June 2019 News for Polk County
|
|
Director's Focus: Finding Love in the Labor
|
|
Can we get some rain?? After the winter that we had, I never thought I would say that! If you have a lawn, garden or farm you know what I’m talking about, though. Having to water just adds one more task to an already long to-do list. I love farming, but when the weather doesn’t cooperate it can become a real stressor. So, basically it’s stressful every year--and each year I ask myself why I bother to keep growing stuff. The answer? Because, just like most of you, I love it! Regardless of the trials, the rewards of an agrarian life are always greater. When times get stressful, and you think about giving it up and sunning on the beach, remember what Thomas Jefferson said, “Agriculture is our wisest pursuit, because it will in the end contribute most to real wealth, good morals, and happiness.” The father of our country was also quoted as saying, “I had rather be on my farm than be emperor of the world.”. How true, how true. Those that “grow” will find true meaning and impact the world around them. So take heart in stressful times and rejoice in the labor of your land.
|
|
|
|
Scott Welborn is the County Extension Director for Polk County
|
|
|
Home, Lawn, and Garden Tips for June
|
|
Fescue Lawn Care
Brown patch can be a big problem in tall fescue lawns and is already making itself known by appearing as brown circular patches in the lawn. In order to limit damage, mow when grass is dry and avoid fertilizers with high nitrogen. There are several fungicides that you can choose from to treat brown patch such as “Heritage”(Azoxystrobin), “Banner Maxx”(Propaconozil) or “Headway,” which is a combination of both. They are available in liquid form but can also be purchased in a granular which is the easiest to apply for most people. There are other fungicides available, just make sure to choose one labeled for brown patch. When planting a fescue lawn, try to use a seed mixture that contains at least 3 varieties of fescue to prevent entire lawn death when diseases hit. Also, remember to water in the morning so as not to allow the grass to stay wet all night. Water is important for fescue that is being mowed. It needs an inch per week, or it may start to look really bad and could possibly die--especially during droughts. If watering isn’t your thing, consider Zoysia or Bermuda which are generally more drought tolerant. For more fescue info, explore our blog:
4 Steps That Help Fescue Thrive
Flower Care
Many plants will stop blooming once the plant begins to set seed. You can prolong the bloom period of both annuals and perennials by “deadheading” the spent flowers (
pinching or cutting off the flower stem below the spent flower and just above the first set of full, healthy leaves
.) Continue to pinch back herbs. Prune climbing roses after they bloom; fertilize at that time. Prune your traditional hydrangeas after the blooms fade. You can also do light pruning on hollies and hedging plants all though the summer season to keep them looking tidy.
Pest Control
Bagworms are relatively easy to control at this time of year on plants such as junipers, arborvitae and leyland cypress. Inspect susceptible plants for tiny worms and spray with Dipel or Thuricide (these are biological controls that contain a bacteria).
Japanese Beetles
These unwelcome guests hold their family reunion at your house in June/July. Hand-pick by holding a container of soapy water under the branch and tapping the branch. The beetle’s natural instinct is to drop when disturbed from above. Or, you may spray with pesticides labeled for Japanese Beetles. Spray late in the day, if possible, since that's when bees are no longer active. Traps are
not
recommended. If you do use them, put them as far away as possible from the plant you want to protect, and be sure to empty them every 2 days. Apply a soil insecticide to kill Japanese Beetle grubs in early August.
Fire Ants
These critters are a problem we all face, especially in the lower elevations. Pastures can become overrun with ants if we don’t treat regularly. For small infestations, liquid Carbaryl (Sevin) can be drenched over the mounds. Typically, it takes 1 gallon of mixture to eliminate a mound. In larger areas you may consider purchasing fire ant baits that are spread in a granular form. These baits take a while to eliminate mounds as the workers must take the bait into the nest for the queen to consume. In small areas, drenching the mound with Carbaryl is the quickest, most satisfying way to eliminate an active fire ant mound.
