooms or other fungal fruiting bodies associated with tree trunk or surface roots? When did symptoms first appear? Did they appear suddenly or progress (worsen) gradually? Where are the affected plants? Indicate the type of production system (e.g., field, greenhouse, landscape, etc.). Also, note the terrain involved, such as whether the problem is in a low wet area, on a dry slope, etc. How much of the crop/plant is affected? Is a single plant showing symptoms, or are scattered plants, group(s) of plants or the entire planting affected? Are plants of different types showing the same symptoms? Look for any patterns. Collecting a Sample: A fresh, representative sample is critical for diagnosis. Follow these general guidelines: Collect whole plant samples when possible, including roots. Always dig plants to keep root systems intact and soil in place around the roots. Small roots are often needed for diagnosis and they may be left behind if plants are pulled rather than dug. If only part of a plant is collected, such as detached leaves or branches, make sure the sample is adequate, for example, one small leaf is usually not enough to help in diagnosis. Describe the symptoms and location of affected parts clearly (e.g., young vs. older leaves, one side of plant, etc.). Cut a sample branch, limb or stem, inches long minimum, that demonstrates the problem in question. Choose several plants or limbs/stems showing a range of symptoms, especially those in the early stages of the problem. Diagnosis may not be possible if plants are completely dead. Include pictures of the problem area whenever possible. Do not expose samples to extreme heat or cold (such as leaving them inside a vehicle) and collect samples early in the week to avoid holding them over the weekend. Once samples have been collected properly, deliver them to the Scott County Extension office at 1130 Cincinnati Road, in Georgetown, as soon after collection as possible. Once here, staff should ask for your completed form or record the information that you collected. 2

3 Use Plant Disease form Also, pictures guidelines for collecting 3

4 Taking Soil Test Samples (please read the entire information) The most important part of making fertilizer recommendations is collecting a good, representative soil sample. Soil test results and fertilizer recommendations are based solely on the few ounces of soil submitted to the laboratory for analysis. These few ounces can represent several million pounds of soil in the field. If this sample does not reflect actual soil conditions, the results can be misleading and lead to costly over- or under-fertilization. It is necessary to make sure that the soil sample sent to the laboratory accurately represents the area sampled. Sample Timing Soil samples can be collected through much of the year, although fall (September to December) or spring (February to April) are the best times. Fall sampling will often result in a faster return of results and recommendations. Fall sampling will also allow the grower time to have the fertilizer applied well before planting the next crop. However, fall sampling results in lower ph and soil test K levels when conditions are dry. In either case, a field should always be sampled the same time of the year in order to make historical comparisons. Most fields should be sampled every three to four years. High-value crops, such as tobacco, commercial horticultural crops, alfalfa, red clover, and corn silage, should be sampled annually so that plant nutrient levels can be monitored more closely. Application of manure can change soil test phosphorus, potassium, and zinc levels dramatically, so sampling manured fields each year is also recommended. Tools You Need A soil probe, auger, garden trowel, or a spade and knife are all the tools you need to take the individual cores that will make up the field sample. You will also need a clean, dry, plastic bucket to collect and mix the sample cores. Be sure not to use galvanized or rubber buckets because they will contaminate the sample with zinc. Soil sample boxes or bags and information forms for submitting samples are available at the Scott County Extension offices or you can place the soil in any type of clean container for transport to the Extension Office. Collecting Lawn or Garden Samples Sample gardens, lawns, and landscaped areas separately. Collect cores randomly from each area. The area to sample for trees includes the soil below the width of the tree. For shrubs, flower beds, and gardens, sample just the soil where the plants are growing. You should sample problem areas and areas with shrubs, trees, or flower beds separately from other turf or lawn areas. Do not sample: compost areas, under the drip-line of trees, and close to driveways or streets. Sample Depth One commonly overlooked component of soil sampling is the depth of soil to be tested. Most plant nutrients accumulate at the soil surface. This nutrient stratification is a result of past broadcast fertilizer applications and decomposition of plant residue on the soil surface. Because there is a higher concentration of nutrients on the soil surface, soil test values usually go down as the sample depth is increased. To obtain accurate and consistent (between different years) results, samples must be taken to the following depths for these areas: Tilled Areas Take soil cores to the depth of the tillage operation (usually 6 to 8 inches). Non- or Reduced-Tilled Areas Take soil cores to a depth of 3 to 4 inches for pastures, no-till planting (where fertilizer or lime remains on the soil surface), and minimum-till planting (where fertilizer is incorporated only in the surface 1 to 2 inches). Lawns and Turfgrasses Collect soil cores to a depth of 3 to 4 inches. Sample Preparation WHAT DOES MY SOIL NEED? After all cores for an individual sample are collected and placed in the bucket, crush the soil material and mix the sample thoroughly. Allow the sample to air dry in an open space free from contamination. Do not dry the sample in an oven or at an abnormally high temperature. Fill a clean container with approximately two cups of soil. 4

