Mason County Newsletter

Transcription

1 Mason County Newsletter Coopera ve Extension Service Mason County 800 U.S Highway 68 Maysville, KY (606) Fax: (606) Letter from the Horticulture agent: Hello Gardeners, The last couple of weeks in September didn't feel like fall. If you have a fall garden some plants may be growing slower than expected because of high temperatures. During the fall season it can become very dry, make sure your plants (including landscape plants) get at least one inch of water per week. If plants do not get enough water it can put stress on the plant but it may not show this season in landscape & trees. Inside this issue: Apple harvest basics..2 Classes flyers..3&4 Recipe.4 Timely tips..5 Plant Pansies in the Fall 6 Horticulture events 7 Macy Fawns Horticulture Agent Stink bugs entering Kentucky homes h ps:// nkbug.aspx By Katie Pratt Dropping temperatures force insects to start seeking shelter, which means Kentucky homeowners are already getting some unwanted visitors. While it s only the first part of October, entomologists with the University of Kentucky College of Agriculture, Food and Environment are receiving complaints about brown marmorated stink bugs inside and outside homes across Kentucky, said Ric Bessin, UK extension entomologist.

2 Apple harvest basics Source: John Strang, UK horticulture extension specialist Fall is a busy time for apple growers. Ripening times vary from year to year depending on the weather. If apples have coddling moth damage, they will drop up to two weeks before the crop is ripe. The best and most time-tested method of judging when to pick fruit is the taste method. When enough starch has been converted to sugar and the flavor is developed, the fruit is ready to eat. Fruit continues to ripen in cold storage, so pick fruit before it is ripe if you want to after picking. The sooner you can remove the heat from freshly picked fruit, the longer it will keep. Be gentle when you handle fruit for storage. Bruises and wounds allow pathogens to infect the fruit, and disease will spread to adjacent fruits once it gets established. You ll be able to find many varieties of Kentucky apples at farmers markets or on many Kentucky farms that provide fall agritourism activities From Lodi, Red Delicious, and Winesap to Gala, Jonathan, Honeycrisp, Cortland and more, Kentucky growers offer a wide selection to consumers. store it. As fruit ripens, it changes color. The base color, or ground color, is the color underneath the red striping or blush of peaches, apples, pears and cherries. In most fruits, the fruit is ripening when the ground color turns green to yellow. The surface color may develop before the fruit is actually mature. If storing fruit, cool it as soon as possible

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5 October Timely Tips Lawns Flowers Broadleaf weed control, is best done in fall. Use 2,4-D for plantain, wild garlic & dandelions. To control chickweed, ground ivy, white clover & henbit you can use a combination product such as Weedone, Tuf Klenn, Turflon, etc. Renovating and reseeding lawns Fall can be a dry time, don t forget to water newly seeded areas when rainfall is not sufficient. House plants, should be brought indoors before winter (nights below 50 degrees Fahrenheit) and checked for insects & treat if necessary. Fertilize woody plants, during late fall when the plants are dormant. Split the fertilizer between three applications ranging from Oct through Dec, applying no more Nitrogen than 2-3 pounds per 1000 square feet. Vegetables Fruit Cover crops, should be planted if you do not have a fall garden. Cover crops can be wheat, rye and barley. You can also use legumes such as hairy vetch, crimson clover & Austrian winter pea which can give nitrogen to the next crop. Cover crops will improve organic matter, add nutrients & help with weed control. Store excess seed, in a air tight container, in a cool room but do not freeze. Harvest apples, based upon variety, but typically they are ready when the seeds are dark brown. Planting Fruit, in the fall can include blueberries, apples, pears, plums and tart cherries. Wait until March-April to plant all other fruit., if planted in the fall freezing and thawing occurs that can cause the plant to push of of the ground.

6 Plant Pansies in the Fall Source: Richard Durham Your spring display of pansies will be even more spectacular if you set out plants in early fall. This gives plants time to become well established before cold winter weather. Fall planting will reward you with three seasons of colorful blooms. You should have some blooms from now until Christmas and again from late February to late March, depending on winter and spring weather. The peak show will be from about mid-april to mid- to late-spring. Summer heat causes a decrease in flower production and size as plants start to decline in mid- to late-june. Few flowers can match the pansy for diversity in colors. The standards are combinations of yellows, blues and bronzes with black and white markings that resemble a face. However, also look for nearly solid whites, yellows, blues and some maroons that are almost red. Most varieties will do well in Kentucky. For best results, plant pansies in a welldrained soil in full sun to partial shade. Plants put in partial shade generally will produce flowers later into the spring; but will produce fewer blooms. Keep plants well-watered, but not too wet. Avoid excess fertilizer in the fall, especially nitrogen, because it produces rapid, succulent growth that is less winter hardy. Too much fertilizer also results in excessive foliage at the expense of flower production. A few applications of a soluble fertilizer at planting and several weeks later will get pansies through the fall and winter. Fertilize with a soluble plant food again in mid-march as the plants begin to resume active growth. Put a mulch of straw, bark or other organic matter around pansies to conserve soil moisture and prevent alternate freezing and thawing of soil during the winter that can lift plants out of the ground. As winter weather approaches, you will notice the foliage has turned a dull green and leaves have started to wilt. Although this is a natural response to cold weather, it also is a signal for you to take protective measures to ensure that the pansies make it through the winter. Frozen soil and winter winds can rapidly dry out plants and chances are they might not recover. Snow cover protects plants from harsh winter weather. However, in the absence of snow cover, apply a two-inch thick layer of straw to protect plants from drying out. Apply and keep the straw on pansies as long as temperatures consistently are below 20 degrees Fahrenheit. Pull back straw when the weather warms up; otherwise the plants might suffocate as they resume growth in the spring.

7 Upcoming Horticulture Events Oct 12th, 7:00 pm: Buffalo Trace Beekeeper Association meeting & speaker Kevin Hale, Preparing Hives for Winter. Oct 17th, 6:00 pm: Dividing & Splitting Perennials, speaker Ray Tackett Oct 19th, 6:00 pm: Lawn Care Series, turfgrass selection & establishment Oct 23rd, 5:30 pm: Cooking and Growing from the Garden, Garlic Oct 26th, 6:00 pm: Lawn Care Series, weed control Nov 2nd, 6:00 pm: Lawn Care Series, proper mowing techniques * All Events will be held at the Mason County Extension Office, unless otherwise noted.

8 PRESORTED STANDARD US POSTAGE PAID MAYSVILLE, KY Mason County 800 US Highway 68 Maysville, Kentucky 41056