Perennial Flowers
Spring and summer is the perfect time to plant herbaceous perennial flowers. You will find these plants at all garden centers and big box stores for the entire summer based on their bloom times. The key to growing good perennial flowers is drainage. Once established, they need relatively little irrigation and thrive with good soil drainage. The biggest killer of these plants is water hanging around the roots during the winter so soil prep is the key to enduring plants.
NOTE: The use of brand names in this publication does not imply endorsement by the North Carolina Cooperative Extension Service of the products or services named nor discrimination against similar products or services not mentioned.
Should you need more information on any of these topics please stop by the Polk County Cooperative Extension office located at 79 Carmel Lane just outside of Columbus, or pop us an
email
or give us a call at 828-894-8218.
|
|
written by Scott Welborn, Polk County Extension Director
For the home gardener, tomato season is often something you look forward to all year. How wonderful is it to put that transplant or starter tomato in the ground and realize that in 6-8 weeks you'll have slabs of tart, juicy goodness for those tomato sandwiches?! Tomato dreams are easily dashed, though, by a host of issues that these tender plants can face as they struggle to reach their full height and yield.
Let's look at the top seven tomato-growing problems facing everyone's favorite summer crop, and also some solutions that can help you tackle them in turn.
- Cutworm - Most cutworms cut off stems of plants at or near the soil line. They curl up into a tight C shape when disturbed. Guard the plant base from cutworms with a wax paper collar about 3” high (2” above ground & 1” below).
- Aphids - These plant lice cause the greatest damage when they suck juices from the plants. They usually feed in clusters. Several applications of soapy water are quite effective to control them.
- Tomato Hornworm or Tobacco Hornworm - Hornworms feed on tomatoes, peppers, potatoes and related plants. You'll know you are dealing with them if you spot dark green droppings left by the larvae feeding on the leaves. You can pick them off by hand or use biologic pesticides to control them such as Dipel or Thuricide.
- Early Blight - This disease produces brown to black, target-like spots on older leaves. If severe, the fungus also attacks stems and fruit. Sanitation is the best control and can be prevented by using a Copper Fungicide or chemical pesticides such as Daconil. Remove all diseased plant tissue on the ground. Do not plant tomatoes in the same place next year.
- Septoria Leaf Spot - If you are beginning to notice brown spots that cause the plant to defoliate from the ground up, you are probably dealing with this fungus. First, try to improve air circulation around the plant, since the fungus is often caused by overly humid conditions. You can also control by spraying with a fungicide prior to infection and continuing weekly or bi-weekly throughout the season.
- Blossom End Rot - This disease is non-parasitic and is caused by a calcium deficiency in the developing fruit. The affected area of the tomato darkens and enlarges in a widening circle. The calcium deficiency may be due to a lack of calcium uptake from the soil or to extreme fluctuations in water supply. Make sure your soil pH is between 6.0-6.5 to maximize nutrient availability. Since blossom-end rot is also associated with extremes in water supply, it is important to try to regulate the moisture supply in the soil. Plants need 1” of water per week.
- Bacterial Blight - This is another type of blight that can appear in our area. It consists of angular brown spots on pepper and tomato leaves which can spread to the fruit. To control this, apply a copper fungicide prior to, or as soon as, any symptoms are noticed. Continue throughout the season based on label recommendations. This disease is typically seed borne and controls may be ineffective, leaving removal as the only option.
|
|
|
|
What To Prune In June
- Conifers & Narrowleaf Evergreens: hemlock, juniper, arborvitae, white pine, leyland cypress, etc. (Summer pruning of conifers is to shapen the plants to their desired size)
- Gardenia
- Perennials: phlox, shasta daisy, purple coneflower, rubeckia, etc.(remove old flowers to promote re- bloom)
- Chrysanthemums
- Hydrangea: macrophilia
|
|
This summer, students ages 12-18 will have the opportunity to explore a number of different careers and grow their understanding of how to prepare for job success.