5 Collecting Field Crop Samples for Larger Areas and Commercial Horticulture An individual sample should represent no more than 20 acres except when soils, past management, and cropping history are quite uniform. The most representative sample can be obtained from a large field by sampling smaller areas on the basis of soil type, cropping history, erosion, or past management practices. For example, a portion of a field may have a history of manure application or tobacco production while the other part does not. Phosphorus and potassium levels will likely be higher in these areas, causing the rest of the field to be under-fertilized if the field is sampled as one unit. It is much better to collect separate samples from these areas because their nutrient requirements are likely quite different from the rest of the field. If a few years of yield maps are available, these can help identify areas of the field that should be sampled separately. Soil sampling can also be used to troubleshoot areas of the field that are visually different or are consistently low yielding when compared to the rest of the field. Take a sample both from the poor growing area and adjacent areas of good growth. Keep good records indicating where each sample was taken. Collect at least 10 soil cores for small areas and up to 30 cores for larger fields. Take the soil cores randomly throughout the sampling area and place them in the bucket. Do not sample: back furrows or dead furrows, old fencerows, areas used for manure or hay storage and livestock feeding, and areas where lime has been piled in the past. Sampling after Banded Fertilizer Applications WHAT DOES MY SOIL NEED? (CONTINUED) Care must be taken when sampling no-till fields that have had fertilizer applied in bands rather than broadcast. Phosphorus, potassium, and zinc are immobile in the soil and remain in the concentrated band for several years after application. If these bands are completely avoided during sampling, soil test results will be lower than actual, leading to over-fertilization. If bands are included too often, soil test results will be higher than actual, causing an underestimation of fertilizer needs for the crop. When the location of the bands is known, it is best to sample in the band one time for every 20 cores taken. If the location of the band is unknown, it is best to take pairs of random samples. The first core is completely random, and the second core is taken one-half the band spacing distance in a direction perpendicular to the band direction. For example, if banded fertilizer was applied on 30-inch spacing, the first core would be randomly selected, and the second sample would be taken 15 inches away (perpendicular to the direction of the band). This process would be repeated at least 10 times in a small field and up to 30 times in a larger field. The more cores that are collected, the more closely the sample will represent actual field conditions. Bring all samples to the Scott County Extension office, where the service is provided at no cost to you for county soils. At the Extension Office, support staff will fill out the necessary forms when submitting your soil sample. Sampling and preparing the soil for submission is only half of the process. The other equally important part is filling out a sample information sheet so that the desired crop, tillage, and other information can be considered when making the fertilizer recommendation. Each form asks for primary and alternative crops, as well as other background information. The amount of background information needed depends on the crop to be grown. It is very important to complete the pertinent sections of the sample information form. This will assure that you receive the most accurate fertilizer recommendations possible. Recommendations for fertilizer amounts and other soil applications, will be sent to you by the Horticulture Agent. This process takes at least 5 to 10 business days to complete. 5

6 CAN I ENTER THE KIWANIS SCOTT COUNTY FAIR AND WHAT DO I ENTER? JUNE 25, 2018 JUNE 30, 2018 Yes you can enter Horticultural Exhibits at the County Fair, however pay close attention to Rules, Divisions and Classes available, as some have been changed, added or deleted. Entry Dates and Times: Exhibits will be received from 6-8 p.m., Monday, June 25, and 9-11 a.m. Tuesday, June 26, 2018 Exhibits must be removed from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 30, The show is not responsible for exhibits left after 11 a.m., Saturday, June 30 or for lost or broken containers or plants. OPEN HORTICULTURE RULES: The show is open to amateur growers and amateur flower arrangers. Flowers must be grown by exhibitor Exhibits will be received from 6-8 p.m., Monday, June 25, 2018 and 9-11 a.m. Tuesday, June 26, All exhibits must be classified by exhibitor. Containers for flowers furnished by exhibitor. No one except judges and general chairperson of the show will be allowed in exhibition display during judging. Exhibits may be removed from 9:00 to 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 30, 2018 The show is not responsible for lost or broken containers or plants. Open Hort Class Premiums 1 st Place - $3.00; 2 nd Place - $2.00; 3 rd Place - $1.00 Exhibit alone in class (1 entry) will receive 2 nd place premium FLOWER DIVISION CLASSES: Bloom, single Specimen should consist of one flower, stem and foliage where possible, good foliage is important CLASS: ROSE B1 Red rose B2 Pink rose B3 Yellow rose B4 White rose B5 Orange rose B6 any blend rose (Such as peach, multi) CLASS: ANNUALS B7 Zinnia B8 Cosmo B9 Sunflower B10 Marigold B11 Sunflower B12 Any garden grown not listed above; must be correctly identified and labeled CLASS: PERENNIALS B13 Hemrocallis (day lily) B14 Lily- any variety B15 Delphinium, any variety 1 stem B16 Phlox, any variety, 1 stem B17 Cone flower B18 Black-eyed Susan B19 Daisy, any variety, 1 stem 6