4-H Teen Career Exploration Camp takes place Monday, August 5 through Thursday, August 8 from 9am to 2pm each day. Camp tuition is $35.
In this four-day camp, teens will:
- Take field trips to learn about specific career options such as government employment, industry, healthcare, non-profit, and more.
- Learn all-important career readiness skills such as filling out applications, branding themselves, interviews, and professionalism.
- Participate in vocational surveys that can introduce them to careers aligned with their interests.
To register for Teen Career Exploration Camp, or any of the other Polk County Summer 4-H Programs, drop by the Cooperative Extension office or
register online.
|
|
Youth Market Broiler Project
|
Would you like to participate in a one-month exploration of raising broiler chicks and showing them at the WNC Mountain State Fair? Youth ages 5-18 can sign up for the Youth Market Broiler Project and the corresponding Polk County 4-H Poultry Club this summer. Attend our orientation meeting to see if this project is a good fit for your family.
|
|
|
|
|
Helen Blackwell is the 4-H Youth Development Agent for Polk County
|
|
|
Family and Consumer Science News
|
|
June is National Fruits & Vegetables Month
We have all been told “Eat your vegetables...they are good for you.” But you might not realize just how good they taste, too--particularly when paired with the right spices.
Fruits and vegetables provide vitamin A(and beta carotene) and C. Some are also good sources of folate, potassium, calcium, magnesium and iron. Each of these nutrients helps your body function, while reducing the risks of some cancers, heart disease, and other health problems. The latest research shows by including more fruits and vegetables in their diet, Americans can decrease the risk of many chronic diseases.
The key for adding more of those good fruits and vegetables is to mix things up. Using taste as your guide, include a wide variety of produce in your diet. A good rule of thumb is to eat at least three different colors of produce each day.
Another great way to increase fruit and vegetable servings for you and your family is to make them readably available to eat. That's especially true for kids and teenagers. To make eating fruits and vegetables fun, try these ideas:
- Clean carrots and celery, then cut into bite-size snacking pieces, or buy bags of baby carrots and chopped, ready-to-eat vegetables.
- Keep a bowl of colorful assorted fruit on the counter to remind the family to help themselves.
- Offer crisp broccoli and cauliflower florets for dipping and in salads. They taste best and keep longer when blanched for a minute in boiling water and then refreshed in ice water. Drain well and chill.
- Have dried fruit such as raisins or apricots on hand for snacks or quick lunches.
- Let the kids “decorate” pizza with fresh, cut-up vegetables, such as sliced tomatoes, zucchini, or mushrooms.
- For warm weather treats, try freezing fresh fruit like seedless green and red grapes. Dip slices of banana into lemon juice and stick in a popsicle stick before freezing.
- Add pureed vegetables to soups.
- Mix chopped or grated vegetables, such as broccoli, carrots, and zucchini, into your pasta sauces or casseroles.
|
|
|
|
Don't feel like heating up the kitchen? You can quickly pull together this delicious and healthy salad just from fresh summer produce!
|
|
|
|
Interested in learning how to preserve your fresh summer veggies? Canning and preserving fresh food is a great way to continue reaping the benefits of summer produce throughout the cooler months. In the first of our Canning & Preserving Made Easy summer series we will get hands-on with the preparation for and procedures of pickling produce. The Pickling class will be held at the Polk County Extension Center on June 12th . This two hour workshop will be at 2:00 pm and another at 6:00 pm. Both classes cover the same materials. The cost for the workshop is $15.00 .
|
|
|
|
Jimmi Buell is the Extension Agent for Family and Consumer Sciences in Polk County
|
|
|
|
|
WNC Livestock Newsletter
Spring 2019
|
|
|
|
|
|
Noah Henson is the Area Agent, Agriculture - Livestock, Dairy, Equine, Forages
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