7 CLASS: SUMMER BULBS good foliage is important; specimen should consist of one flower (if applies), stem and foliage where possible, foliage only must have one leaf and stem) SB-1 Dahlia, SB-2 Gladiola SB-3 Canna SB-4 Elephant Ear SB-5 Caldiums CLASS: CUT FLOWER ARRANGEMENTS AC1 Floral Bouquet in a vase mixed flower types and up to 2 filler types AC2 Table Arrangement Mixed flowers AC3 AC4 AC5 Floral Basket LIVE PLANT DIVISION Bouquet in hand (vase or jar with water for standing is required) Miniature Arrangement in Vase - must be less than 6 inches high vase and arrangement together CLASS: DISH GARDEN D1 D2 Succulents D3 Cactus Mixed plant in low container D4 Fairy Garden CLASS: CONTAINER GARDEN, ORNAMENTAL (for porch or patio) C1 Sunlight (must get 6 hours of sunlight) C2 Shade CLASS: CONTAINER HERB GARDEN (for inside or out) H1 Culinary herbs H2 Fragrance herbs HONEY AND SORGHUM DIVISON HS1 White Extracted Honey HS2 Honey with Comb HS3 Whipped Honey Spread HS4 Sorghum 7

8 VEGETABLE DIVISION - ADULT Rules: 1. Exhibitor must have grown exhibits during the current year. Exhibits will be received from 6-8 p.m., Monday, June 25, 2018 and 9-11 a.m. Tuesday, June 26, Entries will be released between 8:00 and 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 28, Vegetables must be on white paper plate 5. Any vegetable entered under wrong class will be disqualified. 6. All exhibitors are restricted from show area while judging and placing ribbons are taking place. 7. Limit of $3 for top award with the exception of the General Collection Top limit for this class is $7. 8. Open Class Premiums: 1 st Place - $3, 2 nd Place - $2, 3 rd Place - $1. 9. Exhibit alone in class will receive 2 nd place premium Exhibitor may not receive vegetables back at end of week Classes: 1 Bush beans 1 dozen 2 Pole beans 1 dozen 3 Shelled beans 1 pint (shelled), dried, edible bean (from the fall previous year) 4 Beets any variety 5 roots 5 Broccoli 1 head 6 Cabbage 1 head 7 Carrots any variety 5 roots 8 Greens, (Collards, kale, mustard, spinach) 10 leaves with stem 9 Cauliflower 1 head 10 Cucumbers, for slicing 3 (6 in. and over) 11 Cucumbers, for pickling 5 (under 6 inches) 12 Herbs culinary cut 13 Lettuce, leaf 1 plant 14 Lettuce, bibb 1 plant 15 Green onions 5 16 Peas (shelled) 1 pint 17 Peas, edible pods 12 pods 18 Bell peppers 5 19 Hot peppers 5 20 Peppers any other variety 5 21 Radishes red 5 22 Radishes white 5 23 Spinach any variety 1 plant 24 Rhubarb 5 stalks 25 Summer squash 3 26 Swiss chard 10 leaves with stem 27 Tomatoes, slicing, any variety/color 3 28 Tomatoes, cherry, any variety/color Vegetable Sculpture using at least 2 different vegetable types, create a sculpture 30 General collection of different vegetable species grown by exhibitor (3 or more). Number of vegetables will count 50%. Premiums: $7, $5 and $3. 1 8

9 1 OPEN VEGETABLE YOUTH 2 Rules: 1. Exhibitor must have grown exhibits during the current year. Exhibits will be received from 6-8 p.m., Monday, June 25, 2018 and 9-11 a.m. Tuesday, June 26, Entries will be released between 8:00 and 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, June 28, Vegetable must be on white paper plate 5. Any vegetable entered under wrong class will be disqualified. 6. All exhibitors are restricted from show area while judging and placing ribbons are taking place. 7. Limit of $3 for top award with the exception of the General Collection Top limit for this class is $7. 8. Open Class Premiums: 1 st Place - $3, 2 nd Place - $2, 3 rd Place - $1. 9. Exhibit alone in class will receive 2 nd place premium Exhibitor may not receive vegetables back at end of week Classes: Bush beans 1 dozen Broccoli 1 head Cabbage 1 head Carrots any variety 5 roots Cucumbers, for slicing 3 (6 in. and over) Lettuce, leaf 1 plant Green onions 5 Peas (shelled) 1 pint Peas, edible pods 12 pods Bell peppers 5 Radishes red 5 Radishes white 5 Spinach any variety 1 plant Tomatoes, cherry, any variety/color 12 Vegetable Sculpture using at least 2 different vegetable types, create a sculpture General collection of different vegetable species grown by exhibitor (3 or more). Number of vegetables will count 50%. Premiums: $7, $5 and $3. 9